Dog Beds
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Dog Beds
In the United States, close to 46 percent of the population owns a dog, which means there are about 70 million dogs in the United States right now. Every year that number gets even larger and there are even more new pet owners in the country who need to learn the ropes to owning a dog. This means every year there are new people learning what dog food to buy, how many dog beds they need in their home, and what kind of training they need for their dogs. What's important from day one is finding the best place for your dog to sleep at night. Your dog is most vulnerable when it's sleeping, so you want to make sure it feels as safe and comfortable as possible, especially when settling into a new home.
We surveyed over 820 people about their dogs and asked expert dog trainers where the best place is to keep your dog at night. Everyone's situation is different, so depending on the layout of your house, your dog, and the relationship you want with your dog will help dictate where your furry friend should stay at night.
INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
In the past, it was not uncommon to keep your dogs outside essentially all day and all night. Dogs were viewed as guard animals meant to protect the home. Nowadays times have changed and most dogs live indoors, and they might have their own dog bed, sleep in a crate, or even co-sleep next to their owners in bed. In fact, according to our survey 98 percent of dog owners keep their dog inside at night. Keeping your dog indoors has several advantages:
- Companionship – keeping your dog inside allows for more bonding time with them
- Protection – indoors your dog is safe from outdoor predators
- Shelter – in a house your dog is not susceptible to extreme cold and heat and is more comfortable
In addition, keeping your dog inside can help build your relationship with your dog. Just being near you at night can be enough to make them sleep better. We asked professional trainer Lisa Edwards her thoughts and this is what she had to say:
Since dogs are so social, keeping them in the house is a benefit and certainly something to consider if you get a new pet.
This isn't to say you absolutely can't put your dog outside during nighttime. It's certainly possible. In fact, according to some dog trainers it's perfectly ok for dogs to sleep outside. According to Pamela, the professional dog expert behind the blog somethingwagging.com, as long as you have the three main three criteria of companionship, protection, and shelter taken care of it's totally ok for your dog to sleep outside.
If you live in an area with colder climates, ensuring your dog has a dog house to shelter them from the elements and a warm dog bed to keep them warm are essential. You should also make sure they have fresh water in case they get thirsty during the night as well as some protective fencing to keep wild animals out of your yard.
AROUND THE HOUSE
If you're like a majority of Americans you're probably going to put your dog indoors when they go to sleep at night. Now you need to think about the room they should sleep in and whether or not they should be crated.
Your dog can sleep in any room around the house that you think would be best. Even though the living room and bedroom are the most common locations, some pet owners put their pets in other places such as their basement, garage, or kitchen. As long as your dog is well sheltered and comfortable then they should be fine at night.
For new dogs and puppies, they'll feel tense being in a new place for at least the first week or two. For new dog owners this means they should consider finding a place close by to keep them so they feel safe. Professional trainer Shelby Semel says.
One good place to consider letting your dog sleep is your bedroom, and 75 percent of respondents to our survey agree. Your dog will feel safer being closer to you at night, and when they're a puppy it's much easier for you to keep an eye on them as well. As time goes on, their dog bed can be moved to another room such as the living room or kitchen, depending on where you feel they'll be most comfortable.
Another great sleeping option is a crate so your dog has a comfortable place to call their own. Some people worry crates are uncomfortable for dogs, but dogs are actually den-like animals so a crate should feel natural to them. Adding a dog bed in the crate you can ups the coziness and can make it feel less like doggy jail. Dog expert for atailabove.com, Ann Greene, makes a fantastic point when she says:
Using a crate for sleep is a good way to prepare your dog for moments when they may unexpectedly be placed in a crate.
You can also give your dog the freedom to roam and find a sleeping spot that suits him or her. We learned that 27 percent of dog owners let their dogs choose where they sleep at night. If you choose this route, it's a good idea to have many dog beds around the house so they have somewhere soft to sleep wherever they decide to doze off. If you live in a small space that doesn't have room for multiple dog beds, the floor is a perfectly fine spot for your dog to lay his or her head. Add a small rug to help warm up the space and provide a bit of cushioning for your pup.
CO-SLEEPING
Even though many people decide to let their dog sleep either outside or indoors in a dog bed, by far the most common place for dogs to sleep is their owners' beds. Forty-one percent of our respondents reported they share their bed with their dogs. Co-sleeping with your dog is a controversial issue for some and there are challenges and benefits to this choice for dog sleeping. Controversy arises because there are conflicting theories on the affect co-sleeping has on your relationship with your dog.
Some believe giving your dog the freedom to sleep in the bed creates a dominance issue, which is akin to giving them the keys to the castle. In addition to dominance, some, like Kevin Behan, believe that co-sleeping gives your dog way too much attention. His argument is that dogs need space to themselves, just like how people need a moment to recharge their batteries at the end of a long day. According to Kevin, a separate space for your dog to sleep is the best choice, which will help give your dog room to breathe when they go to sleep at night.
Still, there are a fair amount of dog experts who believe that sharing the bed with your dog can improve your relationship with your dog as long as it's clear that the owner is permitting the dog to be on the bed and it's not an automatic right.
Professional dog trainer Eric Letendre gives a good suggestion in that you must be the one in control of the dog bed privileges which will help your dog understand that you're the one in control. This will help avoid any doggy power struggles.
Some of the benefits of co-sleeping are:
- Increased bonding time with your dog
- A warm bed
- You'll be closer to your dog so you can keep an eye on him and care for him
And even though there are plenty of benefits, you'll have to watch out for the dog peeing on the bed, excessive dog hair, and possible dominance issues if you have more than one dog. And of course, you should take into account the size of your dog too. Even though some people do sleep with large dogs (around 20 percent according to our survey), it's more comfortable and more common to sleep with a smaller dog (51 percent of co-sleepers have small dogs).
There are plenty of options when it comes to determining where your dog should sleep. Even though co-sleeping is the most popular option, it's not the only route you can go. There's a case to be made for any situation whether that's putting your dog outside or in a crate somewhere around the house. What really matters is what works for your and more importantly your dog. Make sure to analyze your own situation before choosing the best place to let your dog rest its head.