Why does he love to eat his bed?

[bojackson]

I keep my four month old in his cage for 4 hours in the morning and then 4 hours after lunch...every time i get home, he has shredded whatever i have left for him to lay on in the cage (blanket, towel, dog bed, etc.)...is this normal, or should i be concerned about some separation issues? Any suggestions would be helpful...thanx

 

[cwelch]

I'm not an expert on behavior and can't really say what might cause him to do this, but I recently heard an unfortunate story about an older boxer that not only chewed his blanket but also ate it resulting in a very expensive surgery. I wouldn't put anything in the crate other than a chewie. I wouldn't have thought they would eat a blanket. I removed the throw I had it the crate. Better safe than sorry.

 

[RolenKisses]

Could he be bored? Rolen chews things he's not supposed to when he hasn't had enough exercise! Does he get exercise before you put him in the crate?

 

[Escher_fan]

Could he be bored? Rolen chews things he's not supposed to when he hasn't had enough exercise! Does he get exercise before you put him in the crate?

I would say exercise before being crated would be very beneficial. Then it would be more likely the pup would sleep while you were gone, and not be bored in the crate and decide to destroy the bedding.

Mya has shredded 2 towels in 15 months. Both times I slept in by accident and didn't have as much time as usual to walk/run her before work.

I also didn't give her anything in the crate for about a week after the destruction.

 

[bojackson]

My fiancee and I dont really have time to walk him in the morning...just take him out to do is business and then back in the house...we may try to just leave him in with no blanket or towel sp there's no chance of eating anything...thanks for the help

 

[jimseabee]

Could he be bored? Rolen chews things he's not supposed to when he hasn't had enough exercise! Does he get exercise before you put him in the crate?

Exercise-Exercise-Exercise-Exercise. He needs to run and play hard. Not just a walk. Other wise they will be bored to death. A tired boxer is a good boxer. Oh yea did I suggest Exercise?

 

[Jan]

My fiancee and I dont really have time to walk him in the morning...just take him out to do is business and then back in the house...we may try to just leave him in with no blanket or towel sp there's no chance of eating anything...thanks for the help

You need to make time. Get up earlier and have a good play session with your pup. You can't do forced exercise at his age, but you can encourage him to run a play.

Good luck!

 

[bojackson]

the concensus seems to be more exercise will help...i guess Bo and I will have to face the cold mornings together up here in Connecticut...thanks for all the replies

 

[AdamsBunch]

Could he be bored? Rolen chews things he's not supposed to when he hasn't had enough exercise! Does he get exercise before you put him in the crate?

I learned a very valuable lesson, just because I felt like skipping out on the morning walk or a little playtime, doesn't mean they feel the same way. They would chew remotes, that got very expensive, my shoes, magazines, DVD's basically anything they could reach if they didn't get enough exercise or playtime. You have to make time for them to burn all of that energy off or say goodbye to everything in the house that's even remotely chewable. Good luck.

 

[chloeboxer]

My boxer Chloe chews up anything that is in her cage. I have heard that boxers need a lot of stimulating. They have very active minds and get bored very easily. Putting a lot of toys in there with them along with their pillow really won't stop them from distroying their pillow. My husband and I bought this really nice pillow for our boxer and the next morning it was in pieces. Now we don't put a pillow in there with her, and she seems ok.