Whether you’re buying for a power chewer or teething puppy, there are a few things to look for when purchasing a dog bed, and this includes material, padding and the frame.
Frame
A lot of chew-proof beds are raised beds with a metal frame and mesh insert. We highly recommend these dog beds because, naturally, metal corners are going to be far more difficult to chew through than fabric.
Naturally, we understand that some dog owners prefer traditional mattresses, but deciding to buy a dog bed with a metal frame is going to drastically reduce the chances of your dog chewing through. If you choose fabric, look for additional features like a double-stitched seam or a hidden seam/zip to prevent any weak spots in the bed.
Material
When you’re looking for an indestructible dog bed, the material is perhaps the most important feature that’s going to stop your pup from breaking through. Materials that are used for outdoor wear, rucksacks and tents are usually the best fabrics to choose from, so this includes ripstop nylon, duck cotton canvas, oxford cotton, mesh and denim.
The denier of the fabric makes all the difference as well since anything 600 denier upwards is incredibly heavy-duty and usually waterproof. Naturally, since dogs have accidents, it makes sense to look for water-resistant, waterproof dog beds.
Mesh also happens to be one of the strongest fabrics around, hence why it’s used to hold the entire weight of your dog in the air with raised dog beds and why Polypropylene mesh is used for trampoline mats.
Cushioning
Cushioning isn’t so much related to how indestructible a dog bed is, but it’s an incredibly important thing to consider. Preventing arthritis in your dog is one of the best things that you can do for them and for yourself in the long run, and choosing a deeply padded bed is crucial in doing this.
We recommend a dog bed with high-density foam padding and two layers of foam – one being memory and the other being support.
Size
If your dog isn’t comfortable, they’re more likely to be less settled and therefore more likely to chew, so it’s really important to get them the right-sized bed. People often guess that size will be right for their dog, but dogs stretch out, so we recommend measuring your dog from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail.
Weight is important as well since different densities are designed to support different weights, so anything under 20 kg is considered a small dog and anything 50 kg and over is considered a large dog.
You may also think that a small dog can sleep on anything, but if a dog bed has been specifically designed for a large dog, then it may not sit right for your smaller one and if it’s dense that your small dog may find it difficult to climb onto in the first place.
Care
To prevent the build-up of smells and bacteria, try to find a dog bed that has a machine washable cover. If you can’t, it’s not the end of the world; you can always soak it in a bowl/tub or spot clean it with a warm soapy sponge and some baking soda to remove the stains.
If the bed has been coated to protect it, then there may be more care details involved. It may be cold wash only, or you may have to reapply a waterproof coating.