Chew Test An Elevated Dog Bed vs. Hammock Dog Bed
According to PetMD, our dogs spend 50% of their day sleeping, accounting for 12 hours of snoozing daily. That many hours of sleep means dog beds are essential to a dog’s lifestyle. If your dog has yet to claim your bed as its own, that is
Different elevated dog beds have wooden frames and are complete with a mattress like ours. Some even have small staircases that make your pooch look like royalty. However, we will focus on hammock dog beds when talking about elevated or raised dog beds, which are more commonly referred to as such. They can also be advertised as cooling dog beds for their ventilation property.
The Pros of Elevated Dog Beds
Relieve pressure – Our wood, tile, and cement floors are bad news for dogs. They are hard surfaces that cause pressure sores or hygromas to develop on your dog’s front elbows. These beds help reduce pressure on those boney spots by simply lifting your dog off the ground and supporting it with a fabric material that has some give to them.
Lower cost compared to memory foam beds – The main components of raised dog beds are the frames, the bolts that hold them together, and the fabric that keeps your dog off the ground. These materials are simplistic and very easy to manufacture, so they come cheap compared to more complex materials like memory foam. However, this advantage comes with a con related to support distribution that we will discuss below.
Ease of cleaning – Minimal construction with simple components means ease of maintenance. This is especially true with the netted fabric of these beds. In addition, you can spray off mud, use a brush to take care of more challenging grime, and even include some form of a dog-friendly cleaning agent.
Keeping your dog cool – Your dog can stay cool by sleeping on their backs. The exposed belly has less hair and dissipates body heat much faster than sleeping on its side or stomach. Raised dog beds have netted fabric that lets air flow freely through your dog’s belly, removing uncomfortable heat even if it is sleeping on its stomach.
Less microbe and pest build-up – The fabric of these beds is usually synthetic and absorbs less moisture than regular fabric. Less moisture means less hospitable conditions for microbes like bacteria and fungi to grow, which also has the added benefit of reducing odor. Pests have a hard time sticking around these beds as long as they’re treated and appropriately brushed, which can take less time than a laundry cycle.
Reduced chewing – The bare-bones, minimalistic design of these beds means that dogs are less satisfied chewing on them. This is certainly true for the ones that come with metal frames. But, again, we’re not saying this is chew-proof; we’re saying that chewing on stretched netting and metal bars is less enjoyable to your dog.
The Cons of Elevated Dog Beds
Some assembly is required – These cooling dog beds usually come unassembled. Depending on the manufacturer, you can quickly put them together or find yourself stuck with a worn-out bolt. As simple as these beds can be, they still need some assembly knowledge and troubleshooting when needed when putting them together.
Fabric tear often means buying a new one (with new frames) – Most of the time, you won’t find replacement fabrics for these dog beds. That means that your fabric starts to tear for whatever reason, and you are looking at buying a whole new unit. Frames included. This headache made way for instructional DIY videos on making your own raised dog beds and being able to replace your own choice of fabric.
Less portable than regular beds – Having four poles as the foundation means you won’t simply pop these beds down on any surface. They sink in sandy beaches as well as on soft, moist soil. They also wobble on rocky river sides and get outperformed by a simple oversized cushion during any trip with your dog.
Uneven support – The nature of the netted design means that you stretch more towards the bed’s middle than the sides closer to the frames. Your dog can find it difficult to balance itself initially but will adjust over time. However, as we’ll explain below, that only applies to younger, healthy dogs.
Not suited for some dogs – Older dogs that have trouble balancing themselves won’t enjoy the uneven support of these beds compared to their orthopedic memory foam counterpart. Pregnant and nursing mothers would experience the same issue, while puppies can struggle to make their way up the bed. The risk of falling off the edge after a nursing session makes these beds worse off for puppies.
Our Final Thoughts
Cooling dog beds are good for healthy, young, to middle-aged dogs. Wet and muddy dogs can use these beds without worry, as they can be sprayed, brushed, and dried very quickly. People with little time to spare will appreciate their low maintenance. No stuffing or cushion means these will most likely be shelved during winter in favor of beds that help your dogs retain heat.
References:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-many-hours-does-dog-sleep-day
