There is a quote from Dr. Louis J. Camuti, DVM, that goes like this: "In my experience, cats and beds seem to be a natural combination." Well, in my experience, the same can also often be said of dogs. Unfortunately, too often you can interchange the word 'bed' with 'couch' or 'chair' or some other unacceptable lounging spot. That, however, is just one reason of many supporting the belief that every dog should have his own dog bed.

First, giving your dog his own bed and training him to view it as his own, safe, comfy spot will, indeed, help to preserve your furniture. It was also help to keep dog hair off of your furniture and, thus, help to keep it off of you. If you introduce a dog bed to your puppy from an early age and consistently reinforce his use of it, he will likely stay off of the furniture for the rest of his life.

Second, dog beds not only provide a warm and cozy spot for you pet to relax in, they can also provide him with a sense of security. Over time, his dog bed will likely become his favorite spot in the house, a place all his own. If there are times when he needs that comfort, if he's unsure of a guest for instance, scared of thunder or nervous about being home alone, his bed will be there for him.

Read more on dogs and their beds.