They may have snug fur coats to keep them warm, but when puppies arrive in the world their body temperature is much lower than that of an adult dog. For an adult dog, normal body temperature is between 100°F and 102.5°F (around 38°C to 39.2°C).

For a puppy, their body temperature varies between just 95° to 99°F, until they develop the shivering reflex. For the first two to three weeks of their lives, newborn pups are completely unable to regulate their body temperature. Chills are one of the main reasons puppies don't survive infancy, so their environment must be kept warm.

Heated pet beds offer an ideal way to prevent puppies catching chills in those vital early weeks, making it less likely they'll catch an infection. For very young dogs who have recently been separated from their mothers, one of the things they will be missing is the warmth of the dam's body, so keeping them warm in a heated pet bed may help them to adjust to their new life with you.

If your new puppy is a very small or very thin breed, then a heated dog bed is especially important, as they don't have as much body fat to help them keep out the cold.

As with all aspects of their life, puppies need to be introduced to exercise gradually to avoid muscle problems and exhaustion - and once they've tired themselves out with a few energetic rounds of the garden, their heated pet bed offers a warm and cosy place to sleep and recover. As young dogs can often sleep for many hours in a day, depending on the breed, this should also make it less likely that they will feel the need to sleep on your bed later on!

Since dogs are "den" animals, having access to a heated pet bed also helps them develop a sense of place. Puppies and dogs are sociable creatures, but to avoid them becoming over-excitable and too dependent on humans you need to train them from an early age to have quiet time alone as part of their daily routine. If you need to move your pet, then the warmth and scent of the heated pet bed also helps reassure them that they are still in "their" area.

You can safely have heated pet beds near you in your bedroom, on the landing or in the kennel - combining the best of both worlds. Your puppy will have the comfort of being near you, combined with the security of his or her own domain.

You also have the convenience and energy efficiency of being able to heat your pet's environment, rather than the whole house. It's also easy, with a heated pet bed, to keep the bed clean and hygienic. Covers can easily be washed and replaced.

Dogs who have access to kennels, heated pet beds and other havens are also more likely to be calm around other people - a vital part of puppy's socialisation and your role as a responsible and caring owner.