The crate you don't have to hide.
A solid hardwood dog crate that looks like furniture and feels like a den. Steel bars on top, solid wood below, steel chew guards inside, and a tray that slides out the back.
Sound familiar?
We read about 780 crate reviews and owner posts before we finished the design. These are the ten complaints that kept coming up, and what we did about each one.
The latch just gave way. He was out before I'd even sat down.
A steel door with two stiff barrel bolts, hinged into solid hardwood. No magnet catches.Every time he turned round, the whole thing wobbled.
A 40 mm solid hardwood frame, bolted together.Three hours, holes that didn't line up, and a bag of parts missing.
Six ready-made pieces, door already hung. One Allen key, about 30 minutes.He chewed straight through the corner.
Steel guards line the lower panels. We won't call it chew-proof: the top rails are still wood.Solid wood, it said. It was chipboard with a sticker on.
100% solid hardwood. No MDF, chipboard or plywood anywhere.Measured the outside, forgot the inside. Way too small.
Inside sizes first, a breed size finder, and an honest answer if your dog's too big.Getting the tray out meant letting the dog out first.
The tray slides out the back, so the door stays shut. Wipe-clean, sealed finish.Opened the box and a panel was already split.
Protective packing, checked before it ships, and free collection if it arrives damaged.Bars wide enough to trap a paw, and welds sharp enough to cut it.
Bars no more than 4 cm apart, rounded ends, smooth welds.No bed fitted it, so he slept on a hard floor.
Inside sizes stated plainly, so you can buy a bed that fits.
Owner comments are paraphrased from public reviews and forums. Everything above is the specification we're building to, and we'll check every point on our first samples before ordering opens.
Proper furniture, built around your dog.
Designed in the UK and made by specialist furniture makers to our specification. Every batch is inspected before it ships.
Two sizes, measured inside.
The inside measurements are the ones that matter to your dog, so they're the ones we lead with.
Medium
£379- Inside
- 89 × 56 × 62 cm
- Outside
- 99 × 66 × 75 cm
- Door
- 45 × 50 cm
Cocker spaniels, cockapoos, beagles, Staffies, Frenchies.
Large
£449- Inside
- 104 × 68 × 74 cm
- Outside
- 114 × 78 × 87 cm
- Door
- 50 × 62 cm
Labradors, golden retrievers, springadors, boxers.
Every angle.
This is Star. He's the reason we're making this.
Star has been with us since he was a puppy. He's a cocker spaniel and poodle cross, ten years old now, and bigger than most cockapoos because he takes after his spaniel mum.
In all that time, my mum and I never found a crate that was right for him. The cheap ones wobbled and looked like a cage in the corner of the room. The "wooden" ones were painted board that chipped and swelled. We had doors that rattled open, trays you had to drag out through the front, and assembly that took a whole evening and still didn't line up. Nothing felt like a safe, proper den for him, and nothing looked like it belonged in our home.
So we're making the crate we always wanted. Mum helped shape the design from the start, and before we finished it we read hundreds of reviews from other owners, so it fixes their problems as well as ours. Solid hardwood, steel where it matters, and a tray that slides out the back.
ZacCo-founder, Bracken & Bone
No payment now. Here's what happens next.
- Join the waitlistIt's free. Tell us your dog's size so we can plan the first batch.
- Follow alongBehind-the-scenes updates as samples arrive, and a say in details like the finish.
- Reserve, if you likeOnce we have tested the first sample, waitlist members will get the chance to reserve one with a small refundable deposit.
- Order firstWhen ordering opens, aiming for the first half of 2027, waitlist members get first access to the first batch.
When will it be ready?
We're aiming for the first half of 2027. We're choosing our maker and ordering the first samples now, and we'll give waitlist members a firm date as soon as we have one.
Do I pay anything to join the waitlist?
No. Joining is free and doesn't commit you to anything. You'll just hear about the crate first.
Will I be able to reserve one?
Once we have tested the first sample, waitlist members will get the chance to reserve one with a small deposit. It will come off the price when you order, and it's fully refundable if you change your mind before then. It's completely optional.
Where is it made?
Designed by us in the UK and made by a specialist furniture maker to our specification. We're finalising our maker now (in India or China) and will confirm the country here before ordering opens. Every batch is inspected before it ships.
What wood is it?
Kiln-dried solid hardwood throughout, with no MDF, chipboard or plywood. We'll confirm the exact species with our maker. The previews show the finish we're aiming for.
Is it chew-proof?
No crate is truly chew-proof, so we won't claim it is. Steel guards line the inside of the lower panels and corners, which is where most chewing happens. The top rails are still wood, so supervise a determined chewer while they settle in.
How does it arrive, and is it hard to build?
It arrives flat-packed as six finished solid wood pieces, with the door already hung and the bolts fitted. Everything bolts into metal threads with one Allen key. Two people take about 30 minutes.
Which size do I need?
Use the size finder above, then measure your dog: nose to base of tail, and floor to top of head when sitting. The inside of the crate should be about 10 cm longer and 5 cm taller. If you're between sizes, email us and we'll help.
How much is delivery?
Delivery is free to your door on the UK mainland. There's a small surcharge at checkout for the Scottish Highlands, islands and Northern Ireland.
What if it isn't right for my dog?
You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind. Return delivery is paid by you, and we'll tell you the cost before you buy (about £60–£90 for a Medium, £90–£150 for a Large). If your crate arrives faulty or damaged, we cover everything.
How do I clean it?
The tray slides out through the back, so you can empty and wipe it without opening the door. The wood has a sealed, wipe-clean finish.
Are the photos real?
Not yet. The crate is still in development, so the images are previews of the final design. We'll replace them with real photos as soon as our samples arrive.
I'm not in the UK. Can I still get one?
For now we only deliver in the UK, because shipping something this big abroad would cost more than it's worth. Join the waitlist and tell us where you are. If enough people ask from one country, we'll look into it.
Join the waitlist.
Be first in line for the first batch. No payment, no commitment.
- Early access before ordering opens to everyone
- Behind-the-scenes updates as the samples arrive
- A say in the design, like the finish
- First access to the first batch