Why Your Puppy Is Tearing Up Their Bed (And How to Stop It) | Pupford

Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with a unique set of challenges. One particularly common issue many pup parents face is coming home to a shredded bed, torn fabric, or chewed-up stuffing.

If your puppy is constantly destroying their bed, rest assured: you are not alone, and your puppy isn’t misbehaving out of spite. Chewing and tearing behaviors often reflect normal developmental stages and unmet needs.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the key reasons why puppies destroy their beds, how to address this behavior through training and enrichment, and what bedding alternatives can keep your puppy safe during this phase.

Table of Contents:

1. Why Puppies Destroy Their Bed: 6 Common Causes
2. How to Train Your Puppy to Stop Destroying Their Bed
3. Providing Adequate Physical and Mental Enrichment
4. 4 Safe Bedding Alternatives During the Destruction Phase
5. When Will My Puppy Outgrow This Behavior?

Why Puppies Destroy Their Bed: 6 Common Causes

Understanding why your puppy engages in destructive behavior is the first step to managing and preventing it. Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. Teething Discomfort

From around 3 to 6 months of age, puppies begin losing their baby teeth to make room for adult ones. This teething process can cause significant discomfort, leading them to seek relief through chewing.

Soft, textured materials like those found in dog beds provide a tempting outlet.

What to look for:

• Chewing on soft or pliable items
• Swollen gums or visible baby teeth falling out
• General restlessness during teething phases
  

What helps:

• Provide frozen KONGs, rubber teething toys, or chilled carrots
• Rotate safe chews to keep your puppy engaged

🐶 Learn more in our Puppy Teething Guide!` 🐶

2. Boredom and Lack of Mental Stimulation

Puppies are naturally curious and energetic. If they don’t receive enough mental or physical stimulation, they’ll often create their own entertainment—unfortunately, that might mean dismantling their bed.

Indicators of boredom:

• Destruction focused on beds, shoes, or furniture
• Whining, pacing, or digging in the crate or around the house
• Excessive barking or demand behaviors

Prevention tips:

• Incorporate puzzle toys, snuffle mats, and interactive games
• Practice short training sessions throughout the day

💡7 Tips to Minimize Your Dogs Boredom 

3. Insufficient Physical Exercise

High energy without an outlet can easily lead to frustration and destructive tendencies. Puppies, even small breeds, need regular physical activity that matches their age and breed type.

Physical activity ideas:

• Short walks (appropriate for age)
• Supervised off-leash play or tug sessions
• Obstacle courses or fetch games in safe environments

❤️Related Reading: How Much Exercise Does A Puppy Need?

4. Exploratory Behavior

Much like human babies, puppies explore their world with their mouths. Tasting, biting, and chewing different textures helps them learn about their environment.

Unfortunately, beds are often soft, interesting, and easily destructible.

This is normal developmental behavior. Rather than punishment, redirection is key.

5. Separation Distress

If destruction only occurs when your puppy is left alone, it may be a sign of separation distress. Chewing or tearing at bedding can be a coping mechanism for anxiety and stress.

Signs of separation distress:

• Whining, barking, or howling when alone
• Excessive salivation or pacing
• Destruction of bedding, doors, or crate interiors

Support strategies:

• Practice short, calm departures and gradual alone-time training
• Provide enrichment (e.g., frozen KONGs) to occupy your pup when you're away
• Work with a certified trainer or behaviorist if anxiety is severe

6. Comfort-Seeking or Nesting Instincts

Some puppies instinctively dig or tear at bedding to create a more comfortable space. This behavior may be inherited from ancestral denning habits.

Breeds with strong prey or digging instincts—like terriers and hounds—may be more inclined to shred or burrow into their bedding.

How to Train Your Puppy to Stop Destroying Their Bed

Correcting destructive behaviors starts with understanding, not punishment. With consistent training and appropriate redirection, most puppies outgrow this behavior.

