Low maintenance dog beds: How to keep your dog's bed clean and pest free

Low maintenance dog beds: How to keep your dog's bed clean and pest free

Most dogs love to run outdoors, play with other dogs and roll in dirt, but unless you are fastidious in cleaning them when they return home, it is inevitable that your dog's bed will become dirty relatively quickly. Other than endless machine washing of the bed, there are a number of ways that you can ensure a clean, pest free bed.

Firstly, there are a few obvious tricks. Ensure that you keep the bed away from the dog's water and food bowl; wet dog food trampled into a bed will quickly decay encouraging flies and other pests. Feed your dog with a good quality dog food; whilst this will not stop your dog getting filthy, it will ensure that your dog remains healthy and therefore is less likely to succumb to fleas, worms and other parasites. Keep an old towel beside the front door and wipe your dog's feet as soon as they enter the house; we use a door mat, why shouldn't they?!

Ideally, the best beds to buy are sturdy, waterproof beds. These beds can be scrubbed or hosed down whenever they get dirty and will not get smelly as the stuffing will never get damp. Unlike humans, dogs sweat through their paws not through their skin so they do not need a breathable bed. A number of waterproof beds should be readily available at your local pet supplies store or online that have good quality stuffing that will not migrate.

An alternative, especially if your dogs sleep in an outhouse, is to give them a bed of cedar wood shavings. This is especially popular in the United States. Cedar is a natural pest deterrent, does not mould or cause hot spots. The shavings are soft and absorbent and can be changed every five to six weeks. When first using this bedding, care should be taken as occasionally a dog may develop an allergy to the shavings. If your dog lives indoors or you prefer them to have a cloth bed, you can easily fill a cover with the shavings and replace every two months or so.

If you cannot source cedar bedding, cedarwood essential oils are available from health food shops. A few drops of this oil on a dog bed will discourage fleas.

Finally, if you haven't got time for a full clean of your dog's bed, wipe it down with a damp washing up glove which will attract the hairs. Then sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda- this will ensure that the bed should remain odour free until it is time for the bed to be cleaned.

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