Dogs can be destructive when they want to be, and the results of that destruction can be frustrating. Unfortunately, even when you leave a destructive dog in a crate with just bedding and blankets, the animal will even destroy its own things. Letting a dog chew bedding and blankets is not an option because ingestion of these materials can be harmful, not to mention it is a pretty expensive habit to support. Fortunately, it is possible to teach a dog to stop chewing his or her bedding.
Things You'll Need
- Chew deterrent
- Chew toys
Instructions
Offer your dog plenty of appropriate chew toys. This is a key step in stopping destructive chewing because dogs have a natural instinct to chew. Chewing keeps a dog's jaw and teeth strong. It also helps clean their teeth, ease boredom and it relieves the pain of teething in puppies.
Praise your dog and reward him or her when he or she chews on appropriate chew toys. Additionally, when you catch your pet chewing on something it should not be playing with, take the item from the dog and replace it with an appropriate chew toy. These actions will help the dog learn what is acceptable and what is not.
Spray bedding with chew deterrent. Many companies make a spray you can mist on things that you don't want your dog to chew on. The chew deterrent tastes bad, but it is not harmful when ingested. It will teach your dog to stop chewing his bedding by making it an undesirable activity.
Provide plenty of outlets for exercise and exploration for your dog. Dogs chew out of boredom quite frequently, and if you stop the chewing without eliminating the boredom they will likely develop another destructive habit. Take your dog for walk at least once a day and make sure your pet has enough exercise and activity to stave off boredom and burn excess energy.