Tired of your pup jumping on your bed or couch to catch a few ZZZs when you’re not looking? The reason may be because they don’t like their dog bed. There are different kinds of beds for dogs and choosing the right one for your pup can help in your battle for the comfy real estate. How does your dog like to get comfortable? Does he prefer to curl up into a ball when he sleeps? Your best bet for your pup is a nesting-type bed like a Donut or Bagel Bed. These are round, pillow-topped beds that are great for the dog that likes to walk around in circles on the bed before plopping down in a tight circle. For dogs that prefer to hide away when they sleep, there are covered beds called either Tent or Cave Beds. For short-haired pups that may get cold easily, this kind of sleeping quarters may be perfect as they feature a top made of fabric or foam for some extra security and warmth. For the pup who likes to be off the ground to better survey his environment, there are Raised Dog Beds.
These types of resting places look like dog sofas set on a frame. These are especially good to help keep your pup off the cold floor and can make the area around it easier to clean. For larger, long-haired dogs who like to stretch out, try Mat Beds. These are big square pads that sit directly on the floor. The expansive size of the mat allows your furbaby the option to choose which way they want to sleep or just provide them with a spot to chew on one of their toys as they rest comfortably. No matter what bed you choose, we recommend one that has a cover that is both removable and washable. This will allow you to strip off the outer layer and stick it in the washing machine for a quick cleaning of all the hair and dirt particles. Once you have decided on the style of bed and the type of cover, it’s time to think about the insides. Depending on your pup, you may want to look at either a solid foam pad or one with loose fiber filling. Generally speaking, older dogs will probably prefer the solid pad to catch some shut eye while younger ones may prefer the loose filling that they can contour to their exact tastes.
For pups who have issues with joint pain or arthritis, there are orthopedic mats for extra comfort. The key to purchasing a dog bed is to first understand exactly how your pup likes to sleep. If you end up with a bed that doesn’t fit their needs, they may be more apt to look for other, more comfortable spots to catch their beauty sleep. But if you get them the perfect one for their body type, age and sleeping style, your contented pup will be happily counting sheep in their own space before you know it.All dogs should have a bed they can call their own, a safe haven, a place where they can relax in comfort. How to choose a good dog bed depends on many factors including size, age, sleeping habits, and more. This article has the information you need to ensure that the pet bed you buy is the perfect one for your canine friend. While it is almost impossible in most households to ban pets from the furniture completely, having a comfy bed of their own will give dogs a much more attractive alternative to laying on the floor.
There are other benefits too. Having your pet sleep in his own bed will ensure that allergens from hair and dander are kept to a minimum elsewhere in your home. It also means that the home and furniture are protected from the worst when he comes in from a muddy walk—or wants to eat a chewy bone or treat! How to Choose the Right Type of Bed for Your DogJust like people, dogs have a favorite sleeping position. Some like to curl up, others like to stretch out. Some like to turn themselves round and round, making a nest; others hurl themselves at their beds and flop down. There are also dogs like my own terrier who love to burrow and 'hide' in concealment in their beds! Observing your pet's behavior will help you to make the right choice of bed—and your expensive purchase will not end up at a car boot sale or yard sale because he does not like it (believe me, I have seen lots of these!). In the section below, we look at appropriate bed choices for each of the three types of dog identified above, but before you go ahead and buy, here are a couple more pointers:
Is your dog fully grown? Do you want a bed that will allow him room to grow—or are you happy to buy him a larger bed when he is bigger? When you are observing your dog whilst he is resting comfortably, measure his length and the width area he is taking up—this will obviously vary according to his preferred sleeping position but will enable you to decide on the right dimensions for a bed and whether a square, rectangular, or round model would be a better choice for him. There is a huge range of cute dog beds for smaller dogs. These are almost all of the type with raised sides that are more suitable for 'nesters' and those that like to sleep curled up. There are hardly any really cute ones for bigger dogs that like to really stretch out. However, there are some really adorable ones for canines that like to have a 'den' or 'cave' type of bed that they can get right inside! It is hard to find the real cutesie beds mentioned above, scaled up for larger dogs—who mainly like to stretch out anyway.
So, perhaps your best option is to choose one of the mattress-type beds and find one with a really cute cover or choose some suitable, washable fabric and make your own covers. There are some really lovely designs in these and you can find them in just about any size. If all else fails and you absolutely cannot find exactly what you need, buy a plain mat and use one of the sweet fluffy throws available. It is important that these are easy to launder at home. There is vast choice available so you will be able to color-coordinate exactly how you want. Although smaller dogs seem to be the ones who 'nest' the most, suitable nesting pet beds are available in all sizes so if your big dog likes to curl up, you should be able to find just the right thing for him with a little research. Round shapes are best for nesting and basically, you can choose a raised side bed and provide suitable blankets or bedding that your pet can arrange to his liking. Alternatively, choose one of the nice, squishy, bean bag type which your dog will love to get right in the middle of, turn round a few times till he has got the 'beans' squished out to his liking and make himself a lovely cosy nest.
