Help! dog keeps destroying her bed.

hardpressed

Whatever type of bed I give my dog she ruins it. Started her with a folded up duvet, that was de-stuffed on day one, she's had blankets in a plastic bed, bean bag but she just rips them to shreds. She had a old arm chair but chewed the arm down to the frame. She'll soon be sleeping on the bare floor. What can I give her that's dog proof? Also I can't stop he weeing overnight or sometimes when I'm out. She goes out last thing at night and no matter what time I get up, she'll have made a puddle. She's 2 and has always been like this. Help!

welshmoneylover

hardpressed wrote: »

Whatever type of bed I give my dog she ruins it. Started her with a folded up duvet, that was de-stuffed on day one, she's had blankets in a plastic bed, bean bag but she just rips them to shreds. She had a old arm chair but chewed the arm down to the frame. She'll soon be sleeping on the bare floor. What can I give her that's dog proof? Also I can't stop he weeing overnight or sometimes when I'm out. She goes out last thing at night and no matter what time I get up, she'll have made a puddle. She's 2 and has always been like this. Help!

Separation anxiety perhaps??

Has she been to the vets to see if she has an underlying medical condition?

I'd do the vet thing first, then perhaps look at hiring a dog behaviourist?

lilac_lady

Try giving her a kong stuffed with meat paste when she goes to bed. Might take her mind off destroying her beddng.

EmptyPockets

The stuffed Kong is a good idea, although even the biggest Kong won't last and keep her distracted for an entire night.

By the sounds of it, there is nothing strong enough or durable enough for your dog - if she's determined, then anything will be destroyed! It does seem like seperation anxiety.

Is she left in a room on her own at night? Would you consider letting her sleep in a bed in your bedroom?

Have you considered using a dog crate for her? There'd be nothing to chew, except for the plastic tray at the bottom but when she's lying or sitting on it, it would be difficult for her to chew it...

Maybe you should do some reading up on Canine Seperation Anxiety to see what tips and advice you can take? It's worth it if your dog is only two - you have many many years of this to come otherwise :eek:

Good luck, let us know how you get on...

Red_Doe

My dog does the same, but only before she comes into heat. I was told it is a nesting instinct...she sleeps on a pile of sheepskins, but every so often I find them chewed to bits, wool everywhere and she`s obviously tried to `nest` them up around her, so wonder if there is anything in it?

Lushlady_2

Have you tried vetbed? Its supposed to be 'less' chewable!!

Vetbed® Original has been on the market now for over 20 years, and is still the UK’s market leading veterinary bedding. With it’s green backing, the Vetbed® name on the back or on the ironed on washing instructions label you know you have one of the most versatile vet bed bedding products in the world.

• Very long lasting – customers tell us Vetbed® lasts and lasts
• Machine washable – over and over again at up to 90ºC
• Thicker pile – for greater heat retention
• Double woven – makes it harder to chew
• Portable – use it at home or when travelling
• Hygienic – non irritant and non-allergic
• Recommended by vets – the bedding they use the most
• Drains and dries fast – keeps your pets warm and dry even if accidents happen

Vetbed® Original is available in a variety of oval and rectangular shapes and in full or half width rolls in white, grey, brown, mink and green.

My dog has tried (and failed) to chew vet bed, the most that comes off it is some fluff.

sarabe

It's perfectly normal for dogs to destroy their bed....

..and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.






Vet bed is good as previously mentioned otherwise just use old blankets or towels often available from charity shops and throw them away when they are more hole than bed. Saves on having to wash bedding.

If this is overnight then I wonder why she is not sleeping at night. Look at the whole picture, what is she fed on and how much exercise does she get? Some foods are the doggie equivalent of Mcdonalds, coke and blue smarties.

What other outlets for all of her energy do you give her?

With regard to the weeing overnight and when you are out, if she has always done it then there is your reason why.

Her house training is incomplete.

Overnight I would consider having her in a crate beside the bed. Then if she wakes needing to pee you can take her out. Gradually over a number of nights you can increase the time that it takes you to find your slippers and dressing gown, whether by design or not, and she will be learning to hold on, something she probably has never learned to do.

Likewise during the day, depending on what your normal routine is, gradually increase the time that she has to wait for access to outside for a pee. Obviously keep her with you and occupied, don't risk her having to go indoors.

If she normally asks to go out then acknowledge that she has asked but just be too busy for a moment to open the door. Also consider that she has a crate for when you go out providing of course that it is for no longer than a couple of hours.

Tropez

How much exercise does she get per day and when does she get her exercise? If she's getting up in the night and tearing her bed apart it would suggest that perhaps she still has energy to burn off at night, so perhaps, if feasible, you could give her a short walk, or some form of energetic play (fetch if you have a back garden that can be lit up at night) shortly before bed time so she has a chance to burn off that energy?

The puddle may be related to the bed-tearing. Many dogs need a wee after a period of excitement; this usually stops once they're an adult but some dogs have this problem throughout their whole lives.

As others have said, she could also be exhibiting separation anxiety. If even during the day she whines, or scratches, or displays any sort of "needy" behaviour if you're leaving the room, or putting her in a pen for any period of time (perhaps while you clean up) then she could be prone to separation anxiety thus it may be helpful for you to find a way she can sleep in your room, perhaps in a crate to begin with so she isn't disturbing you while you sleep.

Have you properly taught her that night time isn't play time? If anyone in the home has a habit of waking up in the night and going out to talk or play with the dog it won't properly instill a sense of routine in your dog and she may expect someone to come out and play with her and get mopey when they don't.

What time are you sleeping from and to and when is the last time she eats/drinks? If you feed a dog too close to bed time it fills them with too much energy, particularly if its the wrong type of food and unless that energy is burned off they're going to want to do things at night. Similarly, if a dog that isn't properly house trained has unrestricted access to water then you could have problems with accidents so you may want to look at restricting the dog's access to water overnight, at least for the time being. You could always leave an ice cube out for the dog to lick at if she's thirsty.