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There is a quote from Dr. Louis J. Camuti, DVM, that goes like this: "In my experience, cats and beds seem to be a natural combination." Well, in my experience, the same can also often be said of dogs. Unfortunately, too often you can interchange the word 'bed' with 'couch' or 'chair' or some other unacceptable lounging spot. That, however, is just one reason of many supporting the belief that every dog should have his own dog bed.
First, giving your dog his own bed and training him to view it as his own, safe, comfy spot will, indeed, help to preserve your furniture. It was also help to keep dog hair off of your furniture and, thus, help to keep it off of you. If you introduce a dog bed to your puppy from an early age and consistently reinforce his use of it, he will likely stay off of the furniture for the rest of his life.
Second, dog beds not only provide a warm and cozy spot for you pet to relax in, they can also provide him with a sense of security. Over time, his dog bed will likely become his favorite spot in the house, a place all his own. If there are times when he needs that comfort, if he's unsure of a guest for instance, scared of thunder or nervous about being home alone, his bed will be there for him.
Beds can also be incorporated into training. Counterconditioning is often used to deal with any number of bad habits that your dog may develop, such as nuisance barking. The idea is to train your dog when he's barking unnecessarily to do something that is incompatible with his barking, such as training him to go to his bed. Once there, you then reward him with praise or a treat.
Special orthopedic beds can be especially beneficial to older dogs, larger dogs, those with arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other bone or joint problems, as well as dogs recovering from illness or surgery. These beds will provide your dog with necessary support while helping to relieve pain and discomfort.
Many beds on the market today contain cedar chips in the filling. Cedar can help with odor control, but it also helps with flea prevention. A cedar bed will actually help to prevent flea infestations of your dog because the cedar acts as a natural flea repellent. In addition, most beds today have removable outer liners for easy laundering. Be sure to place your dog's bed out of high traffic areas, somewhere that will make for a good resting spot. You may want to place the bed somewhere that you spend a lot of time, such as beside the couch. Many people choose to put the bed in their dog's crate once their dog has been housetrained. If you have an older or ill pet or one with bone or joint problems, be sure to keep the bed away from cold areas and drafts.
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