Choosing the Right Outdoor Dog Bed is Important
Sep 7th, 2008 | By Johnathan Livingston | Category: PetsDeciding on which dog bed to buy is a hard choice, but this can be even more difficult when searching for something for an outdoor dog. Choosing from the variety of dog bed outdoor models, combined with your needs, can be cause the venture to be somewhat tricky.
One of the main problems you might encounter when looking into any dog bed outdoor style is how durable it is going to be. Some might not even want to spend money on something that for outside, but it can be a necessity for your dog to rest and get away. This becomes even more critical for a strictly outdoor dog to have their own special place.
The biggest factor in selecting a dog bed outdoor model is the material it’s made out of. You certainly don’t want to get an indoor dog bed and try putting that outdoors, even if it is under a covered patio or in some other location that might protect it somewhat. These beds, even the ones made out of very sturdy material, just won’t stand up to the outdoors.
Outdoor beds need to be ready to battle the weather, so one of the things you want is a waterproof bed. Again, even if it’s under shelter, your dog is going to get wet, and then they will get their mattress wet. Another nice benefit from a waterproof dog bed is that you can hose it off. This turns the chore of cleaning into a breeze.
While a covered area like a porch or deck is a great place to put your bed, that might not be an option for you. If it’s not, you’ll still need to consider where to put your dog bed outdoor mattress. Perhaps under a tree or in a shady corner of the yard is the best spot. No matter where you put it, always think about keeping it dry so your dog will want to use it.
Keeping the bed dry is one thing; keeping your dog warm in its dog bed is another. However, there are some dog bed outdoor models that are aimed at just this. These may be made out of material that is designed to absorb and hold heat, or it may require you to stuff with cloth or sawdust. Either way, you want your dog to be warm in its outdoor sleeping place.
In areas where the temperature tends to drop and stay low, you can even buy a more expensive dog bed outdoor model that includes a heater. Many different stores sell these models. However, you’ll have to put it somewhere near an outdoor electrical outlet since nearly all of them need to be plugged in. Just be sure to think about fire hazards and place the bed away from anything flammable.
The downside to these heated beds is that they can cause your dog to actually get too hot. This means you’ll have to keep an eye on the weather and turn off your heated dog bed when it’s hot outside. Don’t set the bed’s thermostat too high except during the colder months. Watch and see when your dog is in the bed a lot-that’s when you’ve found that perfect temperature he likes.
Finally, you also want your dog bed outdoor model to be something that isn’t going to get destroyed. It needs to stand up to the elements and your dog. It may also come under use or attack by any other animal around the neighborhood, which can result in it being sprayed by cats.
Beyond selecting a sturdy bed and the right type of bedding for your dog, the only other real concern is the location. Again, you want it to be sheltered from the elements, but you also want your dog to be able to easily get in the bed. Place the bed somewhere where your dog already likes to sleep and he or she will start using it right away.
You will be able to find the best Outdoor Dog Bed models for your pet.