The perfect dog cushion!

The perfect dog cushion
Of course, the perfect dog cushion does not exist. Because just like us humans, one dog is not like another. Whereas one dog does not care what it sleeps on or in, the other can be quite fussy. Does the dog seek out the pillow, basket or mattress itself or does your four-legged friend prefer to lie somewhere else? How does the dog get up after sleeping? If it jumps up and gets moving quickly after a nice stretch, then it is fine. But if getting up looks laborious and he clearly has trouble moving, it is time to take a good look at the quality of the cushion.

An orthopaedic pillow or not?
When looking for a pillow, the most important thing is the filling. Whether this should really be an orthopaedic cushion we leave in the middle. This strongly depends on the dog's wishes, size and, for example, age. In addition, there is unfortunately no clear definition of what an orthopaedic pillow is. There is no legal or technical description, nor is there a seal of approval that such a cushion must meet. What we do see is that many sellers claim to offer an orthopaedic pillow. And that makes it difficult for the buyer. Especially if you want to buy a cushion online. Since a dog spends most of the day sleeping, it really makes sense to invest in a good mattress or pillow for your furry friend. Above all, we recommend looking carefully at the characteristics of the pillow and using common sense to make a choice. Indeed, you can find plenty of good dog pillows that do not claim to be orthopaedic, but are of very good quality and offer good support.

A good mattress or pillow
It makes sense to consider what a good dog mattress or cushion should now fulfil. In any case, it should be well able to distribute your dog's weight evenly and provide firm support. Normal pressure points will disappear and a good pillow will allow for better spinal alignment. After the dog stands up, the cushion will regain its original shape and no dimple will remain. In terms of thickness, you should think of at least 5 to 10 cm, but thicker is certainly not crazy. This also depends a little on the size and weight of your dog. It is certainly not the intention that the dog feels the ground when lying on the cushion. In addition, it is handy if the cushion itself is well protected against moisture and the cover can be washed. Some dogs love it when the cushion has a raised edge.

Filling
So many cushions, so many fillings. One of the most common types of filling are EPS beads. These are the pellets we also find in beanbags. A common disadvantage is that these pellets crackle. This can be very disturbing. They also need to be replaced eventually and they can sag or deform to one side. The advantage again is that it moulds well to the dog's body and provides good support. They also take over the dog's body heat. Incidentally, there are also new EPS pearls, which do not crackle. You will see these in the slightly more expensive cushions while the crackling balls are used in the cheaper dog cushions. If you have a wrecker in your house, this filling is not recommended. With a broken dog cushion, you will literally find the pearls all over the house....

Another commonly used filling is polyether flakes. Again, a distinction can be made between a cheap and a more expensive variant. The cheaper variant contains Fibrefill and these are often transported compressed. This causes the fibre to break, resulting in flat cushions.

The advantages of this filling are the good support and resilience, the warm insulating effect and the fact that it does not crackle. Disadvantages include a shorter lifespan than EPS pearls and the possibility of pitting.

A third form of padding is memory foam or cold foam. Memory foam molds completely to the body, providing good support and reducing pressure on the muscles.

Dog cushions made of both memory foam and cold foam spring back to their former shape when the dog stands up or moves around. The open structure ensures good moisture drainage and excellent ventilation. It breathes well, is resilient and works to support pressure points. For dogs with complaints or to prevent them, these are the best materials for a good pillow.

Machine washable cushion
Nothing more annoying than a dog cushion whose cover is not washable. In some cases, cushions can be machine-washed whole, but especially with cushions for larger dogs, this can be tricky. The question is anyway how good a wash is for the filling.

So it is best if the outer cover can be removed and washed separately. Cushions simply get dirty or smell over time.

Infrared heat pad
Not all dogs like a warm place, but there are dogs who love a heat cushion. Especially during the colder days, a heated pillow can be very pleasant for the dog. Our The.Pets Pillow offers this warmth through the use of infrared radiation. Because the warmth penetrates deep into the skin, it can have a soothing effect on sore and stiff muscles. This mainly concerns the older dog. But young dogs also get a lot of pleasure from such a cushion because the warmth gives a feeling of security.

Our The.Pets Pillow is available in 2 sizes. Size S measures 70 x 50 cm and size L measures 100 x 50 cm. Big enough for size Rhodesian Ridgeback to give you an idea. Both cushions have a thickness of 15 cm and are made of cold foam. Under no circumstances will the dog touch the bottom! Our office dog Appie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, loves the cushion. He has been snoring delightfully on his cushion for quite a few months now and we have not been able to discover any pits yet.

The foam has a water-repellent cover that incorporates the infrared heating elements. Both the cushion and the elements are thus well protected. This cover has a pocket on the side in which the battery can be placed. Size L has 6 heat elements spread over the cushion. Size S has 4. They can be set in 3 positions. Naturally, both the elements and the battery are safely concealed.

The outer cover is made of a firm but wonderfully soft fleece fabric in the colours Taupe and Grey. This makes the cushion nice in almost any interior and matches our heating blanket and cushions for the couch. On the outside is a leather label in which the on and off button of the heating elements can be clipped. The outer cover can be easily removed and is machine washable.

In the unlikely event that your dog is not a fan of the warmth, the cushion is worth the investment in itself. A lot of attention has been paid to the quality of the foam, in our opinion the most important part of the cushion. Combined with the fine, soft outer cover, this really is a good cushion! Your buddy is going to enjoy this for years to come.