Dog beds

[JaderBug]

I've been thinking about getting Jade a dog bed, but I am debating whether or not it will be a waste of my money. So far, Jade pretty much just likes laying sprawled out either on the linoleum by the front door, or in the bathroom. She likes laying on the couch and every great once in a while when she's allowed she likes being on the bed, but only when someone is there with her.

 

If she seems to like the linoleum, would a dog bed be a waste of money?

 

Who here has beds for their dogs? Do your dogs like the beds? Do they regularly use them?

[juliepoudrier]

My bed and the day bed in the living room seem to be the favorite dog beds in this house, so no need for me to spend money on special beds for the dogs. Well, that and they seem to think dog beds are just REALLY LARGE chew toys.

 

J.

[tualizzy]

I have bought many inexpensive dog beds at Costco. They're not very fluffy, but have easy to remove covers which wash up well. We have one in our bedroom (gets used once in while), and one that goes into the car occassionally.

 

Lizzy likes to sleep IN our bed (summer & winter), under the down quilt

When she's not in our bed she likes to lay on an old fleece blanket on the floor next to our bed.

 

Jak likes to sleep in his "golden retriever sized crate" with the door open...

there is a bed made from a sofa cusion inside for him.

 

Brassy likes to stretch out on the hardwood floors.

 

Last fall, I thought I would splurge and buy Brassy a really luxurious bed. Thinking that her old bones would enjoy something extra soft, I bought a bed filled with memory foam, complete with a lovely velvet cover (which matches our newly painted living room of course).

 

The bed is huge, and cost more than I want to admit... the first few days we couldn't get Brassy out of it...

You tell me if you think it was worth it?

 

But now... she's back to sleeping on the hardwood

Once in a while Lizzy lays in it, but mostly it remains empty.... oh well, at least it looks good in the livingroom.

[airbear]

Mine eschew doggy beds in the house, as pillow-top human beds are much more comfy. But I *did* make them beds for their crates (where they have no choice - ha!). I went to The Foam Shop and had memory foam cut to size. Nothing too fancy after that, I made washable covers and wrapped the foam itself in muslin. I figure they spend a lot of time in their crates travelling to events, or whilst at the events, so that's where I concentrated my dog bed efforts.

 

This is their dog bed:

[afrancis]

Many, many dog beds later, I can give you these observations:

1. No fluffy tall beds. Perhaps too precipitous to climb onto.

2. If dog is a chewer, then make sure you safety pin the zipper shut. Skye opened hers up and took out copious amounts of stuffing.

3. It doesn't matter how big the bed is: dog will still lay with back end on bed with torso and head on hard floor.

4. Flatter beds are better -- they are more like carpets -- I don't know then why I bothered.....

5. Colour/style coordination with house + expense will be directly proportional to lack of use.

6. The bed you buy will never be as good as the bed belonging to the dog where your dog goes for weekends away.

7. You can always give it away to friends with dogs.

Ailsa

[mtnbound]

We don't let our dogs on the furniture, so we have dog beds in the living room, as well as in the master bedroom. Our house is all hardwood and we just wanted somewhere with a bit of cushion where they could lounge and nap. They took to them very naturally and use them every single day.

[Oz Girls]

Our dogs have a couple of different beds, from flat thick blankets for the hardwood floors, to fleecy type mattresses for their crates and some really cheap round traditional beds we bought from a hardware store when they were puppies. These cheap beds are definitely their favourites out of all their beds, which drives me crazy as there is no removable cover.

 

Our dogs used their beds all the time until we let them have their special couch which is in another room of the house, which quickly became a firm favourite. If they come and join us to watch TV they chose normally chose their beds over the floor.

[mbc1963]

I have dog beds in three rooms. (Embarrassed shrug.) The dog has to be in the same room as me, and he really doesn't like to lie on the hardwood floor unless it's really hot. I just buy the cheap washable ones so I can throw them out when they get too stinky. Buddy lies in his beds all the time: when I'm watching TV, or when I'm working on my computer, or when I'm in bed.

 

Someone in here posted in response to my own inquiry about cheap beds that they just use recycled beds: crib mattresses or old couch cushions that end up by the side of the road on trash day. I found a crib mattress and threw a quilt over it in my bedroom. Next time I need new beds, I'm going to adopt some couch cushions, as well.

 

I got this raised vinyl bed at a yard sale a few weeks ago. Buddy really likes it, because he can press his back up against the sides.

 

 

Mary

[ness_bc]

Yep mine have dog beds (well ok the baby sleeps in the crate) and steals her sisters dog bed when she isn't in her crate and Ness sleeps on her bed at night by choice. My girls have Snooza Cuddlers.

 

 

[juliepoudrier]

2. If dog is a chewer, then make sure you safety pin the zipper shut. Skye opened hers up and took out copious amounts of stuffing.

Huh? The main reason I don't have dog beds anymore is because my chewers weren't so considerate as to go through the zipper to destroy the bed--it was much easier to go straight through the cover....

