Indestructible Bed

Hi Guys,

I'm sure a lot of you have gone through this with your staffy's so I'm hoping to find a solution!!

Reggie is awesome but is chewing through a bed a month! I haven't spent a much on them, usually buying them from dog's charities like the RSPCA or Dog's Trust, but I need something that is going to last.

I've googled it and found 'Tuff Mutt's' but they are pushing £200 per bed and I'm sure I can get one just as good else where and hopefully for cheaper!

Reg is fine sleeping on the floor but we use 'bed' as a command and he normally settles nicely when he has his own little spot.

Any suggestions?


Thanks in advance!

How much???

I'd approach this from a different angle - why is he chewing through beds so much? Is he doing it at specific times? Does he chew other stuff or just his bedding? Any other issues?

Until you've got to the bottom of it I wouldn't be spending much on bedding at all!

I know I was shocked too and that was a really basic one!!

It seems to be when he's bored, I notice that it's when I'm busy ironing so I can't play...

He did also recently chew some shoe insoles but again he had been left a little while so it was as if he was protesting...

The occasional receipt that falls out of my bag...

It won't be protesting, dogs brains don't work that way. But it could well be that he need something to do while you're busy.

If possible, I'd try to plan his exercise and the 'busy' things you need to do so he's just had his exercise (walk/play) before you get started. Then, I'd give him something like a stuffed kong or something to chew on, something nicer than his bed. There are all sorts of dried things you can get now if you don't like rawhide chews (many don't because of how they are processed), and I like giving my guys real bones as they're also great for teeth (not weight bearing beef bones). I wouldn't leave him with a chew or bones but they are great to keep dogs quiet while you get on with stuff. And cheaper than a £200 bed!

Yeah he has a couple of bones too which he enjoys.

It seems like he does like the throw the bed about as well. He will clench onto it and the swing from side to side hitting it in his face. Do you just suggest a toy for him to do that with instead?

Id try a tug toy sounds ideal and u can make them yourself

I would certainly try it. I know some folks on here have used an old pair of jeans, one leg cut off and knotted, for example. You could also try things like treats hidden in a cardboard box - cardboard has to be very high on the list of things staffies love to trash, and they're free! An old cereal packet, the box your last Amazon order came in, whatever, with a bit of cheese or something tasty inside can provide more fun than you'd believe.

Other ways to make the rope toy coukd be gentlemans ties ,odd socks perhaos an old towel or teatowel . Hide treats all around the room you are in use really smelly treats such as dried fish skins or natures menu the smelliest is probably the lamb id highly recommend it .

Toys,toys,and more toys,you can never have too many.Tess has a large plastic container of them including a few balls,even when they are trashed they will find a way to enjoy them.Tess loves to play tug,but I usually get tired before she does.

Empty water bottles! Hank goes nuts for them haha

Ah they're all really good ideas! I will defiantly try all of them!

Does anyone have any suggestions on beds though? I would still like to get one

I have been through 2 beds so far with Hank, he destroyed his second one of a night so I couldn't just go buy him a new so as quick fix I put of our pillows from our bed down for him with his blanket over and he hasn't bothered it at all, hasn't even ate the tag of it! I was expecting for it to be destroyed but wasn't going to be too bothered with it just being an old pillow.

I do want to get him a proper bed but this has worked the best so I'm in two minds

I have considered buying one of the plastic shells and doing the same giving him a old pillow and blanket but I think he'll nibble his way through that too...

A friend told me about one she saw that made of like seat belt material so it's harder for him to chew through... but I've also seen the big pillow ones on groupon...

I think I'm going to get a plastic bed to stick the pillow in for hank so he has something to lean against, we had one for him when he was tiny and he ate the sides of it I have a feeling he maybe hasn't destroyed the pillow because it smells of us.

I'm scared to buy him a proper good bed while he is still biting I assume Reggie is the same with him being same age as Hank.

Ah that's a good point because every so often he does seem to appear in our bed at night.

I will give that a go, thanks so much!

If you come across any that look a little more solid let me know!

Gizmo has a metal crate with a bunch of 'ex' pillows and various rugs. He splits sleeping time about 50-50 between that and my bed.

Toilet paper rolls with the ends bent round a treat and then hidden in a sock used to entertain him.

Hi Sophie,

Been wondering how you're getting on and if the old pillow worked?

Hello!

I didn't actually do it.

We have recently been on holiday but just before I got him a new bed which is like a giant pillow but the material is a mix between tweed and like seat belt so he cant actually get into it! He has had it now for around a month and there's no rips, holes or scratches so we might be sorted!

ooh very good! I might get Hank one as the old pillow is looking abit worse for wear

The one we got Reg was from:

https://www.justforpetstores.co.uk/

I can't see the one we actually got him online but if you have a store nearby it could be worth a look?

He also got a Kong Teddy Bear and believe it or not it's still in one piece!!!

That looks really nice! I don't think we have one of those stores but I'm sure I'll find one similar:D

Haha I got hank one of those viva dog subscription boxes and it came yesterday and the rope toy in it is already in shreds

we make our own using old sofa cushions or duvet sheets

There actually isn"t much use in buying a pup a proper bed until they are past the chew stage having said that i went through 2 sofas. Wasnt her fault though. Id use old things such as blankets or as steve suggested old sofa cushions and sheets . There are times its worthy a look charity shops sometimes sell dog beds for under £10.