Two Basset Puppies Picked a Cardboard Box Over the Fancy Bed

A plain cardboard box has become the finest bed in the house for two tricolor Basset Hound puppies. They lie side by side on a flat brown towel, one with a chin pressed against the box wall and the other tucked behind, both with eyes closed and ears draped across the floor of the box. Behind them a gray cloth, a shoe, and a refrigerator edge give away a kitchen at the end of a long day.

Cats are not the only animals that love boxes. Many dogs, puppies especially, are drawn to snug spaces because they feel like a den. Enclosed sides make a small pup feel protected, and having a sibling to lean on adds warmth. Wild canine relatives sleep in dens for much the same reason, and the instinct shows up in family pets in the form of a cardboard box or a blanket fort.

If you want to offer a box as a puppy bed, a few things help. Pick one with sides low enough to climb out of, line it with a washable towel, and remove staples, tape, and loose bits that could be chewed or swallowed. Cardboard is fine for a nap, but it is not a lasting bed, and a puppy who nibbles it should be steered toward a proper chew toy. If you ever worry about what your pup swallowed, call your vet.

These two do not seem to care about any of that. The box is just the right size, the towel is just soft enough, and the day can wait.