All About Dog Beds

If you don’t want a dog to sleep in your bed then make him his own lair. Dog beds are also an essential part of dog training. It gives a dog his own personal retreat and most dogs will gladly go to bed when commanded. Saying ,go to bed, when you have company is a good way to discipline the dog without hurting his feelings. Also if your dog has his own bed you won’t be spending hours removing dog hair from your bedding and pillows!  

A dog bed can help you train your pet from sleeping with you. A good idea is to put your dog’s bed at the foot of your own bed. For one thing it places your body above him so that he thinks you are the ,alpha dog, in the pack. This is because canines are wired to think that whoever sleeps the highest is the superior dog.This is also why when you let your dog sleep with you he is more likely to see you as an equal rather than a master.   Once this happens he is less likely to obey you and also do things like snap at you when you pass his food bowl.  

There are all kinds of absolutely fantastic dog beds out there on the market. There are designer ones. They also come in all shapes, styles and color so you are likely to find the dog bed that is absolutely right for you whether you are shopping online or in a retail pet store.  

One of the most popular types of beds are like big beanbags and they sink beneath your pet’s weight and create a natural cradle.   Many dogs find this kind of bed really comfortable and safe feeling.  

You can also get dog beds that look like rubber rafts.   These are boat shaped dog beds that have fleece linings. These are also sometimes called bagel dog beds.  You can also buy dog beds that look a bit like soft caves. Dogs love these because it appeals to their den instincts. They are shaped like slightly stiff pitas.   The base is foam and there is a stiff fabric arch inside that allows the dog to really get inside and retreat from it all.

 If your pet has back or hip problems you can also buy ones that are as high tech and ergonomic as the ones for humans. Examples are the Pet Ortho Mattress and the Memory Foam Bed that are specifically designed to relive stress on your dog’s joints and bones.  D

og beds are also usually made from fabric that is waterproof, stain proof and that is easy to clean.   The manufacturer to prevent them from gathering hair, mold, fungus or bacteria treats many dog beds.   In fact one of the main benefits of keeping a dog bed in your house is that it can keep your home a lot cleaner as the pet will tend to do the main part of its shedding or dander loss in the pet bed.

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How to Discourage Copraphagia

Whether you like it or not, dogs like to eat feces.

Feces have the warmth and texture of the food that the bitch regurgitated to them when they were in a litter.  Mother dogs will eat feces in order to conceal the puppy’s presence from predators.

Adult dogs that eat feces might also be regressing as the feces may remind them of the “comfort food” that used to come from mom.  Puppies are also fond of cat feces so it might be a good idea to restrict your dog’s access to any litter boxes that might be in the house. They also enjoy rodent feces and the droppings from hamsters and rabbits.  

It is also been speculated that dog feces might actually be nutritious for a dog in some way, but so far there is no outright scientific proof that feces contain an element or mineral that a dog can’t get in his normal diet.  

Dogs that are scenters like feces because the feces represent the reward at the end of a session of sniffing. The psychological pay off for the dog is a feeling of victory.  Copraphagia is a habit that upsets people more than it does the dogs, possibly because it seems like it is something to be embarrassed about.

Perhaps the easiest way of preventing this is to keep your dog on his leash when he relieves himself and pulling him away if he tries to eat feces afterwards.   You should also discourage him from sniffing the feces.  Another tact is to present him with a treat right after he relieves himself. However this does not always work because often dogs see the feces as a more delicious option.  

You can also try removing feces before the dog can get at it. Mind you, this is more of a way of coping with the ordeal for you then a way of training your dog to not actually consume the stuff!  If the dog is still fond of feces, try teaching your dog not to touch it using the command ‘Off.’ Put your dog on leash and walk him by some feces. If he shows any interest in it, tell him, “Leave it!”

If he continues to go for it, then sharply reprimand him, and pull him away from it with a short, sharp tug on the leash. If he does stop, try and praise him immediately and pop a treat quickly into his mouth.  Another way to convince your dog to cut out this nasty habit would be to cut feces in half, put Tabasco sauce in it, and then put it back together again.

When your dog consumes it he should get the idea that eating feces is not always a good idea.  Putting meat tenderizer in the dog’s food is also supposed to make his own feces less tasty to himself.  It has also been suggested that eating feces might be associated with your pet taking antibiotics. If you think this is the cause of his craving, discuss it with a veterinarian.

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