As a paw parent, you are going to want what is best for your canine baby. With so many products out in the market, it can be hard to decide what is really beneficial to your pet and what is just good advertising with no actual merits. Here we weigh the pros and cons of both memory foam dog beds and natural filling (Kapok filling in particular) dog beds so that you are better equipped to make the right choice.
Natural filling (Kapok) beds
Our natural fiber dog bed helps your dog sleep better by tapping into your dog's natural nesting behavior and combining it with the beneficial properties of natural fibers.
PROS:
Hypoallergenic: The all-natural filling of the beds does not cause allergic reactions in dogs keeping their skin free from itchy rashes.
Machine washable: Each and every design of our covers is made of 100% cotton which can be easily unzipped and washed in the machine. The covers are also easy to spot clean.
Temperature Regulation: The material keeps dogs warm in the winters while not letting them overheat in the summer.
Odor-free: The fibers come with a natural wax coating which prevents them from absorbing moisture. The lack of moisture helps keep the bed's odor-free.
Supportive: Natural filling beds are perfect for smaller dogs that weigh less than 10kg and support their weight very well keeping them nice and comfy.
Sustainable and cruelty-free: The natural fibers are harvested from the fruits of a type of tree in the rainforest. No trees are cut nor are any animals harmed in the process of harvesting the fibers.
Shapeable: Natural filling beds lend themselves to the shape that the dog wants, and allows the animal to make its own little nest in the bed.
Lightweight: Natural filling beds are ten times lighter than memory foam beds of the same size.
Attractive: The covers come in bright and pretty designs and are exchangeable to suit your home decor.
CONS:
More suitable for a smaller dog: For the time being, our beds are not suitable for larger dogs to support the massive weight the size over the thickness ratio of the bed will be out of proportions.
Not waterproof: Our 100% cotton fabric cover tends to perform poorer in water repellent compared to synthetic fabric.
Not very firm: The beds are designed to be soft and comfy but might not suit dogs with hip problems that need firmer beds.
Flattens: Over time the filling starts to get compressed, and the bed flattens. However, it takes over a year for this to happen for small breed dogs, and topping up is very easy to do on your own.
Memory foam beds
Memory foam dog beds do a perfect job in absorbing energy impacts thus relieving painful pressure points from the hips/joints of your dogs when they sleep.
PROS:
Large size: Memory foam beds are made in small to extra large sizes and can accommodate from tiny to bigger sized dogs.
Supportive: Memory foam is firmer than natural filling and offers good support to a large-breed dog as they often suffer from bone weaknesses as they grow older.
Shapablity: Despite our kapok fiber bed is shapeable, we must admit that memory foam bed does a better job, it is made to takes the shape of the dog's body and is very comfortable.
Waterproof: Usually memory foam beds come with the option of waterproof covers.
Machine washable: Removable fabric covers can be washed in the machine.
CONS:
Heat-trapping: Memory foam traps heat inside making dogs feel warm while sleeping and even worse during the summer months.
Moisture and odor trapping: Memory foam can trap moisture which makes it a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Over time these beds start to develop a bad odor.
Chemical release (off gassing): Memory foam is made from petroleum by-product and known to contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and naphthalene. The chemical procedures used in making the beds could cause chemicals to get released while your dog is using the bed.
Too firm: Smaller dogs might find memory foam beds too hard as their weight is not enough to push the foam into their shape.
Boring designs: Commercially made covers for foam beds can be boring and in dull colors.
Expensive: A really good memory foam could cost hand & leg especially if its from the big brands.
Heavy: Memory foam beds can be heavy and difficult to move from one place to another.
CONCLUSIONS
Coming back to the main question "Natural filling vs memory foam dog bed, which is better?"
Our take is it really depends on what you are looking for and your dog's necessity. When we weight the pros and cons of each, we believe that smaller dogs like our very own Silky Terrier will love the natural filling beds. But if you have a bigger sized dog who needs a firmer or a more supportive dog bed then memory foam may be a better choice for your pooch.
