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Updated June 2026. This review is based on our research across hundreds of verified owner reviews and long-term ownership reports.
If you’ve shopped for a dog crate in the UK, you’ll have come across Ellie-Bo — they’re one of the best-known crate brands on Amazon UK and a long-standing bestseller. But popularity isn’t the same as quality, so the real question is: are Ellie-Bo crates actually any good, and which one should you get? Here’s the honest answer.
What is an Ellie-Bo dog crate?
Ellie-Bo crates are the classic wire-mesh, folding “cage” style of dog crate. The range shares a consistent and genuinely practical design: two doors (one on the front, one on the side) for flexible placement, two sliding latches per door to foil escape artists, a removable metal tray in the base for easy cleaning, and a fold-flat construction that needs no tools to set up or pack away. They arrive pre-folded with a simple instruction sheet — most owners report being set up in about five minutes.
That metal tray is worth singling out: many budget crates use a plastic base that a teething puppy will happily destroy, whereas Ellie-Bo’s chew-proof metal tray is one of the main reasons owners rate them for the puppy stage.
The Ellie-Bo range and sizes
Ellie-Bo crates come in five sizes, from 24 inches up to 48 inches, so there’s a fit for everything from a small terrier to a German Shepherd. There are also a couple of variations on the standard crate worth knowing about.
Standard folding crate
The core product — plain, sturdy, double-door, metal-tray. If you’re crate-training a puppy in the short to medium term, the standard model is the best-value choice and all most owners ever need.
Check the Ellie-Bo Standard 30″ on Amazon →
Deluxe crate (with bed/cushion)
The same crate, bundled with a fitted bed or cushion to get you started. Handy if you’d rather not buy bedding separately, though plenty of owners just add their own.
Check the Ellie-Bo Deluxe 42″ on Amazon →
Sloping / slanted crate (for car boots)
A clever variation with one slanted side, shaped to fit the slope of a hatchback or estate boot. If you mainly want a crate for travelling, this is the one to look at — just measure your boot first, as owners stress the importance of checking it clears your closed boot lid.
Check the Ellie-Bo Sloping Crate on Amazon →
What owners love
- Genuinely sturdy. The recurring theme in long-term reviews is how well they hold up — owners report crates still going strong years later, standing up to chewing and to dogs jumping on them.
- The metal chew-proof tray. Far better than the plastic trays on cheaper crates; easy to slide out, wipe down or steam clean, and it survives the teething phase.
- Two doors, two latches. The front-and-side door layout makes placement flexible, and the double sliding latches genuinely defeat dogs that learn to nose single catches open.
- Easy setup and folding. Pre-assembled, up in five minutes, folds flat for storage or the car with no tools.
- Good value and a sensible size range. Five sizes, fair prices, and the option to add a divider so the crate “grows” with a puppy (a divider stops a pup soiling one end of an over-large crate).
The honest drawbacks
No crate is perfect, and a few consistent niggles come up in owner reviews:
- The side-door latches can be stiff. Several owners note the side door’s latches are fiddlier than the main front door’s — if you can, position the crate so you mostly use the wider front door.
- The latches can be noisy. If only one latch on a door is closed and the dog paws at it, it can rattle or clatter — which can unsettle a sensitive dog during training. Closing both latches helps.
- The paint wears over time. With heavy use (and teeth on the bars), the black coating can chip or wear at the fastenings. It’s cosmetic — owners report no sharp edges — but worth expecting.
- The tray can stick. A minor gripe — some find the metal tray sticks a little when sliding it out to clean.
- Occasional quality-control issues. As with any mass-produced crate, a small number of owners have had a welding or bar fault. They’re the exception rather than the rule, but check yours over on arrival while it’s still returnable.
Useful Ellie-Bo accessories
A few add-ons make the crate work harder:
- Crate divider — partitions a larger crate so it grows with your puppy; one of the smartest crate-training buys.
- Fitted crate bed/mattress — sized to fit the crate exactly, including a water-resistant memory foam option for the accident-prone puppy phase.
- Replacement metal tray — handy if the original ever warps or you want a spare.
What size Ellie-Bo crate do I need?
Measure your dog from nose to base of tail and add 10–15cm, and measure their height sitting up with ears erect. The crate should let them stand, turn around and lie out flat — no more. As a rough breed guide: 24″ for very small breeds and toy puppies, 30″ for small dogs (and most spaniels), 36″ for medium dogs, 42″ for large breeds like Labradors and retrievers, and 48″ for extra-large breeds like German Shepherds. If you’re crate-training a puppy that will grow, buy for the adult size and use a divider to shrink the usable space for now.
Verdict: are Ellie-Bo crates any good?
Yes — for most owners they’re a genuinely good, sensibly-priced crate. The sturdy build, chew-proof metal tray, double-door flexibility and easy folding are exactly what you want for crate training or a home “den”, and the long-term durability reports back that up. Go in knowing the minor quirks — stiffer side-door latches, the odd rattle, paint that wears with heavy use — and they’re easy to live with. For puppy training, travel, or simply giving your dog a secure space of their own, an Ellie-Bo is an easy recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Are Ellie-Bo crates chew-proof?
The metal tray is chew-proof, which is the main weak point on cheaper crates. The wire frame is tough and stands up to most chewers, though no wire crate is completely indestructible for an extreme escape-artist.
Do Ellie-Bo crates fold flat?
Yes — they collapse flat with no tools, making them easy to store or transport in a car. They arrive pre-folded and take about five minutes to set up.
What sizes do Ellie-Bo crates come in?
Five sizes from 24 inches to 48 inches, covering everything from toy breeds to extra-large dogs like German Shepherds.
Can I make the crate smaller for a puppy?
Yes — buy an Ellie-Bo divider, which partitions a larger crate so you can expand the space as your puppy grows. This helps toilet training, as too much space lets a pup soil one end.
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