In the seven years since our mini dachshunds, Coco and Chloe, joined the family, we have been through many dog beds. They don’t last long. Our pug, Reggie, is not the problem. He just chills out and is rarely destructive. The doxies on the other hand, well, their favorite pastime is ripping things to shreds, especially big, comfy doggie beds. That’s because they love to make holes in fabric (and dirt), burrow, dig, pull stuffing out and throw it all over the place. These dogs are real explorers. I’ve yet to find a dog bed that can resist their guilty pleasure and so I spend my days indulging them in their favorite pastime, picking stuffing up off the floor, re-stuffing the holes and throwing much away. These days, my home office is littered with brown fluffy stuff and it’s migrating all over the house. The dogs are perfectly happy sleeping in their mess, but I’m worried it’s not healthy. Who knows what’s in that stuff!
A friend noticed the mess and we had a lengthy discussion about dog beds. I lamented that I could not find a bed strong enough to withstand my dogs’ abuse and so I let them have their fun and dutifully clean up behind them. A routine I justify knowing that my dogs are the emotional and intellectual equivalent of three-year olds. My doxies are twin toddlers who have not mellowed in seven years!Friend to the rescue! She also has a dog toddler at home. Through much trial and error, she finally discovered a dog bed that has many tough and washable layers, is comfy and completely indestructible. She purchased it at Orvis and swears by it.
Can’t wait to put it to the doxie test!
–Jennifer Bebon