Best crates for toy Australian Shepherd puppies 2026
Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherd puppies outgrow crates fast, and the wrong size can undo months of housetraining progress. This 2026 guide ranks the crate types that actually fit these two builds, from the 12-pound Toy Aussie to the 35-pound Miniature Aussie, plus where each one falls short.
{"points":["MidWest iCrate 24-Inch wins best overall for the best crate size for a Toy Australian Shepherd puppy thanks to its growth divider.","Diggs Revol is the pick for Miniature Aussie puppies with strong latch-testing habits.","Petmate Sky Kennel is the only crate on this list built for airline and long-drive travel.","Soft-sided pop-up crates work for supervised apartment time, not overnight confinement.","Frisco Fold & Carry covers the budget slot without sacrificing basic safety."]}{
"heading": "Toy vs. Miniature Aussie sizing",
"items": [
{
"value": "10-14 in",
"label": "Toy Aussie adult height"
},
{
"value": "12-25 lbs",
"label": "Toy Aussie adult weight"
},
{
"value": "14-18 in",
"label": "Mini Aussie adult height"
},
{
"value": "20-50 lbs",
"label": "Mini Aussie adult weight"
}
]
}Why this matters
A crate that’s too big lets a puppy sleep in one corner and potty in the other, which quietly wrecks housetraining. A crate that’s too small by 12 weeks means fighting a puppy who won’t settle. Toy and Miniature Aussies land in two different adult-weight brackets, so the crate that fits an 8-week-old Toy Aussie puppy from Hughes Toys isn’t the same crate a Miniature Aussie needs at 6 months. Getting this right the first time saves a second purchase. Getting it wrong means either a puppy who’s uncomfortable or a crate that stops doing its job. Best overall: MidWest iCrate 24-Inch. Best for escape artists: Diggs Revol. Best budget option: Frisco Fold & Carry. Best for travel: Petmate Sky Kennel. Best for small apartments: soft-sided pop-up crate.What makes the best crate for a toy Australian Shepherd puppy
- Correct size for the current growth stage, with a plan (divider panel or size swap) for the next one
- Durability against teething, since Aussie puppies chew wire trays, mesh walls, and plastic corners with equal enthusiasm
- Airflow and visibility balanced against a den-like feeling that calms an anxious puppy
- Portability — folds flat, carries easily, moves from bedroom to living room without a production
- Latch security, because working-line genetics make some Aussie puppies unusually good at figuring out doors
- Easy cleanup with a removable tray or washable liner
Crates for toy and mini Australian Shepherd puppies at a glance
| Crate | Best For | Standout Feature | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate 24-Inch | Toy Aussies, overall pick | Growth divider panel | Wire bottom tray invites chewing |
| Frisco Fold & Carry | Budget buyers | Lower-cost wire construction | Single door limits placement |
| Diggs Revol | Escape artists, latch-testers | Harder-to-pop latch, rounded corners | Heavier, pricier, slower to fold |
| Petmate Sky Kennel | Travel and flights | Hard-sided, airline-style build | Doesn’t fold flat, no divider |
| Soft-sided pop-up crate | Apartments, supervised time | Lightest, fastest setup | Mesh walls don’t survive teething |
1. MidWest iCrate 24-Inch: best crate for a toy Australian Shepherd puppy overall
The iCrate is a double-door wire crate that ships with a divider panel, which matters more for a Toy Aussie than almost any other feature on this list. A Toy Aussie puppy weighs a few pounds at 8 weeks and lands at 12-17 lbs adult — the divider lets one crate cover both stages instead of forcing a second purchase mid-training. MidWest iCrate pros:- Divider panel adjusts as the puppy grows into its adult 24-inch footprint
- Wire construction gives full visibility, which helps a puppy that startles easily settle faster
- Folds flat for storage or moving
- Double doors mean flexible placement against a wall or in a corner
- The wire floor tray is chewable for a puppy left unsupervised too long
- Exposed wire can pinch a paw if the floor pad shifts
- Feels less enclosed than a hard-sided crate, which matters for a puppy prone to separation anxiety
2. Frisco Fold & Carry: best budget crate for a toy or mini Aussie puppy
This single-door wire crate strips the feature list down to the basics — fold it, carry it, use it. It’s a reasonable starting point for a family crate-training one puppy without moving house every year. Frisco Fold & Carry pros:- Lower cost than heavy-duty wire brands
- Folds down for storage between uses
- Available in sizes that match both Toy and Mini Aussie growth charts
- Single door limits where the crate can go in a room
- Lighter-gauge wire won’t hold up as long as premium brands
- Divider isn’t included on every size, so check before buying
3. Diggs Revol: best crate for escape-artist Australian Shepherd puppies
