Practical & hygienic
No matter whether during the day or for the night's rest: every dog needs one comfortable sleeping accommodation, which only belongs to him. It's not just about comfort, but also about cleanliness: both animals and the two-legged family benefit from having a sleeping surface that is as easy to care for and thoroughly washable as possible.
Most washable dog beds consist of a removable cover wrapped around the mattress core. For regular wet cleaning, the cover is made of fabric or synthetic fabric; harder materials such as leather or artificial leather can usually only be cleaned externally, for example with a damp cloth.
Especially with dogs who a lot outside are, important
Easy cleaning is particularly important for active dogs lots of time in the fresh air spend, very important. The longer the dog stays outdoors, the dirtier it gets.
This isn't a problem at first, because our four-legged friends have their own understanding of cleanliness, which includes “natural” smells. But the limits are reached when the… hygienic requirements of human household members suffer from it.
The only thing that helps here is to be on top of things: the dog needs to be brushed regularly and bathed every now and then, especially with long-haired breeds this is an absolute necessity. Of course you also have to for Cleanliness in the apartment care – as the first resting place for the four-legged friend, the dog bed is one of the first areas of responsibility.
Beds from Puppies & Seniors often have increased care needs
In addition to adult dogs who travel a lot, there are also Puppies and older dogs significantly more complex in terms of cleaning requirements. Unfortunately, in these phases of life, the animals are often not yet or no longer house trained, which leads to some complications:
- Since the bladder cannot be adequately controlled, the cover becomes soaked with urine
- Feces also spread
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea are also more common, especially in puppies.
In some cases it is even necessary to clean the bed several times a day.
Differences between dog beds, mats, sofas & mattresses
If you take a look at the market, you will notice that there are resting places for four-legged friends among the various names be offered. You will not only find dog beds, but also sofas, couches or mats.
The differences are fluid; sometimes the same product is offered under different names. In general, however, one can say the following:
- Dog beds are usually pieces of furniture that consist of either a frame with cushions or a single piece.
- Dog mats are usually loungers that can be used flexibly.
- dog sofas, Also known as a dog couch, they are often slightly elevated and thus enable close contact between the dog and the owner – even if he is not allowed to sit on the human seat.
- One Dog mattress is usually a rather flat place to lie down that is not a piece of furniture in itself.
- Dog cushion are often an umbrella term for dog beds, but also refer to the insert, which is usually smaller than a mattress.
- Dog basket on the other hand, they are either woven or plastic containers that are then filled with a pillow or mattress.
But more important than the name is the function: the dog won't care what it's lying in, as long as it's comfortable for him.
The daily rest requirement of a four-legged friend
Unfortunately, many dog owners spend far too little time with this Animals' need for rest apart. They then think that the four-legged friend must be available at all times when it comes to doing activities with him.
But this is absolutely wrong: Dogs need their sleep – if they have laid down for a nap, you should therefore under no circumstances wake you up, but wait until the animal has refueled and is ready for use.
Sleep more than we think
Because dogs sleep significantly more than we think: The absolute minimum is 12 to 14 hours a day, but most four-legged friends need significantly more rest breaks. That's one Rest time of around 16 hours Completely normal for adult animals, some furry animals – especially puppies and seniors – even sleep for over 20 hours a day.
Some owners even think that there is something wrong with their protégé. But don't worry: lots of sleep is absolutely appropriate for the species – it's not popularly referred to as such for a reason “to be dog tired”.
The rest cycle of dogs
The main reason we underestimate the need is this Dog rest cycle. Because we often don't even notice that the animals are sleeping. The owners especially notice the night's sleep – this is very similar to our human sleep behavior and also includes REM phases.
But the four-legged friends wouldn't be able to cope with her alone. They therefore make do with very short to long ones Nap in between: When the dog is not needed, he will doze off in a flash, but is still responsive – a command is often enough to wake him up again.
However, many dog owners do not know this and therefore incorrectly assume that the animals are just as resilient as we are. But the four-legged friends need these breaks: After a phase of activity, they always have to nap for a few minutes to recharge their batteries.
Risks in case of lack of sleep
If this doesn't happen, they can Follow be devastating. A Sleep-deprived dog In the long run, you almost inevitably get psychological and physical problems. The main reason for this is a disruption in hormone secretion.
Means too few rest periods Stress, The brain receives the message that danger is imminent – after all, in the wild only hunted animals would have no time to sleep. Accordingly, the body releases “stress hormones” such as adrenaline, while “happiness hormones” such as serotonin are retained.
Dogs who don't get enough breaks often act out because of this hyperactive, have Difficulty concentrating and sometimes even show Aggression. Without awareness of the problem, these four-legged friends are often simply labeled as having behavioral problems, when in fact they simply lack sleep. Furthermore, a deficiency can weaken the immune system, making dogs more susceptible to illness.