I'm about to get a dog and am debating getting a dog bed. People that ?'ve talked to before always say that their dogs never use the beds they buy them. Is this true? Would I be better off only getting a crate or just getting a old blanket for her?
dog's can be trained to go to a bed or crate when told, some like them some don't. I have a german shepard cross and she sleeps in her's all the time (a cushion off an old couch) and my lhasa apso will not for the life of me use her bed. I find it is easier to crate train a dog than to try and get them to use a bed.
My dogs love their beds. I have a tiny MinPin who sleeps in a Woolrich bowl bed that I got at Target on sale for $3. I got a great orthopedic bed at Ross for $20 that my AmStaff loved, until I rescued a Boxer and she ate it. They should have a crate AND a bed. The crate in your bedroom either with a bed in it or a soft blanket, so they can sleep with you, and the bed in the living room so they are not all over you. Trust me on this. Your whole house will stay cleaner, and they won't decide it is their house and you just borrow it.
My Poms will once in awhile use the beds around the house, but at night they sleep in crates which have Dog beds or blankets. But during the day, they rather nap on the floor, on my bed, or on the couch.
You have to teach your dog that that bed is the place where (s)he sleeps. Most people just buy a dog bed and assume the dog will use it but most of the time it just does not work that way. My dog does use his bed, but now that I have the A/C on, he gets up to sleep on the couch in the other room when it gets too cold for him. On the weekends I allow him to sleep in the bed with me. I have a crate for him also, but I don't use it much anymore. He used to sleep in there at night, but only because he needed to be locked up somewhere at the time. Now I only keep if for when i have to move. Having a crate is one of the essential things to own when you have a dog, particularly if you travel/move quite often. Even if you don't, you'll never know when you might need to go somewhere. It's a good investment in my opinion. If you aren't sure about getting a dog bed, go with the crate. Just make sure whatever you put in there for him/her will have enough cushioning to keep your dog comfortable :)
