The Best Dog Crate for a Boston Terrier (2026 Guide)

Written by the team at Impact Dog Crates. We build dog crates for a living, which means our days are spent around trainers, breeders, working dogs and anxious rescues. Learn more about us here.

A Boston Terrier is a tuxedoed little clown who takes himself very seriously. The AKC calls him “a lively little companion,” and says his “impeccable manners have earned him the nickname ‘The American Gentleman.’” Anyone who has watched a Boston skid around a corner, then climb into a lap like nothing happened, knows both halves are true. A crate has to handle that mix: a compact, energetic dog who wants to be near you, a short nose that makes heat and airflow worth planning around, and a dog who doesn’t always love being left behind. Here’s how we think about size, what holds up and what doesn’t, and how to set up a crate a Boston will actually settle into.

How Big of a Crate Does a Boston Terrier Need?

For most adult Boston Terriers, the 24” (Small) Collapsible Dog Crate. Impact’s Collapsible product page lists Boston Terrier by name at the 24”, for dogs of 10 lbs and up, alongside breeds like the French Bulldog and Dachshund. The 30” (Medium) is the step up for a taller, longer, or heavier Boston, and it’s where the Stationary Dog Crate and High Anxiety Crate begin.

Your own dog beats any breed label, so measure from the floor to the top of his shoulders and from his nose to the base of his tail, then add a few inches to each so the crate feels like a den instead of a box. Our guide to measuring your dog for a crate shows how.

A Boston doesn’t need a lot of floor, just enough to stand, turn around, and stretch out. If your Boston needs the Stationary or High Anxiety line, the smallest size is 30”, so a soft, flat bed helps the space feel snug instead of cavernous.

Impact’s Stationary Dog Crate in gray, shown front on.

Wire, Plastic, Soft-Sided, or Aluminum: What Actually Holds Up for a Boston Terrier?

A Boston is small, which is why a light wire crate looks like enough. The weak point isn’t his weight, it’s what a worried, energetic, determined little dog does with his teeth, his paws, and a door that rattles.

The owners of small terriers and Frenchies in our reviews tell the same story. One owner’s 10 lb terrier “bent nearly all the bars on her wire kennel,” and another said their French Bulldog puppy “hated her crate” until she got a crate that felt safer. None of them are bad dogs. They’re small, worried ones in crates that weren’t built for them.

That’s where the Collapsible Dog Crate and the Stationary Dog Crate earn the difference in price with aluminum panel construction, and where the High Anxiety Crate is the step up for a Boston with real separation anxiety or a history of escaping. It’s a real jump in price over a wire crate, and it’s a crate you buy once instead of replacing.

The door and latch hardware on Impact’s Stationary Dog Crate.

Why Do Boston Terriers Want to Be Wherever You Are?

Because a Boston is a companion dog through and through. He is happiest on your lap, on your feet, or three steps behind you on the way to the kitchen, so a closed door between the two of you can feel like a very big deal. Some Bostons shrug it off. Others pace and paw at the door, and that’s a dog feeling a little lost, not a dog being stubborn.

The fix starts with where the crate lives. Put it in a room where the family spends time, so he can see you, and let it be a place where good things happen, not just the place he goes when you leave. Our guide to reducing stress for anxious dogs covers the routine and safe-space side. If your Boston is hurting himself to get out, that’s a conversation for your vet or a certified behaviorist, and a crate that can’t be broken keeps him safe in the meantime.

Are Boston Terriers Easy to Crate Train?

Usually, yes, with a little patience and a handful of treats. Most Bostons are quick to learn, love a reward, and will follow you anywhere, which works in your favor. The part that takes practice is the calm. A Boston with energy to burn will treat the crate like a trampoline if he’s fresh from the couch, so a walk or a short game before crate time helps him settle. Keep sessions short and upbeat, and reward every step toward the crate.

A Boston Terrier settled on the rug beside the crate.

What Should You Plan Around With a Boston’s Short Nose, Energy, and Need for Company?

Three Boston-specific things are worth building into the setup: heat and airflow, energy, and company.

Heat and airflow. Bostons have short, flat faces, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists Boston terriers among the brachycephalic breeds, noting that “Affected dogs are more prone to overheating, as their ability to pant and cool themselves is compromised.” So plan around it. Put the crate in the coolest room of the house, out of direct sun and away from heaters and vents. Choose a thin, flat bed over a thick, plush one that traps heat, keep water available when you’re home, and give him a few minutes to cool down after hard play before the door closes. Never leave a Boston in a parked car. If you see heavy or labored breathing, call your vet right away, and ask your vet what’s normal for your own dog.

