Puppies sleep. A lot. They have short bursts of intense energy, followed by long naps.
Of course a dog can (and will) snuggle up anywhere. On the floor by your feet. On your sofa, or bed. But dogs also like to have their own space. A safe place which is theirs and theirs alone. Giving them a dog-bed in the corner of a room, or in their crate enables them to have somewhere that they can feel comfortable. It also helps you in those moments when you want your space.
So what should you be looking for in a dog bed? For a puppy the first consideration is that dogs like to chew. Out dog got through several dog beds in her first few months. Tiny teeth are sharp, and can get through most fabrics with a bit of determination, even beds marketed as 'indesctructable'. Our solution was three fold
- Cheap beds until she learned not to chew
- Take the bed away from her with a firm no! as soon as she started chewing, and only give it back when she settled (with a treat)
- Look for beds with removable foam linings rather than fluff or foam chips, to stop her eating the foam
Now she is a bit older, she rarely chews the bed, and if we tell her no, she looks guilty and stops. Once your puppy has come through the destructive phase you can invest in something a bit more long term.
What do we look for then?
- Well made
- Comfy
- Big enough for the dog, but small enough to snuggle in
Give your dog a nice bed, and they will love it (and you) whilst getting quality sleep...
What do you look for in a dog bed? Add your thoughts in the comments below.