A Memory Foam Dog Bed - Does Your Big Dog Really Need One?

A large dog bed is easy to find whether online or at a pet store but as the owner of large dog and having gone through various other beds she’d just crushed flat I started looking into memory foam dog beds.

There are so many styles of dog beds from pillows, round, nesting types with bolsters and so on. The choices seem endless. Then, if you have a large dog like me, you have to take a close look at the what the bed is packed with. Most of the cheaper beds have that stuffing that your dog crushes flat when they lie on it like my dog, so really they're just sleeping on the floor with none of the support a bed is supposed to offer.

So I started investigating memory foam dog beds. I figured as the foam is just one piece then the whole balling up and flattening out thing wouldn't be an issue. You probably already know that Vets recommend memory foam dog beds for older dogs, especially if they have problems like arthritis. Did you know that Vets and Dog Breeders also recommend them for large dogs at any age? I also discovered that approximately 50% of large breed dogs are prone to hip dysplasia. I had no idea the number was that great?

So, after reading all this stuff about memory foam dog beds I asked my Vet when we were there for her annual check-up and he told me that it was true and in fact most big dogs won't even show symptoms of hip dysplasia until their middle years. Well, that clinched it for me; it was a memory foam dog bed for my big girl. Making sure her bones and joints are supported and having healthy blood circulation while she's lying down became the main priority. By making sure her joints are kept healthy I'm sure it will save us both a lot of pain and worry down the road.

Next up was choosing the shape. Memory foam dog beds generally come in a rectangular shape but I found other options like the nest type beds with bolsters. So really it was just a case of recognizing my dog’s preferred sleeping position and going from there. As my dog prefers sleeping stretched out it was an easy choice of the rectangular style.

Ultimately the whole issue of how much space it would take up and the style became a non-issue. Getting her the correct support was my number one priority. The couch used to be her preferred sleeping and lounging spot and who could blame her if you'd seen her old crushed dog bed. The memory foam dog bed is a big hit and she just loves it. This is great news for both us as I can finally reclaim the couch for myself!

Sue Hill owns a site dedicated to the search for the best dog bed for your four-legged friend.