Our guide to help you choose the best cosy, warm and hygienically clean dog bed if you are looking to invest a Charley Chau luxury dog bed to keep your dog warm, dry and toasty in this cold, wet winter weather.
In cold, winter weather, a High-Wall Dog Bed is a brilliant choice for protecting your dog from cold draughts, plus soft, cosy sides also provide extra insulation - trapping warm air around your dog as they sleep, particularly when they nestle into the sides. The high walls on a dog bed are also brilliant for keeping blankets contained within the bed.
The Ducky Donut Bed (above in Cosmo Dark Gray) is perfect for dogs who like to sleep curled up in a ball - a deep-filled insulating mattress to sink into, paired with a feather-filled donut nest that wraps around them as they sleep.
For dogs who like the option to sleep curled up or stretched out, the Deeply Dishy Bed is a fab choice for small and medium size breeds. Available in two sizes and a multitude of colurways: in Deeply Dishy Beds in Velour and Deeply Dishy Beds in Weave II.
The Bliss Bolster Bed (above in Faroe Pebble) with a bolster nest filled with ethically sourced feather is the ultimate bolster style dog bed for comfort and performance over time. Available in three sizes with options on a deep-filled hollowfibre mattress and orthopaedic memory foam: Bliss Bolster Bed Collection.
If your dog sleeps on a stretch out mattress (Day Bed in Faroe Nimbus Grey above) without any sides around it, provide draught protection by adding a Mini-Bolster Pad (or two) to create a high-wall dog bed feel: Mini Bolster Pads.
For dogs who love to burrow under blankets, the only choice any time of year but especially in winter is our signature Snuggle Bed with either a classic blanket top or the Winter Warm Snuggle Bed with the insulated duvet top: Snuggle Beds Collection.
A damp dog bed will never be warm and cosy so it's essential in cold, wet weather that a dog bed is made (inside and out) with textiles that wick moisture away from your dog's body and that dry out super-fast. Dogs can be quite soggy in winter, getting into bed with wet paws and damp dog coats, which means there is a lot of moisture circulating in their bed. It's critical that the fabrics and fillings they are sleeping in help to get rid of that excess moisture to keep your dog cosy.
If you are trying to choose a dog bed that will deliver peak cosiness for your dog this winter, avoid fabrics that absorb moisture such as cotton that absorb and retain high levels of moisture. Our beautiful upholstery fabric collections in Velour, Weave II and Faroe all have excellent moisture-wicking properties and dry super-fast.
Choose a dog bed made with one of our beautiful upholstery quality fabrics that are moisture-wicking. Above, Deeply Dishy Bed in Weave II - Earth.
It may sound strange but central heating or putting a dog bed next to a radiator or Aga-style oven can lead to damp dog beds because of condensation forming in the base of the mattress! Always check the underside of your dog bed - place your palm on the bottom of the mattress and if it feels very cold or even slightly clammy there is a risk condensation could be forming in the mattress.
A simple and stylish solution to remove the risk of condensation from forming in a dog bed is a Rattan Dog Basket (above) or a Raised Rattan Dog Bed (below) so the mattress does not make direct contact with the floor: Rattan Basket Collection.
Why does raising a dog bed off the floor prevent condensation from forming? The floor underneath a dog bed can get very cold, especially on stone and ceramic floors) because the bed is a barrier to the warmth in the room, and at the same time, the dog bed has its own micro-climate - warm and humid from the body heat and moisture generated by a dog. The warm, humid air in the dog bed hits the cold surface of the floor underneath and condensation forms - much like steam hitting a cold window or mirror in a warm bathroom.
Anti-Microbial Waterproof Dog Bed Liners provide barrier protection against moisture, dander, dust, and other dirt that dust mites feed on, as well as dust mite poop that is the allergen that causes dust mite sensitivities.
Dust mites love dog beds - anywhere warm and humid is dust mite heaven, and a dog spending on average 10-12 hours each day sleeping delivers a never-ending supply of dust mite food. A Waterproof Bed Liner simply reduces dander, dirt and other nasties from getting deep inside your dog's mattress.
Adding an Anti-Microbial Waterproof Bed Liners to your dog's bed makes sense on every level from a hygiene perspective, from reducing the need to wash the mattress to pro-actively protecting your dog's bed from bacteria and other nasties such as mould and mildew.
Wet winter weather inevitably means muckier dog and muckier dog beds, so washability is crucial in maintaining a clean, healthy environment for your dog to sleep in.
We design to a mantra of "machine washable everything" at Charley Chau - even our beautiful upholstery fabrics wash beautifully time after time. Charley Chau’s luxury dog beds have removable bed covers and Spare Bed Covers are available too.
Dress your dog's bed in winter with a warm, comforting and moisture-wicking blanket for them to create a cosy little nest in bed. Above, Theo & Brutus buried in Double Fleece Blankets in Powder Grey. See our blog on choosing the best dog blankets for winter.
If you need any help or advice on any aspect of creating the perfect sleeping environment for your dog, please feel free to call or drop us a line.
