Calming Dog Beds: Keep Your Puppy Comfortable, Calm and Well-Rested
Being a dog in such a fast-paced, loud world must be hard. Statistics show that up to 40% of dogs that go to the vet for a check-up end up being diagnosed with anxiety, a condition not unknown to humans as well.
Anxiety can manifest itself in a lot of different ways in dogs, as well as in humans. Your dog might act out when they are left home alone, it might get easily spooked by loud noises or sudden movements, it may be wary or afraid of strangers and other dogs – the list can go on and include a number of other symptoms that are most definitely due to anxiety.
No matter the kind of anxiety your dog has it’s very important that you create a soothing environment for them to help them cope with the condition and improve their quality of life.
Among the many things you can do to aid your best friend, getting them a proper bed to sleep in is high on the list. You might think that any old bed would do the trick as long as it’s comfortable, but that’s not exactly the case.
If your pup suffers from anxiety you’ll need to get a special anxiety dog bed to gain optimal results. Here are a few things to watch out for when browsing for a calming dog bed to make sure you get the very best one and really aid your puppy in overcoming their anxiety issues!
The Interior of the Bed
The inside of your dog’s bed matters a lot. Think of when you were buying a mattress for yourself. You weren’t looking for just a pretty exterior, you were actually interested in what’s inside as well. It’s exactly the same with dog beds, especially anti anxiety dog beds!
Since the bed you’re looking at is basically a medical aid you really need to pay attention to the description and make sure it has everything your dog needs.
I’d recommend looking for beds that have a memory foam filling. Memory foam is the perfect mix between sturdy and soft and offers your pup the support its body needs while being cozy and snug at the same time. The support is great because of its overall health while the snugness will help with keeping them comfortable and tranquil.
The whole point of an anxiety dog bed is to make your pup calm down and get a restful night’s sleep. It should create a sort of nest for them, a place they feel safe and protected in.
Don’t go for overly soft though. That might hit home in the cozy department, but it won’t be very beneficial in the long run. One rule to follow is to make sure that when your dog lays down on their bed their body doesn’t touch the floor but is supported by the mattress or filling itself.
The Exterior of the Bed
Moving on, we have the exterior. I bet you wouldn’t like to sleep without a set of sheets and a cozy blanket, especially when you’re upset, so make sure your pup doesn’t have to either!
Anti anxiety dog beds usually pair their perfect interior with a perfect exterior and create a unison that can really aid your dog when they’re having an episode and offer comfortable snoozing.
Before you decide on an outer material it might be smart to do some testing first. Since your dog is already easily agitated certain materials might not sit well with them, so if you can, take a sample of (or something close to) the different materials available and see how your dog reacts to each of them.
The materials available are usually faux fur, faux wool, faux suede, plush, and velvet. Many humans can find some of these fabrics overstimulating and difficult to touch so it might as well be the case with your dog.
To avoid having to return the cover or the bed itself do the testing and when you know which material is your dog’s favourite – pick that! Also, be wary of colours. Monitor your pup’s behaviour and see if they have any issues with patterns. Even if they don’t, which is the case most of the time, I’d still recommend choosing a solid colour instead of a wild pattern.
It’s all about keeping them calm and patterns can be distracting.
Get the Right Size for Your Dog
Finally, we have size. Obviously, this category doesn’t need much of an introduction as you probably know that you’ll need a bed that fits your dog perfectly.
What you might not know is that, no matter how big your dog is, it’s always a good idea for them to have a bit of wiggle room in the bed, not just be able to fit when in one or two positions.
Having a bed they can move around in and position themselves freely is extremely important, especially for dogs that have a need for a calming dog bed, as it will help with the quality of sleep and by extension, their quality of life and their condition.
Make sure to note the measurements and choose the right size. Sizes can range from toy to giant, so however big or small your dog is, you should be covered!
The Bottom Line
I hope this article has made calming dog beds a bit easier to understand and now you have a better picture of what your puppy needs to battle and keep their anxiety at bay!
One last piece of advice I’d like to give you is to add a favourite puppy toy in their bed, a favourite blanket, or even a piece of your clothing if they have separation anxiety. This will help your pup associate their bed with calmness and serenity and they’ll love spending time in there!
Follow these steps to make sure you’ve chosen the very right bed for your dog, but don’t stop there! There are other things you can do to help them, too! Massages, soothing baths, music, supplementation – the list goes on. I wish you and your dog all the luck and an easy recovery!