From lounging around during the day to sleeping at night with the family, a good quality bed is essential for your dog. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong bed for your specific dog can lead to difficulties sleeping and pain and discomfort during the day. If your dog is older and already dealing with joint pain and immobility, finding the right bed is even more important. Thankfully, you can find the right bed to ensure your senior dog gets a restful night's sleep using these simple tips.

Size

The size of your senior's dog bed matters for a few reasons. The right size bed will help your dog sleep comfortably, but it will also help reduce stiffness and joint pain, which many senior dogs suffer from.

Even if your dog tends to curl up when sleeping, avoid buying a bed that is too small to reduce their risk of joint stiffness. On the other hand, you do not want to choose a bed that is too large for your dog because they will not feel as safe, warm, and secure as they would in a bed that is perfectly suited to their size.

Do not rely on just your dog's breed when choosing the right size of bed. Measure your dog from the end of their tail to their front snout and then add a few inches to that measurement to determine what length of bed your dog needs. This will help you find a bed that your dog will be comfortable in whether they sprawl, stretch, or curl up when sleeping.

Material

The material of the dog bed also matters. You want a material that is soft and durable, but also comfortable and supportive.

Consider a bed with a washable cover. This allows you to wash the bed's surface exterior without worrying about the actual fill of the bed. Covers made out of antibacterial, microbial fabrics are ideal, since they reduce the risk of bacteria and allergens, helping your dog sleep in a healthy manner.

Dog beds with loose filling may seem to be the most comfortable, but they will wear down faster than other filling materials. For the longest lifespan and most support that your senior dog will want and need, consider a memory foam dog bed.

Help is available finding a comfortable, healthy, and supportive big dog bed for your aging dog. This guide will help you select the right bed for the best sleep possible.