When is a bed a bed?

I need your secrets!

@jarn The trainer said most dogs grow out of shredding them around 2-3 years old so I thought I’d give it a try. So far so good - just a few half-hearted attempts but a stern “no” and he stopped and hasn’t tried since.

WNGD said:

Time to get one twice that size, I'd shred it too
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It’s actually a large! He does fit in when he’s not rolling around on it lol! Plus I have a Kuranda for him. I will probably get a mattress type bed though as he tends to like to stretch out rather than curl up. It was more of an experiment in seeing if it would survive.

If the dog is properly conditioned to an e-collar, destructive behavior like tearing into a bed can be stopped quickly.

cagal said:

It’s actually a large! He does fit in when he’s not rolling around on it lol! Plus I have a Kuranda for him. I will probably get a mattress type bed though as he tends to like to stretch out rather than curl up. It was more of an experiment in seeing if it would survive.

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Based on the pictures, you need an XL, they aren't going to want to curl up until next fall or winter, they need to stretch and and still be on the bed or they'll just lay half off....or over in your case. We have to have 40-44" beds

WNGD said:

Time to get one twice that size, I'd shred it too
But with respect to your trainer "they grow out of it by 2-3 years" is full on ridiculous.
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You can’t buy those nice round beds anymore. Costco stopped selling them.

saharaell said:

If the dog is properly conditioned to an e-collar, destructive behavior like tearing into a bed can be stopped quickly.

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That isn’t a good idea or use for an e collar. Have you used one for that purpose?

LuvShepherds said:

That isn’t a good idea or use for an e collar. Have you used one for that purpose?

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Where did you learn the proper use of an e-collar?

you may have a personal opinion that it’s not the use for an e-collar, but it is no different from a leash pop. If the dog is trained to understand what the stim means, there is nothing Wrong with using it for a correction. I don’t know why you think an e-collar is above using for that purpose. An e-collar stim is just quicker/precise than walking over to the dog to deliver a correction when doing something destructive.

From a trainer. From your response it sounds like something you read about but have not used. There are better and easier ways to stop a dog from chewing a bed.

LuvShepherds said:

From a trainer. From your response it sounds like something you read about but have not used. There are better and easier ways to stop a dog from chewing a bed.

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well, your trainer’s wrong. Probably best to educate yourself on how to properly use an e collar before making statements like they’re fact.

It's not necessary to insult another member that you disagree with.Sharing a different perspective is always welcome,though the OP wasn't asking for help.
My 10 year old Misty is beginning to get a little stiff and arthritic so DH brought home a big fabric covered pillow that he thought she might like. Nope, lol.The dogs all thought it was a giant stuffy and had a great time tugging it to bitsShe does like the fleece blanket next to my desk though. So before winter this year I'll find her something comfy to wrap the blanket around.

saharaell said:

well, your trainer’s wrong. Probably best to educate yourself on how to properly use an e collar before making statements like they’re fact.

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The e-collar for this would not have been good when my dog was younger. He’s very reactive and also slow to mature. I use one now but for very specific purposes and only after having good instruction. He’s 2 and the e-collar is a great tool but he also has zero interest in wrecking things. The trainer that helped get us on track said wait until age 2 and she was right and all she does is train with reactive dogs, and generally GSDs. He was simply on a slow track to maturing. In the last 6 months he’s become a completely different dog. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. The bed was not one of them - he has a Kuranda and is crate trained so it simply wasn’t a big issue when I had bigger hurdles to overcome.

LuvShepherds said:

You can’t buy those nice round beds anymore. Costco stopped selling them.

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That may vary by warehouse. If you mean the classic Kirkland round beds that they've sold for over a decade, they have them online -- and they're on sale through the end of today (May savings), with free shipping: https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-42"-round-pet-bed,-gray-diamond.product.4000177362.html

cagal said:

The e-collar for this would not have been good when my dog was younger. He’s very reactive and also slow to mature. I use one now but for very specific purposes and only after having good instruction. He’s 2 and the e-collar is a great tool but he also has zero interest in wrecking things. The trainer that helped get us on track said wait until age 2 and she was right and all she does is train with reactive dogs, and generally GSDs. He was simply on a slow track to maturing. In the last 6 months he’s become a completely different dog. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. The bed was not one of them - he has a Kuranda and is crate trained so it simply wasn’t a big issue when I had bigger hurdles to overcome.

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I’m not suggesting an e-collar is a panacea. I’m simply saying that it can be used for this purpose if the prerequisites are met (strong relationship with the handler; properly conditioned to the e-collar; right age for the dog; right temperament for the dog. Of course, it’s not right for every dog, just like a prong or a sliplead are not right for every dog.

Magwart said:

That may vary by warehouse. If you mean the classic Kirkland round beds that they've sold for over a decade, they have them online -- and they're on sale through the end of today (May savings), with free shipping: https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-42"-round-pet-bed,-gray-diamond.product.4000177362.html

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I found them! Thank you so much.

cagal said:

The e-collar for this would not have been good when my dog was younger. He’s very reactive and also slow to mature. I use one now but for very specific purposes and only after having good instruction. He’s 2 and the e-collar is a great tool but he also has zero interest in wrecking things. The trainer that helped get us on track said wait until age 2 and she was right and all she does is train with reactive dogs, and generally GSDs. He was simply on a slow track to maturing. In the last 6 months he’s become a completely different dog. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. The bed was not one of them - he has a Kuranda and is crate trained so it simply wasn’t a big issue when I had bigger hurdles to overcome.

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I agree. I never planned to use an e collar but my dog was doing dangerous things and the trainer suggested it to stop those behaviors and to reinforce good ones the dog knew but needed to be reminded of. I would never use one for things associated with pleasure, like a bed or playing with my other dog, because there is the danger the dog will create a negative association with the bed or the other dog. I now have Primo pads in the crates that can’t easily be chewed or destroyed, and I put padded cushions on top of those. If I got another puppy, I would use the pad without a cushion until we got past the chewing stages. Mine have never chewed a freestanding bed, although my little brat peed on one as a puppy to mark it.