Friends of mine have just become new puppy owners. As would be expected, the first thing they did was go shopping for all the new equipment that is required for a new puppy. Leashes, collars, toys, sweaters, booties, etc. They bought a cage for crate training their new puppy, but they just weren’t sure about whether they should get a dog bed along with the cage.
I told them to hold off on buying a dog bed. This doesn’t mean I am not a avid proponent of dog beds. I am. However, I don’t think it is appropriate for a puppy to use a dog bed. More accurately, I think it might be impossible for a puppy to be expected to stay in a dog bed. For at least the first 8 to 12 months in their new homes puppies need to sleep in a cage.
Once a puppy has reached full size and you are considering getting rid of the crate, this is the time to start shopping for a dog bed. Having said that, getting rid of the crate isn’t a necessity just because your puppy has grown up, in fact many dogs enjoy their crate as a safe haven and prefer spending their quiet time alone in their crate. Having a dog bed for day time naps is a nice option though, especially as your dog loses his puppy energy and has more down time.
Once you have decided to get a bed for your dog there are a number of things to consider. First and foremost, you need to buy a bed that is the right type for your dog. Does your dog like to curl up when she sleeps? Does your dog like to stretch out when she sleeps? Does your dog stretch and curl depending on the day? Monitor your dog’s sleeping habits for a few days. A curl up sleeper will do best in a nest type bed. A stretched out sleeper would be best on a longer bed like a human type bed or a fainting couch dog bed.
After figuring out whether your dog prefers to curl up against a wall, or whether they prefer more leg and paw room, you now need to find the size range that suits your dog the best. Again, watch your dog when they sleep, and this time take measurements of the space they occupy when they sleep. Do this at different times to see whether it changes – if in doubt, take the larger measurement. You can always add a cushion or two to take up extra room, but you dog won’t be comfortable if the bed is too cramped. Once you have the final length and width sizes, add a few inches to each measurement, and take this shopping.
There are a number of other aspects to dog beds that could be considered such as construction methods, types of fill, baffled chambers, and quality of zippers, etc. All of these characteristics will get more attention in another article. However, if you are confident about the proper type of bed for your dog and the proper size of bed, then you are well on your way a choosing a great dog bed.