07
Aug
For many people it is almost impossible to imagine life without the amazing, tail-wagging, fluffy, wide-eyed creatures called dogs. No matter what sort of plans and restrictions we’ve made before their arrival, as time goes by, no loving person would dare to deny that they start to take up so much space in our hearts that we gladly give up the space in our apartment or a house.
However, as cute as it may seem for us to sleep together with our pet, there comes a time when we realize that it would be really convenient for them and for us too, to get a dog bed that can be our dog’s very own place for rest and naps.
These are the things you should bare in mind when choosing the right kind of bed for your dog.
If your dog is already a grown-up, you can buy a bigger dog bed to make it more comfortable for your pet. If your dog is still a puppy, start with a smaller bed if you prefer, just make sure it’s not too expensive or too small, for you will need to buy a new one soon. If your puppy is to grow a lot bigger, don’t put him in a huge bed while still a baby, it will be intimidating for him. If your puppy is going to be a small size dog, you can buy the perfect forever dog bed (and more expensive one) at the very beginning.
If you notice that your dog is prone to skin allergies, opt for a washable dog bed and carefully choose the best fabric possible that won’t irritate your dog’s skin.
However cute it may seem, chewing can be a real issue when it comes to young dogs. Buy a dog bed that is somewhat resistant to chewing; opt for the stronger material and put few toys in his bed in order to keep him busy. Don’t just give the toys to him; make him wait for them first and introduce them slowly. This way the dog will not see the toy as something that bores him and still prefer to chew on the bed.
Using the dog bed as a place for punishment is a big no-no!. The dog will associate the bed with negative feelings and you will never be able to convince him to use it and view it as a comfortable place. Instead, try putting some dog treats in the bed and let the dog find them by sniffing. Also, you can lay beside the bed, take a toy in your hand and play with him around the bed, urging the dog, as discreetly as possible, to get on the bed without even noticing. This is how the dog will associate the bed with food and fun and he will make a natural choice to consider it a place for comfort too.
Remember that the life span of dogs is much shorter than ours, yet, they still decide to dedicate their whole love and attention to us, humans, if given the chance. Therefore, the least we can do for them in return is to take good care of their basic needs, and a dog bed is certainly something that will increase your dog’s sense of belonging and confidence.
