Speaking of crates ...

[blaue_augen]

What do you guys put inside your crates for bedding? We had nice thick bed, but the bed is 6 inches thick (even after she slept on it for a while) and that takes away from the height of the crate. So I bought something thin, and it moves around a lot. The plastic crate liner does not seem comfy to lie on. When I look in the shops, I swear they are all fleece ... who wants to lie on fleece in the hot summer?? So what do you guys line your crates with?

Thanks!

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Nothing. I think they like the cool flooring instead of a mat that gets too warm.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I have seen what I think they call cool mats...not sure if they fit in crates though. ok....just thinking not a good idea if your leaving the dog alone and if they are chewers.

 

[MMtnmom]

I get the ortho beds from Foster and Smith, about 3 inches thick, removable covers, wear pretty well, and they come in sizes to fit the crates. Been using them for years. I don't like fleece either: these have a denim or broadcloth type cover, zips on and off, and a waterproof liner.

 

[Sadiesmom]

Sadie has her own blankets they are nice and thick and then we put a sheet over top of those.

 

[NewfieMama]

Not in a crate but I had a cloth bed cover (llbean xl) and the bed itself was trashed. I bought a memory foam mattress pad in full size from overstock, folded in half was a perfect fit at a fraction of the cost of a dog ortho bed. I'd imagine you could cut instead of folding to make a couple of thinner crate mats.

Zuzu liked the cool floor of her crate, though. We also had onenof those cool mat beds but it sprang a leak after just a couple of months - no chewing.

 

[Acadia]

Cadie chooses to sleep on the cool tile floor when napping so I scrapped plans to get a blankie (which I would want!) and I have a sheet in there. I think I will do away with that now that weather is getting warmer.

 

[lmfoltyn]

For Jake I did buy an ortho foam bed with the fleece lining. His crate is the largest size so he still can stand with the foam in the crate. Instead of the fleece side up I flipped it over and it has just the fabric on it. He seems to be good with that as I have his own personal fan blowing on him. Oh, it is a little short on the front so I just stuff a folded blanket there so his head won't be on the hard surface.

 

[nowhavethreebears]

For Jake I did buy an ortho foam bed with the fleece lining. His crate is the largest size so he still can stand with the foam in the crate. Instead of the fleece side up I flipped it over and it has just the fabric on it.

This is what I did for Gabriel also. The girls do not have pads of any kind. They prefer the crate pan...They have a thin rubber mat for traction. Hannah will work diligently to push anything else out of her way so she can lay on the bare pan.

 

[B-Dubs]

My three don't want anything in their crates. Nobody uses the crates now, but even after the girls TTAs, they pushed anything I put in to make them comfy out of their way!

 

[robertjt]

Scuba only wants his bunny with him in his crate. We tried a bed in his crate when we first got him, but we would find him squeezed on what little crate tray was left. He likes it cool.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Elvis hated a bed in his crate. We buy $5 twin bed blankets at Walmart and keep one in there. He usually has it pushed in the back corner, but sometimes we find him using it as a pillow. We wash it often, but replace it about every 4 months or so.

 

[new_2_newf]

Sulley used to shove his out of the way as well, as do most of my fosters (unless they are hugely fat...then they seem to want the cushion). They seem to like the cool pan vs the soft bed. Sulley DOES love his pet smart ortho bed though, when I'm packing for a trip he drags it to the door so I don't forget it...

I have made a 'cool bed' for Sulley that fits in his kennel. I will, if I need to, put it in there with him (he is normally NOT kenneled any more). I know he won't chew it. I don't put it in with the fosters though out of fear they will eat it and get some of the expanding crystals into their tummy..they are non toxic, but I can't imagine they do good things in there.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

We don't crate, but we have a thin but supportive bed in the kitchen with a fabric cover (removable and washable) - I believe it is Kong brand from petsmart. However, when its warm, she prefers the floor. At night she sleeps on her orthopedic LLBean bed, but again, if its warm she likes the cool floor better.

 

[cmorgan.1505]

We put a blanket in there for Thor, but he pushes it around till it's pillow size. lol

 

[2Paws]

My guys do quite a bit of slipping around on the bare crate pan which concerned me so I did some checking around with others and tried out some primo pads. I love them and the dogs like them too. There's no slipping, they are quite durable, water proof and cushioned for comfort. I used these for their crates in the house and at dogs shows. Here's a website for them.

http://primopads.com/

While on the road or when we are water training I found some awesome recycled crate pads that I use. They are slightly raised so any water drips through and my guys aren't laying in it. They are made from recycled tires. Henry is modeling on their web page.

http://www.recycledtiremats.com/other_mats.htm

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

For the van, so they don't slip around, I have used the large rubber backed bathroom rugs. They stay in place and are easily washed. Costco has some colorful kitchen mats that have also worked well.

 

[NinaA]

Moonight likes the cool, so she has an old bedspread in her crate that she wads up for a pillow. Scarlett has a fleece mat that is kind of thin. She likes it at night and if she gets cool. There are also two dog beds in front of A/C vents for Rory and Flaget, and they love their tiled kitchen floor with the air ducts running under it and the ceiling fan blowing their hair. In the summer they seldom sleep in their crates for long. All are usually on the floor.

 

[Milliejb]

Millie wants to know.... What's a crate ???
I do have one of those cool gel mats though that I try to get her to sleep on instead of the tile floor. Although it doesn't always work!

 

[2newfs4now]

My guys, being arthritic, have the 6" ortho beds from Drs. Foster and Smith in their crates.