Bed with bolster for new puppy.... which one!!?

[Rebecca Matthews]

Hi DK,

I've researched and researched and can't seem to make a decision.  What is a quality dog bed with at least a partial bolster for a medium ALD puppy (9wks)??  I'm scared to pay too much for something she'll just chew up.  But then again, I don't want to buy something so cheap that of course she'd chew it up....  Any beds that have really worked for anyone?  

And what to use in her training crate?  

Thank you in advance!

[Lynn D.]

I recommend cheap and washable! Any time I left a mat in the crate my puppy destroyed it. He still tears apart his stuffed animals. A .50 cent fleece car throw from walgreens is what worked for us for a long while.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Don't spend much on a puppy, lots of them actually prefer the cold floor of their crates so a piece of washable vet-bed is best.  It's always tempting to run out and buy all sorts of things.  Wait until your puppy is fully grown and past the big chewing stage before spending loads.  Use your money for puppy and training classes which will be of huge value.  Good luck with your gorgeous puppy, reminds me of my Riley's litter.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We spent $50 on a Cesar puppy bed that she used 4 months. I still have the bed for our next doodle. It has a bolster in the middle that she could snuggle against. She loved this bed and she used it way beyond her size limits ha ha, but it was not in the crate. In the crate we put a big pillow (human) and had a case over it so we could wash if need be. The crate was just big enough for that. Daisy was not in the crate much, just for naps and night time. She was not a chewer...but we were home and she got plenty of exercise and then we employed my Mom for a month when we went back to work in 2 weeks.

So, you will get lots of responses and different opinions there are so many different ways to go. You will figure that out after you get your pup. I would start out with something you have that can be washed. I could not bare to put my little girl on the floor.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, first of all, those are some seriously cute puppies!  I would agree with those saying don't waste a lot of money on a bed right now.  We bought one of the crate mats, and used baby blankets, but like others said the girls didn't like them in the crate because they got too hot.  They would pull them out of the way to lay on the plastic liner.  Now that they are older we have various beds throughout the house and they do use those.  Still though, not expensive beds.  I buy them at Steinmart or TJMAX or Costco or places like that as I like cute beds and I get tired of them as they start to look a little faded from washing so after a few washes I'll end up finding one I like better.  I love what Nicky suggested about saving that money for training as it will be money better spent in the puppy stages.  Best of luck ... look forward to many pics!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We also used the fleecy crate mats when the Doods were puppies.  We were lucky with Guinness because we also had a little baby blanket that smelled like his "Mommy"....we got it from our Breeder, and he loved that.  The mats seem cozy and they're so easy to wash (and very inexpensive).  Their good beds came later when they were out of the crate.  Those are some very cute Doodle pups.

[Willow and J]

The only bed my dog uses is my bed and my couch. :) She has several dog beds including one big round fluffy one, a fleece mat in her crate, a waterproof portable one, and two more. She doesn't use any of them for napping nor sleeping. So, I second not spending much money on the bed. (I, on the other hand, need to get another couch so I can watch TV on one. :) )  

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh my goodness those pups are so cute!! Love the looks on their faces!!

I agree to go CHEAP for now--old towels in the crate work well--easy to wash and dry and replace. I bought a big bed with a bolster at one end and my dogs won't lie on it--it is too puffy and it seems to scare them. I have a super-cheap ($10) bed with a cover made of fleece and they love it. 

[Rebecca Matthews]

Thank you all for the tips!!!!