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Choosing a Dog Bed by Breed

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their beds. While there is no substitute for measuring your dog when selecting a dog bed, here is a quick rule of thumb that you can use when trying to size a dog bed:

Small dogs are typically are typically under 13" height and weigh less than 30 pounds. Breeds include most terriers, Chihuahuas, toy poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, and others. If you are choosing a nest-style dog bed then go with one that is approximately 16" x 21". If you want to buy a pillow bed then choose a pillow size of 30" - 36".

Medium dogs run 13-21" and weight 30 to 60 pounds. Choose a nest bed that's at least 21" x 28" and a pillow bed that is at least 36" - 45".

Large dogs stand 21-26 inches and weight between 60 to 90 pounds. They need a nest bed that is at least 24" x 36", and a pillow bed that is at least 45" - 52".

X Large dogs stand over 26" and weight at least 90 lbs. Choose a nest bed that is at least 28" x 43" and a pillow bed that is at least 45" - 52".

Remember that as you get into the larger breeds it is important to select a sturdy fabric and a frame style that will stand up to your dog's weight.

If you plan to measure your dog for a bed, here's how to do it:

With your dog lying down, measure from the tip of the nose to the point where the tailbone connects to the rump. Then add add 9" to 12." Then pick the bed that most closely matches those measurements. If you need to choose a substitute size always choose a larger one. Keep in mind that when you are measuring round beds that you are measuring the diameter of the circle. Use either of these formulas to calculate the diameter:

Find out the radius of the circle by measuring from the center of the circle to one edge. Then simply multiple the radius by 2.

Or, you can measure the circumference, which is the distance around the outside of a circle, and then either divide the circumference by 3.1416, or multiply it by 0.3183.

Unless your dog is fully grown, it's always better to get a larger bed that your dog can grow into rather than one that's just right but will be quickly too small. A good dog bed can cost a fair amount of money and you won't want to be replacing it every time that you turn around.

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