The right Dog Beds for your dog

You need dog beds that are serviceable and easy to wash for the working dogs in the family, and beds that are cosy and warm for the lapdogs (for when there’s no lap available!)

The advantage of having a dog bed that your dog actually likes is that you can position the bed where you want your dog to be when he’s switched off, then you don’t have to be tripping over him every time you turn round. I have beds under one of the worksurfaces in the kitchen, instead of cupboards. That’s where the crate goes too, when we have a new dog in the household.

I think the most important point of a dog bed from the owner’s point of view is its cleanability. You don’t want nameless stains showing up on your carefully-laundered dog bed – that’s where a patterned finish is handy! A removable, machine-washable cover is ideal.

And I find the fleece that you can buy by the yard is excellent. You can hotwash it in the machine, and it dries in no time. Great beds for dogs who like to bundle them up, carry them to their preferred spot, and hide their toys in them. You can easily fit them into a car crate too.

Also in the car you can have tough, plastic-backed blankets or even fully-fitted dog-proof seat covers (just imagine how much time that's going to save you picking up hairs and mud!) – have a look at car seat covers here.

As to the wicker baskets so beloved of artists and birthday card designers, they may look good, but don’t put your dog in one till you’re quite sure he won’t chew it to shreds. There are hard-shelled dog beds which are easy to wash and sweep out. They can take up a lot of space, but can be excellent for keeping the dog’s bedding in one place.

Whose Bed is it, anyway?

Dogs understand this pecking order – it’s a normal part of pack life, so you are simply reinforcing a natural social behaviour.

So, when you introduce your dog to his new dog bed, simply move him off it once or twice and sit on it yourself! He’ll be puzzled by this new game, but will accept it. Now it’s your bed and you let your dog sleep on it when it suits you.

Incidentally, if your dog does react badly to this early lesson, it would indicate that you have a dominance problem. This needs to be addressed immediately, before someone gets bitten.

There's an excellent book by John Fisher - an expert in this area - which I found gave me extraordinary insights into what makes a dog tick. Or you can take a look at this resource for re-training a dog hooligan into a civilised pet - try it for size.

Now, to have a look at some really good dog beds, click here.

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The right Dog Beds for your Dog and You

Whose Bed is it, anyway?

The right Dog Beds
for your Dog and You