Australian Made Mats
Most dog owners get the quick circle, followed by that enormous sigh as their dog flops down beside them.
Not us… We wish.
The circling turns into padding, scratching and then digging. We find ourselves listening for a different sound. The sound of seams tearing, or material ripping as the fabric gives way. Maybe we even turn and shout…
“Leave your bed alone, mate.”
We catch ourselves in that moment.
The bed. That new bed…
Well, that ‘near new’ bed now.
All too fast.
Trying to protect the very thing we wanted them to enjoy. And wondering how a place to sleep became one more thing we seem to fight over.
Sigh…
I’ve lived that dream. Jasper — my Beagle, is the… let’s call it “Inspiration behind ChewProof” by winning that match too many times.
The hard part is, we feel the only choice we’re left with is;
Buy something comfortable and worry about it being destroyed, Or
Choose something tougher and wonder whether our dog will actually want to lie on it.
Either way, we’re paying for something to worry about in a new dog bed.
We shouldn’t have to keep choosing which disappointment we can tolerate.
ChewProof Pro-Tough is our answer for dogs that chew, dig and scratch: a non-slip protected Riplock PVC sleeping surface, suspended inside an aluminium frame. Built to handle busy paws while giving our dogs hammock style comfort to settle.
And giving us a reason to stop bracing for the next bed battle.
When Your dog’s settling habits become an excavation
Some dogs rearrange a blanket. Others seem to believe the perfect sleeping position is somewhere half submerged into the hole they just created in the mat.
That can be funny… at first. Soon enough a small worn patch becomes a hole, the teeth get involved, and the bed we were hoping would last is beyond saving.
The frustration isn’t imaginary. In an Australian Dogz Online discussion, owners described beds defeated by both chewing and digging, and the reluctance to spend more after earlier failures. It’s an old conversation, but the dilemma is painfully familiar: how do we trust the next promise?
At ChewProof, eight years and more than 11,255 beds sold have taught us to start with the style of damage. A chewed corner or a hole scratched through the middle of a mat tell different stories.
If the edges survive but claws keep wearing through the sleeping surface, protecting the edges alone won’t solve our problem. The resilience of the mat needs to match the way our dog uses or punishes it.
That’s the distinction behind Pro-Tough’s place in our guide to choosing the right bed.
Our dogs aren’t doing this to annoy us
When we’re holding another ruined cover, it can be hard to remember this. Particularly as your ‘Good Boy’ looks up with such a proud expression on their face.
Mermaid Vet on the Gold Coast explains that digging can serve several purposes, including play and seeking comfort, while destructive behaviour can also involve boredom or anxiety. The behaviour needs understanding; a damaged bed doesn’t tell us the whole story.
RSPCA Australia recommends considering exercise, companionship and mental stimulation when investigating digging. Persistent behaviour may warrant help from a veterinary behavioural specialist.
So we’ll keep meeting those needs. If the digging is frantic or our dog seems distressed, we’ll speak to the vet. A stronger bed can’t treat anxiety.
But while we work on the behaviour, we still need somewhere for our dog to sleep. Understanding them shouldn’t mean accepting an endless bill for bedding.
What makes Pro-Tough different from another tough-looking bed
“Heavy duty” is easy to print on a label. After a few failures, we need to know what actually stands between our dog’s claws and another hole.
A surface chosen for the digging
The Pro-Tough mat uses Riplock PVC, a continuous sleeping surface selected to resist repeated scratching and digging. There are no mesh openings for claws to work through.
That matters when the damage begins in the middle. We’re changing the surface our dog is wearing away, rather than buying another version of the same vulnerable bed.
The Australian-made mat is heat-welded and stitched. A protective stitch line helps shield the welded edge from splitting over time, addressing another place where repeated use can take its toll.
Protected edges for the dog who switches tactics
Of course, some dogs don’t limit themselves to claws.
The mat sits in a track inside the anodised aluminium frame, keeping its edges tucked away from searching teeth. There is no exposed zip to investigate or stuffed corner to pull open.
