What to Put in a Dog Crate Ideas
Put a crate that fits your puppy, a thin washable mat, and one or two chew-safe toys inside, and keep everything else out at first. Take off your puppy’s collar before crating. Plush toys, rope toys, and thick blankets can wait until you have seen how your puppy chews. A crate works best as a plain, calm den, and a puppy that shreds or swallows bedding gets no comfort from it.
| Put in | Leave out |
|---|---|
| A thin, flat, washable mat with no stuffing to pull out | Thick comforters, loose towels, and beds with removable foam |
| One or two firm rubber chews, too big to swallow | Squeaky or stuffed toys, rope toys that unravel, anything small enough to choke on |
| A spill-proof bowl for short daytime stays, if needed | Collars and tags, which can catch on the bars |
| Meals, to build a good link with the crate | Cords, blind strings, or plants within reach through the bars |
Size
Your puppy should be able to stand, turn around, and lie down, and not much more. Extra room invites a toilet corner and undoes your potty training. If you bought the adult size, use a divider panel and move it back as your puppy grows. UC Davis recommends the same approach.
Bedding and toys: test before you trust
Accidents are normal early on, so choose a mat that goes straight into the washing machine. Watch a few short, supervised crate sessions. Holes, loose threads, or chewed corners mean the bedding comes out, and you can try again in a few weeks, since chewing often rises during teething. Throw away any toy as soon as pieces start coming off. A firm rubber chew stuffed with a spoonful of your puppy’s regular wet food and frozen makes crate time more rewarding.
Water, covers, and placement
Some trainers remove water an hour or two before bedtime for young puppies, because a full bladder leads to accidents and crying. Make sure your puppy drinks freely outside crate time. For meal amounts, see how much to feed a puppy.
A light cover over part of the crate calms some puppies and winds others up, so try it for a few nights and watch. Use a cover your puppy cannot pull in and chew, and leave one side open for airflow. Put the crate in a room where the family spends time, and for the first nights many owners keep it in the bedroom. If crying starts, read why puppies cry at night, and use the crate training guide for time limits and steps.
If your puppy swallows fabric, stuffing, or part of a toy, call the vet. If you saw the item go down, call right away instead of waiting for symptoms. Repeated vomiting, straining to pass stool, or unusual tiredness after chewing also need a call. The new puppy checklist covers the other supplies.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a veterinarian.