We all want to pamper our loyal companions, and that's why the dog bed has become such a popular piece of "furniture" in so many households around the world. Once upon a time, the dog bed may have been nothing more than an old blanket thrown over in the corner of a room or perhaps an old rug. Now, the dog bed has evolved and taken on shapes, sizes and styles that none of us would have imagined 20 years ago!

There is just a huge array of styles to fit the needs of both the dog and the master. There are dog couches, donut beds, orthopedic dog beds, U shaped beds, personalized beds, heated dog beds, designer beds and the traditional round, rectangle and oval dog beds. Each style typically comes in several different sizes for small to large dogs. I'm sure there are more styles available, but this gives you some idea of the options you have.

Along with "specialty styles" comes "special prices". You can get a plain round bed at discount stores at a decent price, but a specialized bed at a pet store, isn't going to be cheap. Expect that anything unique is going to start in the $60 range, and the sky is the limit from there.

So what is the benefit of having a bed for your dog? Bottom line is that most people simply want to give their special friend something nice to rest or sleep on. Asides from that, many people feel that training their dog to sleep on their own designated dog bed, will keep their dog off the "human bed" or other furniture in the house. It's a way to give your dog their own special place, much like a dog crate. In fact, many people put their dog bed inside of a dog crate.

So you think a dog bed is a great idea, you've found one you like and you're ready to make a purchase. Here's something to keep in mind. Not all dogs think having their own bed is such a great idea. It's conceivable that you'll spend $100 or more on a fancy new dog bed, only to find that your pet won't lay on it! Or worse yet, you buy the bed then come home one afternoon to find the bed torn to smithereens and scattered throughout your home or apartment! Yes sadly, these situations do happen and there is no refund on a ripped up bed.

In conclusion, the dog bed is a great gift for your companion and can be a good way to train your pet to sleep in a particular area of your home. They come in a wide variety of shapes & sizes to fit the needs of any dog. As these beds have become more popular, prices have increased as well. Some good deals can be found on plain beds at the discount stores, but when you start shopping for something unique you can expect to pay a premium price. Your dog will have no idea how much you paid for the bed, so don't blame the dog if you come home and find your $150 bed torn to pieces and scattered throughout your home! Some dogs accept a bed and some just think it's a toy you bought them to chew up.