So I've always heard to rule that the size of your crate should allow your dog to lay down, turn around, and sit/stand with clearance, but not much bigger. So why, as crates get larger, do they barely get any taller?

My dog is just about 3 feet tall at his ears and 65lbs (sorry, I couldn't say how long he is). We have an extra large crate that takes up a significant amount of space in our apartment. He has plenty of space to lay and move around, yet if he tries to sit or stand, he has to duck his head. To account for his comfort, we've had a puppy pen attached to his crate so he can stand. It was originally just to help train him, but we planned to get rid of it. I don't want to remove it until he has a crate he can stand up in.

I looked for extra large crates and they are almost never taller than 30" or 33". There are a couple really expensive ones that are over 40" tall, but they would take up way more space than we have because the length and width measurements go up by so much.

It's so frustrating. Why are crates so short? My dog really isn't that tall, though he does have pointy ears that increase his effective height.

I'm debating just cutting the top of his current crate off. I know he won't jump out because he stays in the pen which is only a couple feet tall. I don't really have the tools for that though and it might make it less stable.

Please help.

TLDR: My 3' tall dog needs a taller crate, but not a wider or longer crate, and I can't find one.