Pluto, our nearly year-old field spaniel has succeeded so far in tearing up and destroying every dog bed or bedding material we’ve given him.
First he managed to gnaw through a supposedly chew-resistant bed that the teeth of our previous dog (a Lab) had never breached.
Then he got old towels, which lasted only until he realized he could chew them into fluff.
The latest attempt involved a high-tech super-improved Chew Tough dog bed from Orvis, guaranteed to resist canine teeth or your money back. Pluto got through the cover overnight (Orvis did cheerfully refund our money).
Is it hopeless, or is there a solution out there? A chain-mail blanket, maybe??
I suppose he might eat the straw; but I don’t think it would hurt him, unless it became a large part of his diet.
Additional question: does he need a dog bed? I’ve known some dogs who loved them, and at least one who refused to use one and preferred to sleep on the bare floor.
I’ve had a few fosters over the years. Dogs that shred their beds get to sleep in a bare crate at my house. Why let them practice the behaviour over and over? Outside of the crate, and under supervision, they can have a bed.
It is hopeless. Orvis beds are tough (not to mention quite expensive). Sir Pluto would be making do with the floor after those costly stunts if he were mine…at least until he matured a bit. As he is still a puppy, his behavior is to be expected (to a degree).
I’m another one in favor of straw, in a wire dog crate. Plus, a lot of stuffed heavy-duty Kong toys. The guy likes to chew, give him something to chew on. He’ll stop chewing in a year or two.
I got heavy duty dog blankets that my destruct-o hounds have yet to destroy. A few holes, but I don’t care. They’re also nice because I can wash them easily.
I second the suggestion that the dog needs to be provided lots of allowable chewing toys. With consistent re-direction, he should transfer his energy.
Maybe try one of the “soft” tough toys. Kong makes some. You could also get some of those heavy braided ropes with knots. It sounds like he may just enjoy having something to shake around, or a little softer in mouth feel.
Yeah, Kosh is teething briskly and it makes him a chewing maniac so he has a plethora of thick knotted rope toys, black Kong toys and Nylabone chews to keep himself occupied. Seems to be working, he’s not really destroyed much of anything because I divert him instantly to a “legal” chew item whenever he starts gnawing on the house or something. Those two black Kong bones have lasted over a decade of some really dedicated gnawers and toy destroyers–I’m really impressed, you can barely tell they’ve been extensively used.
It’d be incredibly relaxing to let Pluto spend the night with us. A restless puppy gnawing the bedclothes and licking our feet is the perfect recipe for blissful slumber. :smack:
These kinds of elevated dog cots are what I often see in dog shelters. I would assume their durability with a wide variety of dogs is one of their advantages. You could call local shelters and see if that’s the case or if they have any other recommendations.
Is it possible the dog is expressing a dislike of having bedding? The bed is his spot and the bedding is invasive. The last two of four indoor dogs were put outside and they had a wooden dog house. I always gave them towels to sleep on and they would push them aside and sleep on the bare wooden bottom. I thought it was because they didn’t want to sleep together, but the female never slept in the dog house, preferring the concrete step outside the sliding door even after her brother passed away. It could be she just wanted to be close to where she used to live, but again, any towel laid on the concrete was pushed away.
