Should You Put A Dog Bed In Your Dog’s Crate?

Yes, you should put some form of a dog bed or mat into your dog’s crate otherwise your dog will be sleeping on the hard, cold and uncomfortable floor of the crate. For young puppies, you should put a chew proof and waterproof dog bed inside the crate. For older and better trained dogs, you can put their favourite plushy bed, dog mat or blankets inside the crate.

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Why You Should Put A Dog Bed In Your Dog’s Crate

The majority of dog crates whether it is a metal bar one or a plastic crate have a hard, uncomfortable floor which isn’t very inviting for your dog to sleep on. If you are training your dog to sleep inside a crate, they might be reluctant to go inside if there is no comfortable bedding located on the floor. Furthermore, in winter months, crates (especially metal ones) can get very cold, another reason why you should deck it out with your dog’s favourite bed and some toys.

Some people don’t put dog beds or dog mats inside crates as they are worried that the clean up will be more difficult. While this is true, especially for puppies who may have little accidents at night, the majority of dog beds have a removable cover which can be machine washed and some are even made from waterproof or at least water resistant material!

brown and white short coated dog lying on white textile

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Types Of Bedding For Dog Crates

The main type of bedding for dog crates are crate pads however many normal plushy dog beds can also fit inside a crate if the correct measurements are taken before purchasing. Another type of bedding are dog blankets however these are usually used in conjunction with a dog mat. Dog blankets for crates can also encompass dog blanket crate covers which are very popular for cold winter nights.

Features To Look Out For In A Dog Crate Bed

High Quality Materials

When looking for a dog crate bed you want something that is made with high quality materials so that it will last a long time. Durability in a dog crate can be increased by looking for a high quality teflon material over a thin polyester or equivalent. You should also consider the internal sponge filling as it can vary in quality. A solid orthopaedic memory foam is more likely to last longer than thin spongey foam. This material will also provide better support to your dog’s joints while at rest.

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Easy To Clean

As your dog will be using the dog crate bed daily, you want something that can be easily cleaned. Most dog crate beds have removable machine washable covers however this is not always the case. Some are mats and you have to clean the whole product by hand or in the washing machine. This just means that the bed will take longer to dry as the sponge interior has also gotten wet. The ease of cleaning of a dog crate bed is especially important for young dogs who might have trouble holding their bladder the whole night in a crate and are therefore more likely to have an accident.

Correct Size

The worst thing is when you order a dog crate mat and then realise that it is too big or too small for your dog’s crate. Make sure you measure your crate up before shopping and even consider buying a crate bed that is made by the same company as your crate to ensure that it will fit nicely inside. That being said most crates come in a standard size range so you should be able to find a product that does fit.

Portable

The best thing about dog crate beds is that they can double up as roll up travel beds if you purchase the right type. Dog crate beds that can generally be used for travel are lightweight, thin and made of a softer foam so that they can be folded or rolled.

Read Also: The 5 Best Roll Up Travel Beds

What To Look Out For In A Dog Crate Bed For Puppies

Waterproof: Young dog’s bladders are not fully developed. This means that they are much more likely to have little accidents in their crate at night. While some people like to use puppy pads to soak up accidents, getting a waterproof crate mat that you can simply wipe up accidents can be a better long term solution.
Chewproof: Puppies are teething and that is why you need to look for a dog crate bed that is almost indestructible. Thicker fabrics with a dense weave for the dog crate bed casing is generally a good indication of a chew proof design.
Beds With Edges: Some young dogs may suffer from separation anxiety. Dog crate beds/mats with raised edges or sides can make them fell more secure in their crate and ultimately calm them down.

What To Look Out For In A Dog Crate Bed For Senior Dogs

Orthopaedic Foam: Senior dogs need high quality beds for high quality sleep. A dog crate bed with orthopaedic foam is a good idea to give their joints more support and also provide a soothing experience while sleeping. This is because senior dogs are more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia and arthritis.
This Dog Crate Bed Has Great Orthopaedic Foam