Necessity of a bed for a dog?

I think all dogs need a soft, safe area to call their own, whether it's a bed or a pillow, or a crate or a blankie, doesn't really matter.  As long as it's in a quiet spot in the house and the dog is comfortable there, that's all that matters.  My dogs have pillows here and there throughout the house.  Two in the kitchen, two in the family room, two in the bedroom.  When ever they land anywhere, they know their spots.  

Hi Alieliza,
Welcome to the boards!

Well, my dogs have several beds in addition to thier crates.  We have a 2 story house, so we like to have beds upstairs and downstairs so the dogs can hang out with us regardless of where we are in the house.  Initally we had 2 large-ish dogs, Lab and Dalmatian, that did not get on the furniture (or at least not very often).  I got the "cot" style beds b/c I liked that these types of beds are easier on the joints and gets them up off the ground.  I usually put a fleece pad of some sort on the beds as they did not like to lay on the canvas alone.  We now have a small dog, JRT who also has his own bed even though he is allowed on the furniture.  Stayed with the "cot" style as I really like these beds over any others.  Even though he is allowed on the furniture the JRT will very often choose his own bed over the "people" bed.

So I guess to answer your question, (after I babbled on) I would have to say yes, I think dogs need a place like a bed in order to have their "own space".  I know you said you have a crate which would serve this purpose but I think its nice for the dog to have a couple of options so that they can lay near you. 

Thank you very much for the replies. 

I would go ahead and get a bed for him.  I am not one to coddle my dogs, but beds serve an important purpose in my mind.  Large breed dogs that aren't given a soft surface to lay on will develop granuloma's on there elbows.  They aren't dangerous, but I find them kind of unsightly.  We may as well prevent them since we can.

ORIGINAL: mrgmfoster

I would go ahead and get a bed for him.  I am not one to coddle my dogs, but beds serve an important purpose in my mind.  Large breed dogs that aren't given a soft surface to lay on will develop granuloma's on there elbows.  They aren't dangerous, but I find them kind of unsightly.  We may as well prevent them since we can.

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So that's what they're called. Millie has them on her elbows. I guess maybe she didn't have a bed before. Now she does, but sometimes she'll drag it out of the way and just lay on the floor. But, with her being a large, and older dog, we felt it necessary that she had a bed. She also isn't allowed on my parents' bed because she stretches out and takes up so much space, so she's gotta have her own spot on the floor right at the foot of the bed.
Max originally didn't have a bed, but he got one when he got neutered. He eventually destroyed that one, and I tried some blankets, which he also tore up. So, I got him one of these [linkhttp://www.cushionguy.com/]http://www.cushionguy.com/[/link]
for in his crate. Someone else on here suggested it. It ties to the bottom of the crate, so he can't pick it up and give it the death shake, or get it out and run around the room with it. I got it to fit his old wire crate, and when I switched to a plastic crate, I just drilled holes in the bottom. It is a bit big for his plastic crate, but it just goes up the back a little. They do make them for plastic crates, but I didn't want to spend the money for another one.
As for outside of his crate, he doesn't have a bed, because I don't really think he would use it. Our basement floor is cement, except in my room, because the cat we had ruined the carpet. He just gets up on the chairs anyway, and won't sleep on the floor unless he's hot, which I guess it to cool off because the floor is cold. A bed on the floor would kinda defeat the purpose. After I cleaned my room, I actually have room to put a bed for him in there, but I don't think he would sleep on it. I had some old blankets on the floor prior to cleaning up, and he would lay on them for a few minutes sometimes, but he would never sleep there. He always ends up in my bed. Even once when he did fall asleep on the floor, some time during the night he got in bed with me. If I minded him getting in bed with me, I certainly would get him a bed.

Markie says definately get the bed and a nice soft mat for sleeping in the crate at night

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

Markie says definately get the bed and a nice soft mat for sleeping in the crate at night

Would he also recommend that these items be purchased from dog.com?

JEN!!!!
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Of course!!!! Markie does all his shopping at dog.com!

Gracie has a bed in the office and one in the livingroom. Whenever she is in either of those rooms, she always lays in her bed. Aside from the medical benefits it gives them a spot of their own that's comfy and familiar.

Max pretty much took over a loveseat sofa as his own from day #1.  He snoozes there during the day and sleeps on our bed at night - which he also considers his own.

I have my dad out scouring garage sales for crib mattresses.  All the dog beds I have bought thus far have looked shabby/flattened out after a little while. My hope is that Zoey will like them better than the living room couch and chair!

You can always get a thicker cushion for his crate

Odie sleeps in my wife's closet.  He even goes back there during the day if he wants to take a snooze.
 
I see nothing wrong with a nice blankie in his crate, if he is comfortable there and that works for you guys.