How often should I replace my dog’s bed? you ask yourself. How often you replace your dog’s bed depends on how the bed looks, feels, and smells, as well as your dog’s preference for the bed. In the beginning, your dog probably loved its bed, spent every minute on it. Now they won’t touch it even if it’s the only option in the room. Your dog retreating from its bed could be a sign that they’re tired of it, or that it’s physically painful or uncomfortable to use. Or maybe it’s just dirty.
When to wash
Washing your dog’s bedding should be done every couple of weeks or so, even more often if your dog is dirtier than usual. Keeping up with washing both your dog and their bedding is important, and the two things should ideally be done together. That way, you’re not undoing any of the work you’ve already gone through, regarding one or the other. Speaking of, when you’re in the market for a dog bed, try to find one that can be machine-washed. This will save you both time and a lot of inconvenience. If your dog has been rolling around in questionable things during your walk, for example, it might be a good idea to be extra careful in terms of bed hygiene.
So how often should I replace my dog’s bed?
Aside from hygiene, which can be solved by washing most of the time, the bed’s support is the most important thing. The bed needs to be comfortable for your dog, so replacing your dog bed depends a lot on its quality as well as the size of your dog. A large dog is naturally going to wear down a bed more quickly than a smaller dog might. A large dog requires a bed with more cushioning and support, since their joints and bones especially need a little extra help. Smaller dogs of course need good bedding, too, but typically it’s less expensive. It’s also easier to find a good bed to accommodate their size.
So if your dog is no longer showing interest in their bed, step one is washing everything, and maybe even putting a new sheet over it. A lot of the time, this will solve the issue. If your dog is adamant about not sleeping on it, however, show them how comfy it is by lying down on it yourself. Dogs tend to trust our judgment, after all, and will often copy our behavior if they deem it reasonable. If all else fails, simply get a new bed. It could be that the bed just isn’t comfortable anymore, so replacing it about once a year is reasonable. The cushion could be too worn and flattened, and no longer able to protect your dog from the hard floor.
How often should I replace my dog’s bed? In short, clean your dog’s bed regularly, and pay attention to signs that your pup is uncomfortable. This should be more than enough to keep your dog nice and happy.
