4 reasons to buy stall mats for your new puppy
Authored by Jodi Helmer
Your new puppy checklist includes a crate, bowls, leash, collar, food and toys; it should also include stall mats. Stall mats, the waterproof rubber mats used on the floor in horse barns, are ideal for puppies.
Here are four reasons you need a stall mat for your puppy.
Stall mats enhance safety for puppy
Puppies are active and love exploring. But they can get injured from slipping on the floor or landing on a slick surface after jumping off the furniture. In fact, muscle sprains, ligament tears, fractures and other injuries that cause lameness or trouble walking are among the top reasons dogs need emergency vet care.
Stall mats are slip resistant and their thickness helps absorb shock. Some mat kits have interlocking “tiles” that can be assembled into different sizes; using them in play areas can keep puppies safe from injuries during zoomies or raucous playtime.
Keep them cozy with added insulation
Stall mats come in several different thicknesses and can provide added insulation in kennels, giving dogs that spend time outdoors an extra layer of protection during cold, damp conditions.
Stall mats are equally effective at adding insulation whether the surface of the kennel is dirt, tamped gravel or concrete. Remember, stall mats are not a substitute for providing adequate shelter and protection from the elements.
It’s important to remove stall mats from outdoor kennels in the summer when the black surfaces absorb heat and can make the floor too hot for puppies.
Protect floors with horse stall mats
Puppies have accidents. During potty training, waterproof stall mats can help protect your wood floors and carpeting from pet stains—and puppies can’t tear them up as easily as disposable pee pads.
You can use stall mats in indoor exercise pens (also known as dog play pens) or cut them to fit the dimensions of your dog crate.
Stall mats are also a snap to clean: When your puppy has an accident, simply wipe the mat clean or, for bigger messes, take the mat outdoors and spray it down with a hose.
Prevent digging in the house and outside
One of the biggest reasons horse owners use stall mats is because it prevents their horses from using their hooves to dig into the ground; the same concept can be used to keep curious puppies from digging up the yard.
Placing a stall mat in an outdoor play pen or kennel prevents your pup from digging (and tracking dirt all through the house).
Long-term use for horse stall mats and dogs
Unlike little bones, petite collars and puppy-sized crates that your puppy will eventually outgrow, stall mats can provide benefits throughout your dog’s lifetime: Older dogs benefit from the nonslip surfaces, added insulation and extra padding to ease the impact on their sore joints.
Installing mats
After you purchase stall mats, leave them outdoors for a few days. The rubber can have a strong odor and leaving them outdoors, exposed to sunlight, allows them to air out and “off gas” some of the odor before bringing them in the house.
Once they’re in place, puppy play time will be less messy and much safer.
