What to put in a puppy crate: first night, nights and work days

Keep the inside of the crate simple: something washable to lie on, water in a bowl that clips to the side, one chew that is safe to leave, and a cover over the top and sides with the front open. Take the collar off and leave the puppy pad out. On the first night, add a blanket that smells of the litter and stand the crate beside your bed. A work day is different: the RSPCA says "It's never acceptable to shut your dog in the crate all day while you go to work", so that day needs a pen and someone calling in, whatever the crate holds.

Puplr earns from some links on this page. We have not tested these products; the guide is built from the sources listed at the bottom and Puplr's breed data. How we write guides.

What goes in, by situation

The basics barely change. Blue Cross lists them in one line: "Whilst in the crate your dog should have comfortable bedding, water and a suitable chew toy." What changes is the extras, and how long the door stays shut.

For the work day, the pen set up and what each charity says about time alone are in crate or playpen for a puppy.

What the evidence covers

Very little of this has been studied. We found no study comparing bedding, covers or toys in a puppy's crate at home, so nearly everything here is the published advice of charities and vets. Three things have a study or a veterinary source behind them.

• Swallowed bedding and toy pieces. VCA Animal Hospitals lists "articles of clothing" among the things dogs swallow, and says "Foreign body obstruction is one of the more common and potentially life-threatening conditions seen in veterinary practice." The MSD Veterinary Manual adds that "Young, large-breed dogs are more likely to have an obstruction caused by eating a foreign object." A 2009 look back at 208 cases in dogs and cats, from an RSPCA animal hospital, found "Overall, 91 per cent of cases recovered", and that a longer spell of signs before treatment went with more deaths. The abstract does not say what the objects were, so the study cannot tell you how often bedding is to blame.
• Pheromone collars on the first nights. In a 2008 placebo controlled trial, 32 pet shop puppies wore a dog appeasing pheromone collar and 34 wore a control collar, and their new owners were phoned 3 and 15 days after taking them home. "All the isolated puppies from the control group vocalised during the first night", and in the pheromone group "vocalisation during the night ceased significantly sooner". The collars "had no effect on the incidence of house soiling." The authors worked at a pheromone research institute. A 2010 systematic review of pheromone studies published from 1998 to 2008 was cooler: it put "vocalizing and house soiling in recently adopted puppies" among the uses with insufficient evidence, and concluded that "11 of the 14 reports reviewed provided insufficient evidence".
• Heat. RSPCA Australia: "Very young animals have a limited ability to regulate their body temperature". The PDSA lists a "room without proper ventilation" among the places a dog can overheat. That is why the cover comes off in warm weather.

What to look for

• Bedding that washes and suits a chewer. Humane World for Animals: "Make sure the bedding is washable and appropriate for your dog's size and chewing habits." The Royal Kennel Club suggests a synthetic fleece that is "hygienic, machine washable, totally non-allergenic and relatively resistant to chewing", and says to "Buy two pieces so you use one while washing and drying the other."
• Bedding that leaves room. The PDSA wants bedding that "covers most of the crate floor, with space left for bowls." The Royal Kennel Club notes that "not all dogs like lots of bedding so go with what your dog seems to want".
• A water bowl that cannot tip. RSPCA Australia asks for water "in a bowl made of non-toxic material that they cannot chew or knock over." Battersea describes the two kinds: "you can get special bowls for metal crates that hook onto the side or non-spill water bowls that work well in fabric crates."
• A chew sized for your puppy and safe when nobody is watching. Humane World for Animals: "Toys that are too small can easily be swallowed or become lodged in your dog's throat." The AKC notes that "A power chewer might tear chunks off a softer rubber toy". Sizes and the chews to skip are in best chew toys for teething puppies.
• A cover that leaves the front open. Battersea: "cover the crate in a thick blanket or towel so that all sides are covered apart from the door." The RSPCA suggests less: "Placing a cover over part of the crate can help nervous dogs."
• Something that smells familiar. Battersea: "Ask your breeder if you can take something that smells like home, like a blanket or toy from mum and the litter." Later, something of yours can do the same job: Humane World for Animals says an old T-shirt, towel or blanket "can be very comforting to a dog, especially if the item smells like you", then warns that "the item could be destroyed by industrious fluffing, carrying and nosing."
• Nothing with a cord or a heat source. VCA Animal Hospitals: "Never lock your pet in a carrier or crate with a heating pad, where they can't get away if it gets too hot."
• A cleaner for accidents. Humane World for Animals: "Clean soiled areas thoroughly to remove scents that might encourage repeat accidents."

