I need some advice...

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi everyone! I'm kind of frustrated with Albus right now. He sleeps in a crate at night, both for his safety (so he doesn't get into something he shouldn't) and to ease my mind so I know where he is. He absolutely loves his crate, so no problems there. I just want him to be more comfortable than just have him laying on the plastic tray.

I have tried putting blankets, carpet pads, carpet rugs on top of padding, beds, you name it, but he never fails in chewing it to pieces. I know dogs chew and it's their instinct, but I don't understand why he doesn't like sleeping with all the comfy stuff I give him! I'd like to find something that will last long-term so I don't keep throwing away my money on things he will destroy... I am a college student, you know.

I realize NOTHING is completely indestructible, but I'm sure there is something better out there that I'm just not thinking of. Can anyone give me suggestions on this please? Thanks in advance! :)

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

Maybe he's a HOT dog who likes a cool surface...?? Some dogs actually prefer hardwood, tile, or the lawn over couches, beds, and pillows.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I absolutely agree this could be what's going on. They're all so different. Our one year old loves soft, cushy beds. Our 12 week old puppy just gets too hot. He would rather sleep on the cold bathroom tiled floor or our brick raised fireplace hearth than anywhere else.

[Heather ~Koco~Chocolate]

I agree, I have a shih tzu who prefers the tile and she is also crate trained.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have one dog that loves the comfy blankets and another that hates them in his crate--He loves the coolness of the plastic tray, the cement floor, the hardwood floors, and even goes out into the snow to lie down.

My husband teases me when I find this horrible. He uses the joke, " I'm cold, so you put on a sweater". You and I love blankets. Sometimes the dogs really don't.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We all typed the same thing at the same time. We all think you have a " Pretty Cool Dog" LOL

[Karen P]

Chewie has a nice comfy bed in his kennel and he always flops himself down on the cold plastic tray part. The same thing with our floors, he almost always lays on the wood even though he has soft carpet also. Crazy Doodles !!!

[Liza, Halle and Finn]

My Kachi would chew, or dig, at any soft surface I would put in his crate. He preferred the hard plastic tray, as well. And now that he is older, and no longer sleeps in a crate, he alternates between our bed, and the cold tile floor in the bathroom. I've spent a lot of $ on dog beds, and has always preferred the hard, colder surfaces to soft, warmer ones. I think he actually runs a little hot all the time. Your dog maybe is the same. Thankfully, like Jane said, our puppy loves to sleep on the dog bed!!

[Valarie]

We bought Sophie a nice comfy bed but she still prefers the hardwood floor. When we had snow on the ground, she would plop right down in it. Sometimes we think what is comfortable for us is what our puppies need also but that's not always true. Let him be a dog ;-)

[BG and Gavin]

We have a sherpa type crate pad. Sometimes Gavin lies on it resting his head on the bolster, other times he scrunches it all over to one side so he can lay on the plastic. Usually on the pad at night, beside the pad during the day. He likes the bathroom tile and the cement patio outside too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca used to chew up beds, or carpeting in his crate, Calla never. Now they both have in crate and out of crate beds and they alternate between carpet, tile beds etc.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I had lots of blankets, etc. in Fudge's crate and she hated it. She wanted to sleep right on the crate floor....she gets very hot. Now, I don't crate her and she still prefers the cold, hardwood floor to our bed or the beds I have for her in our room. Save your money and let him sleep how he likes :)

I did find one bed Fudge likes from Target. It is not a soft material, but kind of like a canvas material. It was cheap and red on one side and black on the other, it that helps at all. Good luck.

[shelly]

Oh Caitlin - we have the same problem with Tori.. EVERYthing - even the so called "indestructible" pads get destroyed and torn apart! So I will definitely be following this one! Thanks!