There are many solid, medical, and general reasons that a dog should have its own bed. I’m going to tell you my own experience with my dog Jack, who we adopted from a shelter at about four months old.
Jack is a Terrier mix, and his personality is a typical Terrier; smart, stubborn, brave to the point of stupid, energetic, and active. He was fairly shy the day I brought him home and when evening came around, I decided to sleep in the guest room with our new dog so we didn’t disturb my husband, who had to get up early in the morning.
So off to bed we went. I fixed up his new, cushy bed on the floor beside the guest bed, put his new toys beside his little setup, and crawled into the guest bed. Jack immediately jumped up on the guest bed and snuggled in right beside me. I didn’t think anything about it other than, “aww, poor little guy. New house, new people, I’ll just let him sleep with me tonight.”
I was glad I had him in the guest room that night - he woke up in the middle of the night whining and I took him outside to piddle. I can still remember sitting on the porch in the moonlight as he sniffed around the backyard.
Here’s the problem; Jack is now nine years old and has been sleeping with us for that long. And he’s a bed hog. I mean, he will stretch out and before you know it, we are on the edge of the bed and Jack is fully stretched out in the middle. And as dogs will do, he likes to take naps during the day and will scratch around in a circle until he gets comfortable and will lay down. So, guess what all that scratching is doing to the mattress? Not to mention the fact that dogs are restless sleepers, so trying to get a good night's sleep with a dog in the bed is next to impossible.
Which brings me to why a dog needs its own bed. A dog shouldn't sleep on a bare floor; the floor is hard and uncomfortable (even if you have good padding and carpeting). Anyone who has tried laying on the floor will know this to be true. Older dogs can develop arthritis – a nice cushy bed will help to alleviate joint pain and prevent calluses from hard surfaces. A bed will also help your pup to stay warm during the winter, especially in colder climates.
Another good reason for your dog to have a bed all its own (or even a few around the house), is for training purposes. No one enjoys a dog who begs at the table while they are trying to eat – a dog bed is a perfect spot for your pooch to hang out while you are finishing your meals. We have one near the dining room and simply tell Jack, "go lay down", while we eat. He trots over and lays down, knowing that when we're finished it's time for him to eat.
A dog bed is also perfect for the living room, or wherever your family hangs out. This will help keep Fido off the furniture, and here is a real-world example of why. Jack started jumping onto our old couch, and he liked to lay at the top of the corner which caused the cushion to split apart and also caused a dark stain to eventually appear from his oils and fur. Furniture is not cheap, and it's best not to let them get into the habit of jumping up on it and your guests. A dog bed can also help to keep fur and pet dander off of your furniture, you, and your guests.
Let’s get back to the jumping thing – whether they are jumping up on the bed or onto your furniture, a dog can hurt themselves easily when trying to jump up or down. They do not judge hard or soft or slippery and can hurt themselves, and no person or dog wants to end up at the vet with a sprain, a strain, or worse, a broken leg.
Ensure when you buy your dog bed that it is washable. Dogs usually sleep an average of 10 – 14 hours a day, so that bed is going to be used a lot! Instead of replacing the bed, just purchase a washable one or one with a removable, washable cover.
Our pets are a part of our families, and giving them a special spot of their own to feel safe, feel comfortable, and sleep is just as important for them as it is for us.
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