How to Stop Dog From Chewing Bed | Redirect, Reinforce, Repeat

For the full breakdown, see our best Dog Beds for Puppies That Chew guide.

That shredded pile of stuffing where your dog’s bed used to be is frustrating, but it’s also a solvable puzzle. Dogs chew their beds for reasons ranging from boredom and excess energy to anxiety or simple teething discomfort. The fix for a dog chewing its bed usually combines giving them something better to chew, tiring them out more effectively, and managing the environment so the bed survives while you retrain the habit.

Why Does My Dog Chew Its Bed?

Before you can redirect the behavior, it helps to understand what’s driving it. Boredom is the most common trigger: a dog left alone with limited stimulation will find its own entertainment, and that usually means the closest available object.

The dog doesn’t see the bed as “bad”; it sees it as a satisfying chew toy.

If the behavior appears suddenly in an older dog that has never chewed bedding before, AnimalWised advises a veterinary check to rule out underlying medical issues before assuming it’s behavioral.

The Step Order That Works: Redirect, Tire Out, Manage

Stopping bed-chewing requires three parallel tracks: giving the dog a better outlet, increasing physical and mental exercise, and removing the bed as an option when you can’t supervise.

Step 1: Redirect immediately to an approved chew item. The moment you catch your dog mouthing the bed, calmly offer a durable chew toy instead. When the dog takes the toy, reward that choice with praise or a small treat.

Step 2: Increase exercise and enrichment. Many bed-chewers are simply under-stimulated. A tired dog chews less. Add an extra walk, a longer play session, or a puzzle feeder that makes the dog work for its meals. Rotating toys keeps them Novel and interesting, which reduces the appeal of the bed as an object.

Step 3: Manage the environment when you can’t watch. If you’re not actively supervising, the bed needs to be out of reach. Crate the dog with a safe chew toy, or remove the bed from the crate and replace it with a towel or blanket you don’t mind losing. Once the chewing habit is broken, you can reintroduce the bed gradually under supervision.

Step 4: Skip the punishment. Multiple sources warn that scolding or punishing a dog for chewing can backfire — it raises anxiety, which can actually increase the chewing behavior. The redirect-and-reward loop builds the habit you want instead of the fear you don’t.

Choosing Chew-Resistant Bedding

While you work on the behavior, the right bed makes survival more likely. Look for beds marketed as chew-resistant or “indestructible,” with reinforced seams and tougher fabrics like canvas or ballistic nylon. Avoid beds with exposed zippers, loose stitching, or accessible stuffing — those are invitation points for a determined chewer.

For puppies specifically, the teething phase is temporary but intense. A bed that can survive a few weeks of mouthing saves you money in the long run, since you won’t be replacing it every week.

If your dog is already shredding beds faster than you can replace them, consider a temporary practical solution: a flat mat or blanket instead of a plush bed until the habit is under control. It’s cheaper to lose, and it removes the stuffing-and-zipper “reward” that makes plush beds so appealing to chewers.

When Should I Call the Vet?

Most bed-chewing is behavioral, but not all of it is. If the behavior starts suddenly in an adult or senior dog that has never done this before, a vet visit is the right call before you invest in training or new bedding. Medical causes like dental pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, or cognitive decline can all manifest as sudden chewing.

Similarly, if the chewing is accompanied by other signs — pacing, excessive drooling, changes in appetite, or destructive behavior beyond the bed — that’s a signal to get professional input. PetsRadar notes that for anxiety-driven chewing specifically, working with a veterinarian or certified behaviorist often yields better results than DIY training alone.