When it comes to buying a new dog bed, it's a jungle out there!

 

Searching 'Dog Beds' on the biggest online retail site reveals a bewildering selection continuing for page after page.

 

So what to look for and take into consideration when next you decide to treat your best pal to a new bed..?

 

Here we discuss some key criteria as a guide before you part with your hard-earned cash.

 

A dog bed needs to be able to provide the optimum mix of 4 key elements – comfort, support, practicality, and durability.

 

Sadly, and inexplicably, the vast majority of dog beds offered today are made with a price point in mind which makes fulfilling these 4 criteria almost impossible.

 

Hollow fibre, foam 'crumbs' or a cut slab of foam wrapped in a cotton cover, which constitute the majority of dog beds, may be perfect in the eyes of a manufacturer or retailer (cheap and quick to produce, light in weight, easy to package , ship and store) but do they offer the right sleeping solution for your dog? In all likelihood, no.

Don't believe me? Take a trip down to your local pet store, select a bed, place it on the floor and hit it as hard as you can in the centre with your closed fist. Dog beds need insulation – lots of it in thick, uniform layers. It keeps your dog away from cold, hard floors and is critical in providing warm, breathable support for your dog's body.

This means that a good dog bed has to be relatively heavy and of sufficient size to allow for complete freedom of movement during sleep.

Unfortunately, insulation alone is not enough. A good dog bed needs structure – a means to keep the insulation in place without the contents clumping or migrating and it needs some way of providing 'bounce' to maintain shape and prevent flattening over time.

 

What type of bed do you sleep on? It may surprise you that anatomically, we humans are not that dissimilar from our canine cousins. Does it not follow therefore, that what is good for us may also apply to our pet?

 

There has been a steady rise in canine arthritis and other musculoskeletal complaints in recent years and this, combined with the rising costs of veterinary care and insurance costs, must surely make the investment in a premium quality bed for your dog a 'must-have'.

 

OK, we might not run around a wet garden before crashing out or dig like a madman before settling down but that's where the durability and practicality comes in. How to keep a bed dry and clean to protect the critical mattress and preserve it in good condition for many years to come? A dog bed with removable, washable, water-resistant, hard-wearing covers is the obvious choice.

 

Let's talk also about two other key elements – Safety and Origin.

 

When we established Berkeley Dog Beds some 10 years ago, we very much wanted to use dog bed fillings that were completely natural, chemical-free, non-toxic and sustainable. That's why we use cotton and wool fillings to provide safe, breathable insulation to surround the pocket spring core of our Orthopaedic Dog Bed Mattress.

 

We also take every opportunity to make our customers aware of the potential health concerns linked to the chemicals found in foam and memory foam based pet beds.

As a petrochemical bi-product, such foams can contain a long list of toxic chemicals. As they are highly flammable, they are then subject to being treated with a further cocktail of toxic chemicals by way of flame retardant treatments. Chemicals that can off-gas or be ingested with worrying health implications.

 

Finally, have you ever asked where your dog bed comes from? The vast majority emanate from low cost producing countries which may not share our regulatory standards. Few such dog beds are branded and fewer still detail contact information or offer any form of warranty.

 

Berkeley Dog Beds has a 'Buy British' policy with all of our main products being made and / or sourced from small-scale British companies like our own – fully traceable with minimal miles travelled.

 

Want advice? We are lifelong dog owners as well as dog bed designers and manufacturers. We are always delighted to pass on the benefit of our knowledge to fellow owners. Simply contact us via our website.

 

Similarly, we try, whenever possible, to promote like-minded British companies that share our values and our desire to enrich the dog owner experience.

 

One such company is PetsPyjamas – the Dog-Friendly Travel Specialists. Enter PPAWS5 when booking your next holiday with your pooch and receive a 5% discount with any booking over £500.