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 to hold off on buying a dog bed. This doesn't mean I am not a avid proponent of dog beds. I am. However, I don't think it is appropriate for a puppy to use a dog bed. More accurately, I think it might be impossible for a puppy to be expected to stay in a dog bed. For at least the first 8 to 12 months in their new homes puppies need to sleep in a cage.
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.
Once you have determined the type of bed appropriate for your dog, you need to determine the proper size of dog bed required. To do so you need to measure your dog while he or she is sleeping. Measure the point of longest length and the point of longest width. You might want to measure your dog on successive days to see if the measurements change at all. Once you are certain that you have an accurate average measurement then add 2-3 inches to each length. This will give you the length and width required to comfortably accommodate your dog.
There are a number of other aspects to dog beds that could be considered such as construction methods, types of fill, baffled chambers, and quality of zippers, etc. All of these characteristics will get more attention in another article. However, if you are confident about the proper type of bed for your dog and the proper size of bed, then you are well on your way a choosing a great dog bed. - 29895
I told them to hold off on buying a dog bed. This doesn't mean I am not a avid proponent of dog beds. I am. However, I don't think it is appropriate for a puppy to use a dog bed. More accurately, I think it might be impossible for a puppy to be expected to stay in a dog bed. For at least the first 8 to 12 months in their new homes puppies need to sleep in a cage.
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.
Once you have determined the type of bed appropriate for your dog, you need to determine the proper size of dog bed required. To do so you need to measure your dog while he or she is sleeping. Measure the point of longest length and the point of longest width. You might want to measure your dog on successive days to see if the measurements change at all. Once you are certain that you have an accurate average measurement then add 2-3 inches to each length. This will give you the length and width required to comfortably accommodate your dog.
There are a number of other aspects to dog beds that could be considered such as construction methods, types of fill, baffled chambers, and quality of zippers, etc. All of these characteristics will get more attention in another article. However, if you are confident about the proper type of bed for your dog and the proper size of bed, then you are well on your way a choosing a great dog bed. - 29895
About the Author:
If you want to read more about crate training or dog bed sizes, visit this great site where you will find articles about getting rid of fleas, crate training, and choosing the right bed for your dog.
