What Toys Are Safe in My Puppy’s Crate at Night?
Choose durable toys appropriately sized for your puppy’s mouth. Tough rubber toys you can stuff with treats and freeze are a safe bet for most puppies and dogs. This kind of toy is the most likely to keep a puppy engaged in a pastime called ‘occupational chewing’—she’ll stay happy and relaxed for a long time, and giving her this toy right at bedtime may even keep her busy until she falls asleep.
A treat-filled rubber toy also gives her something to work on besides her bedding, while reinforcing the idea that some things are fair game (her chew toys) and others are not (your possessions). And finally, when you place safe, satisfying chew toys in your puppy’s crate, you will help her associate the crate with pleasure—an association fundamental to successful crate training.
Is it OK to leave toys in dog crate?
Leaving toys in the crate with your pup can have many advantages, but, as with bedding, the same goes for toys – durable is best! You should never leave soft, stuffed toys or squeaky toys with your puppy, as she is likely to chew up and destroy them, and could potentially ingest pieces of them.