Choosing A Dog Bed Sized To Suit Your Dog
I got a very excited call from my friends the other day with big news. They just got a new puppy. They were at the mall at the pet store when they called, buying all the new stuff necessary for any new puppy owner – little collars, little leashes, puppy food, puppy treats, puppy vitamins, lots of toys, some puppy clothing. You know how new puppy owners are. What they wanted to ask me, since I have gone through the puppy stage with my dog, is whether they should buy a puppy-sized bed for their new puppy.
I told them of my experience, and that was that crate training was the best thing I could have done with my puppy, for both his and my sanity. It gave us both structure, and helped immensely with potty training as well. So for me, there was just no opportunity for my puppy to use a dog bed as his sleeping quarters, since he had a fluffy pad in the crate which he curled up in and was quite happy. Until he reached full size (at about a year old), we were both happy that he slept in his crate.
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.
So if you have already passed the puppy stage and your dog is ready for bed shopping, here are some things that you need to remember when you are trying to decide what type and size of bed to get for your dog. First, have you ever watched your dog when she is asleep – does she always curl up very small, or tend to stretch out and take up more space? Watch your dog for a few days so you know what kind of a sleeper they are, both during daytime naps and for full nights of sleeping. This will tell you whether you need a round curl up bed, or a bigger bed with more space, maybe even a mini mattress that fits your dogs size.
After figuring out the style of bed that would suit your dog best, now you have to figure out the best size. Too big and your dog will feel lost and uncomfortable. Too small and they simply won’t fit. Sneak up on your dog during nap time and measure the length and width of floor space that they take up. You could trace a chalk outline around your dog and measure it after they’ve woken up if you don’t want to disturb her. Again, make sure you check during a number of different naps, to make sure you get a good representation of their sleeping size. Add a couple of inches to both dimensions, and now you will have a good size to base your purchase on.
Having decided upon the proper size for a dog bed is the first step in finding a perfect bed for your pooch. Although there will be a lot more deciding factors, such as the style, material, quality, wash-ability, etc., you will at least be sure that your dog will be comfortable in a dog bed sized specifically for her.
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