How To Choose A Sofa Dog Bed

Is your dog an old-timer or a young pup? Maybe your pet has a mercurial bladder or chews when nervous. Do they sleep hot or cold? Ask yourself the same sort of questions you would if you were buying the bed for yourself.

Making the right choice for your pet is dependent on:

• your dog's age and health condition
• how large your companion is,
• what kind of coat they have,
• what their sleep and temperature preferences are.

Big dogs and older dogs frequently need support for their joints, as their bigger frames or advanced age put a lot of stress on them. For dogs who don't love jumping, choose a low-slung memory foam bed with a minimal ridge as a back.

Some beds even have a bump on one end to act as a pillow for those larger breeds who like sprawl out and at the same time have something on which to rest their heads.

Dogs, like humans, can develop bladder control issues as they age. Doggie diapers can provide some degree of a solution, but they are not really a pleasant answer for you or for your dog. Look for beds with a washable cover and invest in a waterproof liner.

Small dogs can be quite bouncy, adept, and eager to hop up onto the humans' sofa or bed. For active dogs with long-haired coats, like Maltese or Pekinese, they might love a miniature sofa upholstered in stain-resistant faux leather. These mini sofas look fabulous in opulent décors, especially if you can find a couch that matches or complements your sitting areas.

These beds often sit on four legs, as a classic loveseat or couch does. A lot of smaller breeds enjoy looking at the world from the vantage point of a few more inches in height.

If your dog is younger or is a nervous gnawer, you should look into the fabric-free options. Some sofa beds still have the general shape of a sofa - low-slung with legs and one open side - but are not upholstered or covered with fabric.

The excellent attribute of these minimalist sofa beds is that they blend very well with contemporary or modern aesthetics. They also are almost entirely smell-free, as there's no foam core to worry about your dog soiling. For cleaning, many of these beds can be taken out back and hosed down. Now that's convenience!

Usually set on a metal frame, the bed has a hammock made of either stain- and water-resistant material that your pet sleeps on. Also referred to as a cot-style pet bed, these sofa beds have the benefit of keeping your dog cool, making them an excellent choice for long-haired dogs or ones who are most comfortable in colder climes, like St. Bernards.

Although these beds may not stop your furry friend from chewing on the metal frame, it will show far less damage than a softer mattress might. If you feel as if your dog might get cold while sleeping on this type of spare bed, you can add a blanket.

When your dog is lying down flat, measure from nose to tail tip, and from shoulder to base of the paw. Add at least two inches on all sides to those dimensions. If the bed has cushions or a headrest, add those dimensions to the outside of your dog's basic size "footprint."

Although both dogs and cats love heated beds in winter, electrically heated beds can cause problems. These can include broken wires that cause the rest of the bedding to catch fire, chewing on wires, or the heat going out at a critical moment.

A better solution is a throw that can be heated in the microwave or in front of a heating device and then added to the bed.

This is a problem best dealt with when your dog is a puppy. Once you let your pup share your bed, you've already begun to lose the battle.

But it is possible to re-train older dogs to sleep in their own bed, especially if sharing a bed has begun to be uncomfortable for both of you.

• Place an old shirt, preferably one that has your scent all over it, in the bed. That ratty old t-shirt that you wore to mow the yard will do just fine.
• Pat the bed. Coax your dog to lie down in it. Add some petting and attention, maybe even a treat or two, and give your fur friend a favorite toy or two, or perhaps even a chew toy for bedtime.
• Make the bed a pleasant place for your dog, and be consistent about insisting that this is the spot for the dog as opposed to the couch, your bed, or similar locations.