Short answer: Before you buy a chew proof crate pad, know this. For a puppy who shreds or soils bedding, the sources suggest bare or minimal bedding until she’s reliable. For a bed anyway, the metal-framed K9 Ballistics Chew Proof Elevated Cot Bed topped Whole Dog Journal’s test.
On the other hand, a settled puppy who stays dry and leaves her bed alone can have a soft, washable crate pad.
You open the crate in the morning and find foam on the floor. One corner of the new pad is gone, and you can’t tell where it went.
Still, the bigger worry is what she swallows. Taking bedding away while you work on the chewing beats an intestinal obstruction, Whole Dog Journal warns. If an obstruction occurs, surgery is the only treatment, per VCA.
Picking foam out of the crate wears anyone down, so buy for what she does this month.
Which crate pad fits your puppy right now?
In short, what goes on her crate floor depends on what she does with it.
| What she does | What goes on the crate floor | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shreds or swallows fabric | Bare or minimal bedding, or a metal-framed crate bed | Swallowed pieces can block her gut |
| Pees or poops on her bedding | No bedding for a short time | Some puppies prefer to go on something soft |
| Chews corners now and then | A tough pad tied down at the corners | Less loose edge for her teeth |
| Leaves her bed alone, stays dry | A soft, washable crate pad | A cozy crate helps her relax there |
We sell the First 14 Days Kit and link our free Potty Break Timer, both below.
Which chew proof crate pad holds up best?
Trainer Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA, tested chew-proof beds for Whole Dog Journal. So start with the two beds she tested. The other three, however, rest on listings.
| Pad | Best for | Hands-on tested | Build | Price tier | Chew rating, maker’s words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K9 Ballistics Elevated Cot Bed | A serious chewer | Yes, Whole Dog Journal | Aluminum frame, fabric sling | Mid-range | “Chew proof design” |
| K9 Ballistics Padded Crate Bed | A corner nibbler | Yes, Whole Dog Journal | Aluminum frame, 1.5 in padded center | Premium | “Chew proof design” |
| K9 Ballistics Tough Ripstop Pad | Mild chewing, digging | No, listing only | Rip-stop fabric, fiberfill | Mid-range | “Mild chewing” |
| Mud River Crate Cushion | Rare accidents | No, listing only | 1 in closed-cell foam | Budget | “Not recommended for chronic chewers” |
| MidWest QuietTime Bolster Bed | A settled puppy | No, listing only | Fleece bed with bolster | Budget | “Not ideal for excessive chewers” |
Price tier compares the Amazon price of the size each link opens, read October 2026.
K9 Ballistics Chew Proof Elevated Cot Bed: for the serious chewer
This rip-stop version came out on top in Whole Dog Journal’s test. An aluminum frame guards the corners. Its edges also sit flush in a properly sized crate. In fact, the tester found it nearly impossible to chew.
Good for: a puppy who has already destroyed a soft bed.
Watch out for: no padding, only a fabric sling with a little give. So check your crate’s inside measurements first.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
K9 Ballistics Chew Proof Armored Padded Crate Bed: frame plus cushion
Same aluminum frame, with a center padded to 1.5 inches. The legs are optional, too. The tester docked it a star, since padding tempts chewers more.
Good for: a puppy who nibbles corners but leaves the middle alone.
Watch out for: the padded center can draw a chewer.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
K9 Ballistics Tough Ripstop Crate Pad: for mild chewing and digging
A flat fiberfill pad in rip-stop fabric. The maker rates it for scratching, digging and mild chewing. Also, corner loops take zip ties to fix it to the crate floor.
Good for: a young puppy who scratches and nibbles but doesn’t shred.
Watch out for: no frame, so a strong chewer can get at it.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
Mud River Crate Cushion: a water-resistant top for rare accidents
One inch of closed-cell foam with a water-resistant top. However, the maker says it is not recommended for chronic chewers or diggers.
Good for: a puppy who doesn’t shred and has only the odd accident.
Watch out for: this link opens the X-Large/Jumbo, 32 x 22 inches.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
MidWest QuietTime Bolster Bed: for the settled puppy
A soft fleece crate bed that is fully machine washable and dryer safe. Still, MidWest itself calls it not ideal for excessive chewers.
Good for: a puppy who sleeps on her bed and keeps it dry.
Watch out for: this link opens the 30-inch size.
Check today’s price on Amazon →
What about Primo Pads from the same test?
Primo Pads were the test’s budget pick. They’re firm closed-cell foam in a waterproof, dust-proof and hair-proof cover. They’re heat-closed, with no zippers or stitching, which makes them less enticing for chewers. So you hose or wipe them down, then let them dry. Also, an optional lockdown system of reusable zip ties holds the pad to a wire crate floor. The warranty is the catch. But the brand replaces a chewed pad once, only within 30 days.
Is any crate pad really chew proof?
Not fully. Even Bully Beds, a crate pad maker, says no dog bed or pad is completely chew proof.
“Know that even products marketed as indestructible dog beds are likely not 100% indestructible”
Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA, certified dog trainer, writing for Whole Dog Journal
So she advises looking for a chew-proof warranty, metal or plastic frames, and ripstop or ballistic nylon. For a dog who rips foam or eats stuffing, however, skip padding entirely.
What makes a chew proof crate pad hard to chew?
- Zippers. For example, Bully Beds uses none, to prevent choking or blockages if a dog swallows anything.
- Padding and stuffing. A padded center draws more chewing than a bare sling.
