My Dog Chews on His Dog Bed

Q: How do I stop my dog from chewing on his dog bed?  

A: This, believe it or not, is a common question. I had one client whose dog chewed up four dog beds before he and his wife decided to ditch the bed and allow the dog to sleep with them.

Then a baby came along and the bed got too small so they called me.

If you want your dog to respect his dog bed, you can't just throw the bed out there and expect him to "accept" it as a place to rest. Some dogs might naturally gravitate to it, but if they start showing signs of chewing on it, you will need to show him the correct way to behave on the bed.

For those dogs that have a tendency to chew on the bed, I always start by training the dog to go to his dog bed on command. Most trainers like to use the word "Place" for this exercise. Start by putting the place bed near the television, work area or your kitchen/dining area. Put it in a place you will spend a long period of time.

Having a leash on your dog attached to a flat collar and a piece of food in your hand, you can walk toward the dog bed and lure the dog on to the bed.  Some dogs might resist this because it's a new surface to them. If that's the case, gently guide him on to the bed. The moment he gets all four paws on to the bed, say "Good" and then give him the treat. Then you will with leash in hand walk away from the dog bed so the dog follows you. Return to the bed and repeat the exercise many times.

After a few successful repetitions, you'll notice the dog wants to get on the bed pretty quickly to get that treat. You can start using the word "Place" as you send him to the bed. Make sure you come at the bed from every angle so the dog sees the picture clearly.

I personally don't care if the dog sits, stands or lies down once they get on the bed, just as long as all four paws are on the bed itself.

"Place" means to be on that bed and nothing else. Once he starts getting the picture, you can increase the amount of time you want him to stay on the bed. You don't want to ask too much of him just yet. He's not going to be able to "Place" for long periods of time just yet. You will have to build up to that. As you increase the amount of time he is spending on the bed, you may start to see that he gets antsy and tries to get off the bed. At this time, you will say No...and then walk toward him and gently guide him back to the bed...the moment he reaches the bed you will say "Place."

The only thing that can break a command is a release word or another command. I like to use the word "Free" as a release word.  This means the dog is free to do whatever he wants. 

He is free to be a dog, but when I give a command he will have to go back in to obedience mode and work or perform the command. Now that you have the dog going to the dog bed and you are starting to increase the amount of time he spends on the bed you will have to look out for him chewing the bed. If he starts to mouth it, then you can clap your hands loudly and say NO...PLACE.

You have to catch this right away, don't wait until he's gnawed half of the bed away before you decide to stop him. If you are unable to get his attention by clapping, or snapping, or shaking a can, then go over to the dog grab his leash and give it a quick tug and say the word "No." Remind him what he should be doing Place. Keep your eye on him. That's why I like to start this exercise in a place where you will be spending time. The television is great for this exercise. If you watch a show at night you can literally put your dog on Place and release him when a commercial comes on. You can also send him to his Place when you are eating, and then free him up when you are done. 

Make it a way of life. If he tries to break the command, then move toward him and guide him back on to the bed and say "No…Place" to remind him what he should be doing. If he stays on the place for longer periods of time, you can continue to reward him with a treat but will eventually have to phase this treat out of the training so he doesn't become dependent on the treat.

Most dogs naturally start to gravitate toward their bed once they are taught the Place command and feel very comfortable there. Now go and get your dog out of your bed and give him his own space. Of course, that is only if you don't want him stealing your covers anymore!