About Dog Beds
So Many Choices!

Dog beds. Do we even really need them? Why not just let Rover sleep on the floor or ground like dogs have been doing for hundreds of years?

Why spoil your pooch with something comfortable to snooze on?

Because your pooch is family that's why!

Monty

Ok, how about for these reasons:

• so he or she won't use yours (although this arrangement works for many dogs and their owners!)
  
  
• a bed specifically for your dog defines his or her own space whether for sleeping or when needing to have someplace to go chill out when necessary (you know, like when you send your human child to their room for "time out")
  
  
• it provides a place of comfort for puppies, senior dogs or those that are handicapped. Truthfully, I haven't met a dog who didn't like one! Have you ever seen a dog with calluses or sore spots on their elbows or other bony areas? This is from sleeping on hard surfaces. A pet bed can prevent this.

In the pet industry, dog beds are big business and come in all sizes. You can find designer and luxury beds, heated beds, orthopedic beds, beds for pets with bladder problems, beds that look like miniature versions of human furniture, travel beds that fold up for convenience, beds that look like big fluffy pillows or oversized bean bags. You can find them in prices ranging from affordable to several hundred dollars. The choices can make your head spin!

Regardless of all the different styles, dog beds are basically one of three types: support, lounging or nesting.


Choosing the Right Bed for Your Dog

How does your dog sleep? Does she curl up or stretch out? If she curls up, you might want to look at round and oval styles. If she likes to stretch out, rectangular styles may be the right choice. Does your dog like to snuggle? Nesting or lounging types of beds would be a good choice.

Think about your dog's health or age. Senior dogs, especially those with arthritis will most likely need a bed that offers support from foam or firmly packed polyfill. These types of beds are easier to get on and off of than soft, nesting type beds.

Where will the dog's bed be located? On a bare floor? Will it be outside on the patio or porch? Nesting (or snuggle) types offer more warmth since the dog can sink down into them. Fleece lined beds also provide more warmth. Of course, if you want to spend the money, they DO make heated dog beds.

As a youngster, I had a really marvelous snuggle type bed. When I wanted to sleep (or got sent to my bed for misbehaving) it felt wonderful. I would sink so deep into it, I almost disappeared. Unfortunately, one evening when I was sent to my bed, I found a little hole in it, probably from my toenails. This hole absolutely fascinated me. I couldn't leave it alone. What a delight to find that when I bit at it and pulled, tiny little white things floated out! If I hit the area with my paw, MORE tiny little white things floated out. Before long, I had a big hole in my bed and tiny little white things were everywhere. I had the best time ripping apart my bed to get them out! They stuck to everything! The bed, the carpet, my face. Other than the fact that they didn't taste very good, I was having a heck of a party. Then my #1 human showed up. Party over. She took it away. Seems humans don't like tiny little white things stuck everywhere. Truthfully, I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would. I discovered something better. After she fell asleep at night, I'd jump on her bed. It took her a few years to break me of the habit, but if you ask me, I don't think she was trying very hard.

Most dog beds come with a removable cover. These covers can be denim, flannel, cotton blends, and even types of upholstery fabric. Some covers are more durable than others which means they won't tear up as easily when your dog claws at it to "soften it up" before lying down. Most will require machine washing from time to time and the occaisional vacumming to pick up loose hairs.

How much money do you want to spend?

They come in a wide range of prices. Are you looking for functional or something really cool? Dog beds are not just large pillows or mini-mattresses anymore! You can find them made to look like small pieces of furniture and in many different shapes if that's what you want.

You've Found the Right Bed, Now What About the Right Size?

It's really simple to measure your dog for the style of bed you've chosen.

If your dog sleeps curled up, measure him while he is sleeping and add seven inches to his (or her) length. If your dog sleeps stretched out, measure him from nose to rump and add twelve inches. These measurements should give your pet ample room for comfortable sleeping in his or her own pet bed.


However, there will be those times when you have a dog (who does have her own bed) who wants to sleep on the "other" dog's bed even when the other dog is already in it!

"Dang it Casey, sleep in your own bed!"

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