A Good Night's Sleep: A Guide to Dog Beds

Beds are one of the most important pieces of furniture you can own. Their comfort level allows you to get a good night's sleep and wake up to be productive and energetic the following day. The same goes for your dog. While many people don't realize it, your dog can develop health problems or have trouble sleeping if not given the proper bedding. There are several factors you must consider when looking at dog beds, different types to choose from, and different methods of purchasing them.

Size Does Matter

One vital factor you must consider when selecting a bed for your dog is your dog's size. If the bed is too small for your dog, this could create a problem. Your dog might wind up lying partially on his bedding and partially on the hard floor. Just as you wouldn't want to lie halfway off your bed, your dog wouldn't want to either. This can create soreness the next day, and over a longer period of time, can lead to bone and joint problems that your pup just shouldn't have to endure. If you have a medium, large of extra large breed, you will need to make sure that you find an appropriate sized bed that is large enough for your dog to lie on and move around a little bit. One other factor you must consider for a smaller dog is giving them too much space. If a smaller dog has a bed that is kept in a kennel, the dog may be tempted to urinate on the bed if it is too big. Sometimes if dogs are given too much space in their kennel, and if the bed is much bigger than the portion they are actually lying on, the dog will use part of the bed as a restroom. While this isn't common, it does happen from time to time.

Special Needs

Besides size, another important thing to consider are the specific needs that your dog has. If you have a puppy or an extremely healthy younger dog, most any well-padded bed will do just fine. Some older dogs, or dogs that have developed bone of joint problems, may need a little extra care from their bed. Make sure that if your dog has any sort of bone or joint problems, or has exhibited any signs of them, you take him to the veterinarian to get everything checked out. In some instances, a vet might recommend an orthopedic dog bed. These are available in all shapes and sizes and are soft and moldable for the best possible comfort your dog could imagine. Even if your pet doesn't necessarily need an orthopedic bed right now, it is always a good option to prevent future health problems.

Where To Go

If you are looking to treat your dog to a new bed, the first thing to do is to check with your regular veterinarian for his or her recommendation. Your personal vet knows your dog better than anyone and will be able to make sure that you get the best possible product for your pet. Once you have obtained a recommendation, you have a couple of options. You can call or tour local pet stores in search of the bed that your vet prefers, or you can search online. Finding the bed at a local store ensures that you can get the bed sooner, but internet searches often yield better financial results. There are tons of web sites out there for pet lovers that offer great marked-down prices with reasonable shipping. Really, it's just a matter of personal preference. Whichever way you decide to go, just make sure you get the best model of bed for your dog. After all, his sweet dreams depend on it!