Like humans, dogs need sleep to help them recover from their day’s activities and to keep them healthy. Dogs are big sleepers and typically sleep between 12 and 14 hours per day. 43% of dog owners say they share their beds with their pooches. But is this okay for dogs or are they better off having a bed of their own?
Extra time to sleep
A Gallup study found that adults get an average of 6.8 hours of sleep each night. Dogs need much more sleep than this. It’s fine to sleep alongside your pooch in your bed during this time. But you need to bear in mind that your dog will need more sleep than this during the day. Having a dog bed in your sitting room or kitchen will allow your dog to comfortably catch up on its shuteye while you’re out at work or pottering around the house.
A space of their own
Some dogs like to have their own space. Others will want time alone when they’re feeling ill, recovering from surgery, or when they get older. Having access to a bed will provide your dog with a safe place to retreat to. A dog bed will also keep your dog cozy in cold weather. By elevating the bed off the ground, and filling it with blankets and microwavable heat pouches, your dog can get all the warmth it needs when it wants it. This will save you from having to heat your home so often, which is good news as energy prices have increased by 17.2% since last winter.
Dog beds encourage good behavior
Perhaps you didn’t plan on sharing your bed with your dog, but one day it jumped up and refused to move and things have been the same ever since. Dogs like warmth and comfort and if there isn’t an alternative nice place to sleep, your dog will sleep in the coziest place it can find. This could be your bed, sofa, or even a pile of laundry. A dog bed encourages your dog to be good and stick to the parts of the home that you want him to.
A high-quality dog bed can be a costly purchase. But it’s really important that you invest in a bed for your dog as it’s better for its health, sleeping patterns, and general well-being.