Outdoor Dog Beds Buyer’s Guide
So what is it that makes outdoor dog bed shopping different? What are the factors you need to consider in order to ensure that you go home with something that both you and your dog will love? Here are 4 answers to help you make the best decision when shopping in the flooded market.
Weatherproofing features are a huge priority
It is interesting just how much of a difference a roof and a few walls can make in terms of comfort and security for your dog. With outdoor dog beds, they are exposed to a lot with the most serious factor being the weather. It could be too hot, too cold or even too wet all of which make resting almost impossible for the dog.
Weatherproofing is therefore something that should land a pet bed a high spot on your consideration list because you are sure your beloved dog is at least safe and comfortable. These include the use of waterproof materials as well as the presence of canopies for shade.
Consider the specific outdoor setup
Where exactly in the vast space that is the outdoors are you planning to set up your dog bed? Is it in a kennel or on open space? Is it on bare earth or on flooring material? These determine a lot from the size to the materials that would be ideal.
With kennel setups, you need to first and foremost make sure that the cot will actually fit the little doggie home. Weather proofing in this case is not always a must-have as there is some shelter provided but it wouldn’t hurt to have something waterproof.
With open spaces on the other hand, you do not need to limit yourself in terms of space. However, this outdoor dog bed also has to double up as a shelter so bonus features like canopies are always a major perk.
The type of flooring mainly determines the design of feet you need to be considering. With flooring materials like wood panels, concrete or ceramic tiles, you need to get a pet bed with anti-skid reinforcement for your dog’s safety. Bare earth, however, does not require this as there is already sufficient natural grip from the ground.
Comfort is key
Just because the dog bed is outdoors it doesn’t mean that your dog has to live like they are out in the wild. It is still very important to make their comfort a major priority. In this case, consider the type of material and the tension offered by the base panel. The latter is particularly vital with elevated cots as this tension is what determines whether they are lying on a comfortable hammock or what is essentially as stiff as bare ground.
If you choose to go the chaise pet bed route, factor in features like the thickness of the pad, the flexibility and comfort offered as well as the amount of orthopedic support. In this case, the thicker, more flexible and more supportive the base pad is the more comfortable your dog will be.
Make breathability a priority
Things can get really hot outside and sometimes having a nice source of shade over the pooch just doesn’t do the whole job right. In this case, getting a pet bed that offers the perks of breathability and cooling effects is the ideal choice.
The effects can be achieved mainly through having an elevated design and through mesh panels that allow free air flow. You could also go for a pet bed with special materials designed to make it breathable or specifically engineered to cool down the pooch on those sweltering days.
