How to pick a bed your dog will actually sleep in

Most dogs who ignore a new bed are telling you something simple: it is the wrong size, the wrong shape, or in the wrong spot.

Watch how your dog sleeps

Curlers tuck their nose under their tail and like a round bed with a raised rim to lean on. Sprawlers stretch out on their side and need a flat, wide bed. Many dogs do both, so think about the position you see most at night.

Measure, then add a little

Measure from nose to the base of the tail while your dog lies stretched out, then add 6 to 10 inches. Curlers can go one size down. If you are between sizes, choose the larger one; nobody has ever complained about too much bed.

Put it where the family is

Dogs want to see you. A bed in a quiet corner of the living room gets used far more than one in a back room. Keep it away from heating vents and drafty doors.

Give it a few nights

Put a worn T-shirt or their favorite toy on the new bed and reward them for lying down on it. Most dogs settle in within a week.