Let's face it- you love the feel of freshly washed bedding, and so does your dog. Having a clean spot to sleep is important. If the bed itself is simple to care for, it will make it snap to keep fresh for your pup.
The more it smells like you, the better! Dogs love clean laundry too, for a different reason. Many dogs are known for immediately rolling on freshly-washed laundry that you've laid out to put away. The reason for this is that dogs identify their family mostly through scent.
Extending the lifespan of your dog's bed isn't the only reason for keeping it clean: dog beds should be washed twice a week minimum - and while this might seem like a pain, there's a very good reason - in fact there may be several thousand good reasons living in your pet's bedding right now.
They have a familiar smell.
Dogs tend to like certain blankets because they have a certain smell. It could be from their mother or owner. The scent helps calm them and reduce anxiety.
A dirty bed is not only uncomfortable for your pooch, but can lead to infections and skin irritation if not cleaned regularly.
Let's face it- you love the feel of freshly washed bedding, and so does your dog. Having a clean spot to sleep is important. If the bed itself is simple to care for, it will make it snap to keep fresh for your pup.
Though it's pretty gross to think about, dogs can be harbingers of dirt, germs and parasites, thanks to the mud, allergens and poop they're exposed to outside. That's why it's crucial to keep your canine clean if you plan on letting them sleep in bed.
It's hard to imagine a dog or a cat thriving if they're spending their time in a place where dust and parasites have gathered. Our pets look to us to provide a clean and safe place for them to live, and with just a few extra steps in your normal cleaning routine, you can ensure they get it.
Just like humans like to be clean, dogs enjoy being clean too. The only difference is that dogs can lick themselves every so often they mostly rely on their pet parents to help with hygiene. In addition to bathing, you can improve their quality of life by brushing their teeth and giving them a full groom regularly.
The real culprit is the scent of pheromones covering your dirty laundry. All mammals, including humans, possess sweat glands known as apocrine glands. These glands release pheromones that your pup finds irresistible and because it tells them all kinds of information about you via their enhanced sense of smell.
Wipe down the fabric on your dog bed with a mixture of one tablespoon of water and a cup of distilled white vinegar each week. Put your dog's bed in direct sunlight once a week to kill bacteria and remove odors. Sprinkle baking soda over the dog bed when it begins to stink, and then vacuum it up.
Using a gentle, pet-safe detergent, wash your dog's bed cover in the washing machine using the warmest water temperature allowed per the care tag. Be sure to choose a cycle that aligns with the instructions on the care tag or consider choosing a cycle based on the soil level of the dog bed cover.
Bottom line: If your dog sits on your sofa or sleeps in your bed, you probably don't want him dragging in dirt, poop, insects and other grime onto your sofa or in your bed. Depending on the breed, it may be in your best interest to bathe your dog anywhere from once a week to once a month.
Another lesser-known anxiety trigger for pets is clutter. Just as people tend to feel more relaxed in a clean and organized home, so do dogs. Animals do not like to live and sleep in messy places, so getting rid of clutter is a good way to help them feel more at ease.
Their heightened senses give them the ability to detect peculiar odors. The scent is thickest on the dirty pants, towels, and sheets, which is why pets gravitate to them. Some dogs also prefer sleeping on their owner's shoes.
Dogs go crazy after a bath for a range of reasons from relief, to happiness, to an instinctual desire to return to a more familiar scent.
Bathing also removes dead hair and hydrates and nourishes the skin and coat, helping your dog feel more comfortable and less itchy.
Dogs may lick their owners as a way of grooming and cleaning them, similar to how they lick themselves and other dogs. In the wild, wolves and other canines will lick their pack members as a way of grooming and cleaning them.
Even so, having a home that is dirty or very disorganised can have a direct impact on your dog's health – and this means that as well as basic cleaning and tidying to keep your home safe and healthy, you should also think about areas of the home that you can't see or don't use very much, which may be harbouring hidden ...
But there's no need to leave every single light in your home on just for your dog. In fact, darkness at the right time can be good for dogs. According to the Sleep Foundation, dogs, like humans, have circadian rhythms that are influenced by light. It's easier for them to sleep if it's dark, or at least dim.
In fact, many dogs prefer smaller spaces. Quiet, comfortable, enclosed spaces remind them of their ancestral dens. In addition, limiting your dog's access to the rest of the house may prevent unwanted behaviors like chewing, barking, and potty accidents” (Geier).
Of course, there are a few potential downsides to inviting Fido into bed with you. Some include: increased opportunity for allergen or disease exposure with your pets, aggressive behavior, and disrupted sleep quality, says Fierstein.
If your dog does this, it means they trust you. And, if they keep their bum toward your face, it shows that you make them feel safe. Your dog also wants to keep you safe and secure, which is why they plant their rumps where they do. This allows them to monitor the entire room and be ready for action if it's warranted.
Most dogs will sleep more when they are relaxed and there isn't a good motivation for them to be active. Since they don't have smartphones, jobs, or homework, sleeping is a way for them to pass the day, especially if they are home alone.