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Hi all! Hope everyone is doing fine. The forums seems to be back up! I have received several questions in the meanwhile and thought to share some of the topics discusses here. Here are some tips for dogs chewing their beds. Dogs for a good part tear up their beds for the simple fact that they are fun to tear up. Just like children enjoy pillow fighting, dogs enjoy tearing up beds. Of course, for puppies the fun is even more! Basically, what happens is that when dogs destroy things like beds, stuffed animals, couches, it feels highly rewarding to them as these items are stuffed. This destructive behavior to a great extent stems back to a dog's past as hunters/scavengers. Despite being fed in shiny bowls, dogs retain instincts that are reminiscent of their past. When dogs are therefore shaking stuffed toys, breaking pillows apart and shredding their beds into pieces, they are carrying out instinctive behaviors related to hunting down prey animals. Ripping these objects apart and "de-gutting them" depriving them of all their "entrails" provides dogs with an exhilarating sensation that perhaps may feel similar to a deer hunter who has hunted down a prized buck. Moving forward what can be done to prevent further mishaps as such? Here are some ideas: -If your dog is prone to destroying her bed, you may want to skip purchasing any expensive designer beds for now, as it would likely be shred into pieces with no mercy. Fortunately, as puppies mature, they start perceiving objects around them as less tempting to play with (just as they slow down in playing with their tails). -Invest in a raised dog bed or try investing in an indestructible dog bed. There are several makes and models of "indestructible" dog beds available nowadays. Need some examples? Kuranda makes an all-Aluminum chew-proof bed and K9 Ballistics has a variety of chew-resistant and scratch-resistant dog beds and crate pads. Some are made of material that resembles bullet-proof vests and come with a warranty. -Some dog owners have had success using Primo Pads, special pads made of a special material that is scratch-resistant and not much appealing for dogs to chew and destroy. -Many dog owners of pups who chew beds and mats have more success using towels or non-stuffed blankets as soft surfaces. Dogs who like to build a "nest" before going to sleep may enjoy blankets as they can "shape" them as they want. -Buying fleece by the yard at stores that sell fabric may be another alternate option to dog beds. Dogs may not enjoy much chewing on fleece. -When left in a crate home alone, dogs who chew mats lining the crate are better off left without anything other than the tray or a cheap cloth towel can be tried. -Consider that many young dogs who chew up their beds outgrow the behavior as they mature. It might be just a chewing phase worthy of waiting out. After a while, once the bed is presented again (after several days of supervision), these dogs might no longer be interested in destroying it. - -Train your dog to go to her bed (there is a video on how to train this in the course) and distract her from chewing it by offering her a stuffed Kong or something else to chew on or stay busy while on it (Lickimats are popular nowadays). Once she is done licking/chewing, call your dog and remove the bed. Make it a routine every day to offer the bed, provide the Kong or chew toy and then remove the bed once done. You can do this during mealtimes (keeping the mat nearby so you can keep an eye on your dog) so that your dog learns to lie on his mat when you eat. The goal is to prevent your dog from rehearsing the chewing-the bed- behavior and offering an alternate behavior to focus on until your dog learns better behaviors. -Always supervise your dog when given a bed. This is to prevent him from ingesting parts (which can lead to potential intestinal blockages if parts are swallowed), but also to quickly redirect your dog to chewing a more appropriate item such as a safe chew toy (like a stuffed Kong or long-lasting edible chew) that you always keep handy. -Other fun outlets for instinctive behaviors and desires to hunt/scavenge are brain games such as the bottle game, muffin tray game and ball pit game (all of these are found in the brain training section of the course) -Supply a vast assortment of toys for your dog's entertainment. Rotate the toys to keep your dog's interest alive. Interactive toys are particularly appealing to most dogs. Puppies who are teething may get relief by chewing on a clean wash rag that is wet, twisted and then placed in the freezer. Always supervise to ensure your puppy doesn't ingest any parts. -Consider providing your dog or puppy with more training and mental stimulation. In particular, provide activities that satisfy his instincts such as finding hidden kibble, digging in a designated area where her toys are buried, putting her nose to work, getting kibble out of a bottle etc. -Consider that some dogs may misbehave when they receive too much stimulation and get cranky. Provide them with a quiet sleeping area and a chew toy to chill down and relax and distract from chewing the bed. -Train your puppy the 'leave it' command (found in the training section of the course) and tell your puppy that when you notice her intent to chew the bed. Supervise your puppy when on the bed and when you cannot supervise remove the bed. -Many dogs chew their beds when they are lonely and bored. It is not unusual for dogs to chew their bed when boarded in a kennel even if they never chewed their beds before at home. When left alone, best to not provide a fancy bed or for shorter absences provide it and offer a Kong to focus on. For longer absences, if feasible, invest in a nanny cam so that you monitor your dog when you are away and asses signs of progress. The Furbo camera allows you to even talk to your dog to redirect him and offer him tossed treats. -Finally, consider that even old beds are at risk of being chewed at some point if they develop weak spots or scratched areas that attract dogs.