A Guide to Dog Beds

Looking for a new dog bed for your furry friend? Pet Insurance Australia takes a look at the top dog beds so you can find the perfect snuggle buddy for your friend. PLUS: the best bed for your dog depending on their age and chewing desires!

It’s winter, it’s cold, and who doesn’t like a good comfy bed to sleep away the day? For many dogs, their bed is a place they spend a lot of time sleeping, so it’s no wonder the pet lovers of the world have been super busy developing and re-developing the humble hounds slumber zone.

Puppies

For all puppies, a snuggly cuddly is bed is always best. Look for ones that come with supportive sides so your new bundle of fur can feel secure in their new bedding. Remembering that they’ve left a handful of littermates, and their mum, who were always on hand to have a snuggle and keep the bed nice and warm.

Other tips include;

• Perfect fit – for a growing puppy they need a bed that fits, so not too big, or too small.
• Damaged – if your puppy has damaged their bed it’s advised to remove and replace. Remember to always have a good array of chew toysavailable and rotate these often so your puppy does begin to consider their bed as another chew toy. If your puppy has destroyed their bed, consider only allowing your puppy access to their bed when they are due to have a sleep. Using a crate or pen area is perfect for this.
• Moveable – if the bedding you have chosen is easy to move around, the more chance it will become a play-toy for your pup. Bedding that has a specific area – like in the crate or pen area – or has a harder outer shell, is much less likely to end up in shreds across the loungeroom floor.

Young Dogs

As your pup grows it’s time to invest in a good bed for your young dog. If you are having issues with your dog destroying their bed, consider using a trampoline bed. These are very hard to destroy and provide a good support for your dog to sleep on. You can add some heavy blankets to give warmth and extra comfort. Heavy woolen blankets are harder to destroy than your fluffy cushion-type bedding.

If dogs that do not chew their beds; there are a massive array of bedding options available to you. A good quality bed should also be easy to clean. Always be wary of what products you use to clean your dog’s bedding particularly if your dog suffers from any allergies. Younger dogs, and those not suffering from any joint conditions will be happy sleeping on a range of pillow-type bedding they can snuggle into.

Older Dogs

For an older dog, or ones suffering from any joint conditions it’s best to only provide a good quality and sturdy surface to sleep on. There are specially designed orthopeadic mattresses that are wonderfully comfortable but also provide a good support for dogs who need it.

Dogs that need the support should not struggle to get up or down from their bedding. Trampoline-type beds can also be a good support for dogs who need the extra assistance and aid with their joints.

Size

With all dogs; getting the right sized bedding to suit the size of your dog is important. In saying this, if you have a giant breed such as a Great Dane, and a smaller breed such as a Jack Russell, don’t be surprised if they like to swap beds – to your complete amazement!

It’s also a good idea to monitor your dog in regard to their bedding. Are they opting to sleep on the hard floor instead of their pillowtop bed? It might be that their bedding is too soft, try for a floor-mat or a trampoline-bed. Some dogs will prefer to sleep on the hard-concrete flooring no matter how comfortable the bedding is you have offered. Encourage your dog to sleep on a folded-up blanket or a floor mat if this is the case.

If your dog is struggling to get-up, or lie-down on their bed…a vet visit is in order to rule out any joint issues. Chat to your vet about the best bedding to suit your dog’s medical needs.

Nadia Crighton

Nadia Crighton is a renowned and accomplished professional in the fields of Journalism, Public Relations, and Writing, with an extensive career spanning over 25 years, 20 of which have been dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pets.

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