Now that Simon is a bit older I have been considering getting a crate pad for him. The thing is I don't want him to destroy it and I also am wondering if it would make it hotter in his kennel.

Thoughts? Suggestions? He isn't super destructive but he loves to pull the stuffing out of toys and he has ripped a hole in a blanket that was next to his kennel and pulled some of the stuffing out so maybe this is a bad idea.

I got Diz a bed when he was around Simon's age. I had been using an old pillow, and I tried to wash it and it came out all weird, so I went ahead and bought the bed. He's not very destructive either, he did chew on the sheet i was using to cover his crate a few times, but not much more than that. Maybe try something like that, or a towel and see how he does. Diz has never tried to chew his bed.

What kind of crate pad do you use? And the blanket he chewed and got the stuffing out was covering his crate too. I think Simon would be destructive but he has always had nylabones and antlers and they are just more fun to chew.

I have this one:

http://www.petco.com/product/116631/Petco-Brown-and-Tan-Memory-Foam-Rectangular-Pillow-Dog-Bed.aspx?CoreCat=MM_DogSupplies_Beds

Jeff (Link) uses and likes one called the Primo Pad and said it has lasted well with Link.

This is true. It has proven to be indestructible and super easy to clean since we have had it, almost a year now.

They are made of a non-toxic vinyl and they're soft and cool. Very common in the dog show world apparently.

www.primopads.com

Jeff, I have been looking forever to find an indestructible one for Nikolai because he has chewed several "indestructible" ones in the past, and he is starting to lose some hair and stuff on his elbows. This one looks great, can't wait to order it!

If I didn't order the exact size of the crate do you think it would be easier to chew on? Like does Link have absolutely no room to chew because it fits so well?

Exactly, it has to be the exact fit.  This pad is not recommended for a stand alone pad/bed, but a crate pad only.  

Also, make sure to order it with the tie down/zip tie tabs on it with their zip ties.  It will come with their own.   They have a crate size/pad size conversion chart on their site.  

Here's their zip tie/lock down tab and tie

Oh, and if you have an unusually sized crate they can customize a pad for you as well. You want it to be as flush on all walls as possible.

Yeah, thats what I thought you would say. Just hoping that I could save some money and get a smaller one since he has a massive crate, its going to be pretty expensive. But if it lasts and keeps him from having to lay on that rough crate ground then it will be worth the money. Wish I had known about this before I spent $20 or more on 3 beds that he has ruined!

Yeah, no cutting costs.  If the ends are exposed that is just an open invitation to start chewing. But this is exactly what their lock down system aims to prevent...successfully in our case.

Just ordered one. I'm very excited and hopeful that there is no way Nikolai can ruin this, plus this will be better if he does have a seizure in his crate it will be more comfertable. I just couldn't believe shipping was $12.95   

Jeff, finally got my primo pad! I love it, I'm glad I saw this. Nikolai as we speak is currently trying to tear it up and it having no luck as far as I can tell from our little pet cam, but I will be very impressed if it continues to hold up! I think our size was a little off but I was able to make it fit.

All of our dog crates have a wool sheepskin rug in them like below in the pic. Any other type of bed or blanket got destroyed in the early days until we tried these. Beowulf, as a pup, had a little fun trying to rip the wool out in places, but it was quickly caught and corrected, and now he loves laying on his rug. Funny, because his fur matches the rug and he is totally camouflaged when asleep curled up in his wulfball. The wool keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I've also read about how wool is a natural flea and pest repellant, as they can't or choose not to live in it. Not sure how true that is, but if it is, that's just another perk!



I found some pics of Beowulf camouflaging himself outside of his crate, after he no longer needed a crate and the dogs were given an entire bedroom to be theirs, aka The Dog Room:




Looking like his normal, rascally puppy self, always so guilty looking: