Dog is Eating His Beds......

[Joe549]

Ok, I have a 6 month old German Shepherd/Lab/Husky mix.... for some reason he has taken to eating his beds, or at least destroying them,2 now in the last week. I don't know why he is doing this, he has only done it while he is in his kennel. The beds were stuffed with stringy pillow fill and cedar chips. He seems to like cedar chips I have been noticing more and more lately as he has really done a number on the cedar shrubs in the back yard.

Does anyone have any idea why he would be doing this? other than his beds, he hasn't really chewed up anything else other than paper and what not...

[bendyfoot]

I'm pretty sure none of my dogs could resist a wood-filled bed!!! Sounds like a smelly and fun stick-like chewy to me! Maybe just try an ordinary blanket, an old duvet or something.

[luckypenny]

I'd remove the beds for now and as Bendy said, give him an old comforter or blankie. If he chews those up as well, just remove all bedding for a while.

Does your pup have a variety of chew toys to play with? You can always leave him with a tightly stuffed Kong when you put him in his kennel. As well, is he well exercised and pooped when you leave him there?

[Chris21711]

I too would remove the bed. He is still a pup though, Iggy destuffed two dog beds when he was in his puppy stage, but has since grown out of destuffing anything.

[pitgrrl]

Originally Posted by Chris21711

I too would remove the bed. He is still a pup though, Iggy destuffed two dog beds when he was in his puppy stage, but has since grown out of destuffing anything.

Basil and Streets destuffed..........a whole couch!

[Chris21711]

Originally Posted by pitgrrl

Basil and Streets destuffed..........a whole couch!

Those boys of yours are priceless I understand their Mantra.....If you are gonna do it, do it BIG...

[BenMax]

I agree with others and would remove the bed and replace with an old comforter.

Does you dog get alot of exercise? If not, he could be bored.

[Joe549]

Unfortunately he has not been getting as much exercise as I would like him to have. I work shift work and alot of call ins, usually 12 hour shifts, so it can often be difficult to get him lots of exercise during the day. The only reason I leave him in the kennel when I have to go to work is for his protection. I have an a$$hole roommate who on 3 seperate occassions now has tossed him outside, twice in sub-zero temperatures, and for hours on end. i.e he had no intentions of bringing him back inside. The last time it happened,, the dog wound up getting picked up and taken to the Humane Society.

The bed eating thing has only just started, within the last 7 days.

[bendyfoot]

You should seriously look for a trusted friend, other roommate or a pet-sitter to take your pup out for a vigorous walk while you're away for those long shifts. That's too long to be keneled for any dog, let alone a pup. He's going to be bored out of his skull. Chewing beds is going to be the least of your problems.

[BenMax]

Originally Posted by bendyfoot

You should seriously look for a trusted friend, other roommate or a pet-sitter to take your pup out for a vigorous walk while you're away for those long shifts. That's too long to be keneled for any dog, let alone a pup. He's going to be bored out of his skull. Chewing beds is going to be the least of your problems.

I agree with Bendyfoot. This is his way of letting out some frustration. Is he neutered?

[Joe549]

No he's not yet neutered. I wasn't going to get him fixed until he stops growing. He does have a lot of energy, which I do let him burn off as much as I can, I let him run outside the house usually at night when there are fewer people/vehicles around and I take him with me out to a friends place and let him run with the dogs there whenever I go, usually on weekends and I get him out for walks everyday. He's not starving for exercise by anymeans, but he obviously could use more... I'm just starting to wonder if this bed eating thing might have anything to do with the cedar chips that were in them, as he seems to really like eating cedar...as my shrubs would show.

My previous dog was the same mixture, however the shepherd was more predominate whereas this one the lab is. He did not have any of this type of behaviour.

[luckypenny]

We have a Lab who loves pruning cedar hedges as well , too bad we can't seem to hire her out . However, she never chews anything in the house, not even any beds filled with cedar chips.

Although it would seem your pup is getting lots of exercise, 12 hours in a crate is not healthy...those hours need to be broken up with some rigorous exercise and mental stimulation. Would you know of anyone who could take him out for a quick jog and some play in a secure fenced yard while you're at work? Is there a doggie daycare in your area?

[Dracko]

Yup, Dracko my Shepherd went through a few beds before he grew up a little and stopped. I know one thing I had to do was get one without a zipper. That seemed to be an attraction for him.

Just put down a couple blankets that have no stuffing until your dog learns not to chew so much.