Memory Foam Dog Beds Buyer’s Guide
With so many styles of memory foam dog beds on the market, you might find it hard to narrow it down to the best option. And all those technical terms and vague specifications do not really make your life any easier.
Well, you have come to the right place. In the sections below, you will learn all you need to about the key feature variations with memory foam dog beds and what they all mean for you.
Bolsters vs. Flat Beds
Bolsters are basically flat beds with padded arms. It could be an all round enclosure or on 3 sides to create a nook. These offer the benefit of keeping the bed nice and warm which is perfect for both puppies and really old dogs. It is also worth considering if your dog sleeps in a curled up position or tends to roll off the bed as it offers them additional support.
Flat beds on the other hand are just that, flat beds. The open pads are worth considering if your dog sleeps sprawled out as they get plenty of space to work with. They are also excellent options for play beds as the dog can easily hop on and off as they please without tripping over any raised part.
How thick should it be?
The thickness of the bed depends a lot on your dog. Very thick beds usually include additional layers whether it is a gel foam or support foam layer. These are best for dogs that need firm support especially in orthopedic cases.
Thinner beds of about 4 inches on the other hand are significantly plusher and take the dog’s form more than the thicker options. This makes them perfect for lighter dogs including puppies and small breed pooches.
Fabric vs. gel memory foam
For the most part, memory foam mattresses are filled with fabric. This is beneficial for offering flexible and ergonomic support to the dog. Filling fabric is also breathable which further contributes to the comfort.
Gel foam on the other hand is a little bit firmer though just as comfortable and flexible. It is therefore a good option for dogs that need that extra bit of support. The gel also has a nice cooling effect that would come in handy in many orthopedic conditions.
Indoor vs. outdoor memory foam beds
You need to take into consideration while shopping for your dog bed whether you plan on using it inside or in an outdoor dog kennel.
With outdoor beds, one of the most important things to factor in is the bed’s weather resistance. This means that you need a bed with waterproof lining material as well as covers that are resilient as they will be exposed to a lot of potentially damaging factors. You also need to consider the size of the kennel as the last thing you want is a bed that is either too big or small for your pooch’s home.
With indoor beds on the other hand, anything goes. You can get whatever size you want; whatever material draws your eye and features like waterproof lining become more of fun bonuses than must-haves.
