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The best dog crate mats for creating your pup’s comfortable napping space

PawTracks Contributor
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Although dog crate mats are great, you need to be careful about what kinds to get for your dog. Some plush ones may not work with dogs that just want to tear up another stuffed pillow or plush item. Others may dislike the feeling of waterproof fabrics. If your dog crate is metal, you may want to find mats that are thick and insulated so that the feeling of the metal underneath does not travel through the mat.

Dog crate mats come in all different shapes, sizes, and functionalities, so look into what the perfect dog crate mat is for you. A waterproof mat for dog crates helps with cleanup and any spills or slobbers that could accumulate inside of the crate. If you think that waterproof mats may be uncomfortable, a washable dog crate mat will make it easy for any cleanup after the fact. You can also look for the best materials that will complement your dog’s needs.

Midwest Homes For Pets Pet Bed

Best Plush

The Midwest Homes For Pets Pet Bed is a deluxe dog bed that will fit right into your dog’s crate. The plush dog bed is made of cozy synthetic fibers that set up a comfortable spot for your dog to lie down in. The swirled ombre design makes for an interesting pattern that will fit into many modern home aesthetics. The dog crate bed is machine-washable, so you can conveniently clean it up when it gets dirty.

Related

Hero Dog Crate Pad

Best Anti-Slip

If your dog is prone to running around and moving, the Hero Dog Crate Pad will make sure that it sticks right to the bottom of the crate. The mat has a non-skid bottom that prevents any movement. It is also designed to be orthopedic and is stuffed with durable, plush fleece. Your dog’s back will be supported by the thick padding. The cover is shed- and pill-resistant.

Gorilla Grip Bed Mat for Dogs

Best Absorbent

The Gorilla Grip Bed Mat for Dogs is perfect if you need something absorbent because of your puppy’s needs. The four-layer design has a soft, cotton-blend, quilted top layer; a slip-resistant backing; and two inner layers of leak-proof padding. The pad offers a lot of coverage for your dog crate, and liquids are dispersed in the layers so that you do not get thick trouble spots.

Keep your dog comfortable when they are in their crate with the perfect dog crate mat. You can keep them cozy with a plush and soft dog bed, or you can find something more supportive if your dogs are older or have bone problems. You can see your dog sleeping soundly when they rest their body on their very own dog crate mat.

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Winter in much of the U.S. typically means freezing rain, snow, and ice. Although we love the tranquil beauty of waking up to a White Christmas, cozy sweaters, hot chocolate, and holiday meals, the winter months aren't all fun and festivities. However, while hidden patches of black ice to power outages in subzero temperatures are dangerous, the weather isn't the only part of winter that can be frightful.

Not only is it important for all pet parents to bundle up beloved fur babies in weatherproof boots and sweaters, but they should also be aware of another potential danger awaiting their dogs: ice melters. Some brands claim to make their ice melter pet-safe, but can they still harm dogs? Here's everything you need to know about this potentially deadly chemical danger.

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Do dogs recognize themselves in mirrors? According to experts, this is why your dog can’t stop staring
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Pug puppy sniffs reflection in mirror

From scenes of snoot booping and dog yoga to adorable, husky howls, there's no shortage of dog videos to get caught up in. Clips of pets reacting to their reflections are some of the fun ones that make the rounds on social media and they've raised a lot of questions about dogs and mirrors.
Some pets have basically no response whatsoever, while others go absolutely bonkers when they see their second self. There’s no doubt that our furry friends see and react to something in the looking glass, but do dogs recognize themselves in mirrors?
The jury is technically still out on this one, but research is starting to reveal more about the minds of our canine companions. Either way, it’s certainly entertaining to watch your pup discover their own reflection — or whatever they think it is. Sniffing, head tilts, and even frantic barking are common reactions to that mysterious creature in the mirror, but what does it all mean?

Do dogs recognize themselves in mirrors? Here's what experts have to say
The Mirror Test is a classic -- yet controversial -- scientific experiment to help researchers determine the level of self-awareness in animals. In this experiment, explains Affinity Pet Care, scientists will place a mark (something like paint or marker) on an area of the body that the animal can see only by looking in the mirror. If a test subject examines the mark on their own body (by pawing or scratching, for example) after only seeing it in the mirror, researchers can conclude they have self-recognition. According to many sources, including the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs fail this test.
Today, canine behaviorists have more exact and appropriate ways to test for self-awareness. For example, even though dogs fail the mirror test, they pass a more recent "body as obstacle" test with flying colors. In this experiment shared by the AKC, a dog is tasked to pick up a toy and hand it to its owner. Here's the catch: the toy was sometimes attached to the mat that the dog is sitting on. In an effort to see whether the dog can recognize their own body as the obstacle, researchers wanted to see if pups would get off the mat in order to move the toy. And they did!
Since dogs know where their body is in space, they may have more self-recognition than we realize. Still, although some dogs react to their own reflection, research has not yet confirmed that dogs recognize the reflection as another dog — let alone as themselves.

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