Bedding For Dog Kennels
There is a large range of dog bedding for the kennel on the market today. They are made from a variety of materials and range from preformed beds and raised platforms to simple cushioned mats.
Your dogs disposition and size will have to taken into consideration when deciding what type of bed and material to use in the dog kennel. Destructive dogs that regularly chew furnishings, will not want to left with bedding material that can be easily torn apart or contain a material that might choke them.
The size of the dog kennel may also be a deciding factor on which sort of bedding that you choose for your dog. If you have a dog kennel with a run, the indoor section may be large enough to accommodate a plastic or raised dog bed, whilst a small simple dog house style kennel will not be able to accommodate such things.
So what types of bedding are available for kennels?
Dog Baskets
Dog Basket
If the kennel has room for one, a ready made dog basket makes a safe cosy place for your dog to sleep. They insulate the dog from the cold floor and the high sides of the basket keep the dog out of any draughts that may blow through the kennel.
When choosing a dog basket for a kennel you will want to make sure that it is washable. There are brands on the market that allow you to both hose them down and completely dismantle them for a machine wash.
Vet Bedding
Vet bedding tends to be a generic term for a carpet style material that is commonly used by vets. This material usually has a pile of about 25mm (1in) thick. This is versatile material that is suitable for any type of kennel including dog house style kennels, as it can be easily cut to any shape.
Vet bedding is totally machine washable and quick to dry. Liquid quickly drains through the pile of the material so is suitable even if your dog lays on it when he is wet.
Other benefits of Vet bedding are as follows:
- Cool in summer – Warm in winter
- Insulates from the cold floor
- Non allergenic
- Non irritant
- Chew resistant
- Stain resistant
Mattress’s
Again if your kennel has the room, mattresses make a great cosy place for your dog to sleep. They can be purchased in a variety of materials that are suitable for kennel use, that can either be machine washed, wiped or hosed down.
One benefit of a mattress is that the thickness of the mattress elevates your dog slightly off the ground giving them good insulation from the colder floor.
Sleeping Bench
These are free standing, low benches, usually made from galvanised metal or rigid plastic, some with sides and some without, with a non slip surface. They raise the sleeping area a few inches off of the floor ensuring your dog is kept off the cold or damp floor when he sleeps.
If you have a destructive dog, a sleeping bench combined with the vet bed makes a good bedding solution. They aren’t as common as other options but it may well be worth looking on the internet to source one.
Hay or Straw
Hay or straw is occasionally used by some dog owners as a bedding material, but is not really recommended as it can irritate the skin of some dogs. It can also harbour mites an fleas. I’ve also heard of dogs trying to eat it and choking.
While it is cheap a freely available, there are so many other alternatives available today that I don’t feel it is worth the risk to your dogs health. You may even find that although the other options have a higher initial cost, over time they may well be cheaper as they won’t need replacing anywhere near as often.
