Dogs love to chew on things, and unfortunately their beds are a popular target.
In today’s article, we are going to dive deep into this behavior and cover the main reasons dogs chew their beds. A great fix to a dog chewing on their bed is to check out some of the Best Dog Toys for Chewers.
5 Reasons Why Dogs Chew Their Beds
The 5 main reasons why dogs chew their beds are boredom, teething, compulsive behavior, hunger, and stress.
1. Boredom
If a dog doesn’t play, exercise, or do any fun activity the whole day, they end up developing some unwanted behaviors. One such unwanted behavior is chewing their beds! Therefore, you can avoid or reduce their act of chewing their beds by taking them on a walk.
Thus, consider having long frequent walks with your best friend and you will probably notice the difference if the reason for chewing their beds is only boredom.
If boredom isn’t the main cause, then there must be some other reason for it.
2. Teething
If a puppy of 3 to 7 months chews their bed, then there’s a high possibility that they are teething. Just like human babies, puppies have a gum itch when they are teething and this desires them to chew anything for around two months. Therefore, to save their dog bed from being chewed up, you can provide them with an alternative such as freezable toys.
3. Fabric sucking compulsive behavior
Do you know dogs go through trauma too? A dog that has been through a particularly hard situation or event might chew on their bed as a way to distract their mind.
This is common in dogs with a history of violence, abuse, or losing their moms at a young age, as they develop compulsive behavior like chewing their bed to soothe themselves.
If you believe your dog is going through any such thing, you should consult a vet. They will most likely put your dog on some form of anti-anxiety medication.
4. Hunger
If a dog has a pattern of chewing their beds, like only chewing around meal hours, then most probably the reason is their hunger.
To fix this issue, try breaking their food into portions and feed them in parts the whole day. This would help them treat their hunger and you would be able to save the dog bed as well.
5. Frustration / Stress
Many dogs go through a period of stress or frustration and they tend to chew their beds in such situations.
The key is to figure out the reason for their frustration. Notice, when do they chew their beds? When someone enters the house? Or do they do it when they want to play? When they need something?
Therefore, the first step is to identify the reason for their frustration and then train them to express it in some other way.
Final words
Dogs are loveable creatures who can only bark to tell you what they’re going through. Thus, it may take some time for you to discover the main reason your dog is chewing on their bed. The key is to closely monitor your dog and try to notice any changes in behavior.
