If your dog is on a ‘chew and destroy’ mission it’s usually because of one of these 4 reasons: exploration, teething, hunting instinct or pica.
‘Destructive chewing’, or ‘inappropriate chewing’ behavior is most common in puppies and can start as early as 3 weeks old. This is when the first deciduous teeth can begin popping through the gums.
Destructive chewing isn’t a problem exclusive to puppy owners. Older dogs can also show signs of inappropriate chewing which has either carried over from puppy-hood or started suddenly as an adult dog.
How many teeth do dogs get?
Dogs get 2 sets of teeth, like humans. They have 28 deciduous teeth and 42 permanent teeth, or secondary teeth. Deciduous teeth are also known as milk teeth or baby teeth.
Why do dogs chew their bed?
There are a lot of possible causes for chewing; these are the most likely with some being much more common than others.
1. Puppy Exploration
Much like human babies, puppies are curious about the world around them and like to explore. Babies are often seen putting toys in their mouth, and that’s because the mouth contains many sensory nerve endings that connect directly to the brain. Essentially, by putting something in the mouth, babies can discover more about that object.
It’s exactly the same for puppies. In terms of puppy exploration, it may not be necessary to focus on how to stop dogs from chewing their bed. It might simply be something that’s normal and your puppy quickly grows out of.
2. Teething
Again, let’s think about human babies. Teething is a very painful experience, and it involves teeth literally breaking through the gum. This is definitely something that’s not pleasant.
Gums become inflamed, swollen, raw, and sore. By putting pressure on the gums or chewing objects the pain is relieved temporarily. It’s the same for puppies. They find relief in chewing, and it mightn’t be necessary to dive any deeper looking for a reason. You might find that destructive chewing stops naturally as the last of the deciduous teeth come through.
3. Hunting
Dogs are natural hunters, and they instinctively want to hunt, gather food, and look after and protect their family. Of course, at home there’s very little available for a dog to hunt, so they use a bit of imagination. That shoe there? That’s a rabbit that he’s going to bring home to his loyal family. That brand new dog bed? That’s a bird your dog has just captured.
Dogs do this because it’s built into them, it’s natural – it’s what they think they should do. In these cases, it helps to introduce chew-appropriate toys.
4. Pica
Pica is a rather strange medical condition common among dogs. It leads them to crave and devour non-food items around the home. Items like shoes, beds, towels, soil, and some dogs have even tried to eat stones.
The American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports that Pica often develops in dogs that are not being fed a nutritionally balanced diet.* If dogs are missing a nutrient in their food that’s vital to their growth and development, they’ll seek it elsewhere.
Make sure your dog is getting the nutrients he needs in his diet.
Ways to stop dogs from chewing
If you’re sure the cause of destructive chewing isn’t because of an underlying medical issue, there are a number of ways that the unwanted behavior can be deterred, both in young puppies and in older dogs.
This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
From this mess:
To this (hard to believe this is the the same dog)
These are a few suggestions to try out at home.
1. Introduce appropriate chewing toys
If your dog is determined to chew, try introducing some appropriate chew toys and items. Try swapping them out too. By this I mean don’t have them all out at once, put some away, and change them up occasionally (apart from your dog’s favourite) so he has different toys to explore. Encourage your dog to chew on these rather than on his bed or any other inappropriate items.
Apart from chew toys, dental chew sticks work well, and, if you’re comfortable giving your dog bones, these can also be beneficial. Just remember to remove any pieces of bone that could be small enough to swallow, and stay away from bones that splinter easily, like chicken bones.
2. Attention diversion
Some dogs will chew because they’re bored. This is one of the most common reasons for sudden destructive chewing behavior in older dogs.
Divert your dog’s attention with chew toys.
Take his mind off chewing by going for a walk or playing games with him.
Dental chew sticks are a
- reduce plaque tartar build-up
- low fat, no sugar, no artifical colours or flavours
- gently abrasive texture
The trick is to try not to let dogs become too bored, or they’ll turn to chewing simply as something to pass time.
3. Anti-chew sprays
Some dog owners love anti-chew sprays, others hate them. It’s really a matter of personal choice. The concept of anti-chew sprays is that they taste bad and repel dogs, and eventually the dog will no longer attempt to chew their bed because of the poor taste.
Anti-chew sprays can be very beneficial, but always check the ingredients before buying.
Those with bittering agents are typically very safe to use around dogs, but watch out for aluminium sulphate. While small quantities are believed to be harmless, the risks are not fully understood, and it’s been shown to affect brain function* in adults. That’s not something we want around our dogs.
4. Remember to puppy proof
If your dog is chewing inappropriately, remember to puppy-proof your home (even if you’ve got an older dog). If dogs are chewing their beds, then they’re potentially chewing anything else left on the floor, or within their reach.
This could be cleaning solutions or other chemicals that could prove to be dangerous to their health.
Encouraging different behavior in dog takes time and patience. It isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight.
It’s going to take a lot of reminding your dog of his chew toys, training him to do things differently, and yes, there’s going to be a few accidents along the way! It’s normal, and it pays to be prepared for mishaps.
The good news is it’s not impossible to stop dogs from chewing their bed. But while you’re figuring out the best methods for you and your dog, take precautions and keep your pup safe from chemicals and poisons.
Resources for further reading:
