Not another dog bed

Those were the words coming out of my husbands mouth as he dragged two busted up UPS boxes over the threshold of our front door.

I said nothing and only smiled sheepishly like a school girl hoping that would suffice for the moment. The truth of the matter is – my reasoning for purchasing it sounded stupid even in my head.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many dog beds to choose from? Are they really necessary?

DO DOGS NEED A BED?

Apparently there are differences of opinion by the internet experts. Some say dogs – 

• need beds just like we do
• can sleep just fine of hard flooring 
• are less apt to experience anxiety
• health is improved with deeper slumbers

And the list goes on and on…

HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES ARE THERE?

Too many!!!!! #ifyouaskme

There are 5 different types of dog beds #tomyknowledge

• Bolster 
• Pillow
• Elevated
• Orthopedic
• Tent

They range in various sizes as well as prices. Finding decent beds for large dogs without taking out a small loan is a full-time job. Some of these prices are outrageous. #atleasttome

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BED – 

If I can be brutally honest here – choosing the right bed is hell because the photos and size charts are all wrong when looking online. In person stores just don’t carry enough to choose from, which is why I find myself at the mercy of the internet. 

Over the last 6 or 7 years I have been on a dog bed roller coaster literally dying to get off of.

Here’s what they were sleeping on…

I bought the bottom orthopedic foam (is there really such a thing?) from Chewy and then thought they would enjoy something fluffy on top from a local store. After about two years of regular washing – fluffy lost its fluff and needed to go! 

Harley was fine with the square foam orthopedic pad, but Jaxson was not. During some odd hour before dawn, he’d relocate and I would wake up to this…

Unlike you and I – a dog can only tell you if you’ve knocked it out of the park with your latest bed selection after he’s slept in it for a while. If you didn’t make the correct choice – well you’re sort of up that preverbal creek without the paddle, because generally – 

you can’t send it back!

ALWAYS GOTTA HAVE TWO – 

The voice inside my mind has convinced me that the universe will fall off its axis if I EVER bought only one of something for them.

You may recall last year, Jaxson aided a family with canine therapy as they said goodbye to their son, brother and fiancé who’d tragically took his own life and as an organ donor was about to save many. The medical staff – so grateful for the days that Jax stayed with this family through this difficult journey – sent him this donut shaped bed in appreciation…

That was when I realized Jaxson loved to sleep curled up – nice and tight.

Harley quickly pulled rank – commandeered the thing, forcing Jax to find refuge elsewhere…

This time I decided to try something different. I found a huge pillow bed that I just knew Jax would love. Like a thief in the night, Harley transitioned to the pillow bed from the stolen donut so fast it was shameful to watch…

And just like that – Jax was (one again) evicted like a non paying tenant. For months he treated the donut bed like tainted goods. He’d lay beside it – but refused to get in it.

I finally purchased another pillow bed and he was thrilled…

THE LATEST AND GREATEST – 

Our total bed collection consisted of –

• one donut shaped bed in Lee’s office
• two pillow beds in my office
• two orthopedic pads in their doggie sleep suite (located in our bedroom)

Naps, deep slumbers and hanging out during the day are fantastic. Nights on the pads however, were becoming interrupted regularly. Mostly with Harley, he was restless and rarely slept anywhere through the night. 

I did some reading and realized at his age (13 evolutions around the fire hydrant), he needed extra support to ease his achy joints and pressure points. #Icandefinitelyrelate

I stumbled across a bolstered type couch bed, with therapeutic memory foam cushions designed specifically to relieve those joints and pressure points!…

The design is outstanding. It reminds me of an amphitheater. #canyouseetheorchestra

While it offers the high walls of a bolstered bed, it has an opening to allow senior dogs the ability to enter and exit without a struggle. #gamechanger

It’s – 

• soft
• easy to clean
• durable
• and looks super comfy.

At $54.99 for the XL, I threw down my debit card like a poker player with a royal flush and purchased two! #yesIdid

Both Boys love them…

It would be a lie if I told you they stay in there from dusk to dawn, but the majority of the night all we here is light snoring.

While I never intended to make this another blog post about the 10 best dog beds to buy, I just want to know I am not alone out here. So…how many dog beds do you have in your home?

Every dog deserves a great bed ❤️