Does Your Dog Destroy Dog Beds?

Does your dog think that the dog bed you just bought him is his favorite chew toy?  Are you tired of buying anew bed every couple of months for your destructive pooch?

I’ve had dog owners tell me that destroying dog beds is a habit that drives them crazy.  Granted not all dogs do it.  Many of our furry pals get it right; sleep on the bed … chew on the chew toys.  For those overly rambunctious dogs who annoy their owners by surprising them with pieces of dog bed and foam everywhere, a few weeks after they get it, here’s a few tips and a product recommendation that may solve your problem once and for all.  Now, before jumping right to the product recommendation, it’s important to note that many “chewing” or destruction issues are a sign that your dog needs more exercise both physically and mentally.  Check out my post on dogs and exercise here: https://www.thedogsway.com/topic/dog-excercise 

STEP ONE: Get your dog more physical exercise! You can do this a lot of different ways: some people run with their dog, some ride a bike and have their dog run beside them, and some play fetch.  Either way, your dog’s chewing and destructive habits may be due, at least in part, to the fact that they have excess energy to burn up.

STEP TWO: Get your dog more mental exercise!  Often dogs are bored.  If you can exercise their brain a bit more, they have an easier time settling down when you go off to work.  If your dog likes to use their nose, you can introduce them to a series of beginner’s search and rescue games to entertain them and tire out their nose (check here for exactly how to do that: https://www.thedogsway.com/workout-your-dogs-nose-your-dog-will-be-happier-and-so-will-you).  Also, you can leave your dog with more entertaining chew toys to occupy their mind.  The standard Kong stuffed with peanut butter works well.  There are also an assortment of “food-hiding” toys (that is, toys in which you stuff or hide bits of food and your dog has to problem solve how to get them out)  that you can find at your local pet store to give your dog some mental stimulation and entertainment while you’re away.  

STEP THREE: Get a bullet-proof bed!  I’m being only slightly facetious.  There’s a company called Ballistic K-9.