Last updated: April 1, 2021 at 14:56 pm
When discussing soundproofing, some types of noise that spring to mind are the TV, loud music, footsteps and even kids running and shouting. What doesn’t always spring to mind is noise which affects (or is caused by) our four-legged friends.
Today:
We are going to look at ways in which you can soundproof a dog crate, both for your dog’s sake and your own.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Reasons to Soundproof a Dog Crate
As I hinted above there are two separate issues to consider. The first is noises which affect your dog and may be causing it significant upset and anxiety. The second is noises made by the dog which may be disturbing either you or your neighbours.
For Your Dog
It should come as no surprise to pet owners that dogs’ hearing is substantially better than ours. They can hear higher and lower frequencies than we can and some noises will seem louder for them.
This can cause a dog significant anxiety. If you’ve used your dog’s crate correctly and filled it with blankets, toys and familiar items your dog should see this as a safe space and feel soothed being inside it. If it is soundproofed then it is a place they can retreat and be calm when loud noises such as thunderstorms and fireworks are upsetting them.
Soundproofing is also ideal if they’re ill or recovering from an injury. If the crate is soundproof then the noises of the household and the outside world won’t disturb them. This means they can sleep and recuperate better.
For You
When it comes to soundproofing for the benefit of you or your neighbours this becomes a little more complicated. Naturally you’d like to be a good neighbour and stop your dog’s barking causing a disturbance.
Remember:
Dogs bark for a reason though and locking them in their crate when they don’t want to be there is cruel. If your dog has a barking problem and you don’t understand why then your vet should be your first port of call for advice.
There are some circumstances where your dog is barking and it is a good idea to use their crate. If there’s noisy work going on outside, people visiting and your dog is nervous around strangers or there’s another dog outside, the barking may be a sign of stress and anxiety in your dog. If they’ve come to see their crate as a haven then making it soundproof could be an extra benefit. They’ll feel safe and start to calm down and the barking won’t be an issue for you or your neighbours while they do.
If your dog is used to being left in the safety of their crate when you go out but you know they bark occasionally if someone comes to the door for example then again soundproofing might stop them disturbing your neighbours. Please remember dogs don’t like being left alone though so if they’re regularly left alone for hours at a time consider getting someone to call in. Dogs need company.
Now we’ve covered the why let’s move on to the how.
How To Soundproof a Dog Crate
Firstly we need to be clear it’s impossible to completely soundproof a dog crate. If you’ve spent any time here learning about soundproofing you’ll know that for a room or a crate to be totally soundproof all gaps need to be sealed up. You can’t do that with your dog crate, it would be cruel and they wouldn’t be able to breathe! Instead we’re going to look at materials you can add that will reflect or absorb sound to reduce the amount of noise that can escape.
1. Invest in a Soundproof Crate Cover
There are a lot of dog crate covers available but they’re not all created equal. The idea of a crate cover is to keep the crate warm and darker to create a comforting cocoon for the dog. This is particularly important if the crate is used in your car to transport your four-legged friend. Soundproof covers aren’t as available as standard covers but you can find them.
They’re made of heavy duty material that will absorb barking noise while also keeping the crate at a comfortable temperate and allow your dog to breathe easily. As they’re specifically made to block sound escaping from dog crates they are the best no muss, no fuss solution.
- Durable poly blended fabric crate cover. Metal dog crate cover...
- STYLISH DESIGN - Hook & loop tabs hold dog crate cover neatly in place...
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:01 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Use Acoustic Blankets
Acoustic blankets are designed to be hung on the walls of a room where traditional soundproof is not possible or not wanted. They are fairly large so one or two would be enough to cover most sizes of crate. You will need to use them with caution initially.
You need to make sure they aren’t too dark, that they don’t trap too much heat in the crate and that there is plenty of ventilation for your dog. Use them initially while you’re at home so you can check heat, airflow and the general happiness of your dog.
3. Use Absorption Sheets
You may not have heard of absorption sheets but they’re designed specifically to soundproof pet crates and reduce echoes. There are several manufacturers and they come in range of sizes. They are sold in pre-made sheets that you can just fit onto the walls of the crate so installation is very easy and doesn’t require any major DIY skills.
To get the best results they need to fit snugly so try to get sheets as close as possible to the size of your crate. They aren’t particularly expensive so this is a cost effective solution. Most sheets are waterproof so if your dog knocks over its water bowl or has an accident due to nerves then the sheets won’t be damaged.
4. Use Moving Blankets
Moving blankets are exactly what they sound like! They are blankets used in house removals to wrap delicate pieces of furniture to protect them from being damaged in transit. Moving blankets are available online in most places like Amazon.
They aren’t particularly expensive and they’re large so you shouldn’t need more than one or two regardless of the size of your crate. They’re breathable so you can be reassured that your dog will be able to breathe and machine washable so you can keep them in good condition.
Obviously as they’re just laid on top of and down the sides of your crate you can remove them if they aren’t needed or if the weather is very warm. Experiment to see how your dog reacts, that the temperature remains comfortable and what effect it has on the noise you can hear.
- Premium Removal Blanket 1500mm x 2000mm
- Cross Stitched for extra strength
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:01 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Use Normal Blankets
This is more of a budget solution if you don’t want to buy anything else. The more mass there is the less noise will be able to penetrate and escape. For this reason you could use ordinary household blankets to cover the crate. It will make a difference but there are some downsides.
It won’t block as much noise as a product specifically designed for soundproofing would
If you pile too many blankets on it may well be too hot and dark for your dog to be comfortable.
Feel free to try it though and see if it works
6. Soundproof A Wall Or Room
If option 5 was the easiest and most low cost option then this is the opposite. If the dog stays in a particular room when you go out and you’re concerned about barking disturbing your neighbours you could consider soundproofing the wall that adjoins their home.
There is a whole host of options available to you and most of them have been discussed on this site so please feel free to check them for detailed instructions. Here are a few ways you can soundproof your wall:
- You can nail quilts, blankets or the acoustic blankets we discussed earlier to the wall.
- You can apply green glue compound to the wall and then layer a second level or plasterboard on top. Green glue converts sound to heat and will block most sound.
- Mass loaded vinyl is a thin flexible substance that is excellent at blocking sound. If you’re not worried about the look of the room you could attach it straight to the wall. If not you can paint it and see if it looks ok or put plasterboard over to seal it in and then paint the plasterboard. Remember, with all of these options unless you seal up every gap some sound will get through but hopefully these measures will keep it at a manageable level.
Conclusion
Whichever one of the options you choose it’s vital you make sure it’s safe for your dog and won’t cause it stress, anxiety or cause it to overheat. You might need to use trial and error with blankets to see what best deadens the noise while keeping your dog calm and happy. If none of these work and your dog is still barking a lot then possibly a trip to the vet is a better step than another trip to the DIY store.
