If you have a dog over 40 lbs and or an aggressive breed, you need a little more sturdy dog bed than people with smaller and more docile dogs. Or, your dog may be a chew hound, digger, or just rambunctious and be hard on anything. Tough dog beds are made out of more sturdy materials than the run of the mill models.
Some high end dog beds are designed like furniture to fit in with your home décor. Although many of these are attractive in a home setting, your dog can also easily damage them. A neighbor of mine has a young pit bull that loves to play and chew on anything. His wife bought a great looking dog bed that looked just like a miniature couch. The young pit bull ate it. Well, not all of it. Some of it he spread through out the house.
I had a Doberman Pincher pup (about 5 months old when this occurred) that ate most of a full size couch. Once again there were plenty of leftovers to spread around the house. It wasn t really his fault, he was young, got bored, and we failed to exercise due diligence. That was a lesson learned, thank goodness we had already decided the couch was going to be replaced.
Tough dog beds have several qualities that make them last longer and resist both natural and dog related damage. The first thing to check is any obvious chew points, items that present a good opportunity to bite on and chew. The next oblivious thing to look at is any seam, make sure they are double stitched and reinforced.
The frame materials (if the dog bed has a frame) should be made out of a strong material that would resist wear, tears, and chewing. Wood is not a good material, hard plastic, or metal would be much better. This also allows the dog bed to hold more weight and take more abuse.
The material that is used for the cover is important too. Lightweight cloth is never a good idea; it wears out quickly and is more likely to tear. Canvas, waterproof material, or coarse heavy weight clothe are much better materials. The ability to remove any cover material to wash comes in real handy too.
There are a lot of good choices in raised dog beds, most have a sturdy frame and strong cover materials. In colder weather you can add an insulated pad to warm up the platform for your dog. In warmer weather you can change out the platform material to one that breaths and allows better circulation. Most raised models I ve seen have either powdered coated metal or strong PVC type plastic frames that resist damage.
Any dog bed that comes into contact with the ground is not a good choice for outdoors. Even if waterproof, water can collect under the bed and is subject to algae or other problems with pests. If you want to raise it off the ground you could use a pallet or other item to keep it off the ground.
You can also change out the platform material on any raised bed model with a stronger, heavier material. Most come apart to allow your to replace the material or remove for washing. You can buy the same material that lawn chairs use, the braided straps, to make a good sturdy platform material.
When looking for tough dog beds you need to look at both the construction and the materials. Each area is important and can separate the good from the bad. Where the bed we be used can be an issue too. Outdoor models should be weather resistant too.
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