Puppies need to feel warm and safe when they rest. And when you’re looking at puppy beds, you’ll want of keep a few things in mind. Puppy beds are a necessity for every new pup… but you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a bed for a young puppy. When looking for a cozy bed for your little pup to curl up in, make sure it has all the convenient features you want.
Many store bought dog beds are designed with removable, washable covers. And until your pup is properly housetrained, this will be a big convenience. Puppy beds can be also be a simple cardboard box lined with old comfy, machine washable blankets or towels. Machine washable being the keys words here. Just make sure that you have plenty of extra blankets… so that you’ll always have a fresh supply for your pup to snuggle on… you certainly don’t want to run out of clean blankets before laundry day rolls around again!
Puppies Love To Chew!
Remember all puppies love to chew… and anything they can get their mouths on is fair game. Just ask anyone who has raised at least one pup. So when your pup gets her needle sharp teeth into one of those adorable puppy beds that you’ve been eyeing she’ll probably make short work of gnawing on a corner or two. And though all dogs as a rule don’t like to soil where they sleep… a very young pup probably won’t know the difference… and until fully trained… accidents are going to happen. So, you don’t have to waste lots of money on really expensive little doggie beds until your pup is completely house trained and knows what is and isn’t a chew toy.
I bet those old blankets are sounding really good right now. But of course old blankets don’t look as nice as one of the many fine puppy beds that are available in pet stores or online. And some puppy beds come in some tough fabrics that have a better chance of standing up to a puppy’s occasional teething accident. And most pup starter beds are really not so expensive that you need to be overly concerned if your little pup roughs it up a bit. They come in many colors and patterns and it can be lots of fun shopping for puppy beds to match your décor.
Crates Are Like A Puppy Den
If you’re planning on crate training your puppy… and I highly recommend it… you’ll need to get a dog crate. In this case you’ll use the dog crate instead of the cardboard box… and you’ll use those old soft blankets or a nice cushion to line the bottom. Or you might want to consider a practical waterproof puppy bed. Or even check out some dog beds for small dogs that would tuck easily inside the crate. Most dogs, when properly crate trained, love the comfort and security of their crates! Read more about the benefits of crate training your puppy and how to select a dog crate .
Keeping Your Puppy Warm: Fleece Dog Beds Or Heated Dog Bed?
Puppy beds should always be placed in a warm draft free location so your pup doesn’t get a chill. Beware of cold drafty windows in the winter… and air conditioned rooms in the summer. Never use an electric blanket meant for a people bed to line your little guy’s bed! If chewed it could seriously injure your pup and if set too high it could burn her.
There are heated dog beds available but most pups would feel just as secure in a nice fuzzy fleece dog bed. And since very young dogs require a lot of sleep you’ll also want the area to be relatively quite so your puppy can rest undisturbed whenever she is tired. But don’t isolate your puppy… it’s very important that your pup can see and hear her family members.
As our little dogs grow they gradually outgrow their pup starter beds. They will eventually be ready for their first real dog bed. And at that time you’ll probably have lots a questions about choosing the best dog bed for the size and sleeping habits of your pooch.
Have fun browsing through our related articles below. You’ll find lot’s more important dog bed information that will help you make the right purchasing decisions.
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