While it seems like dogs can be happy to rest wherever in the home, even if it’s on the floor, it’s quite important to provide your four-legged friend with a bed of its own. And while the reasons for investing in a dog’s bed are many, the most puzzling part is choosing the right one.
How To Pick a Dog Bed?
Consider Your Dog’s Sleeping Position
Your dog’s sleeping position is one of the main indicators that could help you find the right type of bed. For instance, if your dog likes to sleep stretched out, then you should think about buying a large bed. And vice versa, if your furry friend loves to sleep curled up like a ball, a small or medium-size dog bed would be ideal for its needs.
Consider Its Habits & Needs
If your dog tends to be cold or hot while sleeping, buy a dog bed that is made of temperature regulating fabric. You can also opt for a bed that comes with heating or cooling pads, depending on the needs. When looking to buy dog beds online or from a physical store, consider its chewing habits. If your dog tends to chew on things, then you should probably invest in the simplest version – a trampoline bed. While trampoline beds are generally most suited for dogs that love sleeping in a cool place, the padded and pillow versions of these beds would be perfect for those that are always cold.
Measure Your Dog
Since the idea is to give your dog enough space while sleeping, measuring it is another way to understand how big the bed should be. The ideal way to measure your dog is to do it while sleeping. You should start measuring from its nose and end to its tail. To this measurement, you can add 20cm more in order to determine the diameter of the bed.
Note: In case you have a puppy and don’t want to make a double investment, you can always opt for a larger bed. To improve its security when still young, you can always add blankets and pillows around it.
Think about the Material
Except for the aforementioned things, another thing to have in mind before you buy dog beds online or offline is the bed’s material.
- Waterproof – Beds that are made of waterproof material are ideal for all types of dogs but mainly for the older ones and those who love to pee everywhere. Except for this, you can always invest in a waterproof bed cover that you could toss in the laundry whenever needed.
- Hypoallergenic – Just like human beings, some dogs can also be more sensitive than others. Luckily, these days you have the option to choose a bed that is made of hypoallergenic material or one that is filled with such filling.
- Depending on the type of bed you choose, dog beds can also be made from polyester, fleece, faux leather, flannel and microfiber.
How Often to Replace Dog Bed?
How often you replace the dog’s bed should depend on the bed’s condition and quality. Although most of the bed-related problems can be solved with a simple machine wash, sometimes, replacing a dog’s bed will be needed because of some other reasons.
How to Remove Dog Urine Smell from Bed?
In case your pet wets its bed or yours, you should act fast and clean the area as soon as possible. That way you will not only get rid of the unwanted stain, but you’ll also remove the smell. For the procedure you’ll need:
- spray bottle
- hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda
- liquid dishwashing soap
- vinegar
- Lavender essential oil (optional)
For the cleaning solution, you’ll need 250ml of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda and half teaspoon of dish soap. For pleasant smell, you can add a few drops of lavender or some other essential oil. Except for smelling nice, the purpose of adding essential oil in this solution is to neutralise the overall smell. Add all of these ingredients in the empty spray bottle and shake gently.
Before applying the solution, you can soak the entire area with white vinegar, wait a little bit and blot the vinegar until it’s dry. Once done, spray the affected area and let it soak for about 10 minutes. Blot the area with a clean towel until dry and reapply if needed. In case you still sense a smell of urine, you can simply sprinkle baking soda all over the area and let it sit as long as you can (if possible let it sit overnight). Baking soda is great for neutralising odours and absorbing moisture. When done, simply vacuum the area.
