Crating during the day: What should be in the crate?

[Marion Carmickle]

First, thanks to everyone who is replying to my earlier threads...you are SOOOO helpful. Here is my next question. I am wondering what, if anything should I put in the crate with Riley if I am gone during the day? I am a part time school librarian and return to work next week. My husband will be available about 4-5 hrs after I leave, but I wonder if I should put a toy (any suggestions that are safe?) or not. I don't put anything in her crate at night except her pad (no toys). I don't want to increase any incidence of separation anxiety. Riley is 12 weeks old. Thanks for your help!

[diane silver]

Hi Marion,

I, too, have an 11-week-old pup, Emma, and when I leave her in the crate other than at night (the only thing in her crate at night is her Snuggle Puppy), I stuff a small Kong with peanut butter (I usually stuff it and then put it in the freezer) and that seems to keep her occupied. Of course, she always(!) cries when she knows we're leaving her, but we've looked in the window when we return, and she's always quiet and usually sleeping. As soon as she hears the key in the lock, though, she cries for us to take her out. I would not leave any chew toys in the crate with her when you're not home for fear of choking, but a Kong toy or something that she has to work at, would be fine. I also tried cheese in the Kong, but she doesn't seem to like it as much as the peanut butter. Hope this helps.

[Adina P]

I always left Rosco with a Kong stuffed with a few treats or food (but he wasn't left for 4-5 hours so perhaps that might make your puppy need to potty?). I also left another strong chew toy like a nylabone or strong squeeker in there too. Other than that the crate was empty. He didn't even have a crate pad because he would pee on anything absorbent. Oh and I kept the radio on to give him some noise to hear but I have no idea if it made a difference.

I too was off of work for Rosco's first week home. But I left him at various intervals so he would get used to being alone in his crate.

[1y8v0c0kycjxp]

I am a worry wart, so I don't put anything in the crate with my girls - I am afraid of what could happen if they choked on something I might leave in with them. But I know that some people put Kongs in with their dogs. Good luck with the new puppy!

[2sforeqbpo84w]

I think the favorite for most is a stuffed kong. It will kep Riley busy and give him a treat too! You can really change up what you stuff it with. We put all kinds of cookie treats, jerky, peanut butter, cheese, banana and apple in Cayenne's.

[hzs7npjxfgx2]

We really don't leave Jezzy with anything other than what she has at night. In the wild, wolves sleep about 16 hours a day, so her daytime crating isn't that different. This morning, since Jezzy is such a poor eater (skinny thing, I can't relate) I tried to put a small bowl of food in with her to only find a huge mess later ... So much for trying something new ...

We used the X pen setup for quite a while but we felt it was time to remove it when the housetraining seemed to come to a halt. She's done great in her crate ever since.