Dog Beds: Now That
You Have Your New Pooch, Where's He Going to Sleep?
By
Allen Shaw 
Take my word for it, no matter how much you want your new
puppy to sleep with you, this is not the best option.
Especially when you’re dealing with a 75-pound behemoth
that’s scared of a little thunder. Your king-sized bed
suddenly becomes half a twin-size bed. So next to food and
a trip to the vet, a good dog bed should be one of your
first major purchases. But what kind of dog bed should you
get? There are literally hundreds of choices. For
instance:
-
Large dog beds for the type of dog
mentioned in the first paragraph
-
Outdoor beds for the pooch who
prefers sleeping under the stars
-
Fancy designer beds for the pampered
pooch that’s probably related to Paris Hilton’s
Tinkerbelle
-
Travel and car beds for the dogs who
spend a lot of time on the road
-
Heated beds for the cold-natured
little breeds
-
Orthopedic beds for the pooches
getting up there in age
-
Iron beds for the decorating pooches
in your household
-
Chew-proof beds for…well…you know
-
And waterproof beds for the little
pups who sometimes get a little scared at night…you know
what I mean.
But no matter the bed you buy, there
are a couple of rules you should be aware of. First, make
sure every part of the bed is machine washable. No matter
how many times you wash your dog, he’s going to manage to
smell up that bed. And if it’s a bed you keep in your own
bedroom, the odors that will eventually emanate from that
bed will give you nightmares.
Second, get a bed with cedar shavings
or a thick foam pad as the padding. This will help
immensely with keeping your favorite flea friends from
becoming permanent residents of your dog’s bed. Third,
make sure you buy the right size dog bed. If possible,
take your dog with you when you buy the bed. No matter how
cute the bed is, or how well it goes with your home décor,
if your dog can’t comfortably lay down in the bed, he
won’t use it.
Also, pay close attention to what the
bed is made of. Wicker is cute and very stylish. But fleas
love it. And for the dog that hasn’t quite gotten over the
chewing stage yet, a wicker bed is little more than the
world’s largest chew toy. Beanbags are also popular dog
beds because most people born in the late 60s still have
one stowed away in their basements or attics somewhere
(yes you do, admit it). But have you ever seen what’s
inside a beanbag? You will find out very quickly if Fido
discovers how to operate the zipper that keeps the
stuffing in the bag. You would be wise to leave the
beanbag in the attic and open your wallet cheapskate.
So now that you’ve done the research,
go out and buy your new best friend a great bed. Remember
to get the proper size. Get one with cedar shaving or foam
as the padding. Make sure all parts of the bed are machine
washable. And most importantly, make sure Fido likes the
bed or you will have an unwanted visitor in the middle of
the night…especially when there’s thunder.
Allen Shaw is a successful author who
provides information on
dogs,
dog beds and
carriers.
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