All puppies are small dogs – some, however, won’t be small for very long. You have to know how big your dog is going to be when it is fully grown before you can buy it a bed of its own, unless, that is, you don’t mind buying your beloved canine friend a new bed every six months or so for several years.

The beauty of small dogs is that for the most part they are full-grown in under a year or so. You can count on certain breeds merely doubling in size from birth – starting out at about four to five pounds and ending up at only ten pounds or less. So buying this breed of dog a small dog bed means that unless there are accidents or other unforeseen circumstances, one small dog bed may be good for the life of your pet.

Another factor to keep in mind when buying a small dog bed is whether or not your puppy is a chewer. Chewing dogs, especially those puppies having a difficult time cutting their first set of teeth, may destroy the beautiful bed you’ve bought them as a way of relieving the pain in their mouths.

Housebreaking your pet is another factor to consider when purchasing a small dog bed. Maybe you should wait until the dog is completely housebroken, whatever that means in your particular living situation, before purchasing that new dog bed. You might spend a lot of time and money, place your beloved puppy into his new sleeping place for a good night’s sleep, and then awaken to find he’s pooped and peed all over his new bed. Finish the housebreaking process and then go to work on finding a permanent sleep situation for your pet.

The rule of thumb for small dogs is to measure them in their sleeping position and then add 7 inches for future growth or a change in sleep style. In this manner your dog won’t hang over the edge of his new bed or outgrow it too quickly. Small dogs prefer the “nest” type of bed, where there are structured sides to lay against and offer comfort when sleeping.

Finding the right bed is important because small dogs spend a lot of time being held by their owners, more so than larger animals, and the comfy, cozy small dog bed makes them feel right at home without the added human touch.