beding

[silverbyrd21]

Libby is 12 wks old today. So far she has had only newspaper in her crate. We have not had an accident in about 6 days. She obviously is still a major chewer though. When can I put softer bedding in her crate and what should I use? My 8 yr old dog has an old afghan in her crate and Libby will go in there periodically and make her a little nest to lay in. luckily, Skylar dosnt seem to mind sharing!

[LuvBrown]

She obviously is still a major chewer though.

Really, I don't know if this is obvious. Why, just because she is 12 weeks? If she chews the bedding you have given her in the past, then yes, NOTHING is appropriate for the crate. I would not even bother with newspaper. And you can eventually test her to see if she will leave it alone. But I have a dog that does not want anything in his crate, and he's no worse off sleeping on the plastic pan.

If she chews her toys and plays with toys, but doesn't rip bedding, you can give her an towel or sheet or even a crate pad. My puppy loves to chew and play with appropriate toys, but he does not chew bedding and has been allowed bedding in his crate from day 1.

[silverbyrd21]

well yes because she is 12 weeks and a pup, she is still chewing. Ive never met a 12 wk pup that didnt chew so to me its obvious that she would still be a chewer. She has not ripped anyhting at this point but I also dont leave her alone with anything to rip.

[lab fan]

We put a soft dog bed in the crate from the time Lucy came home at 8 weeks. She is a major chewer with her toys, but never once ripped her bed. She's 7 months old now, and will rip apart her stuffed toys in no time (under supervision!), but touch wood, still never tried to eat her bed. I did notice some crate pads at petsmart that looked pretty rugged (didn't look all that cozy mind you - but maybe if your pup is used to newspaper, she won't mind this type).

[dukesmommy22]

Paisley ( 19 weeks) had a bed in her crate that she did not chew much (plastic tag a bit) but after a poop accident, we threw it away. I just ordered bed covers from pet linens that I will stuff with pillows. Duke ( 1 1/2) has never chewed his bedding. I'd say go with harder canvas material like I found on pet linens instead of the fleecy-cotton fabric that doesn't seem as sturdy for chewers.

[BigBrownDog]

Some puppies will chew up their bedding and some will not. I would not leave her unattended with bedding in her crate until you are 100% certain that she can be trusted. Not just to keep the bedding intact, but because of the concern that she would ingest some of the bedding and potentially have a blockage from it.

That said - my younger dog uses his crate still and we have an assortment of old blankets/quilts that rotate in and out of there. He usually makes a nest so I do really worry about it being an exact fit anyway.