Provide a restful night’s sleep with the right dog bed

According to studies, sleep is just as important for the dog as food intake. During sleep, the dog’s body regenerates and it can process the events of the day. Originally bred for different purposes, the dog is always ready for action. Sometimes they forget that they are tired. But an overtired dog quickly becomes a stressed dog. As a dog owner, it is your job to ensure that your dog gets the sleep it needs to stay healthy and balanced. An important contribution to this is a suitable dog bed in a permanent sleeping spot that no one can steal from them.

How do dogs sleep? Their need for rest

An adult dog rests and sleeps up to 18h a day. Puppies, sick and old dogs even more. Of these 18 hours, the dog spends most of it in light sleep, a small part in REM sleep (dream phase in which the dog processes its day) and the remaining 6 hours in dreamless deep sleep.

Especially the deep sleep phase is of utmost importance for the dog and its health, because during this time the body regenerates from any exertion. If the dog does not get deep sleep or has trouble sleeping, it is demonstrably more susceptible to illnesses and parasites and can become hyper, unfocused and easily irritable or even aggressive. Since dogs always want to be ready for anything, it is the task as a dog owner to keep a watchful eye on the dog’s resting time and to enable them to obtain a deep sleep. Prerequisites for a healthy dog sleep are:

• A suitable dog bed
• A permanent, quiet place to sleep
• A balance of physical and mental exercise
• Fixed resting and sleeping times

Finding the right dog bed in 4 steps

1. Dogs and their sleeping position:

The essentials for dogs include a proper dog bed. In order for the dog to accept the bed as its place of rest and to find the required deep sleep, the dog bed must suit the sleeping position of your four-legged friend. The way the dog sleeps depends on their personal preferences, but at the same time says a lot about their character and state of mind. The outside temperature also plays a significant role in whether a dog prefers the cool floor in an outstretched position or a dog cushion to snuggle up on. You should be familiar with the following sleeping positions of a dog when choosing a suitable dog bed:

The side sleeper: The dog lies on its side with its legs stretched out long and therefore requires a lot of space. Dogs that lie like this are entirely content, happy and feel safe.
Recommendation: Dog lying mat, sturdy dog bed with a back rest.

The fox: The dog lies curled up, pulls its legs to the body and rests its head on its hind legs or tail. This sleeping position retains body heat best. Insecure dogs that want to protect their sensitive belly also rest this way.
Recommendation: Round dog cushion with edging to snuggle into, dog den, dog sleeping bag.

The snuggle fanatic: Hidden and snuggled up under a mountain of cushions and blankets is where the dog prefers to sleep. This means that the dog needs all the comfort and security it can get.
Recommendation: Dog bed with edging and cuddly blanket combined, soft dog cushion.

The belly sleeper: The dog lies in the belly position with front legs stretched out and hind legs stretched out or bent backwards. This position is particularly suitable for snoozing, in which the dog is adequately alert and can jump up at any time. Some dogs want to cool off in this position on cool tiles on warm days.
Recommendation: Dog lying mat without edging (with or without cooling effect), dog bed with low edging for resting the head.

The back sleeper: Anxiety-free and well-adjusted dogs that feel safe in their environment like to sleep on their backs in the craziest positions.
Recommendation: Soft dog bed that combines all the dog’s creative sleeping positions with comfort.

2. Shape and size of the dog bed

Based on the size of the dog and its sleeping position, decisions can be made about the size and shape of the dog bed. There are a wide range of dog beds on the market. There are only a few advantages and disadvantages that speak in favour of a certain shape, because after all, every dog has its own preferences. Dog beds can be divided into the following categories:

• Round dog bed and dog cushion
• Square dog bed or dog basket with edging
• Dog bed mat
• Dog blankets
• Dog den or crate

A round dog bed and dog cushion often resemble a donut shape. They have a dip in the middle, which creates a slight edge as soon as the dog lies down in it. Round dog beds and cushions are ideal for dogs that like to curl up or get cold easily. It also gives security to insecure and easily anxious dogs. Many dog beds and dog cushions are relatively high due to their fluffiness. For puppies, you should stay away from dog cushions that are too high, as it makes it difficult for puppies to get into the bed, particularly as it is not ideal for their physical development.

With a square dog bed or dog basket, the dog has enough lying space to stretch out and lie down. The firm, padded edge offers a dog the possibility to rest its head and thus have a better view of its surroundings. It can also be used to lean against its back so that it feels more secure during sleep. As with the height of the dog cushion, the height of the edge should be considered for puppies. To make it easier for the puppy to get into the dog bed or dog basket, it should have a recess at the front. If necessary, you can temporarily put a ramp ahead of the young dog to make it easier for them to get in.

Dog lying mats and mattresses have no edge and are usually rectangular. Dog mats provide reclining comfort for dogs that like to stretch out while sleeping, don’t need the security of a den and don’t need the cuddle factor either. A rectangular dog mat is recommended for dogs with a lot of undercoat who get too warm quickly.

How big does a dog bed need to be? To determine the correct size of the dog bed, the dog is measured standing up from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Add 15 to 30cm to this length. The result is the optimum internal size of the dog bed. This ensures that the dog can stretch out without the head and paws hanging over or having to be folded in.

