8 of the best dog beds With National Dog Week starting at the weekend, what better way to celebrate your beloved pet than with a fancy new bed? Thursday 15 September 2016 11:48 BST 8 of the best dog beds As Emily Dickinson once so eloquently said, dogs are better than human beings. As we all know this to be true, it’s time to show your appreciation for the dog in your life by treating them to a luxurious new bed. Bianca Barratt rounds up only the very best. 1. Barbour Tartan Quilted Bed Barbour has created a luxury dog bed that exudes its signature style. It has high sides, which will keep your dog feeling cosy and the cushion pad inside is machine washable. £80, John Lewis, Buy it now 2. Red Orthopaedic Bed This bed is perfect for older dogs and provides lasting comfort throughout the night. The extra support relieves pressure on the joints, allowing your dog to sleep as easily as possible. £30, Wilko, Buy it now 3. Orvis Ultimate Wraparound Bed
Made from memory foam, your dog can snuggle into this bed and still get the support it needs for a restful sleep. Its open-cell technology helps to maintain body temperature and it also contains a water resistant liner, great for after those muddy country walks. £219, Orvis, Buy it now 4. Tuff Mutts Luxury Lounger Another memory foam filled lounger, this one is thick enough to eliminate the typical hotspots that can cause discomfort. It comes in a range of fabrics but this gorgeous Scottie dog print is our favourite. £120, Tuff Mutts, Buy it now 5. Sailor Boat Bed Great for smaller dogs, this nautical themed bed is just too cute for words. It comes with a rescue rope and lifebuoy, just in case your pet gets lost out at sea. £35, Pets Pyjamas, Buy it now The envelope style of this bed will keep your dog super cosy. If your home gets cold in the winter or your pup is short haired and not a fan of cooler climes, this is the bed for you. If only they made these for humans.
£70, Cuckooland, Buy it now 7. Antoinette Luxury Bed A dog-sized sofa is the perfect addition to any well designed home. It comes in two colours and sizes and is handmade. £249, Cuckooland, Buy it now 8. Silentnight Micro-Climate Airflow Bed The fabric in this Silent Night bed will help to regulate your dog’s temperature, promoting the optimum conditions for a great night’s sleep. £84, Tesco, Buy it now Follow us on Twitter @ESLifeandStyle and on Facebook ES Best product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.One of my worst childhood memories was returning home from vacation to find our house had been infested with fleas. We had been gone for a couple of weeks in the summer, and the infestation was unaccountable.
My family had a dog, but she was an outside dog, making the invasion even more perplexing. This past summer, that nightmare was revisited. It was a particularly bad year for fleas, at least in my area, and I had a very bad tendency to come in from walking my dog and sitting down on my own bed to take off my shoes and walking clothes. I would wake in the morning to find myself itchy, and it wasn’t long before I discovered I’d been bringing fleas and other tiny, biting insects in from my dog walks. I got in the habit of removing my outer garments, shoes, and socks before entering the house, and I had to completely disinfect my room and wash my own bedding frequently for the rest of the summer. Those of you who live in heavily wooded areas or have dog beds inside the home may have similar experiences, making the question of how to clean a dog bed of critical importance. Not only will you be sparing your dog any unnecessary torment, but the skin you keep safe may be your own! As we know, most dogs are not so delicate or discriminating as we are about how they interact with the world.
They are adventurous and curious animals who will step anywhere and stick their noses in anything. Shake as much as they will before entering the house, dogs also unwittingly track in dirt on their paws and unknowingly invite insects and allergens in their hair or on their skin. Bathing your dog is all good and well, but they spend a great deal of time in their various beds and nesting spots where the things they bring in can stay behind. You don’t have to let them linger! Whether your dog sleeps inside or outside, it’s important to know how to clean a dog bed as well. How to wash a dog bed should be a primary consideration when you are selecting from the range of commercially available dog beds at your local pet or department store. Check the tags on dog beds to see whether the recommended method of cleaning is feasible and practical for you, your home, and the time you have for cleaning. All too often, people buy a dog bed on impulse because it is cute or it fits with their home decor.
When the dog urinates all over it a few nights later, they find, to their cost, that the bed itself or the insert is soaked and is either not compatible with their washing machine or not recommended for their dryer. There are, naturally, as many different kinds of dog beds as there are different kinds of dogs. My own dog sleeps outside, and, depending on the time of year, has between one and three quilts that she carefully arranges each night to nestle among. No matter what kind of bedding your dog uses, if you are time-conscious and prefer to machine wash, it is critical to select an appropriate disinfectant solution or detergent. Once a month or so, I will put each quilt into the washing machine and then into the dryer, making sure to use detergent that is dog-friendly. After all, without opposable thumbs, Tina drags her quilts around in her mouth, and many cleaning products may contain chemicals harmful to her. In the brighter and warmer months, I’ll wash and then air-dry them.
Ventilation and sun exposure are key for air-drying. Techniques for how to wash a dog bed are as varied as the bedding materials themselves. The process of cleaning a dog bed can be as simple or as time-consuming as you want it to be. If the bed is a one-piece item and is too large for machine washing, take care to vacuum it first, then go over it with a lint roller or duct tape, particularly on the areas the dog has most frequent contact with. This will remove as much hair and as many particulates, dander, allergens, and potential insect eggs as possible before washing. Wash it thoroughly in hot water with a dog-safe detergent or disinfectant solution before airing it dry. Beds with outer zip covers and foam inserts present their own challenges. If you select a dog bed with an outer cover, you may want to enclose the insert, particularly if it is foam, in a bin-liner or large trash bag to prevent outside agents or stray urine from reaching the insert in the first place. If you’re not so fastidious, machine wash and dry the cover once a month, and vacuum it between washings.