Energy. A Boston is a small dog with a big engine. Exercise and mental games before crate time are the best tool you have, because a tired dog is a dog who naps. A safe chew or a puzzle feeder gives him something to do once the door closes.

Company. A crate is a place to rest, not a replacement for time with you. Ease into longer stretches, and plan for breaks and attention around crate time. Our guide to crate placement walks through spots that keep him close without putting him in a draft or a sunbeam.

Should You Buy the Adult-Size Crate for a Boston Terrier Puppy?

Yes. A Boston puppy is small, but he won’t stay that way, and a puppy-sized crate is a purchase you’d make twice. Buy for the adult, the 24” for most Bostons, and use a bed to make the space cozy while he’s tiny. If you’d like to shrink the space for a very young pup, the Puppy Divider adjusts as a pup grows and works with all Impact crate models.

How to Crate Train a Boston Terrier, Step by Step

The fundamentals are the same for every breed, and our walkthrough on what crate training involves covers them in detail. With a Boston it’s about staying cool, burning off energy first, and building alone time slowly.

1. Pick a cool spot where the family already spends time. A Boston who can see you is a Boston who relaxes. Keep the crate out of direct sun and away from heaters and vents.
2. Put meals and a few treats in the crate with the door open. Let him walk in on his own schedule. Most Bostons will follow a snack anywhere.
3. Take the edge off his energy first. A walk or a few minutes of play before crate time works better than asking a wound-up dog to settle, and let him cool down and catch his breath before the door closes.
4. Close the door for short stretches while you’re in the room. Build from seconds to minutes, and keep arrivals and departures calm so leaving doesn’t feel like an event.
5. Watch the first real departures on a camera. Our guide to how long a dog can stay in a crate suggests aiming for around 4 to 6 hours for adult dogs and certainly not more than 8, and young puppies need much shorter stretches.
6. If you see real panic or labored breathing, call your vet. Torn-up paws, injured teeth, soaked bedding, or heavy breathing needs more than a crate. For anxiety, bring in a certified behaviorist. The crate keeps him safe in the meantime.

Which Impact Crate Is Right for a Boston Terrier?

It comes down to what your dog actually does. A Boston with separation anxiety or a history of escaping or hurting himself on crate doors belongs in the High Anxiety Crate, which is backed by a Lifetime Dog Damage Guarantee. Its smallest size is 30”, so add a flat, supportive bed. A settled Boston who rides along to the vet, the car, or a hotel does well in the Collapsible Dog Crate, which folds flat and comes in the 24” size named for Bostons on its product page. Impact’s product page doesn’t recommend the Collapsible for dogs with a history of breaking out of crates or severe anxiety. The Stationary Dog Crate is the permanent-at-home option, and it starts at 30”.

A Boston’s Crate Should Be Cool, Close to the Family, and Built for a Dog With Big Opinions

A Boston Terrier is a small dog with a lot of heart and a short nose, so the crate for him has to get three things right. Measure him, start at the 24” unless he’s on the bigger side, and keep the crate in the coolest, most social room you have. Choose a construction that doesn’t bend to a determined little dog, and call your vet about anything that looks like labored breathing. Do that and you’ve bought a crate for the life of the dog.

What Other Dog Owners Are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions

How big of a crate does a Boston Terrier need?
Most adult Boston Terriers do well in the 24” (24.5”L x 18.5”W x 23”H) Collapsible Dog Crate, which names Boston Terriers on its product page for dogs of 10 lbs and up. A bigger-framed Boston can step up to the 30”. Measure your own dog to be sure.

Can a Boston Terrier overheat in a crate?
Yes. Boston Terriers are a short-nosed breed that has a harder time cooling off, so keep the crate in a cool, shaded room, skip thick bedding that traps heat, never leave a Boston in a parked car, and call your vet if you see heavy or labored breathing.

Do Boston Terriers get separation anxiety?
Some do. Bostons are companion dogs who like to be near their people, so build alone time slowly, put the crate where he can see the family, and talk to your vet or a certified behaviorist if he panics or hurts himself.

Can a Boston Terrier use a wire crate?
It isn’t a good fit for a Boston who paws, chews, or pushes at the door. Wire flexes, and bent rods can leave gaps that catch a jaw, a tooth, or a toenail.

What size crate does a Boston Terrier puppy need?
Buy for the adult, the 24” for most Bostons, and use bedding to make it cozy. The Puppy Divider can shrink the space while he’s very young.