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Pets and Animals
Dogs
Dog Accessories
How to Collapse a Dog Crate Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Last Updated: January 27, 2026
Preparing the Crate
|
Disassembling the Crate
|
Video
|
Tips
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 251,932 times.
Collapsible metal dog crates are a great way to have a secure place for your dog while you are traveling. They are reasonably light-weight, making them easy to carry and transport. They are also easy to clean, providing your dog with a clean, comfortable, and secure home away from home. In order to use a collapsible dog crate you simply need to know how to put it together and then how to collapse it when you are done using it.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Preparing the Crate
1 Empty the crate of all items. You can't leave anything in the crate while it is collapsed. This includes blankets or comfort pads, food and water bowls, toys, and any other things you or your dog placed inside.
The bottom liner needs to be removed as well. It is usually removed by sliding it out a small opening at the bottom of the crate where it was inserted in the first place.[1]XResearch source
2 Use a clean cloth to wipe the crate clean, including the liner. If the crate is a bit dirty scrub it with a non-toxic cleaner. This is a great time to get it sparkly clean. If the other items are dirty this makes a great opportunity to clean them as well. Blankets and pads can be laundered and dried along with any plush or cloth toys. Food and water bowls can be washed just like any other dishes in the sink or dishwasher. Other toys can be cleaned with plain soap and water and rinsed. Advertisement
3 Close all the doors on the crate. This includes the front door and any side or top doors or openings. Make sure they are latched fully using the provided latches.
The crate will not close properly without the door closed and latched securely.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 2:
Disassembling the Crate
1 Consult the owner's manual for your particular crate model. Since the process of collapsing a crate may be different for some models and manufacturers, it is best to consult the directions that came with yours. If you no longer have the instructions, or your crate did not come with instructions, you can contact the manufacturer to try and get a copy of them.
2 Fold down the shorter side panels of the crate. Find the tabs that hold the short side panels to the top of the crate. Press down on the wire of the top panel to release these tabs.[2]XResearch source
3 Detach the sides of the crate. This is done by detaching the latches that connect the short side panels (at the front and the back of the crate) to the long panels. Push in on the short side panel while simultaneously pulling out on the long panel. This should unhook the connecting latches, releasing the panels from each other.
Do this on both the front and back short panels.
4 Lift the top up slightly and push the side in. Allow it to rest on the floor of the crate. Do the same with the other short side.
5 Push one of the long ends towards the floor. This will cause the crate to collapse onto itself. The top will be lying to one side and needs to be folded on to the top of the collapsed crate.
6 Latch the folded crate. Use the latches attached to the crate. These will make sure that the crate does not come unfolded while you transport it.
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Video
Tips
Keep a large bag stored with your crate in order to transport all the items you took out of the crate. Having familiar things like blankets and toys can help your dog settle in when you set the crate back up. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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References
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4rjiYLYc2E
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imwjpzKWhYw
About This Article
Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 251,932 times. 43 votes - 60% Co-authors: 5Updated: January 27, 2026 Views: 251,932 Categories: Dog AccessoriesArticle SummaryX
To collapse a dog crate, start by removing the plastic liner at the bottom of the crate, which usually slides out through a small opening at the bottom. Then, find the tabs that connect the short sides of the crate to the top, and press down on the wire to release the tabs. Next, detach the short sides from the long sides and push the short sides in so they lay flat. Finally, push one of the long ends to the floor so the crate collapses on itself. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, like how to clean a dog crate, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Robin Phillips
Jan 17, 2022
"Thank you wikiHow! I've been trying to figure out how to break this crate down. It was a simple task - my brain just wasn't working. I just needed some guidance."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian 43 votes - 60% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 5Updated: January 27, 2026 Views: 251,932
Robin Phillips
Jan 17, 2022
"Thank you wikiHow! I've been trying to figure out how to break this crate down. It was a simple task - my brain just wasn't working. I just needed some guidance."..." more
Pseula Doe
Nov 28, 2020
"Yay! I couldn't figure out how to collapse a dog crate that I got second-hand (no manual). This was exactly how my crate worked. Thanks so much!"..." more
Donna Gentry
Jan 5, 2017
"needed to fold crate flat, and this site showed me step by step and made it easy. Thanks so much!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 251,932 times. 43 votes - 60% Co-authors: 5 Updated: January 27, 2026 Views: 251,932 Categories: Dog Accessories Article SummaryX
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1 Empty the crate of all items. You can't leave anything in the crate while it is collapsed. This includes blankets or comfort pads, food and water bowls, toys, and any other things you or your dog placed inside. 
2 Use a clean cloth to wipe the crate clean, including the liner. If the crate is a bit dirty scrub it with a non-toxic cleaner. This is a great time to get it sparkly clean. If the other items are dirty this makes a great opportunity to clean them as well. Blankets and pads can be laundered and dried along with any plush or cloth toys. Food and water bowls can be washed just like any other dishes in the sink or dishwasher. Other toys can be cleaned with plain soap and water and rinsed. Advertisement 
3 Close all the doors on the crate. This includes the front door and any side or top doors or openings. Make sure they are latched fully using the provided latches. 
1 Consult the owner's manual for your particular crate model. Since the process of collapsing a crate may be different for some models and manufacturers, it is best to consult the directions that came with yours. If you no longer have the instructions, or your crate did not come with instructions, you can contact the manufacturer to try and get a copy of them. 
2 Fold down the shorter side panels of the crate. Find the tabs that hold the short side panels to the top of the crate. Press down on the wire of the top panel to release these tabs.[2] 
3 Detach the sides of the crate. This is done by detaching the latches that connect the short side panels (at the front and the back of the crate) to the long panels. Push in on the short side panel while simultaneously pulling out on the long panel. This should unhook the connecting latches, releasing the panels from each other. 
4 Lift the top up slightly and push the side in. Allow it to rest on the floor of the crate. Do the same with the other short side. 
5 Push one of the long ends towards the floor. This will cause the crate to collapse onto itself. The top will be lying to one side and needs to be folded on to the top of the collapsed crate. 
6 Latch the folded crate. Use the latches attached to the crate. These will make sure that the crate does not come unfolded while you transport it. Advertisement