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