The first time I ever saw a decorative crate cover was a few years ago at a trade show.  A young woman explained that she had a small apartment and crated her dog while she was at work.  Having little space to work with, she thought it would be convenient to be able to use the crate as a coffee table, so she designed a cover for it to coordinate with the rest of her decor.  What a great idea!

Many companies are now designing crate covers and Furry Travelers recently added a few to our product line - with matching crate pads.  So cute! 

The best part of a crate cover is the benefit to your dog.  Dogs are den dewlling animals by instinct.  A crate that is covered provides the dog with a den-like atmosphere.  This is very useful when you are away from home, whether or not you bring your pooch with you.

If you keep the crate in an area that can become drafty or cold, the cover will help keep your pet warm.  In the summer months, the cover can provide shade.

Crating Tips:

• Think of the crate as a good thing. In time, your dog will too.
• Let your dog out often enough so that it is not forced to soil the crate.
• Let the dog out if it whines because it needs to eliminate. If you know it doesn't have to eliminate, correct it for whining or barking.
• Clean the crate regularly, especially if you've put in a pad or pillow, or if you have flea problems.
• Forgive your dog if it soils the crate. It probably just couldn't wait any longer.
• Don't use the crate as a punishment.
• Don't leave the dog in the crate for a long time after letting it eat and drink a lot. (Your dog will be uncomfortable and may have to eliminate in the crate.)
• Keep your dog's crate time at a minimum. Dogs sleep and rest a lot, but not all the time. They need play time and exercise.
• When you are at home, they should not be in the crate (except at night when they are still very young puppies). If necessary, put a leash on your pup and tie it around your waist while you're at home.
• Continue to use the crate, even after your puppy is housebroken.  Occasionally using the crate will make traveling and special situations that require crating easier.
• Most dogs like cooler temperatures than their human companions and prefer to stretch out on a hard, cool surface.  If your dog prefers tile to carpet, you may want to skip the pad - or leave a portion of the crate floor bare.  If you use a pad or pillow, clean frequently. 

Our 5 month old puppy, Katie, is the first puppy we did not crate-train.  Now that I work at home, we thought it was easier not to.  This was a mistake.  Our little Katie had emergency surgery on Friday and we are taking her home tonight.  The vet told us we must keep her in a crate so she doesn't hurt herself (and to prevent her from roughhousing with our other dog).  So, we now have to hope that her few days in a cage at the hospital will be enough to make her happy to be in a crate at home.   We will be using the ProSelect 2-Piece Crate Cover and Bed Set!