Puppy Crate Mattresses

So we have these 2 adorable shih-poo puppies. Just 20 weeks old. In the beginning of the process of owning dogs one must do quite a bit of shopping to make sure they’ve got all of the required supplies. One or two of the things you need to start out is a crate (if you are crate training) and bedding for the crate. I found a couple of cute doggy beds for cheap that we kept in their crates.

Unfortunately, in the process of crate training there is in the inevitability of someone peeing on his/her

bedding. So the beds and throws need washing. Throws are easy enough, but the beds’ washing instructions say hand wash and line drying. Neither of which are convenient and I’m not convinced hand washing would do the trick. Usually I am really good about following wash care instructions, but sometimes I ignore them and do what I want. Usually, it’s more of a caution for the manufacturer than actual necessity. Turns outs this time it was a necessity. The bottom of beds is made out of a material that doesn’t do well with heat and so the stuffing in one of the beds came out and now it’s not much of a bed.

I had been considering making my own mattresses for the puppies even before I got the beds, but got lazy and found the cheap ones instead. The dryer fiasco changed my mind and here’s what I came up with for a 24x18 inch, small dog crate. ALL MATERIALS WASHABLE AND DRYABLE!

  

Materials

- 1 yard of fleece material (Found some cute doggy patterns at Hobby Lobby: puppy paws; bones, paws and hearts)

- Matching thread

- 12oz Polyester Fiber Fill (washable and dryable J)

Tools

- Sewing machine

- Scissors

- Measuring tape (or not…like most of my cooking I eyed it using the crate bottom as a measuring device)

Instructions

1. For a 24x18 inch crate cut fleece in one of the following ways: fold in half and cut a piece on the fold at 24x32 inches (EASIEST); one piece 48x32 inches; one piece 24x64 inches; or two pieces at 25x33 inches.
2. If your crate is smaller or larger than the ones we have I recommend cutting the fleece so it is about 2-3 inches wider than the crate tray.
3. If you cut one piece in the step above fold it on itself with the right side facing each other, and pin edges.
4. If you cut 2 pieces in the step above pin edges together with
   
   right sides facing each other.
5. Using a tight zig zag stitch sew one inch in around the edges. MAKE SURE to leave a 3-6 inch opening to turn inside out and stuff.
6. Turn the case inside out and fill with polyester filling. Even the filling throughout the cushion, and pin the opening closed.
7. Sew the opening closed with a tight straight stitch as close to edge as possible.
8. Put the finished product in your crate and let your dog enjoy!
9. If you have leftover material that’s usable make a puppy quilt for the car. J