I love my Cabana crates! I have 4 of them I have accumulated over the years and they are by far the best portable mesh style lightweight crate.
The size X-Large is very big indeed. I use it when I want to to put 2 dogs in one crate. My Corgi very easily fits in w/ one Berner in there, along w/ a water dish, my big purse, and the video camera -- who's gonna go in there to steal them!? The X-Lage is probably appropriate for a very large male Berner, but my moderate size boys do fine in a Large (Java is 26 3/4 inches and 89 lbs and Bean is 26 1/24 inches and 94 lbs). If your boy is only 46 lbs at 8 months, you are right that he probably not be a very large Berner. My rescue Berner boy, Charm, came to me just as he turned 10 mos, and weighed 66 lbs. He is now 19 months and is very fine boned and still small at 72 lbs -- but makes up for lack of size in energy and determination....a real wild child, energetic as anything...... maybe they crossed some Jack Russel Terrier in w/ him at that Amish puppy mill!? Anyway, Charm doesnt even really need the Large, he fits very comfortably in his size Med/Large Cabana Crate. I think the guidelines the company gives are a little generous. I would think a Large would certainly be more than big enough for your boy. Vilma Briggs (Kistner) Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CGC and Ted PS Measure these distances on the ground, and have your dog lie down to get an idea: MED/LARGE $144 34"L x 26.5"W x 28"H Example: Aussie, BC, small Retriever, large Spaniel Weighs 8 pounds LARGE $164 38"L x 28.5"W x 30"H Example: large Retriever, Sheperds Weighs 9 pounds X/LARGE $178 42"L x 31"W x 33"H Example: Newfoundland, Bernese Mt. Dog Weighs 10.5 pounds
