Selecting the best bed for your pet

A good night’s sleep for every human is deemed as sleeping at least 7 straight hours. And we spend a lot of money selecting a comfortable sturdy bed, pillows which provide the best support, blankets which keep us warm while allowing air circulation, and bed sheets which breath and are easy to wash.

How much more thought should we give to the beds we select for our dogs and cats who spend on average 16 hours a day sleeping? Here are some of the top considerations when selecting a bed for your pet to be comfortable when they are just chilling out or napping.

Size does matter!

We love seeing our pets curl up and fall deep into dreams digging a hole to hide their favourite bone. Besides curling, pets like the ability to stretch out and let their bodies take in some of the cool air in the room. You are going to want to measure your pet to make sure they have enough space in their bed to stretch themselves, so a beds need to be selected than the actual size than your pet.

It is all in the touch.

Consider the climate that you and your pet live in when selecting the fabric of the bed you choose. Pets have a great natural ability to adjust their body temperature to keep themselves warm or cool down.

You will need to consider the fabrics of the bed your provide your pet to ensure they help your pet with regulating their body temperature. If you live in a climate where the indoor room temperature is cold in winter and you limit the use of heating systems, you can consider bedding with has a shaggy or faux fur feel to help keep your pet warm.

For countries where the indoor temperature is more tropical and warmer, consider cotton rich soft fabrics which will help your dogs skin breath better. As many of us now live in climates where we frequently use air conditioning, select a bed which has dual fabrics and can be converted easily for warmth or coolness depending on the time of day or season.

Which position do you lay?

We all toss and turn at night as we try to find the ideal position to sleep. Same with our pets. We see them curl up in the middle of their bed, lay their heads on the side, sleep all in the bed, sleep half in and half out, and sometime just lay all bare on the surrounding floor. Select a bed which gives your pet a mix of soft and firm areas to lay their heads.

Side walls on beds are great for your pet to rest their head while stretching out their body and gives them a feeling of being in an open space and relieve anxiety. Some dogs will prefer to snuggle and curl themselves in the centre of their bed as they keep warm and snooze the night away. Beds can be found with a variety of fillings such as luxurious memory foam which is a great option for senior dogs, synthetic and eco-friendly filling which can vary in thickness, and thin filled beds with a layer of dacron sheet.

The material and stitching of the bed.

Pet’s digging their bedding is a natural habit, especially for dogs, as they want to add their scent and mark the space as their own. The material and stitching of the bed should be strong enough to allow your pet to dig their bed without creating a hole. Look at the thickness of the material and decide if you think the bed will withstand your pet’s digging habit.

Fresh sheets make for a good night’s sleep.

The same rule applies to your pet’s bed. Washing their bed on a regular basis helps to wash away bugs, dirt, and pet hair which has accumulated on their bed.

Choose a bed which is easy to put in your home washing machine and wash them according to the care label on the bed. If there is no care label, wash their bed on a low temperature with soap and a spoon full of vinegar. Dry the bed in open air, if possible, in natural sunlight to kill off any bacteria. Avoid using fabric softeners when washing your pet’s bed and never dry the beds in a dryer.

Vacuum between washes

Pets bring in a lot of dirt on their paws and fur, some of it falls off on the floor of your house and some gets rubbed off in their bed. As frequently as you mop or vacuum the floor of your home, your pet’s bed would also benefit from a vacuum in between washes to clean away dirt, fur, and dead skin.

Your choice of bed for your pet will benefit their well being and help keep them calm. Be willing to try a few beds until you find the right one which your pet will always jump into when its time to sleep. The placement of your pet’s bed at home will also make a difference. Positioning their bed close to the window may help keep them warm during the daytime, but a night this may be a source of too much cold for them. If space permits, you may want to have more than 1 bed for your pet allowing them to choose a different place to sleep during the day and night.

Whichever bed you choose, many pet parents enjoy having their pet’s sleep with them in their bed. while its nice feeling to snuggle with you pet, its important they have a space of their own which can be their individual secure space.