I only cover the top of the crate with some clean cardboard. He doesn’t like the sides covered, but this way I can put his dish on top when he’s not eating. We used a towel before, but he chewed it and got some threads caught in his teeth. If I wanted it to look nicer, I’d consider using something like a plywood sheet with a bit of finishing.
Great post. This discussion is super helpful for anyone with a dog crate. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.