- Loose edges and corners. In contrast, edges that sit flush with the crate sides leave little room for her teeth.
Before you buy, check the frame, the closure, the fill and the fit.
K9 Ballistics’ 120-Day Chew Proof Promise on its Amazon listing replaces a damaged Tough Ripstop pad once, free of charge, within 120 days. K9’s own warranty page, however, lists 1 year, with one replacement.
Tip: Get a snug fit, since a pad that sits tight against the crate sides leaves little edge to grab. Also, zip-tie a loose one to the bottom wires, not the sides.
If she chews only when you leave, read dog anxiety in the crate. If she chews everything, see puppy chewing.
A story from Michael Northcutt, our founder: We once bought Tucker a bed sold as washable. But it would not fit in our washer.
We sent it back. The search results had looked so confident. Instead, the lowest reviews were more useful: poor fit, trapped odor, weak fasteners.
So before buying again, we checked how the next bed was built. I wrote a bed feature checklist. Then everyone who looked after Tucker used it.
Now I check how a bed is built, and whether it fits our washer, before I buy anything for him.
Do what Michael did, and check how a crate pad is built before you buy it. A shared checklist worked because everyone used it, and her crate time needs the same.
Does a puppy need a bed in the crate?
Experts split, so go by what she does. Humane World for Animals says a crate should always have a comfortable bed. Also, the bedding should be washable and suit her chewing habits.
The AKC’s crate training guide, however, urges caution. Many puppies prefer to go potty on soft, porous surfaces like beds and blankets. It suggests waiting until she consistently has no accidents and doesn’t shred fabric.
- She shreds or soils bedding: bare or minimal bedding until she’s reliable, plus a few safe toys.
- She’s dry and leaves fabric alone: add a soft, washable pad.
For a new puppy, the AKC’s sleep guide skips the pricey bed, since she’s likely to chew it up. Instead, a soft, felted, inexpensive blanket or two does the job. However, beware of wool blankets or mats, which can be chewed apart into long strings that cause choking.
Taking the bed out costs nothing. It then goes back in once she’s dry and leaves fabric whole. For crate setup, see crate training a puppy.
What if she pees on her chew proof crate pad?
Some dogs learn they can soil the crate and cover the mess with bedding. Also, some puppies prefer to pee on something soft, like their bed. So removing the bedding for a short time can teach her not to soil the spot she lies in.
Check the clock, too, before you blame the pad.
Green: normal stretch, about 1 hour per month of age (AKC). Orange: outer limit, age in months plus one hour (Humane World and the AKC).
For example, a 3-month-old’s outer limit is four hours. If her crate stretch runs longer, change the schedule before you buy another pad.
After an accident, clean the crate with a pet-safe, odor-neutralizing cleaner and wash any bedding. An enzyme cleaner for dog urine fits that job. Also, if crate accidents keep happening, the AKC suggests a vet check. The full method lives in how to potty train a puppy.
Our free Potty Break Timer does that math for you.
Can a chew proof crate pad be washable?
Every dog crate pad needs washing sooner or later. For example, the MidWest QuietTime goes in the washer and dryer whole. The K9 Ballistics rip-stop pad spot-cleans with a damp towel, or machine washes whole. The Mud River cleans with medium water pressure, then air dries.
Tip: Buy two washable pads. One sits in the crate while the other is in the wash, so she never sleeps on a damp pad.
For pee-soaked pads, see how to wash a dog bed.
When is chewed bedding a vet call?
If a piece of the pad is missing, then watch her closely. VCA lists these signs in most pets that swallow a foreign body.
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Belly tenderness or pain
- Eating less, or seeming tired
- Straining to poop, or passing very little
Call your vet if you see them. Time is critical, because a blockage often compromises blood supply to the gut.
Chew proof crate pad FAQ
Is an elevated crate bed better than a flat pad for a chewer?
Often, yes. Whole Dog Journal’s tester found raised cots typically better suited to chewers than foam or filled beds. The flush edges of a well-sized cot leave little for her teeth to grab.
What size crate pad should I buy?
Measure the inside of her crate, not the box label. K9 Ballistics notes that crate makers often round up their sizes.
Will a crate pad still fit as my puppy grows?
The AKC suggests buying a crate for her adult size, with a divider so it can grow with her. Measure the section she uses now, and measure again each time you move the divider.
Is a bare crate floor unkind to my puppy?
For a puppy who soils or shreds bedding, the AKC suggests waiting to add beds or blankets. Humane World says a crate should always have a comfortable bed. So treat bare as a short stage, and add a pad once she’s dry and leaves fabric alone.
Do I need a waterproof crate pad?
It helps if she has the odd accident. Whole Dog Journal’s tester found Primo Pads’ waterproof cover easy to hose or wipe down. If she soaks every pad, take the bedding out for a short time instead.
How we chose: In October 2026 we read Whole Dog Journal’s test, the listings, Bully Beds, and AKC, Humane World and VCA guidance. We did not test these pads ourselves. Nobody at LoveMyPuppy is a veterinarian.
Sources
- Whole Dog Journal: The 4 Best Chew-Proof Dog Beds, by Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA
- American Kennel Club: How to Crate Train Your Dog in 9 Easy Steps, by Stephanie Gibeault, MSc, CPDT, plus its sleep, crate accident and potty training guides
- Humane World for Animals: Crate Training 101
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Dogs, by Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Tammy Hunter, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM
- Bully Beds: Chew Resistant Crate Pad Covers (maker’s product page)