Claims that do not hold up

"A puppy pad belongs in the crate." VCA Animal Hospitals says the opposite to anyone using pads: "you may want to avoid lining their crate with them so as not to confuse your puppy about which area to eliminate in." A crate helps with toilet training because, in one of the right size, VCA says puppies "become reluctant to eliminate in their bedding". If your puppy has to toilet indoors while you are out, that is a job for a pen, and puppy pads covers where the pad goes.

"Never leave water in a crate." The UK charities say the reverse. The PDSA: "Make sure your dog always has access to water in the crate." A clip on bowl deals with spills. For the nights, two charities do allow lifting the bowl in the evening: SPCA New Zealand says "Healthy puppies can have their water taken from them a few hours before bedtime", and Humane World for Animals says to remove the dish "about two and a half hours before bedtime". Ask your vet before making a habit of this.

"A soft bed suits every puppy." Most charities say to add bedding from the start, but the AKC warns: "use caution when putting a bed or blankets inside. Many puppies prefer to go potty on soft, porous surfaces like these." A behaviourist quoted by PetMD names the other risk: "Some dogs chew and ingest their bedding; others snuggle up". Watch what your puppy does with the bedding in the first few days, and take the bedding out if they shred or wet any of the fabric.

"A heartbeat toy stops the crying." We found no published study of heartbeat toys, so we cannot say whether they work. A trainer writing for Preventive Vet says the warmth and heartbeat "can help relieve or lessen anxiety and be comforting to a lot of dogs", which is one person's experience. She also says not to give one to a keen chewer, because the batteries, the heat pack and the stuffing "can cause problems for dogs who chew or swallow them."

"A heat pad makes the crate cosy." VCA Animal Hospitals answers its own true or false question on heating pads with false: "What starts out as a cozy, warm pad can heat up over time to cause burns". The Royal Kennel Club's advice is bedding "suitable for your dog and the temperature of the room".

"With enough toys, a crate is fine while you work." SPCA New Zealand: "It is never acceptable to shut your dog in the crate all day while you go to work." The Royal Kennel Club says not to leave a puppy in a crate "for more than a couple of hours during the daytime", and Humane World for Animals says "Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time." VCA Animal Hospitals: "Extended periods of confinement are not healthy for animals."

The kit

Linked to search results for your country, so you compare current products yourself. Nothing is named, because we have not tested any of it.

Which crate to buy and how to size the divider are in best crate for a puppy, and the rest of the first week's shopping is on what to buy.

How to set it up for the first night

1. Stand the crate beside your bed, out of the heat and the draught. Blue Cross: "We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate." Humane World for Animals suggests "your bedroom or nearby in a hallway". The Royal Kennel Club says to keep a crate "away from direct heat or draughts."
2. Lay the bedding. Set the divider first, so the space is just big enough to stand, turn round and lie down, as VCA describes.
3. Add the smell of the litter. The PDSA: "Breeders will usually give you something that smells of the pup's mum to take home (such as a blanket)." Battersea's reason: "Familiar smells are comforting for a worried puppy." For a soft toy, the PDSA's vets suggest a teddy bear to snuggle up to, "but make sure they can't be chewed up and swallowed!"
4. Clip on the water bowl. The RSPCA suggests a bowl that clips to the crate so the water cannot be tipped over.
5. Cover the top and sides, front open. Dogs Trust: "You can cover the top and sides with a blanket to exclude draughts and reduce sounds from outside." The PDSA's vets explain why: "If their bed is too open and exposed, it can make your puppy feel vulnerable."
6. Take the collar off. The Royal Kennel Club: "Always remove the puppy's collar when in the crate in case it gets caught up on it." The AKC says the same. Preventive Vet's trainer explains that "dangling dog tags and even collars can get caught in crate bars, creating a strangulation hazard for dogs."
7. Last toilet trip, then one calm chew. The PDSA's vets suggest "their favourite toy or chew at bedtime (as long as it's safe to leave them alone with it) as chewing can help soothe and calm them." Battersea says to "Expect and plan to be up every 3-4 hours."
8. Move the crate later, a little at a time. Blue Cross: "Once they have settled after a few nights, you can gradually move their bed or crate away from you to the desired location, inch by inch."

