A customer's dog is chewing a woven bed. What should a seller say?
Be straight with the customer: no woven bed is chew-proof, and chewing is normal dog behaviour that the ASPCA says needs managing, mainly through supervision, the dog's own chew toys, and keeping off-limits items out of reach. If the dog has swallowed pieces or strands, the customer should call their vet. On your side, the fix is clear listing wording and a bed choice that matches the home.
- For pet shops, importers and Amazon sellers
- Seagrass, water hyacinth and rattan beds
- About 6 minutes to read
Why dogs chew their beds
The ASPCA's guide to destructive chewing opens with the basic point: "It's normal for puppies and dogs to chew on objects as they explore the world." It also says chewing "combats boredom and can relieve mild anxiety or frustration."
The same page lists several situations behind chewing, including:
- Teething puppies, who chew to relieve the discomfort of incoming teeth.
- Boredom. "Bored dogs tend look for ways to entertain themselves, and chewing is one option."
- Separation anxiety. These dogs "usually only chew when left alone or chew most intensely when left alone."
A woven bed is within reach and has edges and strands to grip. A seller cannot tell which of these reasons applies to a particular dog, and should not try to.
What the ASPCA advises owners to do
The ASPCA's advice is about management and teaching. "Dogs need to learn what is okay to chew and what is not." In short, the page recommends:
- giving the dog "plenty of his own toys and inedible chew bones";
- supervising "during all waking hours" until the chewing is under control;
- when the dog cannot be supervised, removing "all things that your dog shouldn't chew from his confinement area";
- plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
For dogs whose chewing looks compulsive or linked to separation anxiety, the ASPCA points owners to professional behaviour help. A seller can pass on the link; the advice itself belongs to the ASPCA and the owner's vet or behaviourist.
If the dog has swallowed pieces
This is the one point to be firm about: tell the customer to contact their vet. Cornell University's Riney Canine Health Center lists toys among common foreign bodies and notes that "foreign bodies like string or ribbon (linear foreign bodies) can cause more severe damage." It adds that "prompt veterinary intervention is critical to achieving the best outcome for your dog" (Cornell, Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Obstruction in Dogs).
The ASPCA's plant list adds a general caution that "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats." Seagrass, water hyacinth and rattan are all plant materials.
Do not guess whether the dog will be fine, and do not suggest home remedies. The way to handle the conversation is the same as for rope toys; see a customer says their dog swallowed rope fibres.
Handling the complaint itself
Once the dog's health has been pointed to the vet, the product side is ordinary customer service:
- Ask for photos of the bed and where the damage is: rim, base, or strands pulled from the weave.
- Ask how the bed was used: left with the dog alone, placed in a crate, used by a puppy.
- Check the listing wording. If it said or implied the bed would stand up to chewing, change it.
- If it looks like a manufacturing fault, raise it with the supplier with photos or video.
Keep notes on each complaint. A pattern on one listing is a reason to look at its wording again.
How to word the listing
We do not call any woven bed chew-proof, and we suggest you do not either. A short note on the listing helps:
Woven natural-fibre bed. This bed is not a chew toy and is not chew-proof. Supervise puppies and dogs that chew, and give them their own chew toys. Remove loose strands, and replace the bed if it is damaged. If your pet swallows pieces, contact your vet.
Choosing a bed style for the home also helps. Our beds come in five styles: elevated wooden-frame beds lined with loofah, woven seagrass, water hyacinth or rattan beds, cat caves, cat hammocks, and two-tier wooden-frame beds. Sizes and material details are confirmed model by model, so ask for current models before you write the listing. How the elevated and woven styles differ is in elevated vs woven pet beds.
Selling chews alongside beds
The ASPCA's advice starts with the dog's own chew toys. A store selling woven beds can stock suitable chews next to them. Beds and chews can ship together in one mixed order: the minimum is 100 pcs per item for beds and 50 pcs per item for coffee wood chews, hemp, coir and loofah toys.
Questions about dogs chewing woven beds
Are woven seagrass or water hyacinth beds chew-proof?
No. We do not call any woven bed chew-proof. Dogs that chew need supervision and their own chew toys.
Why is my dog chewing its bed?
The ASPCA lists puppy teething, boredom and separation anxiety among reasons dogs chew, and notes that chewing is normal behaviour. A vet or behaviour professional can help find the reason for a particular dog.
My dog swallowed pieces of a woven bed. What should I do?
Contact your vet. Cornell's canine health center notes that string-like foreign bodies can cause more severe damage and that prompt veterinary care matters.
What should a woven bed listing say about chewing?
That the bed is not a chew toy and not chew-proof, that dogs who chew should be supervised and given their own chews, and that a damaged bed should be replaced.
What is the minimum order for your pet beds?
100 pcs per item. Sizes and materials are confirmed per model, so ask us for current models.
Ask for current bed models
Tell us your market and the styles you sell, and we will send current models. Add chews to the same order if you like.
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