Even if the bed chosen is for puppies, it should ideally fit the current size of the puppy. If the bed is too big, the dog will not be able to snuggle in and the fabric that is not used as a sleeping area may be used as a toilet. This can be avoided with a puppy-sized dog bed.

3. The outer material of the dog bed

Fluffy, cosy or rather smooth? Which outer material of the dog bed is more suitable for the dog depends on its breed and its coat condition. A dog with a lot of undercoat, e.g. an Australian shepherd, would quickly overheat in a fluffy dog bed. For these dogs, a mat with a smooth surface or a dog bed with a cotton cover is more suitable, as the heat build-up is not as great.

A dog with little undercoat, such as a Rhodesian ridgeback from warm South Africa, needs a bed that keeps it warm, especially in autumn/winter. In this case, fluffy dog cushions with fleece, synthetic fur or similar are ideal.

Another important aspect is cleaning. The dog bed should be easy to clean, in that you can easily pull the covers off the interior of the dog bed. Some dog cushions with fur can also be put in the washing machine altogether. If you are getting a dog bed for a young dog that is not yet house-trained or an incontinent senior dog, you should think about a dog bed with a waterproof cover. Synthetic leather is a very easy-to-clean surface material and worthy of consideration here.

4. Hard or soft dog bed? The filling

There are different fillings for dog beds: polyester wadding, polystyrene balls, foam flakes, latex or Visco foam. The filling of the dog bed decisively determines its shape and its dimensional stability. And this in turn influences the sleeping comfort of the dog. From the dog’s weight you can deduce how soft or hard the base should be. Large, heavy dog breeds, but also small, muscular and overweight dogs need firm cushioning.

Otherwise, the joints and spinal vertebrae would suffer from pressure points and skin irritations on a rock-hard surface. At the same time, the dog bed must not be too soft, because dogs then find it too difficult to stand up. Dog mats or dimensionally sturdy dog beds are suitable for such dogs.

Small, light dogs, on the other hand, can find comfort on a soft, not quite as firm base, such as plush dog cushions. Firm surfaces such as dog mats, on the other hand, need a certain amount of weight to yield.

An orthopedic dog bed is recommended for older dogs that can develop chronic problems with their joints (arthrosis). The orthopedic core consists of a multi-layered foam that adapts to the position of the dog and thus ensures corresponding comfort.

An important point for a restful sleep for a dog is a quiet filling. How annoying would it be for the dog if its bed rustled loudly with every breath?

You should also consider how to wash the filling. It may be necessary to wash the entire dog bed or dog cushion from time to time. For example, if the dog is not yet house-trained, does its business on the soft surface and it has seeped through the cover. Depending on the quality of the filling it can happen that the inside loses its fluff and lumps form instead.

The appropriate sleeping spot for a dog

With the appropriate dog bed, it is now time to look for a suitable, permanent sleeping spot for your dog. Finding the right spot for a dog to sleep is an important factor that can be adjusted to ensure a healthy sleep. Among other things, a dog’s preference also plays a role in choosing a sleeping spot.

Basically, a sleeping spot for a dog should meet the following criteria:

• Quiet corner without hustle and bustle and passing traffic
• No draughts or cold
• No direct sunlight or excessive heat from central heating
• An ideal room temperature of 16 to 18 degrees
• Room should be darkened or dimmed at night
• Close to family activity

A dog bed should not be located in a place where there is passing traffic. A place directly next to the entrance door or a passageway where there is a cold draught when the door is open is entirely unsuitable as a sleeping spot for dogs. The dog needs a quiet place where it is not disturbed during sleep, but at the same time is not cut off from the family. After all, dogs are pack animals that regard their owners as members of the pack.

How high the temperature of a dog’s sleeping spot should be varies from dog to dog. Some dogs with a lot of undercoat like to lie in an unheated room with tiles because of the coolness, other dogs with little undercoat look for proximity to a heater. And then there is the preference of some dogs to lie at ground level or elevated. If your dog likes to lie elevated, on the sofa near its family, you can assign the dog a permanent sleeping spot, for example, with a furniture protector.

Ideally, the dog should have at least two sleeping spots with different surfaces and climates to choose from. This way, the dog can freely choose its place of retreat according to its current needs for coolness/heat, softness/hardness of the surface.

If the dog changes its sleeping spot without any external changes having taken place, this is no reason for alarm. Sometimes the dog’s preference for a certain resting spot simply changes.

Portable dog sleeping havens for when you’re on the go:

If you take your dog to a restaurant, to the yard or to a friend’s house, you should also offer them a place to rest when out and about. This can be a dog blanket, a portable bed to roll up or a dog sleeping bag, which is invaluable for dogs that get cold easily in winter. This way, you can teach your dog to take the time it needs to rest, even when it’s not in its usual environment. As with getting your dog used to a dog bed at home, a chewing bone or something similar can be helpful in making the dog bed palatable. This way, the dog learns to wind down and relax in public as well.

Product tip: A dog bed for on the go doesn’t have to be bulky, it can also look really stylish. Like the Portable Faux Fur Reclining Dog Blanket California Grizzly from sugar dog.