Cave and Tent Beds for Dogs These are ideal for the dog that likes to hide away and feel safe inside. One of our terriers has made a den under one of the beds in the house because, like a tent bed, it is enclosed at the sides and covered. A cave bed is usually only half covered at the back, giving the dog a warm envelope canopy to sleep under and an open area at the front. There are also tunnel beds which allow access from either end with a completely covered top and sides. This type is often supplied with a built-in heater mat for comfort. No, I don't mean a bed that will raise your dog's street cred! I mean a cooling dog bed for warmer climates and for thick coated or large/giant breeds who often find it difficult to regulate their body temperature to a comfortable level. There are different types of cooling dog beds available: Vinyl beds that you fill with water. These are effective and do keep your pet cool. However, they are extremely heavy once filled with water and despite what the manufacturers say about them being almost indestructible, reviews state that eventually, they do spring leaks from the seams or pinhole perforations.
Cooling pads which are filled with a non-toxic material and do not need any sort of power supply or refrigeration to work. They work for around four hours and then miraculously 'recharge' themselves after a short period of not being used. Dogs love them and the great thing is that they can be placed on top of your pet's normal bedding or used in their crate for traveling if required. Raised dog beds are of the Coolaroo pet bed type which is canvas fabric sleeping surface stretched onto a frame. This provides a raised dog bed and is great because air can circulate below the sleeping surface to cool it. These make really good all-year-round beds and an extra sleeping mat (bought separately) will provide a cosier, warmer sleeping platform in colder conditions. Heated Beds for Your Pet Heated dog beds are very popular, especially for older pets and can be bought (like the tunnel one mentioned above), with the heating element already built in. Alternatively, there are heating pads that can be bought separately and used in your pet's normal sleeping accommodation.
We are going to buy one for our older terrier, Murdoch, because he suffers from arthritis and we are hoping that his hind legs will be less stiff when he wakes up if he is warmer whilst sleeping—I'll keep you posted! In case you were worried about a runaway electricity bill, these are very low wattage and hardly use any 'juice' at all! Nor do you need to worry about your pet getting too hot as many will only heat up to your dog's normal body temperature. 4 Helpful Tips on Choosing a Heated Pet Bed All padded pet beds will help to relieve the pressure on joints and this is especially important for older dogs. There are memory foam dog beds that are specially marketed as orthopedic dog beds for large dogs which have a level of support suitable for the pet's size and weight. I guess it's a little like us choosing exactly the right mattress for our own bed—like Goldilocks, (who found that Papa bear's bed was too hard, Mamma bear's was too soft, but Baby bear's, was just right), these beds are made especially to give the right level of support for large dogs and although they are expensive, they are probably worth the investment.
Be sure to check the quality and thickness of the memory foam to ensure it is suitable for the size and weight of your pet. The video below also features an air filled orthopedic bed. With a lovely fleecy cover, I bet that it is really comfy too but definitely not a good idea if your canine friend is a 'chewer'! For older dogs, unfortunately those little accidents can become an increasingly frequent occurrence. Luckily most of the mattress type beds can easily be fitted with a waterproof pad underneath the cover and it is not usually necessary to buy a completely waterproof bed for your pet. Another simple fix is to buy a pack of disposable incontinence bed pads which are really designed for human use but which make ideal protectors for the filling of your pet's bed if used under the cover. Choose Removable Bed CoversChoosing dog bed covers that are removable and washable will cut the work of keeping things clean, to a minimum! A spare set of dog bed covers purchased at the same time as the bed could prove to be a wise long term investment.
One good tip I can give you is to be sure to choose covers with good long, strong zips. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to wrestle a cover onto a bed when if the zipper had just been six inches longer, the job would have been a breeze! Similarly having poor quality zips that break long before the fabric of the cover needs replacing is very annoying. Treat Your Dog to A Cosy New Bed! I hope you have enjoyed this article on choosing the perfect bed for your pet. We have covered everything from cute dog beds for small dogs to orthopedic dog beds for large and elderly dogs and several types in-between. Finding the perfect bed for your pet could begin with an Amazon search—the link will take you to the full range of dog beds available on Amazon and you can refine your selection from there. We have also talked about the different sleeping habits that will shape your decision about which type your pet will like the best. Buying a good dog bed is an investment, but with great discounts available online and being sure that you are buying the right type to start with will ensure your dog is cozy and comfy in his own bed—although, of course, no matter how lovely and cosy her bed is, my Ellie will always love a cuddle—as you can see from the picture above!