At first it can be confusing to see all the types and shapes of dog bed available and then choose one that’s appropriate for your dog. However your dog actually tells you what type of bed it wants every time it sleeps. You will find it will usually either curl up to some degree, or it will stretch itself out.
As such you should look for a bed for your dog that matches your canine companion’s sleeping style. For convenience the types of bed are listed according to the two different dog sleeping styles. And then at the end we have a specialized list of variants of these two main bed types.
Curl Beds
Cushion or Pillow Dog Bed. Usually round, square or rectangular in shape. Like with human pillows or cushions, they are soft. Most are stuffed with foam. Or foam and cedar chips. Cedar chips act as a flea repellent, however cedar chips may not be ideal for dogs with skin allergies.
Nest, Donut or Cuddler Dog Bed. These terms are often used interchangeably, although there are two distinct styles. Both are usually round or oblong in shape to accommodate the dogs body in a curl sleeping style. The edges are usually subtly raised in height in the cushion style beds or more pronounced and rigid in the enclosure style beds.
Bolster Bed. Like the above enclosure style beds, except usually having more pronounced raised sides, hence the term bolster.
Dome Bed. These are similar to a nest bed except they are fully enclosed at the sides and overheard apart from the one side that the dog will enter and leave the bed from.
Stretch Beds
Mat – square or rectangular in shape, suitable for a daytime resting place or to line an outdoor dog kennel. They are a step up from the dog sleeping on a cold and/or hard floor. They are usually made from a thin layer of foam. Memory foam is used in the more expensive mats for support.
Mattress – like with a human bed mattress, a dog mattress is large and rectangular in shape. It is designed to be a soft platform for dogs that like to stretch out as they sleep.
Specialty Dog Beds
Designer Dog Bed or Luxury Dog Bed. These are designed as dog sized replicas of human furniture such as a bed or sofa. A sofa style is particularly good for your dog if he changes between curl and stretch sleeping styles as it provides room for the dog to stretch and raised sides for the dog to curl against. There are many great styles to choose from to enhance the decor of the room the bed is situated in. However bear in mind that the dog’s needs must come before decor.
Orthopedic Dog Bed. Orthopedic dog beds are designed for dogs suffering from arthritis or hip dysplasia, or dogs that are more at risk of suffering from hip dysplasia. Orthopedic dog beds come in a variety of the above forms. The difference is in the type of material use. Orthopedic canine beds are popularly lined with material called memory foam which is both sturdy and comforting at the same time thus helping to support the joints.
Heated Dog Bed. These come in the above forms and as the name suggests, a heating facility is provided. This is good for beds located in an area susceptible to colder temperatures, or may be considered as a desired feature in an orthopedic dog bed to keep the dog’s joints warm.
Travel Bed. These come in many varieties, for example roll up mats, sleeping bags, house/cages. Obviously most are designed to be compacted when not in use. Many are machine washable. Some come with waterproof fabrics for outdoor use.
DON’T FORGET – The Size of the Bed!
The bed should be larger than the dog’s sleeping size so your dog has room to make itself comfortable and adjust itself as necessary while it sleeps. For the curl style beds you will therefore want to have at least an extra 8 inches in diameter than the dog’s sleeping length, and about an extra 12 inches for the stretch style dog beds.
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Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Goodyear/89601
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