1. Supervise and Redirect

When you notice your puppy chewing or tearing at their bed, calmly interrupt with a cue like "leave it" and offer an appropriate chew or toy instead to redirect their attention. 

Always praise your puppy when they make the right choice. Reinforcing positive behavior is more effective than punishment.

Related Reading: How To Reward Your Dog

2. Teach “Leave It” and “Drop It” Cues

Impulse control is essential for curbing unwanted behaviors.

• Practice “leave it” using low value treats or non-essential objects
• Reinforce “drop it” during playtime with toys like tug ropes

These foundational skills can help in many training scenarios, not just with bed chewing.

🐶Learn how to teach your dog “Leave It” with videos! 🐶

3. Implement Positive Crate Training

If the destruction happens primarily in the crate, revisit your crate training routine:

• Make the crate a positive, safe space
• Avoid placing expensive beds until your puppy’s chewing is under control
• Use crate-safe bedding alternatives during early stages (see below)

❤️Check out our Complete Guide to Crate Training!

4. Limit Access When Unsure

When you can't directly supervise your puppy, limit access to areas with bedding or furniture they might destroy. Use puppy pens, baby gates, or a supervised crate setup.

Consistency and prevention are key to reducing rehearsed unwanted behaviors.

💡Learn about the power of Environmental Management! 

5. Avoid Harsh Punishment

Punishing your puppy after the fact does not teach them what to do—instead, it may cause fear, anxiety, or confusion.

Focus on setting your puppy up for success through proactive training, enrichment, and consistent routines.

🐶Learn if you might be unknowingly using aversive training methods with your pup! 🐶

Providing Adequate Physical and Mental Enrichment

To reduce destructive behaviors, your puppy needs a healthy balance of both mental and physical stimulation.

General Exercise Guidelines (by Age)

Mental stimulation can often be just as tiring as physical exercise. Incorporate both for a well-balanced routine.

4 Safe Bedding Alternatives During the Destruction Phase

Until your puppy grows out of their chewing phase, you may want to avoid investing in plush beds. Here are some safer, more durable options:

1. Old Towels or Blankets

Soft, inexpensive, and easily replaceable, towels and blankets are a great temporary solution. Just ensure your puppy isn’t ingesting any material.

2. Elevated Cots

Raised pet beds made with chew-resistant mesh and metal frames are durable and easy to clean. They also provide airflow and help puppies stay cool.

Popular options include: Kuranda beds, Frisco steel-framed cots

3. Chew-Proof Crate Mats

Look for crate pads made with ballistic nylon or PVC material that are designed to resist chewing and tearing.

Features to consider:

• No exposed zippers or seams
• Waterproof and easy to sanitize
• Fits snugly in the crate to reduce movement and temptation

4. No Bedding (Temporary)

In some cases, the safest option is no bedding at all—especially if your puppy is ingesting materials. While it may feel harsh, it's better than risking a gastrointestinal blockage.

Use crate training to ensure comfort without the need for soft bedding until your puppy is ready.

When Will My Puppy Outgrow This Behavior?

Most puppies naturally reduce or stop destructive chewing behaviors by 6 to 12 months of age. However, individual timelines may vary depending on breed, environment, and the level of structure provided.

Warning signs that professional help may be needed:

• Your puppy is ingesting fabric, stuffing, or foam
• Destruction is escalating despite adequate training and exercise
• Your puppy shows signs of anxiety, aggression, or obsessive behavior

In these cases, consult your veterinarian or a certified professional dog trainer.

Recap: Why Your Puppy is Tearing Up Their Bed

Chewing and destruction can be frustrating, but it's a normal part of puppy development. Understanding the underlying causes—like teething, boredom, or anxiety—can help you approach the issue with empathy and effective solutions.

With consistent training, proper enrichment, and safe alternatives, your puppy can learn what is and isn’t appropriate to chew. Remember: this phase doesn’t last forever. Stay patient, stay proactive, and support your pup through every stage of growth.

🐶Ready to start training? Sign up for our FREE 30 Day Perfect Pup Program!🐶