Beds for Puppies
Once you have brought a puppy into your home, there
are going to be several items you will need right away. Some of these items
will include a crate, a water and food bowl, some toys, some pee pads, and
other essentials that are required to help the puppy not only be more
comfortable in your home, but also improve training.
One of the options you have then is to pick up a
pet bed for your puppy. Pet beds are going to be fairly optional, but some
people like to give their puppy a place to sleep in their home right away in
order to set the stage for where the dog will sleep later in life.
There are various benefits and weaknesses to
getting a pet bed for a puppy at such a young age. Here are some of the
pluses and minuses below.
Benefits of a Puppy Bed
·
Early Comfort
Puppies are going to be a little bit stressed when
they get to your home, and anything that adds comfort is always a benefit.
Puppies also sleep a lot, so this comfort is even more appreciated.
·
Good Training
A puppy that has a comfortable pet bed at a very
young age will be more likely to avoid bad habits like jumping on the couch
or trying to take over your bed.
·
Generic Benefits
Puppies shed, puppies bring in dirt – many of the
benefits that come from a dog bed still hold true for puppies. You can also
make sure that your tiny, fragile puppy sleeps in an area it won’t get hurt.
·
It’s Cute
Let’s face it, a puppy sleeping on a comfy bed is
adorable, and everyone that sees your puppy snoozing in a soft location will
be sure and take notice.
Weaknesses of a Puppy Bed
·
Growing
Your puppy will most likely grow at a very fast
rate, outgrowing the puppy bed in no time. This means that you will have to
replace the bed no matter how much your puppy is enjoying it.
·
Potty Training Problems
Puppy beds can create some potty training problems.
First, if you give your puppy a bed, it may be less tempted to learn to use
its crate correctly. Secondly, while dogs do not generally urinate in their
sleeping areas, they do if they still have room to move around – this means
that you cannot buy a puppy bed that is too large, or the puppy may urinate
on one side and sleep on the other. Dogs also like to urinate on soft
things, and until your puppy is potty trained, you may have problems.
Should You Get a Puppy Bed?
As you can see, there are both benefits and weaknesses to getting a puppy bed. Overall, it does not really matter which you prefer. If you know how to potty train your dog effectively, most of those problems will be moot, and if you don’t mind replacing the bed when your dog outgrows it, puppy beds are perfectly fine. But if either of those things worry you, you should wait until your dog has grown, and until then let your puppy sleep on towels and things that are easily replaceable.
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