I have literally spent spent thousands of dollars on great dane dog beds over the years. Before my family got our first dane we read all about the expense of having such a large dog but never really expected to spend a fortune on dog beds. The food, the vet bills and the destruction of property are to be expected but dog beds, come on. Over the course of the years I have come to find out what works and what doesn’t in terms of a great dane dog bed.
My conclusions are simple. Great danes love to have a comfortable place to lay down. At times they will even act as if they are too good for the floor, once the spoiling begins there is really no way to stop it. I have also concluded that most dog beds on the market are not adequate for great danes. They are just too big, size wise and they weight too much.
Most dog beds after a few uses by a great dane resemble a pancake. I know from experience that great danes are not the longest lived beast and because of that I would like to attempt to get the most out of my friends. Part of this means giving them a good nights sleep and giving them a comfortable place to lay down.
Think about what an important roll your bed plays in your life. Sleep can literally make you or break you, why would your dog be any different? Also think about this, in the wild dogs can usually find a pretty comfortable padded sheltered place to lay down. Shut inside with nothing more than a hard floor to sleep on dogs can not even find as good a place to sleep as they could in the wild.
Here is what I have found works well for my great danes:
- My first choice when it comes to a bed is a toddler mattress. Not a baby bed, but the size in between a twin and a baby bed. It is a great size and it fits very well into an XL sized dog crate. Find a mattress that has a plastic cover and you will be in business. One accident on a regular mattress and it is time for the land fill. With a plastic covering there is nothing a hose can’t fix. Put a blanket or a sheet on top to reduce the chances of your dane ripping the plastic with their claws. I have even found that a nice looking toddler day bed can make a great looking dane dog bed instead of just throwing a mattress on the ground.
- Used furniture is always a winner. After recliners or couches have passed their wear beyond return point they make great dog beds. I like to put them out of the way but still within reach of the family. Great danes like to be around their people so if yo stick a couch in the basement and expect your dane to use it think again. This works well because once your dane is trained to understand that this is their furniture but other furniture is off limits it keeps them off of the other furniture. I usually put a cover on the couch or chair to keep the hair off and keep it smelling as fresh as possible.
- This is a little bit of a stretch for some but I have found that putting my great dane dog bed in a K-9 room is a great way to keep them out of the way and help yourself get a good nights rest. If you have a great dane you know, they are noisy when they sleep if you want a good nights sleep put your dane dog in their own room and you will be waking more refreshed. Don’t sacrifice a kids room for your dog but if you have the space it is a good idea.
- Nice thick rugs are also a good compromise for your great dane. I have hardwood an tile in all of my rooms and I find that putting a dog bed in more than a few rooms tends to clutter the house but the great danes really appreciate the added comfort of a thick rug. I like the kind that you can wash in a big front load washer.
A little bit of thought and planning can go a long way when it comes to making your great danes comfortable and it doesn’t have to cost a lot or clutter your house needlessly. Owning a great dane dog is kind of like keeping a zoo animal in your house so it requires a little bit more planning but it is well worth it.