The surface and frame do different jobs. Riplock handles the scratching; the frame protects the usual starting edges. Together, they address the dog who digs first, then mouths whatever starts to lift.
We give that combination a 4-star ChewProof Destruction Rating. It’s our suitability guide, not an independent certification or a promise that no dog can damage it.
Tough enough to consider — but will our dog be comfortable?
Because that is the point. A bed that survives by being somewhere our dog won’t sleep hasn’t solved much.
Pro-Tough’s mat is suspended within the frame, offering hammock-style support without loose filling to bunch up. “Solid surface” describes the continuous fabric, not a rigid slab underneath our dog.
The textured Riplock finish also helps reduce sliding as they climb on, turn around or stand up, including when the mat is wet. For an enthusiastic dog, getting onto the bed can be quite an entrance. A little grip is welcome.
And size matters. Our Giant Pro-Tough measures 150 × 87 cm and stands 20 cm high, giving larger dogs an option beyond squeezing themselves onto something labelled “large”. Measure their sleeping space rather than choosing by breed alone.
If pain or mobility affects how our dog rests, the right support and access height deserve a conversation with the vet. Comfort is personal, even among dogs with equally impressive demolition records.
The bed still has to live in our house
A bed can survive the dog and still make work for us.
Muddy paws don’t wait until washing day. Nor do accidents. And wrestling a bulky inner back into its cover is nobody’s idea of quality time with the fur family.
Pro-Tough can be hosed or wiped clean. There is no stuffed mattress inside it to wash and dry. That makes routine cleanup more manageable at home, and matters just as much when kennel or pound staff have several beds to clean.
It suits indoor and outdoor use, with appropriate shelter. Its continuous surface does mean it isn’t our drain-through mesh option. If water regularly collects where the bed sits, that distinction matters.
The aim is a bed we can maintain easily and get back into use. Our dogs get their resting place back; we get on with the day.
Why spend more when we’ve already spent enough?
That’s a fair question. Another expensive disappointment is the last thing anyone needs.
Pro-Tough earns consideration through its construction and the ability to replace individual components. The mat, feet and corners are replaceable. When one part eventually needs attention, we don’t automatically have to discard the whole bed.
There’s also experience beyond the family backyard. In customer feedback published by ChewProof, RSPCA Queensland’s Hayley Kennington described receiving more than 200 beds across separate sites. She reported robust beds that the dogs liked using. Her feedback covers ChewProof beds in shelter use, where having dogs actually use their beds matters every bit as much as durability.
Before choosing, tell us what has failed. A photograph of the damage is more useful than asking us to guess from a breed name. We can help match the surface and size to the dog in front of us.
Our 30-day money-back policy provides an additional option if the purchase isn’t suitable, subject to its terms; return postage is at the customer’s expense.
Let’s choose the bed that solves our actual problem
For repeated chewing, scratching and digging, Pro-Tough is the 4-star option to consider. But buying the right bed matters more than buying the highest rating.
If exceptional destruction has already defeated tougher surfaces, look at Extreme and the customer story behind its development.
If airflow and drainage matter most, and our dog isn’t a powerful, persistent digger, Pro-Mesh may fit better. For indoor cushioning, explore Comfort. When protected edges and everyday durability are enough, Classic deserves a look.
Whichever we choose, the bed works alongside caring for the dog. Animal Welfare League NSW recommends suitable chew items, enrichment and rewarding wanted behaviour. Giving those busy mouths and minds something appropriate to do remains part of the picture.
Somewhere for our dogs to settle — and for us to relax
We don’t need bedtime to become a daily test of patience. We want our dogs nearby, comfortable, with a bed chosen for what their paws actually do.
For the digger and scratcher, start with Pro-Tough. Choose Small, Medium, Large, XL or Giant, using our size guide. Still unsure? Talk to us before ordering.
That enormous bedtime sigh ought to be something we enjoy.
Let’s find a bed that gives us a reason to join in.
