Dog Bed - Finding the Best Dog Bed

Although it may not seem like it when you get your puppy, dogs really like to sleep.

Dogs are crepuscular; they are most active at dawn and dusk and sleep the rest of the time.

Dogs in fact, sleep an average of 16 hours. This will vary depending on age, temperature, breed, and activity.

Given that dogs sleep so much, it makes sense to get them a good dog bed. A comfortable dog bed will make for a healthier, happier, and better behaved dog. Consider your dog's breed, temperament, age, and external factors such as temperature, when making a dog bed choice.

When I was choosing dog beds, I naturally gravitated towards the soft, fluffy, dog beds. After all, *I* prefer soft, fluffy, beds, so it seems like my dogs would find them comfortable as well. Soft dog beds are indeed comfortable in certain circumstances, but they have some important weaknesses.

Weaknesses of soft dog beds:

1. Soft dog beds are too warm during the summer. Dogs will commonly avoid these beds during hot weather, and lie on the hard, cooler floor instead.
2. Soft dog beds look and feel a lot like a soft dog toy. Some dogs will want to attack it, and chew it up.
3. Soft dog beds absorb more dog scent and are more difficult to clean.
4. Soft dog beds can encourage dog marking because it absorbs so much scent.

I have purchased several soft dog beds, and I quickly found that they were not appropriate for my Shiba Inu dog. My Shiba Inu frequently attacks and chews his soft dog beds. We would take away the bed, sometimes for a few days, but once we returned it, he would start attacking the dog bed again.

These soft dog beds work better for my Siberian Husky who is less interested in chewing them. However, she usually prefers to sleep on the tile floor, which is a lot more cooler. She even prefers the floor during colder weather, because she has such a thick coat.

Finally, my Shiba Inu started marking the soft dog beds, probably because they smelled like my Siberian Husky.

For all these reasons, I have stopped using these soft, fluffy, dog beds.

These are the less fluffy dog beds, that are more durable, and waterproof. As such, they can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Strengths of outdoor dog beds:

1. Outdoor dog beds are less soft, and thus less of a fluffy, chewing temptation.
2. Outdoor dog beds are easy to clean, and can be used inside and outside.
3. Outdoor dog beds are thin, they absorb less scent, and dogs are less likely to mark or urinate on them.
4. Outdoor dog beds are much cooler than the soft dog beds. This is especially true of the elevated beds that are lifted off the floor by a steel frame. The empty space below, allows for airflow, which makes the elevated dog bed cooler for your sleeping dog.

Weaknesses of outdoor dog beds:

1. Outdoor dog beds are usually thin, and may not be as comfortable as the soft dog beds.

I currently have two elevated outdoor dog beds (one in the backyard, and one inside the house). They are waterproof, durable, and extremely useful.

My Shiba Inu does not show any inclination for biting his outdoor dog bed, and he seems to like sleeping on it. My Siberian Husky also likes the outdoor dog bed because it is much cooler than the soft dog beds.

Some dogs, especially breeds with long fur, or breeds with double coats, can easily overheat in the summer. When the temperature is too high, these dogs may have trouble sleeping, and may even get heat stroke.

During hot weather, it is important to make sure that clean water is available to your dog all day. Provide your dog with good shelter, so that he may rest in the shade.

My dogs can move freely into and out of the house. During hot summer days, they usually prefer to stay inside the house. During the night, I give my Siberian Husky an ice-bottle (plastic ice-bottle inside a sock cover) so that she can keep cool inside her crate. I also give her a cool dog bed (I am currently using the K&H Cool Bed 3).

Cool dog beds are basically water beds. They are very useful during the summer, especially for inside the crate.

Strengths of cool dog beds:

1. Cool dog beds can help keep your dog cool when it is hot outside.
2. Cool dog beds are comfortable because the water provides a nice cushioning system.

Weaknesses of cool dog beds:

1. Cool dog beds may initially feel a bit strange. Dogs may get a bit fearful of stepping on the water mattress. It may take some time and some dog treats to get your dog comfortable with it.
2. Cool dog beds may be a bit flimsy. Dogs can chew through the bed, or pull out the water tab (i.e. the plastic cover closing the hole where you put in the water). This may create a big mess.

There are also cool dog beds (e.g. the MiraCool bed) that work by immersing the mattress into water, rather than filling it with water. I prefer to use the latter (i.e. the water filled dog bed) because the surface is dry, it is easier to move around, and it is less messy on the floors.

Most dogs do not need heated dog beds because they have sufficient heat insulation from their thick fur.

When it is really cold outside, it is best to keep your dog inside the house. If your dog has to be outside, make sure he has appropriate shelter. Put blankets and enough bedding inside the kennel, so that your dog can stay warm. If there are strong winds, cover the entrance of the kennel with a makeshift curtain, to keep the kennel warm.

Heated dog beds are most useful for older dogs, sick dogs, dogs recovering from surgery, and dogs who have joint issues.

Weaknesses of heated dog beds:

1. Heated dog beds usually require a power source. This limits where they can be used.
2. Heated dog beds are usually connected to a power cord, which can become a chewing hazard for dogs. Dogs should be supervised when using a heated dog bed.

There are some heated dog beds, for example, the SnuggleSafe Heat-pad, which are power cord free. You warm up the heat-pad in the microwave, and the gel within the pad captures and keeps the heat. These pads can be useful, and has the advantage of location flexibility, and no power cord hazard.

However, you should still supervise your dog to ensure that he does not chew on the heat-pad itself. Make sure that the heat-pad is not too hot, especially when you first take it out of the microwave. 

A weakness of this type of dog bed is it does not retain heat for long periods of time. It usually only works well for a couple of hours.