Calming dog beds?

 Calming dog beds?

Long pile and deep soft filling mimic the feeling of your dog being comforted by their mother and/or pack members, contributing to a calming sensation. The dog lies deep in the bed, boosting security.

We could find little scientific evidence to support this, and we're not convinced the beds reduce anxiety. Reducing anxiety is more about 'active' remedial measures like stimulation / boredom reduction, exercise regimes, regular routine, and training than a dog bed manufacturer / retailer's 'cure-all' claims.

We tested a store-bought and an online-ordered Calming Dog Bed. Amos, one of our working Labradors, Finn, a working Cocker puppy, and Tina, a cute Yorkshire Terrier, participated in our less-than-scientific test.

Even the Cocker Spaniel could push and pull both beds on a tiled surface.

Both beds were soft, fluffy, and synthetic, which initially pleased all 3 dogs.

Amos and Finn struggled to position themselves centrally on the beds, and their sleeping positions looked very restricted. Both dogs spent a lot of time 'half in and half out' of the beds and'swam' to get comfortable on the soft bedding.

Both beds had thin, unstructured middle filling.

The larger bed was marketed as'self-warming' and contained Memory Foam chips with a strong chemical smell. Our views on Memory Foam and Flame Retardants are well-known (see other blog posts), but the thought of our dogs nuzzling into the bed and inhaling it worried us. visit calmingdogbed-shop.com. The combination of Memory Foam and the deep sleeping position may cause overheating in long-haired breeds.

We were concerned that this bed was labeled 'Orthopaedic' without any justification.

Both beds had waterproof bases. Moisture protection should be between the faux fur and the filling, not on the floor, where it would only prevent condensation.

Both beds were machine washable, which is fine, but active dogs shouldn't use them. The fact that the beds could be bundled into a machine suggests they lack structural integrity and could break down quickly.