Building up time with the door shut is training, and the steps are in crate training. Everything else to have ready before collection day is on the puppy checklist.

Flat faced puppies need the most care in warm weather. The PDSA says flat faced dogs are "at a very high risk of heatstroke, even on cool days". These are some of the 32 breeds Puplr treats as flat faced:

And 20 more in the breed guides.

Common questions

Should I put a bed in my puppy's crate?

Yes, for most puppies, as long as the bedding is washable and they are not eating any of the stuffing or fabric. Humane World for Animals: "Yes, you should put a comfortable bed or blanket in a dog crate to make it a cozy and inviting space." The AKC suggests holding back soft bedding for a puppy who wets or shreds fabric.

Should I put water in a puppy crate at night?

The UK charities say yes, and Battersea puts it simply: "Remember that your dog should always have access to water". SPCA New Zealand and Humane World for Animals allow lifting the water a few hours before bed. If night time accidents are a problem, Preventive Vet's trainer says to "speak with your veterinarian about removing their access to water an hour or two before bedtime and throughout the night".

Should I put a pee pad in the crate?

No. VCA Animal Hospitals advises against lining the crate with pads, so your puppy is not confused about where to go. If you rely on pads, put one in a pen, at the far end from the bed.

What do I put in the crate while I am at work?

For a full working day, do not use a closed crate at all. The RSPCA says adult dogs who are used to a crate are "normally quite happy to be left for about three hours", and the Royal Kennel Club gives a puppy a couple of hours. Set up a pen with the crate inside and the door open, with water, safe chews and a toilet spot, and arrange a visit in the middle of the day.

Should I shut the crate door on the first night?

The sources differ. Humane World for Animals and SPCA New Zealand describe a puppy sleeping in a crate near your bed, with you getting up for toilet trips. Dogs Trust says "You should avoid shutting your puppy in their crate at night", and suggests you "start by sleeping in the same room as them and gradually moving away." A pen around the open crate, next to your bed, is one way to follow both.

How we worked this out

We did not test any bedding, bowls, covers or toys. This guide is built from welfare charities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US, two kennel clubs, veterinary hospital and manual pages, three published papers read as PubMed abstracts, and two articles quoting trainers and a behaviourist, all opened and read on 14 October 2026 and quoted word for word where they are quoted. Every source is listed below.

The evidence is thin. We found no study of what belongs in a home crate, of heartbeat toys or of crate covers. The pheromone trial followed 66 pet shop puppies through their owners' answers by phone, and the review that judged such trials covered work up to 2008. The foreign body study counted 208 dogs and cats, and the abstract does not list what they swallowed. Everything else is the published advice of the bodies named, which is why the advice differs. The flat faced list is the one Puplr uses on its breed pages, from Puplr's 384 breed records.

Where the sources disagree, we have said so. The main differences:

• Bedding from day one. The RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, the PDSA and Humane World for Animals say to add comfortable bedding. The AKC says to wait until accidents and shredding stop.
• Water at night. The PDSA, Dogs Trust and Battersea say water should always be available. SPCA New Zealand and Humane World for Animals allow lifting the bowl before bed.
• The crate door at night. Humane World for Animals and SPCA New Zealand describe crating a puppy overnight. Dogs Trust says to avoid shutting a puppy in a crate at night, and that a pen can suit nights better.
• Where the crate stands. Blue Cross and Humane World for Animals say your bedroom at first, then move the crate. The PDSA says to decide where your puppy will sleep and stick to that from the start, sleeping in the same room yourself for the first few nights.
• Covers. Battersea covers every side but the door; the RSPCA suggests covering part; a trainer quoted by PetMD says to cover a crate only when someone is home, because of heat.

This guide was drafted with an AI writing tool and checked against every source listed. Read more about how we write buying guides.