Some people are so attached to their pets that they wouldn’t dream
of asking them to simply curl up on the floor to go to sleep. Pet
owners, especially dog owners, have created an industry for dog
beds that rivals the bedding industry for humans in both
creativity and profit margins.
Just as dogs come in a variety of sizes -- from toy Chihuahuas
that fit in the palm of your hand to Great Danes who are large
enough to command most of the back of that family SUV -- so do dog
beds. The very first designs for dog beds stressed comfort and
ease of cleaning for the small, medium, large and extra large
pooch in your life. Today there is a dizzying array of options for
dog beds. There are dog beds designed to look like real beds so
the lucky canine doesn’t feel left out, dog beds designed to look
like real furniture, and dog beds for that aging canine, designed
to accommodate his creaking bones and stiff joints. There are dog
beds made out of fabrics designed to blend in with the décor of
your home and there are dog beds that can accommodate a dog who
likes to stretch out while he naps versus the type who prefers to
curl up into a ball.
No longer is it sufficient to simply walk into a pet store, find a
comfortable looking bed for Rex, choose a color that matches your
décor, (or his) and leave. Today you have to take many factors
into consideration when making decisions about your dog’s sleeping
quarters.
The first thing to think about is where in the house you intend to
place the bed. Some people put the dog’s bed in the living room,
so the dog has a place to lounge other than the family sofa. Other
people put the dog bed in their bedroom, so the dog can be close
without needing to jump into their bed. Some other things to
consider are the size of your pet, and his sleeping habits.
There are also extras such as eucalyptus treatments and cedar
filling (both to repel fleas), foam filling for the comfort of
arthritic animals, and various Velcro attachments. Washing and
cleaning are factors to take into account as well, both in terms
of everyday wear and because of the dirt incurred from other uses
for the bed such as a carrier liner or car seat protector. Gone
are the days when buying a dog bed was simple and easy, but the
tradeoff is a truly mind-boggling array of options.
