Dog's Life

Healthy Pooch

Selecting the Right Dog Bed

Time to hit the hay? Your pooch will love a lush landing pad where he can relax and put his paws up. Buying the right bed for your tail-wagger gives him a comfortable, cozy retreat. And with the wide selection of mattresses, pillows, cots, mats, and pads available today, the choices are unlimited. No matter what, he just wants to be near you, and that includes naptime too.

First, snuggle up to the snoozer. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier and a giant Great Dane need different sizes, obviously. Also, how does your pooch prefer to sleep? Is he stretched out on his side? Or curled in a ball? If he likes to sprawl out during a nap, try measuring his length from nose to tail and buy a flat pad or mat of appropriate length. Your dog’s bed should be large enough that he doesn’t hang off the sides. If he enjoys something with a cozy enclosure, a nest bed or bolster bed (also referred to as a “cuddler” because of its donut shape and raised walls) might be a better choice. If your dog still has some growing to do, keep that in mind when considering the size of the bed—he will be happy that you did.

Then, think about your dog’s dream setting. Does he sleep in several rooms? Again, he wants to be by your side, so you may want to invest in more than one bed so your buddy can always rest assured that you’re near. And here’s the stuff that dreams are made of: If he gets hot easily or you live in a warm climate, a cot—a flat bed raised slightly off the floor—is a cool, comfortable option. If he tends to get chilly, try a thermal, heated bed specially designed for dogs. Once you’ve picked a bed, place it in your dog’s favorite spot in the house—maybe that special spot under the window where the sunlight streams in. He’ll be loving his new pad in no time.

Remembering these easy tips will make purchasing a bed for your dog a much easier decision, so you can sleep easy, knowing your dog is resting as comfortably as you are.