dog chewed up crate bedding-again!

[elektrasmom]

Hello,
My 11 month old Lab mix just destroyed her second crate pad. She destroyed the first one in September after I went back to work (I'm a teacher). I figured that she was frustrated at being in the crate after 2.5 months of roaming the house. We left her without a pad for a few days and then I bought another one because I felt bad for her laying on the hard plastic tray.
Well, I came home today and found that one also torn up, with battiing everywhere. She knows she did something bad because she won't look at it and goes into the other room when I look at it.

Any suggestions for a non-destructible crate bed? I'm considering making one by using layers of fabric with no batting, but I'm not sure that this would last either.

She is not in the crate for that long, since my husband leaves for work after I do and I get home relatively early.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ihartgonzo]

Have you considered just a sheet or blanket in her crate? If you really want a nearly indestructible bed, I've heard these are pretty tough: http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/42192.aspx?feature=Product_2 ....and these: http://www.cushionguy.com/Index.html

Do you give her things to work on, when she's in her crate? A stuffed frozen Kong could entertain her for over an hour. C:

 

[misticaleclipse]

Agreed, ^^^^ Maybe also some extra exercise in the morning to tire her out?
How long exackly if she in the crate?

 

[elektrasmom]

She is in the crate for aproximately 7 hours. If it will be longer, I get my dad or the dog sitter to come in and take her out.

I have been doing our "long walk" in the afternoon, especially since it was dark outside in the morning until just this week. We usually do go for a short brisk walk in the a.m. I *could* try to switch and go longer in the morning, but it's a stretch since I need to be out of the house by 7.

She gets a Kong filled with a mixture I make for her of bananas, yogurt, and peanut butter, frozen in ice cube trays before my husband leaves.

Does anyone else use a sheet or blanket?

 

[ihartgonzo]

My dogs have crate pads at home. But when we go to Flyball tournaments or camping or whatever, I just put a sheet or a towel in their crates because they're way easier to clean. They don't seem uncomfortable at all. Both of them lay around on hardwood floors in the house for hours at a time.

Do you have a fenced yard? Instead of a walk, could you just play with her for like a half an hour, and maybe some obedience work, enough to tire her out before she goes into the crate? She should be getting a good amount of physical exertion before being put into a crate for 7 hours straight... especially since she's still a puppy.