2 min • By Leena Chitnis, Founder, Timberdog®
Ok, so I may be a teensy bit biased, but, as the owner of a dog who loves to nest, and the obsessive creator of a years-long project made just to scratch that itch, I may know a thing or two about what makes the ultimate nesting dog bed.
My dog - and Timberdog mascot - Kashi, circles her bed multiple times, using her paws to scrape up invisible material in her prehistoric wisdom to check for snakes, as well as gather what's around her to keep her insulated and padded throughout the night.
But modern dog beds don't have material to paw through or pull together to form an oval of warmth and comfort. As much as dogs have been domesticated for the past 10,000 years, some habits die hard and dogs still haven't been able to get rid of their need to nest.
So why aren't dog beds built to suit their natural instincts and need for comfort?
When I set out to build the RuffRest® Ultimate Dog Bed, I factored in such needs. Instead of a flat nylon or velour surface, I used Sherpa fleece, which had a short nap for easy cleaning, drying, and odor resistance, as well a bit of pile so dogs could feel like they were pulling up soft material with their feet before laying down. The fleece is also designed to keep them cool in the summers, and warm in the fall.
I also included a bolster so dogs can rest against it, as they are wont to do with litter mates as pups, or even with other dogs as adults. Some dogs love using the bolster to rest their chins upon, as well. They do this for comfort and security.
Finally, hidden inside the bolster is a multipurpose blanket when your pup gets cold or wants to burrow. When outdoors or camping, the blanket can adhere to the bed to form a fully functional, 3-season sleeping bag, complete with temp-control vents at the feet to allow for as much airflow as he needs.
For discerning pet parents, this blanket-sleeping bag is also the only one on the market that's given an R-Value score - a human grade warmth rating given to only the best and most technical camping gear. We love that the blanket also stows away neatly into the bolster pocket without the messy fight associated with tight stuff sacks, as RuffRest is built for practicality and a breezy ease.
Most nesting dog beds don't have the option to remove the cover, whereas RuffRest's blanket has a third zipper which can be undone to remove the sleeping bag-blanket from the bed. This makes the bed lighter for those times you don't need a sleeping bag or want to clean it. Additionally, many nesting dog beds have a "tenting" cover, which makes for more of a cave dog bed, defeating the purpose of burrowing or using the cover to huddle in warmth and comfort.
At Timberdog, we thought of everything based on a dog's need to nest, rest, and find comfort. That's why we've got a patent on this invention, and a 4.9 star rating from our fans, from Timberdog.com to Chewy. We want pet parents to be happy, but most importantly, we want dogs to choose RuffRest over their old dog beds at home.
And well, they do.
Photo credit: @wander-with-willow on IG