Friends of mine have just become new puppy owners. As would be expected, the first thing they did was go shopping for all the new equipment that is required for a new puppy. Leashes, collars, toys, sweaters, booties, etc. They bought a cage for crate training their new puppy, but they just weren't sure about whether they should get a dog bed along with the cage.

My advice to them was that if they are using a crate for puppy training, then buying a bed at this point really isn't necessary. When the puppy is up, he will be playing and sitting with them. When it is nap time or bed time, then he really should be in his crate, so a puppy bed wouldn't be used all that much, and might even be confusing for her. I said that I expected they should wait until the puppy has grown up to their final size - usually 12 to 18 months, although larger breeds will keep growing for a little longer.

Once the puppy has grown up and you've made the decision to let your dog choose a different sleeping spot away from the crate, this is the time to choose a dog bed. Getting rid of the crate isn't a necessity - if you and your dog both like the crate, keeping a routine that is working is probably better than introducing new things. A crate actually provides a lot of security for dogs, and functions as their own little condo where they can feel like they have their own safe space.

But you've decided that it's time to get a bed for your dog, so you need to know how to go about choosing the proper bed size. Before figuring out how big to get your bed, you want to choose whether your dog would be more comfortable in a curl up bed, or a stretch out bed. Dogs are typically one or the other when it comes to sleeping, so watch the shape your dog takes over the next few days, both during the day and at night time. There are sorts of different dog bed shapes - cushions and beds which let the dog spill over the edges, or basket type beds where they are tightly enclosed and supported.

After figuring out whether your dog prefers to curl up against a wall, or whether they prefer more leg and paw room, you now need to find the size range that suits your dog the best. Again, watch your dog when they sleep, and this time take measurements of the space they occupy when they sleep. Do this at different times to see whether it changes - if in doubt, take the larger measurement. You can always add a cushion or two to take up extra room, but you dog won't be comfortable if the bed is too cramped. Once you have the final length and width sizes, add a few inches to each measurement, and take this shopping.

Now that you have determined a proper size for your dogs new bed, you will suddenly be faced with a number of new decisions, such as style, shape, material and quality. These factors warrant their own article in themselves, but be happy in the fact that once you find a bed that looks like the perfect fit for your dog, you will know that you really are getting the perfect sized dog bed.

• Caring For Your Big Dog Many people like to super-size your coffee and get additional toppings on your pizza, yet, having to choose a big dog won't always guarantee you of all or most of the advantages. Each dogs type' of inheritance is one defining factor to which their particular requirements are based upon.......
• What Is Crate Training Dogs? What exactly is crate training dogs? It sounds like something you do to a bad doggie for doing a no-no on the living room carpet. But its not. Crate training is actually based on the principle of the dogs' innate need for security. They say dogs and wolves are......
• Important Information for Getting Rid Of Fleas On Dogs Don't buy commercial flea products for dogs until you read this information! Itching dogs are annoying and also a health concern for the whole family. If you've ever tried Advantage or Frontline, you know the smell of the chemicals that are in these products and that you're putting on......
• Fun Halloween Costume Ideas - For Dogs If you're the type that loves Halloween, you can bet that your best pal on four legs will too. Who says that Halloween should be about just humans? If you want to have a very fun and straightforward to recollect Halloween that is sure to make you titter, put......

• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• Choosing a Blog Niche When you are creating a brand new blog, one of the best things that you can do is to choose a blog niche that you can narrow your blog concept down into, as this is going to help you make sure that you target the right audience rather than attempting......
• Consider Shopping For and Incorporating A Bathroom Vanity Into Your Home A rest room design project is a fantastic way to sharpen up your home and add that pop of style that you have been looking to incorporate. The bathroom is a common space, used each day and often by over one, if not a few people during the day. Make......
• Declutter Your Life For A More Relaxing and Positive Existence. No, it is not directly related to personal finance, but since when is everything I do related to money? But it can play a big role in your piece of mind and lifestyle, which can directly affect your financial well-being. When you live an organized and clutter-free life, things are......

	Pet Accessories Dog Coat Bed & Bed Cover in Three Sizes (3071) Used From: $13.65
Pattern comes in three sizes for small, medium and large dogs. Bed, bed cover and coat styles as shown in photo.

	Coolaroo Large Steel-Framed Pet Bed, Brunswick Green List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $28.99 Used From: $26.95
Unique Coolaroo Knitted Fabric Pet Bed elevates pets off cold, hot or hard ground, is flea and mite resistant, easy to clean and very durable. The Large frame is 51.1”L x 31.5”W x 7.9”H with a cover that is 43...

Written by Jane A Moore using tags: dog, dog accessories, dog bed, family, pet, Pets