It’s important that your dog gets a good night’s sleep, but just where should they hit the hay? Are certain sleep options healthier than others? This guide explains it all:

Should I get a dog bed?

A dog bed can provide a cozy place for your pooch to curl up. If you’ve got hard floors, it is essential to set up a dog bed. This could be an improvised bed made of pillows and blankets. Alternatively, you could buy specially engineered dog bed from a company like Pawpedics to provide ultimate comfort. It’s important that any dog bed is large enough for your dog. Dog beds should be regularly washed to keep them nice and clean.

Should I get a dog crate?

Dog crates are often used for training puppies to stay in bed at night so that they don’t wander about and cause mischief (or hurt themselves) while you’re asleep. Crates can also provide a sense of security for older more anxious dogs, providing them a private place to escape to.

As with a bed, a crate needs to be the right size. Make sure that they can stand up and lie in it comfortably. Be wary of buying a small crate for a large breed puppy as they may quickly outgrow it. You shouldn’t be locking your dog up in a crate for hours on end during the day. Crates should be used only for helping dogs to sleep – not as a method of keeping your dog contained while you go out for work (you’re better off hiring a dog-sitter).

Can the dog sleep in my bed?

Some people allow their dog to sleep in their bed. There’s nothing wrong with it, just understand that once you start allowing this, it will be very hard to train the behavior out of them if you change your mind. Allowing a dog to sleep in your bed can strengthen your bond, plus they can provide great cuddles. However, you’ll need to get used to your bed being covered in dog hair. Larger dogs may also take up a lot of space, which could lead to a disrupted sleep.

Can I keep my dog outside?

There’s a lot of debate as to whether you should keep a dog outside. Most dog professionals agree that there’s no problem with keeping a dog outside provided that they have a kennel that is warm, dry, and cozy enough – make sure that it’s waterproof, insulated, and has bedding.

Keeping a dog outside is more preferable in countries with warmer climates but thicker coated dogs will usually be able to stay quite warm even in cooler climates. You should avoid letting a shorter coated dog sleep outside in a cooler climate.

While the correct answer to where a dog should sleep is always in your bed or on the couch, there are other alternatives too for a good night’s sleep for your pup.

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