I’ve always been a bit obsessively neat. I like everything in my house to have a place and be in it. I also love to decorate for Christmas and have things looking pretty and festive. Both of those things can become a bit more challenging when you have pets. Whether it’s having to put your Christmas tree in a safe place up and away from your dogs or cats, or have less chew-able decorations within reach, pet parents often have to make compromises.
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My compromose this Christmas season was having to keep the dogs’ crate in the living room, and work our small tabletop Christmas tree around that. Our house isn’t huge, so we don’t have a lot of extra space. I like to keep the crate out because Cricket likes to sleep in it some, and because we’re trying to use it more for Luke when company comes over. We have already used it once for that purpose recently, and he did very well! Although there was still some barking, he overall seemed much happier there than down in our bedroom. He settled down quite well as the evening went on. This is such an important step for us to get him more used to strangers.
Luke rarely goes in the crate unless I make him, so even though he’s gotten more used to it, he doesn’t love it. Therefore, I wanted to make it a place where he might want to spend more time, and that I wouldn’t mind looking at every day. We have a pretty bed in there, but I wanted something that fit in a bit more with our Christmas décor. Thanks to the help of West Paw and their Holiday Collection, I was able to accomplish both things!
We received the items seen below, and filled the crate with them to make it a more festive and happy place!
- Hurley in Limited Edition Holiday Color – Ruby. This Zogoflex toy will stand up to any chewing and keep your dog occupied while you have holiday company. It’s also fun for tossing outside! Bonus – it’s even dishwasher safe, so easy to keep clean!
- The Big Sky Blanket in size medium was more than big enough for our large crate, and the Crimson Ice color is gorgeous! We were already using Big Sky blankets in there to give extra protection to the bed in case Cricket has an accident. These blankets are cozy with faux-suede on one side and plush fleece on the other. It’s durable and stands up to as many washings as it needs (I know because I’ve washed our older ones, which I’ve used for both kitty Sam and the dogs, and they clean well).
- Luke didn’t have any trouble picking out a favorite toy this time, and the plush Holiday Boogey with squeaker was the big winner.
- He did also give the Ruff-N-Tuff Reindeer some attention too. I’m pretty sure he was wondering if he could pull off its nose! We’ll keep you posted on that.
- I’m hoping I can occupy Luke with this Holiday Mitten* outside so he doesn’t keep stealing my gloves!
- The festive Holiday Bear is soft and has a squeaker as well, so it should be perfect for both play and snuggling at the end of a busy day!
We’ll be sharing more about the fun had with these toys throughout the week as our pre-Christmas festivities. They aren’t spending all of their time in the crate (dogs or toys)! Don’t forget that all of West Paw’s toys are Made in the USA (Bozeman, Montana) and their plush toys are stuffed with eco-friendly IntelliLoft® fill made from recycled bottles, and they are machine washable.
While it is too late for you to receive these toys for Christmas directly from West Paw, you can find the Mitten and Holiday Bear in our Amazon Influencer store by clicking here*, and with expedited shipping get it on time. West Paw also sells in many retail stores, we have quite a few in our area where we can find them. You can visit their retailer locator by clicking here, and get out to do some last minute local shopping! Your dog will be happy you did!
Gah…I wish I had a place for everything. LOL My house looks like it threw up. I love Christmas and decorating, but I hate having my furniture and such moved about.
Glad to see that Luke is doing better with the crate and guests!
Thank you!
I love the Christmas decorating too, but when Christmas is over, I also can’t wait to get everything back to the way it was! LOL
Cute decorations and how pawesome Luke is getting better being in da crate wif company over 🙂
xoxo,
Matt & Matilda
Thank you! It really makes our lives easier. I’ve even caught him going into the crate a couple times lately when he didn’t have to!
Oh wow, I love this! Thanks for the inspiration, I’d never thought of actually decorating my dog’s crate, but now I have to try it out.
The Noz2Noz is a great crate too, by the way, I reviewed it on my site a while back after hearing good things. Luke looks to be enjoying it:)
It really has made the crate a more fun place, and Luke has even been going in there on his own lately! This crate saved our lives, because Luke had become afraid of the metal crate, and it’s definitely an important tool for a fearful dog like him.
Oh my goodness! That picture of Cricket at the end was the best part! What a festive way to include the pups in your celebration of the season.
She is just so darn adorable when she’s sleeping, isn’t she? 🙂
These are some great toys and accessories!
Thanks for the crate decorating ideas. I like this. (Dylan has one of the Zogoflex Hurley toys and loves it.)
You’re welcome! West Paw puts out special toys for other holidays too, I love to get a different color ball or Hurley when we can!
Some really cool stuff. Enjoy your snooze Cricket.
She always does. 🙂
What a creative way to keep things festive for the dogs!
Thank you!
We too have a small home with a table top (artificial) tree next to our crate (which is staple in our living room)…the crate that is, not the tree. Inside the crate there is a wonderful West Paw Montana crate pad. On top of the crate (folded right now, but not always folded) is a jade West Paw Big Sky blanket that is shared by the people and pups in the house. Our Hurley is orange and our Bear is long gone (our girl is tough on toys and that one didn’t stand up to her). The Zogo-flex ones are tough enough for her; they’re survivors. Your display is much more coordinated than mine! I love your decorated tree. The ruff n tuff reindeer looks cute; wondering how it would hold up in our house? Cricket asleep is adorable <3 The green fuzzy toy looks cool. Thanks for sharing the West Paw items.
Your crate sounds colorful and festive as well! I can’t even tell you how many of those crate pads I have around the house (our cat Sam uses them as well and it helps keep my furniture cleaner), and I have a pile of West Paw’s beds in our bedroom as well (I’m always switching beds around, or finding a new one I like better, like the new Heyday that is plusher on top).
I don’t think the reindeer is going to stand up to too much abuse, though so far all Luke has done is made Rudolph no longer a red-nose reindeer, he is a no-nosed reindeer now! LOL
Zogoflex saved our sanity when we had our golden retriever, Sheba, she destroyed absolutely every plush toy we ever gave her! She was even capable of destroying some of the Zogoflex (and I love that West Paw will replace them).
That looks really, really nice and purrfect for Christmas!
I might have to decorate it for every holiday now! 🙂
Luke’s crate looks so comfy that I might get in it to hide from the holiday crowds! BOL!
Now that’s a good idea, thanks for sharing it! 🙂
Oh I bet the green guy is the #1… even when it looks a little like the grinch ;O)))+
Maybe that’s why they’re out to get him? BOL
We got the Crinkle Cane Deer for my younger sisters and they love them! Enjoy! WestPaw has such fun toys and stuff!
We might have to get the Crinkle Cane next year! Luke does like the crinkly toys as well.