My dog Zumi's favourite bed is my ottoman.
My ottoman is covered in faux suede, it is raised about a foot and a half off the floor and the top of it is padded. It is meant to be an extremely comfortable place to rest one's feet as one reclines on the couch. It is also meant to be sturdy enough to rest a glass of wine or appetizer plate on without fear of said glass of wine toppling over. It is, in essence, an Italian furniture engineering marvel, one that Zumi has confiscated as her bed. She has occasionally been seen sleeping on her own bed, the ultra-soft plush one from the pet store that is covered in shearling and filled with memory foam. It's designed for dogs with arthritis to provide maximum comfort and relieve aching joints - and it cost just about as much as my own mattress! But given a choice, when I say "Go to your bed," she hops up onto the ottoman.
Choosing a bed for your dog may seem like an easy task, but you would be surprised at how picky these creatures are about their comfort. I am guessing this is one of the reasons they no longer run in packs through the woods hunting deer and elk, but instead have adapted their tastes to be more about creature comforts than the actual creature.
When choosing a bed for your dog, consider the position your dog tends to prefer when it reclines for a nap.
For example, Piper, my pointer, has two sleeping positions. The first is the ball. He will literally curl his body into a ball, tucking both his front and back feet under his head as he snuggles his nose into his belly. He can make his 90-pound body look as small as that of a 40-pound dog. When he is in this sleeping position he prefers pillows, and lots of them, to be stacked around him for support. I have often come home to see the pillows on my bed tossed around like a pillow fight had taken place, all in Piper's attempt to position them just right. I succumbed to purchasing him a bed with high plush sides and a cushy bottom, but smaller than would normally fit a dog his size so he can curl himself into a little ball and feel the security of the sides of the bed against him. The ball tends to present itself on cold wet days.
The second position is the Superman. He lays on his back, belly and privates to the ceiling with his back legs splayed wide open and fully stretched out. His front legs are in some odd rigamortis-type formation, straight to the sky. His head is turned slightly to the side, to create balance I suppose. A flat yet well cushioned bed with one raised side seems to accommodate the Superman best, although this position can happen just about anywhere.
Raider has always been obsessed with being under things. It's not about being under a blanket, but under a secure object, such as a couch or bed. He has grown too big (thank goodness) to crawl under those pieces of furniture, but given the chance he will sleep under the chair I am sitting in rather than sitting on top of said chair.
A crate would be ideal for Raider, making him feel protected on all sides while he sleeps. But, truth be told, a crate doesn't go well with my country decorating motif, even with a Western-patterned blanket covering it. So alternate accommodations have been made. I've noticed that he will sleep on top of a highly affordable and very comfortable pet bed from Costco that comes in a variety of complementary colours, which has an article of my clothing on it.
There are a plethora of pet bed designs available for dog owners these days and they all range in price. Keeping budget in mind, the best way to ensure your pet uses its bed is to buy one that supports its most natural sleeping position.
At the end of the day, you might find your dog right beside you on your pillow-top mattress.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
