Shopping for Christmas Gifts for Your Pets

Look for These Traits When You Buy a Dog Bed

When you shop for an extra-large dog bed, there are several different factors that you'll be thinking about. Choosing a bed that offers enough surface area is ideal because you don't want your pet to be hanging off the bed while it sleeps — potentially waking up with sore muscles. You may also be keen on finding a dog bed with a cover that matches the room in which the bed will live. As you evaluate a selection of dog beds, it's important to carefully notice the various traits that they offer. Those that offer the following should quickly climb to the top of your list.

Removable Cover

One of the most important traits that a dog bed can offer is a removable cover. Over time, you'll definitely want to wash the cover of the bed. This may be because your dog has vomited on it, for example. Or, perhaps the dog was muddy upon coming in from outside and settled down on the bed before you were able to clean the animal. When you can remove the cover, it's easy to place it in the washing machine and then dry it thoroughly. The best that you can do to clean a dog bed that doesn't have a removable cover is to spot clean it, which can be time-consuming and yield less-than-satisfactory results.

Chew Resistant

While it's true that a determined dog — especially a large one with plenty of free time — can chew through most objects if it really wants to, you should look for a bed that advertises that it's chew resistant. This generally means that the quality of the cover fabric is high, thus making it extremely difficult for even a large dog to chew. Some big dog bed manufacturers even have guarantees about the strength of their covers, and this can make you feel confident when you shop, particularly if your dog has destroyed its bed in the past.

Slip-Free Base

Dog owners place their pets' beds in different locations throughout the home, including on a wide range of different flooring types. If you typically have the bed on a hard floor, such as one made of hardwood or laminate, you're likely familiar with how it can slide around — often ending up several feet away from where you want it to be. Look for a dog bed that has a slip-free base. This rubber coating will do a good job of keeping the bed where you want it.


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