Selecting an Appropriate Bed Space for Unusually Sized Dogs

Just as eating, drinking, and breathing are essential to a dog’s livelihood, so is something else that gets far less overall attention: sleeping.

Most pet caretakers spend hours expending energy to ensure their dogs get walked every day, that they have time to use the bathroom, that they are given plenty of love and affection, and that they’re properly groomed as well. Sleep, however, often gets overlooked because it is the one part of the dog’s day that requires little if any interaction with his human caretakers.

Still, dogs are living creatures with very particular needs, and forcing your pet to sleep in just any old spot on the ground is not an acceptable option.

Below, we’ll cover dog bed needs specifically revolving around dogs of unusual sizes and dimensions. So whether you have an oversized dog or one who is so small she’s hard to notice, you can get the information you need to find the right bed for her.

Oversized Dogs

Dogs that are very large and have bulky builds require innovative solutions when it comes to determining appropriate sleeping areas. If you’re a bachelor or bachelorette and have a house or apartment all to yourself, you may be comfortable allowing your dog to sleep on your bed with you, or at least on other furniture in your home. Since this furniture is built for people to use, it should definitely support the dog’s weight and provide him a comfortable place to sleep. A common problem that arises, however, is that many people in these situations don’t stay single forever. If you’ve always shared your bed with your large pet dog, and suddenly have a partner sharing your bed with you, it can be rather cruel to the dog to force him to sleep on the floor out of nowhere.

If you plan on changing your own sleeping or furniture use situation during the lifetime of your pet, try providing him with a distinctive sleeping area right off the bat. That way, there are no uncomfortable adjustments for you and your dog to make later on down the road. There are dogs beds specifically designed for larger dogs that should work very well for most pets, though a large pile of really comfortable blankets will often do just as well so long as they’re cleaned often and arranged in a pleasant fashion. Go with an actual pet bed if your dog is the jumpy kind too, as otherwise he’ll tear up that pile of blankets in a matter of minutes!

Undersized Dogs

Dogs that are quite a bit smaller in size that your typical pet dog can pose sleeping problems as well. Though just about any dog bed will do in theory (small dogs should be able to fit into small, medium, and large bed spaces rather easily), in practice that doesn’t hold up quite as well. Larger beds often have higher walls or are placed further off the ground, which can be difficult for a dog with stubby legs to reach. Always go for pet beds that are accessible easily at floor level, and which don’t have any extravagant climbing requirements (this can also be quite helpful for older dogs).

If you’d rather use a less conventional sleeping area, avoid having your dog climb into bed with you, as you don’t want to roll over on her, and avoid having her sleep on couches as well, in case a last minute guest doesn’t notice her sleeping as he or she sits down. Small indoor dog houses with plush flooring are eccentric and fun alternatives to conventional small pet beds, and they won’t take up too much space inside your house like a large dog house would. Plus, it will certainly make for a great conversation piece whenever you have guests over, and your small dog will be able to hide easily if frightened by any of your unexpected guests.