A canine comfort zone

Today's dogs are spoilt for choice when it comes to beds, from the practical to the premium. But there is a good argument for keeping it simple

- David Tomlinson

MY SPANIEL Emma is, so I often remind her, a very lucky dog.

She has the luxury of three beds, each one in a different room in the house. That she has such a choice can be explained by the fact that until recently we had two dogs, while the third bed was left to her by one of her canine friends. She uses all three: two during the day, and one at night.

Like most dogs, Emma is very flexible in where she sleeps and is seemingly able to get comfortable almost anywhere. It would be interesting if I could interview her and discover which bed, or beds, she really prefers. My suspicion is that it’s the beanbag type, as that’s the one that forms to her shape when she gets in it. She is also one of those dogs that will turn in half a dozen circles before settling down, as if trying to make the bed more comfortable. That’s easily done with beanbags.

These simple beds do have much in their favour. The classic beanbag has an inner bag filled with polystyrene (or similar) beads that are easy and inexpensive to replace when they become crushed and old. The outer cover can be removed instantly for washing — Emma's current one has an elasticated top, which I find more convenient than the alternative zipped bag. They also have the great advantage of being light and easy to move, so you can chuck them in the back of the car when going away.