My Boxer eats every bed that she has had. She stays in a crate during the day while I am at work which is when she decides to destroy her bed. Is there something that we can do to prevent this? Or is there a type of bed that she cannot destroy? Any help is appreciated!!
I feel your pain - my dogs have destroyed countless beds (among other things). I would be careful with leaving a towel or blanket in there if she eats things left in her bed though. My Jack Russell spent 3days at the vet after eating part of a towel that was left in his crate when he was 10mo old. I thought I was doing the right thing because he had ruined multiple beds, but I wanted him to have something for him to lay on - I learned my lesson.
He's had a Kuranda bed in his crate for several months now and hasn't been able to even put a scratch on it. I got the super heavy duty model though - aluminum frame with 40oz vinyl fabric. It was a little pricey, but the way I look at it I'm saving money in the long run because I'm not constantly replacing beds and I'm not running to the vet because he has a blockage from eating bedding.
In my other dog's crate (she's an aggressive chewer, but not as bad - Pit/Greyhound so it's more of an anxiety thing for her) I have a Primo Pad. They are advertised on the website as being guaranteed chew proof or the seller will replace them. It lasted almost a year before she got a hold of a corner of it and it was my fault. I usually make sure that the pad is really snuggly in the crate so she cant get to the edges of it, but I was in a hurry and must not have got a corner in all the way. She chewed it up a bit but I was able to turn the pad so that it was under where her bowl is attached to the door of her crate so she can't chew it up more. These pads are pretty economical but when Maya chewed hers up I contacted the seller for a replacement several times and he never responded. So keep that in mind if you decide to try one of these.
I leave my dogs with their favorite toys in their crates (also ones they haven't been able to destroy or that can take a beating). Starmark toys are great and have a replacement guarantee - they make a ball that I put my dogs breakfast in so that when I leave for work he has something to do that takes his mind off of chewing on his bed for awhile. Also a new toy I found that I LOVE is Goughnuts - it comes in a ring or a stick and has a replacement guarantee. I also use black Kongs (I only use the cones, my dogs destroyed the bone in less than 5min, but I called the company and they gave me my $$ back and some coupons), but I stuff my dog's breakfast in them, soak them in water and them put them in the freezer overnight. The Kong makes it a challenge, but it being frozen makes it even tougher. I like to use my dogs food in the toys and not treats because I don't like giving my dogs a reward to keep them from destroying their crates, not to mention my Jack Russell needs to watch his calorie intake. Also some of the Nylabones (my dogs like the wishbones and the ring) have worked well. I recently tested out a few edible chews too with my dogs to see what would take a beating and so far the only one I like is a chew made from deer antlers that I found at Smartpak –they are expensive, but again they have lasted over 2mo now so in the long run… I also make sure my dogs always have fresh water in their crates. But their food/water bowls are aluminum bowls attached to the side of their crates so that they cant chew them up.
I do try to exercise them as much as possible – I figure if they are tired they’ll be too tired to go into destruct-o dog mode. I walk or jog with them everyday after work for 3-5 miles (in the winter its on the treadmill though) and I stop home at lunch and play fetch with them. I also put backpacks on them when we walk that weigh them down and make them work harder – they carry water bottles, a collapsible water bowl, my keys, cell phone, ID, a mini first aid kit and an extra leash. My dogs are young (1 & 2) and are active breeds, so they need ALOT of exercise. For some dogs just playing in the back yard for 45min every night is enough – every dog is different.
I hope something in here helps you, I know how frustrating it can be!
Just put her in there with a blanket or towel unless you're afraid she'll eat that too :-) Boxers have a lot of energy and it sounds like she needs some really good exercise before you put her in the crate all day. I know it may be inconvenient, but you need to take her out for a good long walk or jog in the morning before you go to work. Then put her in the crate with a Kong toy and I bet things won't be destroyed because you will have used up her energy. I wish you well.
Thank you for the help!! I will look into the Kuranda bed as well as the Primo Pad. My fiance and I do walk her in the evening after work and then before we go to bed. She does sleep in bed with us at night so she is only in the crate during the day while we are at work. She has towels in her crate at the moment and has not touched them for the past 3 days but being a big dog I want her to have something more comfortable and better for her joints. My fiance thinks I am just spoiling her but she is my baby!!!