What Type of Dog Bed does your Dog Like Best?

There are hundreds of different dog breeds in the world, and they are all unique. So you want to pick out the best dog bed for your pet, especially if he has special needs.

Does you dog have a dog bed? There are hundreds of different types of dogs in the world, they range from really small, like the Chihuahua, to giant breeds, like the Irish Wolfhound. There are short hair breeds that like hot weather, and breeds that like cold weather. There are also many other variances in dog breeds. Different dogs also have a large variety of personalities. Some traits run in different breeds, but all dogs are unique, just like people. Dogs even have favorite positions to sleep in, as well as places to sleep. Most like a dog bed if one is provided, but how do you find the perfect one for your dog?

Basic dog beds are a flat, thick pad, usually rectangular, round or oval. Though the outside may look similar, the inside can differ. Most have poly fill, others have cedar chips. A majority of them have removable covers that can be washed.

A variation of a basic dog bed is the bolster. A bolster has raised sides and back for your dog to lean against, they stop him from rolling off the back of his bed. They also give added warmth.

A newer type of dog bed that I had not seen until recently was a bed made out of memory foam. Why would a dog need a bed made out of memory foam? I asked myself. But it turns out that they are recommended for older dogs or dogs with bones, hip or joint problems, such as hip dysplasia. If this sounds like a good thing for your dog, make sure that the pad is thick enough so that your dog does not "bottom out" on the floor.

If you live in a hot or cold climate, or have a dog with really long or short hair, there are many dog beds that are specifically designed to help keep your pet warmer or cooler.

There are a couple of different styles designed to keep your dog cool. One popular style is actually more of a cot than a bed. The surface is lifted a couple of inches off the ground, generally the material is a cool fabric or mesh. Since air can circulate under your dog, this really helps to keep her core body temperature down. Others are just thinner pads, some with bolsters and some without, that use cooler fabrics that help keep your dog cool because there is less insulating material underneath them. There is even a dog bed that you fill with cool water. Usually these are also thin, no more than an inch or two high.

Many beds designed to keep your dog warm use an electric pad that you place under or in the dog bed. Most of these are designed so that they can be plugged in all the time and have a special thermostat that maintain a temperature that is about 12 to 15 degrees higher than a dogs body temperature.

If you live somewhere that experiences hot summers and cold winters, don't worry, you don't need two dog beds. You can find a dog bed that both heats and cools. Usually they have interchangeable inserts, one that is cooler in the summer, and a heated one for the winter.

Regardless of the type of dog bed that you choose to get, they almost all come in a variety of colors and sizes, something to suit both you and your dog. And as you can tell, there are plenty of specialty beds available to fill special needs. I know that my dog always feels special and more comfortable when he has his own dog bed, a place that he can call his own.