Should you cover your dog’s crate? Owners are constantly trying to find new ways to make the crate more appealing, cozy, and welcoming for their dogs. After all, the crate can be such a useful tool when our dog actually enjoys being in there.
This article contains everything you need to know, and includes 9 useful tips on making the crate your dog’s favorite place.
The short answer is that it depends on your dog. Although covering your dog’s crate with a blanket has it’s positives, not all dogs like it. Covering the crate might help a nervous dog feel more calm and safe, while for others it could cause them to fear the crate even more.
5) Contributes To Reducing Anxiety
Whether you should cover a dog crate with a blanket depends on the type of anxiety your dog is experiencing.
A lack of visual stimuli can help reduce their fear.
Or, if they are struggling to fall asleep, it can be the difference between them finally falling asleep or staying awake (and potentially keeping you awake!).
4) Makes Falling Asleep Easier
Does your dog struggle with getting quality rest time?
With things in your home always being go go go, having a blanket to put over their crate can help them drown out the distractions and get some quality R&R.
A darkened crate will help send signals to their mind and body that it’s time to rest. Just like when our bodies naturally release melatonin as the sun goes down.
You can manually help them become more relaxed and ready for a nap by placing a blanket over their crate.
3) Suitable dog mat/bed (not a fluffy blanket!)
I know how tempting it can be to get a super soft fluffy blanket for your puppy. While it seems like the right thing to do, it’s actually encouraging him to chew and shred which is a bad habit you want to avoid.
It may appear to make the crate “cozy” but it’s doing more bad than good. Instead, you should opt for a proper crate mat that is still very comfortable but just made out of a more suitable, tougher material. I have a recommended option below