Choosing a dog bed for your Lancashire Heeler

In the past I’ve not thought too much about dog bedding (other than looking nice!) but with one of my two Lancashire Heelers recently having a cruciate ligament operation it was time to give dog bedding some serious thought.

How to choose the perfect bedding for your Lancashire Heeler

If you look around your room you are likely to see all the small things that make it feel like your own; your photos, your books, your DVDs and of course your bed. Just like us our furry friends like to have a space they can call their own – and like us with our bedrooms, a dog’s bed should reflect their needs and personality.

For a dog to feel happy to spend time in their bed when they need to sleep or relax they need to feel safe, comfortable and secure. It is important that the bedding you select is suitable for the size and age of your dog. Older and smaller dogs, like the Lancashire Heeler, will benefit from a low bed which is easy to get in and out of. As dogs age they can develop aches and pains just like their human counterparts; so take this into account and buy them a bed which is padded and low level so they don’t trip and injure themselves when moving in and out of bed. Another consideration which you need to take into account his how your dog prefers to lie. Dogs can have their own sleeping quirks and may have their own preference for sleeping curled up or stretched out. Observe your dog in sleep and decide if they are more likely to want to curl up snugly in a round bed with sides or to lay out flat on a pillow type bed and look through a large selection of options such as dog bedding from Pets at Home.

The location of your dog’s bed will also be a key consideration. If your dog sleeps outside in a kennel the bedding will need to allow adequate space for the dog to shelter and nest in without limiting their movement. If your dog sleeps in your home you may find you have more constraints on your choices depending upon space. Although it is nice to be able to match the design of your dog’s bed to their personality, if your Heeler sleeps in your living room or hallway you may want to choose a design that fits with your room’s colour theme, or even attempt to maximise the space your dog has by selecting a bed that neatly fits into the corner of a room. Always site the bed away from draughts.

Finally, cleanliness should also be a factor which influences your bedding choice. If you choose a fabric covered bed, look out for removable covers so that you can wash the bedding in case of any accidents. Or consider purchasing a plastic bed which will be easy to wipe clean, but don’t forget to fill out the bed with some soft bedding or blankets, or even a shaped washable pillow to keep your canine comfy.  Plastic beds also tend to ‘sweat’ with the heat of the dog.  A tip is to place a towel at the bottom of the bed to absorb any moisture from the plastic.

Pictured is a ‘memory foam’ bed recently bought for Poppy from Pets at Home.  The cover is washable and waterproof inserts are also available.  As you can see both girls have voted with their feet!