Five Essential Tips About Buying And Using a Dog Bed
There’s an old saying that goes, “You can only take a horse to the river, but you cannot make it drink.” It’s quite possible that you could spend all kinds of money on a fancy dog bed, only to find out that your dog isn’t as happy with it as you are. Even though you’re the one doing the buying, always keep in mind that it is your beloved dog who will be doing the sleeping. Five essential tips are listed below to ensure that your dog absolutely loves his/her new dog bed.
1) Pay careful attention to the bed’s height:
This point is especially important for owners of small dogs. You don’t want a situation where your dog is forced to jump into bed every night. Think about it; would you be happy if you had to jump into bed each night because your bed was too high? It might be fun for the first two weeks, but it would quickly get annoying. Also, in all seriousness, your dog can sustain needless injuries by falling from a bed that’s too high for him/her.
2) Be wary of strong odors in bed materials:
Dogs have highly developed olfactory senses – way more sensitive than human beings. Therefore, when you’re picking out a bed for your dog, avoid materials which have strong and overpowering smells. For example, certain woods, like cedar and cinnamon, may smell good to you, but may be too pungent for your dog.
3) Be mindful of bedding materials you choose:
If you live in a colder climate, opt for heavier materials, like lamb’s wool, which absorb heat and keep your dog warm and cozy. If you live in a more temperate zone, opt for lighter fabrics, like cotton hybrids, which will keep your dog cool and comfortable.
4) Do not to be a pushover:
Dogs can be very persuasive and persistent when they want something. Perhaps your dog is used to sleeping on the couch, or sharing your bed. When you get a new dog bed, there might be times when you have to be quite stern to get your dog to stay in his/her bed. Ultimately, dogs are creatures of habit, so it’s important to be consistent and firm when training them to use their beds.
5) Lastly, never use the dog bed to punish your dog:
Your loving pet needs to feel happy and secure in his/her bed, so you should refrain from ever using the bed as a punishment tool. Doing this might leave long lasting, negative psychological effects on your dog.
Follow these rules, and your dog will grow to love his/her new dog bed.