Are Bernedoodles Chewers?
When you think of Bernedoodles, those adorable, fluffy companions, do you ever wonder if they have a tendency to chew everything in sight? Just like humans use their hands for various activities, dogs use their mouths for eating, playing, barking, and, yes, chewing. But the big question remains: Are Bernedoodles chewers and are they more prone to being intense chewers as compared to other breeds? In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Bernedoodle puppies, their chewing behaviors, and how you can manage their natural tendencies.
Understanding the Canine Chewing Instinct
Before we tackle Bernedoodle chewing behaviors, we’ll first explore the reasons why dogs, in general, have a strong urge to chew.
1. Exploration Instincts: Chewing is deeply rooted in a dog’s nature. Much like how we use our hands to touch and interact with our surroundings, dogs explore the world through their mouths. While you can’t completely eliminate their chewing instincts, you can redirect them toward appropriate objects. These include chew toys, treats and sticks, as opposed to slippers, the sofa or any item in your home that could be unsafe for your pup.
2. Getting Rid of Boredom: Imagine being cooped up indoors for hours without any entertainment – you’d likely find yourself fidgeting or tapping your feet because you don’t have anything to do and you’re bored. Similarly, when Bernedoodles don’t get enough physical activity and mental stimulation, they may resort to chewing as a way to combat their restlessness.
A Busy Mind is a Happy Mind
- Physical Activity Isn’t Enough: As you would imagine, regular exercise is important for your Bernedoodle’s physical health. However, t’s equally important to challenge their minds. A tired body might not necessarily mean that their mind is tired. Stimulating your dog’s mind provides a complete approach to ensure their overall well-being.
- Preventing Undesirable Behavior: Boredom can also lead to destructive behavior. When your Bernedoodle lacks stimulation, they might turn to chewing as a way to relieve their restlessness. By offering activities that engage their brain, you can distract them from destructive habits and redirect them to something more desirable.
- Enhancing the Bond: Working directly with your Bernedoodle with mentally stimulation activities strengthens your bond. It nurtures trust and communication between you and your furry friend, which will make them feel more connected and less likely to start chewing due to boredom.
Stimulating Activities for a Happy Bernedoodle
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of mental stimulation, let’s look at some activities that can keep your Bernedoodle’s mind engaged, keeping boredom away:
- Interactive Toys: Consider buying toys that will challenge your dog’s problem-solving skills. Puzzle toys that release treats when played with a certain way can provide hours of entertainment and mental exercise for your Bernedoodle.
- Training Sessions: Teach your Bernedoodle new tricks or commands. Learning engages their brain and gives them (and you) a sense of accomplishment.
- Hide-and-Seek: Hide treats or toys around the house and have your dog search for them. This taps into their natural exploring instincts and keeps them occupied.
- Sensory Exploration: Take your Bernedoodle on different walks to expose them to new sights, sounds, and smells. What we mean is take them on a different walking route, in a different neighborhood or to a different story. By exploring areas outside of environments familiar to them, you provide them with mental stimulation.
- Rotate Toys: Try not to leave all of your dog’s toys out at once. Instead, rotate them every so often to keep things interesting. A “new” toy feels exciting and engages their curiosity.
- Social Interactions: Set up playdates or allow your Bernedoodle to interact with other dogs. Socializing also stimulates their mind and keeps them engaged.
3. Battling Separation Anxiety: Puppies, in particular, might chew to cope with separation anxiety. The stress of being away from their human companions can lead to anxiety, and chewing becomes an outlet for that pent-up emotion. By gradually training your puppy to handle being alone and gradually increasing periods of separation, you can help reduce and eventually stop this behavior.
4. Teething Troubles: Remember when you were a child and experienced the fun experience of teething? Well dogs, including Bernedoodles, go through a teething stage as well. This is the time in their lives when they transition from their puppy teeth to adult teeth. Chewing helps soothe their sore gums and helps loosen puppy teeth to make way for their new adult ones.
Cooper’s Journey: A Real-Life Example
Cooper’s story provides an anecdotal account into the connection between specific circumstances and chewing tendencies. Cooper, who’s a curious pup like many others, had quite a bit of separation anxiety when he was in his first year. The separation anxiety played a significant role in his chewing habits, which weren’t always positive. During this time, he was also going through his teething phase, so this phase plus the separation anxiety amplified his need to chew.
