Walking into a room only to find your dog's bed in shredded pieces can be frustrating. But before you resign yourself to a lifetime of replacing beds, understanding why your dog chews can help you find a solution.
Why Does My Dog Chew on Their Bed?
As we said, chewing is something natural in dogs, so it is not necessary to prevent them from chewing. It is simply a matter of taking care that he does not do it uncontrollably and destroy it. That is to say, we must direct that bite to objects intended for that purpose, such as dog teethers.
It is important to train the dog in such a way that he understands that chewing is not a game. This way, you will also prevent him from chewing on furniture, your hands, your shoes, etc.
The problem arises when your dog chooses inappropriate objects to chew on, like their bed. Here are some reasons why this might happen:
Boredom
A bored dog is a destructive dog. Ensure your furry friend gets enough exercise and mental stimulation through playtime and walks.
Insufficient exercise
All dogs need daily exercise to strengthen not only their physical health but also their mental health.
Otherwise, they will not release energy and will end up converting it into unwanted behaviors, such as breaking their bed.
Lack of Appropriate Chews
If your dog doesn't have access to durable chew toys, they might resort to chewing on their bed or other furniture.
Frustration
Another reason for a dog to chew on his bed can be frustration. Imagine that your furry one wanted to do something that motivated him a lot, like getting on the couch, and you prevented him from doing it.
Therefore, it may happen that he resorts to chewing his bed to focus his frustration there and regain calm, as there are dogs that find it relaxing to bite.
Separation anxiety
Dogs that are not used to being left alone at home may suffer from separation anxiety. This problem will lead him, among other cases, to develop destructive behaviors. Among them, chewing his bed. This can be a more complex issue that might require professional training help.
Teething
If your dog is a puppy and starts chewing on his bed, perhaps the reason is the pain caused by his teething.
In this case, the biting action helps them cope better with the discomfort, and if what is closest to them is their bed, that is where they will go.
In addition, it is very common for puppies to want to bite everything because through their mouths they get to know the world.
A poorly trained dog
As we said, puppies usually bite everything around them because it is their way of getting to know their environment. It is at this stage when they should be taught that not everything that is within their reach can be put in their mouths.
Therefore, it is essential that when they chew on things that are not intended for that purpose, they are trained to stop chewing.
If not, when they grow up they will continue to smash everything they want.
Hunger
When your dog chews on his bed, it can also be because of hunger. This happens if the dog is very careless when it comes to feeding, because its survival instinct will make it look for a solution so as not to die.
Read also: Why Does My Dog Rub All Over the Couch (and How to Make Them Stop!)
What can I do if my dog chews on his bed?
There are several solutions to prevent your dog from chewing and destroying its bedding. They can all be applied, but it is essential to know the reason that has caused this behavior to put more emphasis on some remedies than others.
1. First and foremost, training
To begin with, the dog should be taught from puppyhood that chewing his bedding is wrong.
Try to watch your dog as much as possible when he is near his bed, so that if he starts to mistreat it, you will be able to correct him.
If he starts to chew on his bed at any time, say a very firm "No," but without yelling, and remove his bed, leaving it out of his reach and out of his sight.
Wait about 20 minutes before putting it back on again. If you do it immediately after taking it off, he will think it is a game. Therefore, enough time must pass for him to be distracted by something else.
After that time, put it back next to the dog and watch how he interacts with it. If he tries to bite her again, repeat the previous step. If he simply lays down, reward him with some good petting and maybe even give him a small treat.
This training process can take weeks, but perseverance is important.
2. Appropriate chew toys
As we explained, puppies feel pain when teething, so it is essential that we give them teethers for relief.
In addition to this, it is essential that dogs have different toys to entertain themselves, both when they are bored and when they need to release some frustration.
Of course, if your dog chews on his bed, you must make sure you give him toys that he will not destroy. For example, soft stuffed animals are not a good option in these cases because they will also end up broken.
3. The exercise
Let's remember that the lack of exercise in the dog can lead him to direct his accumulated energy towards the destruction of objects.
For his health (and for the integrity of all your belongings), take him out for a walk every day for long enough!
4. Take care of his diet
Feeding your dog correctly with food that meets all of its nutritional needs will keep it healthy and, most importantly, will keep it from being hungry and looking for food in non-food objects.
5. Invest in chew-proof dog beds.
There are many different types of dog beds on the market. Whether your dog has destroyed one or you want to be safe rather than sorry, you can buy a chew-proof bed. These are much more durable beds.
However, even if the bed is not destroyed the first time, the chewing habit must still be corrected. Therefore, this is not a unique or definitive solution.
What not to do if your dog chews on his bed?
It is important to keep in mind that, for any bad act committed by the dog, yelling and/or physical punishment are not the solutions. For any process of training your dog, the most appropriate thing to do is to always use positive reinforcement.
Besides, if you find the bed destroyed when you come back home, it is of no use to say the firm "No" we were talking about before. That only works if you catch the dog in the act, because after a while, the dog won't understand why you say no.