Let’s face it, as large breed dog owner, especially a Great Dane dog owner, finding certain things for your dog isn’t always easy. So, when you do find your Great Dane the right dog bed, you’ll need to make sure you don’t go too small or too big. Going too small will not benefit your dog the way it should in terms of providing comfort. Going too big on the bed will just be a strain on your wallet. Following some of these simple tips will help you get the right size bed for your Dane.
- Measure your dog from head to tail. If your dog measures 48” long, you’ll obviously want a bed that is no shorter than 48” in length. We recommend going at least 4-8” longer than your dog is from head to tail. This will allow your Dane to have a bed that supports them completely from their head and neck all the way back to their hips and rear. The last thing your dog needs is to have a bed that is too short, causing their head or rear to hang off the end of the bed.
- Measure your dog from their withers (shoulders) to their paws. You’ll want the bed to be at least equal in length to the paws to shoulder measurement. Again, we recommend you try to give them a little more width, but at the least make sure the bed width is no less than the distance from withers to shoulders. This width will be perfect if they tend to lie straight out, which many Danes tend to do. If your Dane has a tendency to lay curled up, you can probably opt for the minimum width, but again, don’t go any less than their paws to wither measurements.
- Finally, for the thickness of the bed, don’t choose anything that is less than 6-7 inches in thickness. A really good Great Dane bed will be at least this thick to properly support their joints, but to also give them a bit of an elevated bed to allow for easier getting up and down from the bed. Choose a good and supportive foam that will cradle and comfort your dog’s joints. This is vital, especially during a puppy’s rapid growth stage. Great Dane’s grow extremely quickly and can experience a lot of discomfort and even a condition known as pano. Panosteitis is a short-lived condition that can occur in medium to large breed dogs. Although not deadly, it can be extremely painful for dogs, causing temporary lameness and limping. Dog’s experiencing these conditions are usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to help ease the symptoms. A good and comfy bed will help greatly to alleviate some of the pano symptoms as well.
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