How To Stop Your Dog From Tearing Up Your Bed Sheets (8 Actionable Steps)
It can be frustrating if your dog has a tendency to rip up your bed sheets, but fear not – solutions are at hand.
In this article, I’ll explore eight practical steps to help discourage the behavior and work towards a more peaceful coexistence between your pup and your bedding.
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#1. Increase Mental And Physical Stimulation
Regular training and exercise can give your dog an outlet for his energy and can help reduce his need to scratch.
Daily Walks
Consider exploring new areas when you go out for your walks.
If safe and practical to do so, give your pup free rein to explore by using a harness and long line.
Let him take his time to sniff and make his own decisions about which direction he wants to go in.
Research shows that sniffing lowers both the heart rate and blood pressure in dogs, leading to a more calm and content pup all around.
Play
Interactive games are also excellent for keeping boredom and frustration at bay. Play forms a vital part of an enriched environment for any dog.
Play releases feel-good hormones such as dopamine and contributes to an all-round positive emotional state.
“Play may seem frivolous and not serious,” says renowned animal behavior expert Dr. Karolina Westlund. “It really isn’t. It may be the emotion that you should take the most seriously.”
So try playing a game of fetch or tug-of-war with your dog and help him get those endorphins going.
Brain Games
You could also try out a new activity like agility or nose work. Not only are those great physical activities, they also make dogs use their brains.
Mental stimulation is just as important for your pup’s well-being as physical exercise. Not to mention, when the thinking brain is engaged, the emotional brain takes a back seat. What does this mean? A calmer pup all round.
So present your dog with plenty of ways to keep his brain active, such as providing chew toys or puzzle toys where he has to work to get a treat. A stuffed Kong or LickiMat is ideal.
You can even put them in the freezer the night before to give your dog an even bigger challenge.
Clicker Training
Finally, a quick training session is another great way to give your dog a mental workout. I recommend clicker training in particular.
Clicker training is a form of positive reinforcement training that uses a small handheld device (i.e. the clicker) to mark and communicate with the dog when he has performed a desired behavior.
When the dog performs the desired behavior, the trainer clicks the clicker and then immediately rewards the dog with a treat or verbal praise.
The clicker serves as a precise marker to let the dog know exactly which behavior earned the reward.
Over time, the dog learns to associate the sound of the clicker with the reward and begins to offer the desired behavior more frequently in order to earn the reward.
Clicker training can be used to teach a wide variety of behaviors and cues and is often used to train dogs for obedience, agility, and even trick performances.
Want to know more about how to get started? Here’s a great little introductory video from Karen Pryor Clicker Training that goes over the basics.
#2. Redirect The Behavior
Once you’ve got your clicker training down pat, you can use the same positive reinforcement training methods to redirect your dog’s behavior and encourage him to engage in more appropriate activities.
I’ll expand on this in the next section.
#3. Address Any Underlying Issues
If your dog’s scratching is caused by an underlying issue like separation anxiety or pain, it’s important to address that issue first.
Work with a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer to develop a plan that addresses possible reasons for your dog’s scratching behavior.
#4. Routine
Unpredictability can be stressful for dogs, so create a consistent schedule for meals, walks, playtime, and bedtime.
This way your pup knows what’s happening next and knows when he has some downtime, which will help him relax.
#5. Use Durable Bed Covers And Sheets
Investing in more heavy duty-type bed covers and sheets can help protect your bedding from any scratches and damage caused by your dog’s nails.
This will help protect your own bed sheets and ensure they remain in good condition.
#6. Make Your Bedroom Off-Limits
Consider making your bedroom off-limits.
You can set up a cozy sleeping spot in another room and encourage him to sleep there instead.
I recommend giving him a favorite chewy or stuffed Kong at bedtime to reinforce him for being in his own bed.
#7. Trim Your Dog’s Nails
Long nails can make scratching more damaging to your bed sheets and regular nail trims can help reduce the damage your dog does when he scratches.
If your dog’s nails are too long, it can make walking painful, so it’s best practice to keep them trimmed in any case. Short nails will make life far more comfortable for your canine friend.
#8. Adjust The Temperature
If your dog is scratching because he’s too hot or too cold, consider adjusting the thermostat or adding a fan or blanket.
This will help with his temperature regulation so he’ll feel more comfortable and less likely to scratch.
What Are Some Positive Reinforcement Techniques I Can Use To Redirect My Dog’s Behavior?
The primary goal of behavior modification is not just to stop an undesirable behavior, but to replace it with a desirable one.
In other words, focus on what you want your dog to do rather than what you want him to stop doing. Reward him for the behaviors you like.
This is a key part of the puzzle and is the reason why shouting “NO” at your dog doesn’t work in the long term.
Not only is “No” not a behavior, it doesn’t teach your dog what to do instead either.
As I said earlier, behaviors that get rewarded get repeated. And it’s always far more effective to teach your dog what you want him to do, rather than what you don’t want him to do.
Without this focus, even if the unwanted behavior stops, there could be a vacuum where your dog doesn’t know what else to do. So he may just go straight back to his original behavior of scratching the bed sheets.
10 Ways To Interrupt Your Dog
“There are many ways to interrupt behavior without resorting to physical or psychological intimidation,” explains dog trainer extraordinaire Emily Larlham. “Instead, you can train interrupt cues, such as a kissing or attention noise, or a recall cue.
“You can also teach your dog a stationing behavior, like going to their bed or crate, to interrupt behaviors you dislike,” she says.
Larlham suggests these 10 ways to interrupt your dog’s undesirable behavior:
- Attention noise
- Recall
- Leave it
- Stationing behavior
- Drop it
- Let’s Go
- Alternate behavior
- Release cue
- Treat lure
- Move the dog
She expands on this in this video. You’ll also find direct links to individual videos that will guide you through how to teach those alternatives.
Basic Obedience Training You Can Do At Home
Are you ready to shape your dog’s best behavior in the comfort of your home?
Explore this online Basic Obedience course bundle from Spirit Dog Training and transform your dog into the well-behaved companion they were always meant to be—no need to even leave the house!
Seek Professional Help
Still need help?
Don’t hesitate to locate a positive reinforcement trainer and behavior consultant to help you and your dog through the process (see my recommendations below).
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Resources
- An Introduction to Clicker Training [Video] – Karen Pryor Clicker Training
- At the Heart of the Walk – Christina and Aurélien Budzinski
- FORMULA For Solving UNWANTED BEHAVIOR – Dog and Puppy Training [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
- PLAY– Animal Emotions/Module 4 [Educational Course] – Dr. Karolina Westlund/Illis Animal Behaviour Courses
- STOP Unwanted Behavior Without INTIMIDATION [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT? If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely. GOOD PLACES TO START ARE: - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers - Pet Dog Trainers of Europe - International Companion Animal Network - Institute of Modern Dog Trainers - Pet Professional Guild All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!
