All dogs, especially when they’re still just puppies, chew on just about anything they can get their teeth into: hands, shoes, furniture and pillows, for example. It’s in their DNA, and some breeds are more prone to this type of behaviour than others. Over the long run, however, this habit could be a problem. This is why the material chosen for the mattresses and pillows in dog houses and carriers are of fundamental importance.
Remember, the puppy doesn’t bite out of naughtiness, but out of playfulness, to relax, to satisfy his curiosity about the world around him, and because his teeth are settling into his mouth. Until they are 6 or 7 months old, puppies chew and bite to relieve the discomfort caused by growing teeth and can destroy any number of items within their immediate reach – especially those they use the most, like the pillow on which they sleep – until this phase is over and they learn a few basic rules.
So, how can you prevent the pillow from being torn to shreds? First of all it’s a good idea to make sure puppy has plenty of toys to gnaw and chew on, then we need to clear the area around him of any items we prefer to keep intact and create an area where he can play freely. This area is very important for when we have to leave him home alone too.
We recently talked about the Dog Training pen and how useful that can be in the first few months to teach him certain proper behaviour patterns and to learn to respect the rooms in the house. We obviously have to equip the pen with everything he’ll need to be comfortable, and that includes pillow-beds for nap time. If you don’t want to come home to a pillow-bed in shreds, then it’s a good idea to get one made with a technical material that is not only waterproof, but also resists insistent, long-term chewing and gnawing. In a nutshell, it has to be puppy proof!
The most suited pillow-beds are the hardy Polo line mattresses made of highly resistant material by Ferplast. They can be completely removed and washed in the washing machine. Jolly is also made with a technical material and comes in three colour combinations: black with acid green edging, military green with camouflage edging or brown with black edges, like the ones in this picture.
Ferplast Jolly mattresses can be used in wooden Baita, Domus and Canada dog houses, as well as in Atlas carriers. And they come in really handy as seat covers in the car, so that puppy doesn’t scratch up the upholstery or the boot!
