German Shepherd Health|Buying a Proper Dog Bed for Your German Shepherd

Choosing a Proper Dog Bed for Your German Shepherd

You expect to sleep where?!

You purchase your dog for $500-$10,000. You pay for food for a year that ranges from $600-$800. You pay for vet visits that can cost up to $1,000 or more for spay/neuter, shots, check ups etc... Your dog ends up on the couch, the floor, some thin "padded" thing that you bought at the local pet store, and 2 years later your dog is out of whack. Their muscles ache, their joints hurt, they are less flexible, and you wonder why.

Your dog needs a quality bed in order to get quality sleep. People spend thousands of dollars on special beds so they can get a good nights sleep. The same consideration should be given to your dog.

You may be thinking, "I gave my dog a fluffy bed and they love it!" That's good at least they have a bed. With that said is it the best bed you could buy for them? About this time is when most people say, "But my dog tears their beds to shreds" or "I'm afraid they will eat their bed up." This is understandable and if you have a dog that shreds their bed there are some things you can do to help them stop doing that.

Getting a good, high quality bed requires that you think the process through. If your dog is eating the beds you are buying for them obviously you wouldn't want to go spend $100-$500 on a bed that your dog is going to destroy.

This is where bed covers and creating a "buffer" bed that your dog will try to chew through before getting to the expensive one helps out. You can also specifically work on teaching your dog to leave it alone by spraying it with vinegar (not the new bed but the one they are eating) and then squirting the vinegar in their mouth. Do not dilute the vinegar. You only have to do this once for most dogs. Vinegar does not harm your dog either.

High Quality Dog Beds for Your High Quality German Shepherd

Choosing a high quality bed for your GSD requires four things:

1. The bed should shield the dog from the floor and provide heat in the winter.

2. The bed should be able to support your dogs weight. For example their elbow shouldn't push to the floor and press on it. Most of the beds recommended below have memory foam as their main support.

3. The bed should be in a quiet place to allow your dog a place to get some rest. If that is in their crate then that is where you should put it (if it will fit).

4. The covers should be machine washable.

Here is a list of dog beds you may be interested in.

Extra Large Pet Bed Memory Foam Dog Bed XL overstuffed pillow with waterproof internal case + heavy duty 50"X40" external denim cover This bed has the external and internal covers to help prevent chewing. The memory foam will conform to your dogs body and help support their weight.

40"X35"X4" 100% Orthopedic Microsuede Waterproof Memory Foam Pad Dog Pet Bed - Extra Large

Old Adirondack Adirondack Dog Bed (Large). This is a cool bed and you can customize it by adding your own dog mat/bed or you can use the one that comes with it.

K&H Manufacturing Large Sage Memory Sleeper. This bed offers memory foam support for your German Shepherd and is designed for large breeds.

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