Moon's Graden

I have a large Shep/Malamute X who sleeps in a metal crate in the house
at night or if the weather is unpleasant.  He's a maniac in the house
and the energy that I thought might dissipate as he aged has not!  He
likes his crate, but as a big dog reaching 4 years of age I am concerned
about arthritis and what the hard metal bottom might be doing to his
joints.  I can't put a blanket in there or he will eat it, so I am
trying to come up with other options to soften things up for him.  Any
ideas? Anyone with similar experiences?  Or is there some way I can
teach him not to eat a blanket or dog bed?  (He has PLENTY of chew toys,
just likes the soft, squishy things (blankies, beds, etc) the most.
Thanks for any help - he's a good boy and I feel awfully guilty that he
doesn't have a softer place to sleep.

Heather

        Well, you could try cutting a piece of plywood to just fit the
bottom of the cage.  That alone would help some.  Then, you could try
putting a sheet of soft foam etc. on the wood, then covering that with a
durable material from a fabric store, stapling, tacking, or screwing it to
the underside of the wood so it can't easily be destroyed.

                                                -Scott Allen

        "At dawn we will face the greatest test of our resolve.  But I
say this: though starving, hunger will not weaken us; though diseased,
illness will not cripple us, and though weary, exhaustion will not claim
us.  We can fight knowing that all true Reiklanders will forevermore
honour our valiant gesture of defiance, even though our bodies be left to
feed the beasts of carrion.

        Mind you...we could always surrender."  -Rick Priestly's Siege    

I bought one of those egg-crate mattress pads, bought one of those velour-y
blankets (that don't ravel when you cut them), cut both up, wrapped the
fabric around the foam and safety-pinned it at the corners (under the pad).
Instant pad (sized to fit the crate exactly). and you can unpin the fabric
and wash it. Dunno if your guy would try to tear it up or not.

Anita

I don't have a good alternative, but I wouldn't use anything with pins,
 staples, or anything like that if there's a possiblity that your dog will chew
 it.
Have you tried the dog beds filled with cedar shavings? Does he chew those,
 too?  Or how about a piece of plush carpet from a remnant?
Dorothy

Petra in Tacoma, WA

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Petra in Tacoma, WA