Mary Allen
Your dog likes to be entertained by you all day long, wants to play, romp, and go for a walk. By the evening at the latest, he is no different than our two-legged friends and he is looking for a cozy place to snuggle up and rest. Dogs are naturally used to sleeping soundly even on hard surfaces. But that doesn’t mean they prefer them. Most prefer to make themselves comfortable on a comfortable dog bed and quickly fall into the deepest slumber to start dreaming of the next trip.
Choosing the Right Bed for Your Four-Legged Friend
Huge or tiny, light as a feather or a heavyweight, a contortionist or stiff as a board – every dog is unique. So it is not surprising that there is such a large selection of dog beds. This is the only way you can find the resting place that your dog likes the most and ideally suits your facility.
When choosing the bed, it is best to ensure that the dog has enough space to stretch out. There should be 20 – 30 cm of space up to the edges of the bed. In addition to your dog’s physical characteristics, his general preferences also play an important role. Before you buy, watch your dog sleep a few times to find out their preferred sleeping position.
Some dogs like to stretch out, while others prefer to curl up and find space in even the smallest of corners. The owner of a Golden Retriever, who likes to squeeze into tiny gaps, can therefore often choose a smaller dog bed than the master or mistress of a small terrier, who cannot stand tight spaces and does not want to come into contact with the edge of the bed even when stretched out.
The selection of different dog beds is huge. The following points can serve as a first orientation:
- A dog bed with a high edge offers your dog extra security. If he likes to rest his head on objects or leanings, you should look for a stable but comfortable edge when buying.
- Some dog beds are extra thick and easily shaped. Some dogs appreciate this, as it allows them to indulge in their penchant for forming their own sleeping space by kicking.
- A reversible bed has a cozy winter side and a smooth, cooler summer side. It is particularly suitable for rooms that are exposed to somewhat greater temperature fluctuations and for dogs that are sensitive to them.
- Closed dog beds are rather rare because dogs always want to keep an eye on their surroundings. However, if you have a very anxious four-legged friend who also needs a place to crawl, it is worth keeping an eye out for here. For smaller dogs, cat beds can be used, which are often closed.
- Beds that consist of a solid frame and matching upholstery are particularly elegant.
An Orthopedic Dog Bed Offers Extra Comfort
Surely you know the mattresses that adapt to your body as soon as you lie on them. Pretty much everyone who has ever touched it never wants to sleep on anything else ever again. Why shouldn’t you treat your dog to this pleasant feeling too? An orthopedic dog bed gives you the opportunity to do this. Thanks to the memory effect of the foam filling, it adapts completely to the individual body contours of your dog. In this way, its shape is perfectly formed and muscles and joints are optimally supported. Such a bed is therefore not only hard to beat in terms of comfort, but also extremely healthy. An orthopedic dog bed can be a real boon, especially for dogs that already have joint problems.
This is How You Get a Dog-Free Bed at Night
Many owners love it when their dog snuggles up to them at night or warms their feet. For others, there is nothing worse than a bed full of pet hair. Both parties are right in their arguments. However, if you are one of those who only tolerate two-legged friends in bed, you should offer your dog a suitable alternative.
Dogs are descended from wolves and are pack animals. Alone, they feel helpless and lonely, especially at night. Your four-legged friend never really sheds this instinct, even in the protection of your apartment, so it is not surprising if he pulls on your covers every evening or howls in front of your bedroom door. Ideally, you not only have a dog bed to rest in the living room where your dog would have to sleep far away from you but also set one up in your bedroom.
It is best to get your dog used to its dog bed when it is a puppy so that no other habits have yet become established. Later, however, it is also possible to get your dog used to a different sleeping place than the bed of the master or mistress. The most important thing is to always be consistent. Even if it’s hard to resist the faithful dog’s gaze, your bed remains your territory. Especially in the beginning, you should never give in, no matter how much you beg. Once the boundaries are clearly defined, exceptions are occasionally allowed later.
Your four-legged friend should see the new dog bed as his territory, which he happily visits voluntarily – you are welcome to make it palatable for him with his favorite toy, his cuddly blanket, or a few treats. Whenever Bello gets into his dog bed on his own, you give him praise. You can also practice a command with him to go to his bed. First, the command follows, then a reward and praise. Your dog will quickly associate the pleasant situation with his sleeping place and will be happy to visit it in the future. This exercise will be particularly easy for him with an orthopedic dog bed, as it immediately clings to his body. However, you should absolutely avoid scolding him if he doesn’t want to get in the dog bed and never force him to do so. With this you would achieve exactly the opposite and your four-legged friend would only associate the lovingly chosen bed with bad memories.
Also a Good Retreat at Work
If your dog is allowed to accompany you to work, he’s lucky that he doesn’t have to look after the apartment alone. Nevertheless, he has a few boring hours ahead of him every day, during which a lot of patience is required of him. An orthopedic dog bed next to the desk can at least give him enough comfort and let him wait patiently for you. With a relaxed, happy dog, a walk after work is twice as much fun.