Outdoor Dog Beds
Outdoor dog beds have to be comfortable (or else what’s the point?) They also have to stand up to all kinds of weather.
So they are built with tough materials that will stand up to being out in the rain, snow, or months of blazing sun. They need to be easy to care for; typically, you can just hose off an outdoor dog bed. For some kinds, you can throw any but the very largest ones in a washing machine.
It’s also typical to see these dog beds in a cot style, raised off the ground some six inches or more. Dogs often like the height as it makes it easier to get on and off the beds — at least for all but the toy breeds,who may be left outside less often anyway. (No matter, you will find these beds in all sizes.)
There are other reasons for the raised style, though. The beds are more likely to stay dry and bug-free if up off the ground. They are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Of course, if your dog sleeps outside in the winter, consider the temperatures. You may choose to put an old blanket or a soft style dog bed on top of the outdoor one for added comfort. Since dogs are such comfort lovers, we humans may not realize that many breeds can withstand extremely cold temperature that would have us shivering! Your dog will probably let you know if he is warm enough. There are also heated models if electricity is nearby and your dog isn’t the chewing type.
Outdoor dog beds are meant to be used outside but also work well in doghouses, basements, garages, sheds, porches, and similar spots.
You can use any outdoor dog bed inside the house as well. I would say that my idea of the ideal situation for my two indoor-outdoor dogs would be to have a memory foam dog bed for each one inside my house and to have an outdoor dog bed such as a Coolaroo or Kuranda outside… but to save money, many people use just one bed or if the dog is inside a lot, they don’t have one outside. Whatever you do, you will know how your dog likes it by where he spends his time!
Here is a popular outdoor pet bed, the Coolaroo, at Amazon… clicking on the image takes you there.
