How to Stop Dogs From Chewing The Bed in Their Crate
If you have a destructive dog, you might know what it’s like to come home and see that unmistakable guilty look on Fido’s face. Instead of the usual wagging tail he slinks off into the corner and avoids eye contact.
Uh oh, you know something’s up. Sure enough, you go into the living room and see that he’s completely chewed up the new dog bed that you just bought him last week. The blanket is also a ripped to shreds and his favorite stuffed animal no longer has a leg!
Not only is this problem extremely frustrating but it’s also dangerous for your dog. This is because the objects that they like to chew can become lodged in their throat. Stuffing from the bed and chunks of blanket expand in the esophagus and can potentially kill them!
It’s important to be aware of these consequences and take action. I’ve dealt with many chewer dogs over the years and I want to share tried and tested solutions for stopping your dog from chewing their bed in the crate, as well as other household items…
Contents
Why Do Dogs Chew Their Bed?
Before we discuss how to stop your pooch from chewing their dog bed I’ll go over why they like to do this so much in the first place.
Boredom
One of the top reasons that dogs chew their beds is simply because of boredom. If they are locked in the crate while you are at work or for long periods of time they will get bored. You can’t really blame them for getting bored.
Separation Anxiety
Some dogs are prone to separation anxiety and need constant human attention. You will know if your pooch is like this. They make a big deal whenever you come and go from the house and constantly try and get out. Chewing their bed serves as an outlet for this anxiety.
Hunger
A hungry dog is one that will chew. If for some reason they get hungry they might try and eat their blankets and bed. Try to avoid letting them get hungry and time their meals consistently.
How to Stop the Bed Chewing
Now for the good part, solutions that you can apply to stop your canine from tearing up their crate pad. Follow these and stop Fido’s destruction once and for all!
Indestructible Bed
By far the first line of defence to stop dog bed destruction is to simply get a tougher bed. The problem with traditional beds is they are built for mellow pets that don’t have destructive habits.
A chewer dog on the other hand, needs a bed that can withstand the abuse they can throw at it. The cover must be tough and removable to allow easy washing with all the slobber that will get on it. Click here to see tough dog beds.
Exercise
Besides the obvious health benefits, exercise has the hidden benefit of preventing destructive behavior in dogs. Destroying a dog bed takes up lots of energy and a pooch that is “dog tired” is ten times more likely to fall asleep than go on a chewing spree.
Redirection Training
One thing you can do is to try and redirect their urge to chew on something else. If they’re going to chew on something no matter what, then you may as well try and control what that something is. The safest method is to use a tough chew toy like a Kong or anything that they can’t rip into pieces and choke on.
Anti Chew Spray
Chew deterrent spray is one thing you can try if you’re in a pinch and need a solution fast. It works but is just a band-aid for the problem. You should still try and find longer-term solutions to this problem.
What to Avoid Doing
There are some methods of training people use that are ineffective and won’t help accomplish the goal of stopping bed chewing. Here’s a list of some of them, avoid these at all costs.
- Don’t use a muzzle to prevent chewing, muzzles shouldn’t be used for long periods of time.
- Avoid leaving them in the crate for longer than 6 hours to prevent extreme boredom
- Don’t punish them after the fact. They can’t connect the punishment with something they did a while ago.
- Never, ever use duct tape or anything else to force close their muzzle.
Conclusion
If your dog chews the bed it can be a frustrating situation. If you follow the steps in this article you’ll be that much closer to stopping this behavior once and for all!