Now, we could have scolded him, but that wouldn’t have been the right answer. It would have harmed the bond we had made with him and negatively impacted his ability to learn to stop what we called “stress” chewing. So we decided to address the issue with positive reinforcement.
We gave him new chew toys that could withstand his excessive chewing. These were typically bone-like toys. If he was chewing on something other than the bone, we would get the bone in front of him and have him start chewing on it. And of course, there was praise and a treat involved so he came to understand what he should be chewing on. Over time we were able to break his bad habits and we never see him chewing on things he isn’t suppoosed to anymore.
IMPORTANT: While it’s great that you’ve taken the initiative to get a bone-like chew toy for your pup, you need to be careful to monitor them enjoying it. As your Bernedoodle wears the toy down, it will start to become damaged and pieces that start or appear as thought they will break off could pose a choking hazard. It’s better to trash the toy and get a new one rather than risk your pup choking on something.
Decoding Bernedoodle Chewing Patterns
Now, let’s focus on Bernedoodles themselves and their natural inclination toward chewing. Bernedoodles, a crossbreed of Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles, generally don’t fall into the category of extreme chewers, unlike certain breeds that have a reputation for wreaking havoc through chewing, Bernedoodles are less likely to excessively chew.
So, the big question: Are Bernedoodles chewers? When it comes down to it, not really. While they do enjoy chewing on their toys, especially those bone-like toys, they aren’t typically known for relentless chewing. During walks, you might catch them nibbling on sticks, but that’s a pretty common thing regardless of which dog breed you’re interested in.
Strategies for Effective Chewing Management
To ensure your Bernedoodle’s chewing habits remain balanced:
1. Tackle Separation Anxiety:
If your Bernedoodle shows signs of separation anxiety, adopt gradual training methods to build their confidence and alleviate distress.
Imagine if you suddenly had to do something really scary, like giving a big speech in front of a lot of people. It might make you feel better if you had some practice first, right? Well, the same goes for your Bernedoodle. You can help them feel more comfortable being alone by training them gradually.
Here’s how it works:
Start Small: First, leave your Bernedoodle alone for just a short time, like a few minutes. Make sure they have their favorite toys and a cozy spot to relax.
Come and Go: Go in and out of the house a few times while your Bernedoodle is alone. This helps them learn that you’ll always come back.
Increase the Time: Over a few days, make the time you’re away a little longer each time. This helps your Bernedoodle get used to being alone for longer periods.
Stay Calm: When you leave and come back, be calm and relaxed. This helps your Bernedoodle feel that everything is okay.
Building Confidence and Easing Distress
By practicing being alone in a safe and positive way, your Bernedoodle can start feeling more confident and less worried when you need to leave them at at home. Gradual training shows them that being alone is okay and that you’ll always return. This can really help them feel better when you’re not there.
Extra Comfort Measures
You can also make being alone a positive experience for your Bernedoodle by:
Leaving Treats: Give your Bernedoodle a special treat or toy that they only get when you’re not there. This makes them associate being alone with something good.
Background Noise: Sometimes, soft music or a TV show playing can help your Bernedoodle feel less lonely.
Safe Space: Create a cozy space where your Bernedoodle feels safe. A comfy bed or blanket can make them feel more at ease.
2. Offer Appropriate Chew Toys
Particularly during teething phases, provide sturdy chew toys that will support your pup’s need to chew. As we mentioned earlier, regularly look over these toys and check for signs of wear and tear that could pose a choking hazard.
3. Set Clear Boundaries
Train your Bernedoodle to discern between acceptable and unacceptable items for chewing. Consistency in enforcing these boundaries is crucial.
In Closing
Now that you know the answer to the question “are Bernedoodles chewers”, you can better understand your Bernedoodle’s natural instinct. And once you observe an undesirable behavior, you’ll know how to correct it. By using a combination of the right chew toys, consistent training, and attention to their emotional well-being, you’ll have your Bernedoodle chewing without gnawing on that brand new hand bag or any other valuable item around the house.. This approach ensures your belongings remain intact, and your furry friend remains happy and healthy. And always remember, be patient!