Aussie puppies come from working stock bred to solve problems, and some of that shows up as an unnerving talent for popping standard wire latches. The Revol’s latch and rounded-corner design make that harder to pull off. Diggs Revol pros:- Latch mechanism resists the paw-and-nose manipulation that opens basic wire crates
- Rounded corners reduce the risk of a paw or nail catching
- Includes a divider panel for growth
- Collapses for travel despite the more complex build
- Heavier and slower to fold than a basic wire crate
- Costs more than the Frisco or MidWest options
- Overkill for a calm puppy who’s never tested a latch
4. Petmate Sky Kennel: best crate for traveling with a toy Aussie puppy
Hard-sided and airline-style, the Sky Kennel is the one crate on this list built for a car trip or a flight rather than a bedroom corner. The enclosed sides also read as more den-like to an anxious puppy in motion. Petmate Sky Kennel pros:- Hard plastic shell meets the style of construction airlines and transport services typically require
- More enclosed feel calms puppies during car rides
- Ventilation on multiple sides keeps airflow reasonable
- Doesn’t fold flat, so it eats more closet space than a wire crate
- No divider panel, so the size has to be right on the first try
- Less visibility than a wire crate for a puppy used to watching the room
5. Soft-sided pop-up crate: best for small apartments and supervised time
A collapsible mesh crate is the lightest, fastest option to set up in a studio apartment or a living room during the day. It is not a substitute for a real crate overnight. Soft-sided pop-up crate pros:- Lightest option to carry room to room
- Pops open and folds flat in seconds
- Small visual footprint in tight living spaces
- Teething puppies chew through mesh walls quickly
- Not truly escape-proof for an Aussie puppy testing boundaries
- Unsuitable as the only crate for a puppy who isn’t fully housetrained
How we ranked
Each crate was measured against the six criteria above: size accuracy for Toy versus Mini Aussie growth charts, chew durability, airflow versus security, portability, latch strength, and cleanup. No crate scored well on every axis — that’s why this reads as a decision tree by use case, not a single leaderboard.{"heading":"Bringing home a Toy or Mini Aussie puppy?","description":"See available Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherd puppies from Hughes Toys.","buttons":[{"label":"View puppies","url":"https://toyminiaussies.com/"}]}Which crate should you choose?
For most families bringing home a Toy Australian Shepherd puppy in 2026, the MidWest iCrate 24-Inch is the default answer — the divider panel covers the whole growth curve from 8 weeks to a 12-25 lb adult in one purchase. If the puppy is a Miniature Aussie already testing latches, move to the Diggs Revol. If travel is booked, add a Petmate Sky Kennel rather than relying on a wire crate in a moving car. Skip the soft-sided crate as anyone’s only crate in 2026 — it’s a daytime tool, not an overnight one.FAQ
{
"items": [
{
"q": "What is the best crate size for a toy Australian Shepherd puppy?",
"a": "A 24-inch wire crate with a divider panel fits a Toy Australian Shepherd puppy from 8 weeks through its adult weight of 12-25 lbs. The divider shrinks the space early and expands as the puppy grows."
},
{
"q": "What is the best crate size for a miniature Australian Shepherd puppy?",
"a": "A 30-inch crate typically fits a Miniature Australian Shepherd's adult weight range of 20-50 lbs. Start with a divider panel so the same crate works during the puppy months."
},
{
"q": "Should I buy one crate or two as my Aussie puppy grows?",
"a": "One crate with a divider panel, like the MidWest iCrate, usually covers the full growth period for a Toy Aussie. A second travel crate only makes sense if flights or long drives are planned."
},
{
"q": "Is a wire crate or plastic crate better for a Toy Aussie puppy?",
"a": "Wire crates give better airflow and visibility for everyday home use, while plastic hard-sided crates like the Petmate Sky Kennel suit travel and airline requirements. Most families need the wire crate as the primary one."
},
{
"q": "How do I know if a crate is too big for housetraining?",
"a": "If the puppy sleeps in one end and eliminates in the other, the crate is too large for its current size. A divider panel fixes this without buying a new crate."
},
{
"q": "Do Toy and Mini Aussie puppies need a heavy-duty escape-proof crate?",
"a": "Not every puppy does, but Aussie lines bred for problem-solving produce puppies who test standard latches more than average. Watch for latch manipulation in the first few weeks before deciding."
},
{
"q": "Can I use a soft-sided crate for a Toy Australian Shepherd puppy?",
"a": "A soft-sided pop-up crate works for short, supervised confinement but is not durable enough for overnight use during teething. Pair it with a wire or hard-sided crate rather than replacing one."
},
{
"q": "How much crate does a Toy Aussie puppy need at 8 weeks old?",
"a": "An 8-week-old Toy Aussie puppy needs only enough crate space to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, which is why a divider panel matters more than the outer crate size."
}
]
}