Nanook is crate trained and when we leave him in the crate during the day we leave a couple of "plastic" (not sure what the material really is) bones and a plush toy. I've given him a rawhide bone and a small elk antler, but I haven't let him have those unsupervised (little paranoid he'll choke when I'm not there and I'd rather not come home to a dead puppy ). I was wondering does anyone leave bones like the rawhides/antler in the crate with their puppy when they are gone or recommend it?

I do but now that you said something idk if i will anymore lol.. Haha

I would only leave something big enough that I know they couldn't coke on it or swallow it.

The only thing I used to leave in our crates was a half filled kong. If they get bored enough during the day they would just throw it around or chew on it empty.

Personally I would never leave rawhide.

How long are you keeping him in the crate during the day? It might be better to seclude him to one room where there isn't anything he can get into and provide him several toy options.

On average (sadly) about 9 hrs. We're looking into getting someone to come by and walk him during the day and he does have a few options to choose from in regards to chews (including a stuffed Kong).

I go with the stuffed kong- with frozen goodies inside to make it last a LITTLE longer, lol. And the antler. If the antler is big enough it shouldn't break apart. I don't give my dogs rawhide when I'm not here to supervise.. I've seen WAY too many surgeries for foreign objects at work! lol

I leave a bone in the crate with Roxy, but she's not a very aggressive chewer so I don't have to worry about her breaking off big pieces to chew on. Once you feel like you know your dogs chewing patterns and if he's not too aggressive I wouldn't be too worried.

I just leave a metal bowl in the crate with water, Bella surfs around in her crate all day. i will warn you that it is loud though.... like really really loud.

I don't leave small chew things of any kind with my dogs while I am not home. I either buy digestible chew type things (NOT rawhide), BIG antlers (meaning too big to be able to swallow), or a frozen kong. I always leave a kong, filled or not. They will find ways to entertain themselves with most anything.

I personally wouldn't want to leave plush toys alone with my girls. Sheba likes to rip them apart, not always though. Very rarely in fact. Still, I wouldn't want to take the chance of her deciding then that she wanted to rip into it.

I also have a Nylabone toy that you put a treat in the middle and it has four holes in the sides that can be filled with water and frozen. I used it a lot when Sheba was teething, but she still loves it.

I used to leave one of those "Tuff" branded soft toys and a stuffed kong in the crate. I'd leave them in a specific posistion so I would know if she used either one. Though, Sky never really seemed to chew on them while I was away

I don't leave anything in Kale's crate when I do crate him (water of course). He doesn't touch them when he's in there anyway. Just sleeps. He could be in there for 8 hours and he'd sleep the entire time LOL

Hypers87, so you crate Kale too? How long is he in at a time?

I leave Cash with his kong, a Nylabone, and a few squeaky toys (and his blankets). He doesn't pay much attention to any of them really but at least they are there.... he chews mostly on a rope and rawhide that he only gets supervised. I haven't been leaving water because he's only in there for a few hours at a time, maybe I should start.... I was afraid he'd spill it and didn't want him wet all while I was gone.

I don't really anymore. He stays in the house now, leashed to the coffee table. I crate him outside when I do decide to put him out, usually when it's nice out. He is usually in there no longer then 4 hours at a time (combo locks to combat anyone wanting to dognap him). Usually 3 and a half hours. I wouldn't leave rawhides, but that's just me. I've already gone through an obstruction surgery with Kale (not from rawhide, but rawhide is still a risk). It was the worst day of my life. I don't like rawhides in general.

I put a large antler in with all of mine.