Chewing and dogs: is it normal?
It’s normal for dogs to chew items that you may have around the house. This includes furniture, shoes, and books. For many dog owners, this can become a huge problem, especially where important items are affected. One of the most effective ways of correcting this behavior is by training the dog to chew dog toys as you deviate it from chewing home items. Some owners use deterrents and chew-proof materials to cover important things.
Why do dogs chew their beds?
Dogs tear and chew their beds for the same reason they chew almost everything else. It’s fun and enjoyable for them. Other reasons may be to reduce stress, release excess energy, and to alleviate the sensation that comes from teething.
Sometimes, mouthing may be confused by chewing. Dogs use their mouths to feel the texture of an object. This is an exploratory activity that can be compared to how people use their hands to feel objects. However, if your dog is prone to destroying comforters, stuffed toys, pillows, beds, and couches, it may be responding to its ancestral hunting instincts.
These hunting instincts are the same ones used to hunt down prey. They remain intact within the dog even if it’s constantly fed on a shiny bowl. Destroying items also gives dogs a highly rewarding feeling. If your dog tends to tear up its bed, you may have to wait before replacing or buying a designer bed until you find a solution to the problem.
Which dogs need an indestructible dog bed?
Dogs from sporting and hunting breeds can chew their beds and other items their entire lives. These include setters, retrievers, and terriers. Some crosses of breeds get bored easily, making them turn to chewing as a way of making life a little more interesting.
Other dogs that chew a lot include small puppies with pushed-in faces and rounded skulls. These normally come from the brachycephalic breeds and tend to retain teeth that have failed to fall off. This creates discomfort within their mouths due to having too many crowded teeth. Puppies that grow with baby teeth can chew throughout their adult years.
If your dog falls under the above categories, it might be wise to purchase an indestructible dog bed for them. These beds are built with chew-proof material that doesn’t get ruined if bitten or chewed by your dog.
Do dogs grow out of it?
Yes and no. Puppies will generally start chewing when teething. This happens when they are 3 to 6 months old. Once their baby teeth fall off, they stop chewing a short while after. The discomfort that comes with teething normally wears off once the new teeth settle in.
Puppies aged between 6 months and one year may continue to chew long after they are done teething. This happens once they start exploring their surroundings using their mouths. There are different ways in which owners can prevent this exploratory phase from becoming a habit.
For some breeds, the habit of chewing comes from their hunting instincts. Dogs from sporting and hunting breeds can chew beds and other items their entire life. Such breeds include setters, retrievers, and terriers.
Indestructible dog bed features
Many indestructible dog beds feature a chew-proof and tough overall material. Some may be elevated from the ground with metal frames. Below are some of the features you may want to look for when buying an indestructible dog bed.
- High quality foam
- Heavy duty exterior cover
- Easy to clean material
- Abrasion-resistant
- Chew-resistant
- A variety of colors and sizes
- Orthopedic support
- Comfortable
- Scratch-resistant
- Waterproof
These beds are designed to withstand anything that dogs try to do to them. They are resistant to bites and prevent dogs from using their jaws to chew. Once the dog realizes that it can’t chew the bed, it eventually gives up.
How to choose the perfect unchewable dog bed
There are a few factors that you need to consider before picking a chew resistant dog bed. These help to ensure that you make the right financial decision. The best chew-proof dog bed will prevent your dog from tearing it up or causing it to wear out.
- Fabric
The two common types of fabric used on chew-proof dog beds include the ballistic fabric and the ripstop fabric. The former is built to stop any aggressive actions and penetration resulting from a dog’s bite. In some cases, it’s designed to be water-resistant. As the name suggests, the ripstop fabric is designed to stop any rips that result from a dog’s bite. Unlike the Titan Ballistic fabric, it may not be able to resist that first rip.
- Washable
When searching for the best chew-proof dog bed, ensure that you pick one that’s easily washable. It helps to keep the dog bed clean and healthy for your dog.
- Zippers
Zippers are the first breach points that dogs attack when they want to chew their beds. Consider picking a dog bed that has a hidden zipper or one that is shielded by a velcro flap. This makes it incredibly hard for the dog to reach the zipper which is the weakest part of the bed.
- Support
The next thing to look at is the bed’s support system. Orthopedic memory foam is highly recommended as it has health benefits for dogs. It prevents joint strains that can cause hip dysplasia and arthritis. Unlike conventional dog beds, it’s built to relieve pressure points, enhance joint recovery, and support blood flow in dogs.
Chew proof indestructible dog bed cover
Chew-proof indestructible dog bed covers are built with ballistic fabric to prevent any tearing or ripping that may result from a dog’s bite. If you don’t have the money to go for a full indestructible dog bed, consider getting a chew-proof dog bed cover. It covers all the weak parts of an ordinary dog bed to prevent the dog from biting and chewing them.
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