 

I used to have cute little "Moses" baskets with beds in them. A couple of the dogs chewed the baskets in addition to the bedding within.

 

I have a couple of dogs (Willow and Phoebe to be exact) who don't get any bedding inside crates for the same reason (as much as I hate to do it). They destroy whatever's in there, and I live in fear of an intestinal blockage as a result.

 

I have taken to folding old blankets or those "Mexican" balnkets you can get a truck stops for cheap and just putting those on the floor as beds. When they get chewed too badly, they just get thrown out.

 

J.

[afrancis]

Huh? The main reason I don't have dog beds anymore is because my chewers weren't so considerate as to go through the zipper to destroy the bed--it was much easier to go straight through the cover....

 

What can I say Julie. I have a very methodical dog.

It seemed to be only the bolster that appealed to her and once she realized there WAS a zipper, it became the focus of her attention.

That being said, when it comes to destruction, Skye is a sensitive being dressed in the body of a border collie. All her toys still have their limbs.

But certainly most beasts (esp. puppies) would chew everything if given the opportunity. I'm sure yours aren't the only ones that like to have a chew-fest!

Ailsa

[MaggieDog]

My girls are allowed on furniture but use their dog beds a lot any way. We have a 2 beds in each main room (living room and bedroom right now since we're in an apt): a floor pillow and a big round dog bed in the bedroom and a square dog bed and a crate pillow (in Z's crate) an the living room. Maggie uses the beds the most just to nap, but Z likes lying on the pillows when she plays with her toys.

[bc4ever]

Scooter has two comfy, cushy beds, one in the basement rec room, one in the office. He seems to prefer the carpeted or wood floors. He sometimes uses the bed in the basement, but likes to lounge on the leather couch (the only furniture he's allowed on). We put a blanket and yes, a small pillow at the end of the couch and he really gets into it. Won't use the other bed at all. Generally, I'd say our experience with those cute little beds hasn't been a huge success. I think they appeal to us more than our pets.

[Carson Crazies]

Small Dog is all about some of those little bumper beds - so I have his "living room" bed, and his "bedroom bed". I keep two bigger beds at the end of my bed - Nick usually moves into one of them in the middle of the night, and lately I've found June in them too. Nick has a thing for Zippy's tiny beds, though, so he has his own "tiny bed" that I get out for him to nap in next to my chair sometimes. I bought a couple of those 8" thick ortho beds... the only dog who will use them is Julie's Jill when she comes to stay, so I wound up giving one of them to my brother for his boxer.

 

So, at my house they like the bumper type beds, and the semi-flat pillow type beds. But, more often than not my dogs can be found on MY bed, or the couch.

[juliepoudrier]

I bought a couple of those 8" thick ortho beds... the only dog who will use them is Julie's Jill when she comes to stay,

Jill says she'd like to come stay, please. This bedless house ain't no fun for an old dog. (Well, Willow ate the ortho beds I had for Boy and Jill, too.) Actually Jill has a whole couch to herself, so she really shouldn't complain. Now if only she'd quit yanking the nice clean throw off the expose the filthy upholstery below (it's been well used by other family members) I'd be very happy....

 

Willow thinks bolster beds are the best sort of toy--one you can lie comfortably on while you destroy the parts that are meant to support you. After all, they are full of that same wonderful stuffing one finds in toys! (Oh, toys, well, they don't get those kinds of toys anymore either.)

 

J.

[Ms.DaisyDuke]

Daisy has one of those flat pillow type beds. At first she didn't really care about it, but I was tired of hauling out a blanket everytime I gave her a bone, so she had to get used to it. It's in the living room and she uses it when I'm working on my computer, head on the floor though. If i'm on the couch she's on top of me or in her chair. It's just one of those cheap-o's from Zellers with a removable cover. It's now come in handy as I am teaching her "go to your bed" for when the door bell rings.

[JohnLloydJones]

Senneca has this bed, which she will only use with a pad or quilt, as she refuses to put a paw directly on the canvas:

 

[Here, sulking because my wife was moving furniture around; her bed included]

 

She also has various mattresses and flat beds that she uses or ignores at whim. Mostly she lies down on the carpet. She doesn't get up on furniture or human beds.

[urge to herd]

We have 10 of the dog throws from Costco, which are great, and two cooler mats for the summer heat, which are filled with water. It took Sami a while, but once she got the idea that on a 95 degree day, it's comfier on one of those than on the carpet, she sleeps on them all the time.

 

There are 4 throws in the living room, 3 in the office, (one under my desk, don't know how I worked with out a dog head on my foot) and 3 in my bedroom. They all get washed every couple weeks or so.

 

Ruth n the BC3

[vanillalove]

Maybe I'm just evil, but when I brought home a really nice looking dog bed that wasn't cheap for my little guy and he ignored it, I taught him a "Go to your bed" command and made him like it That being said, he sleeps in bed with me, but he voluntarily naps in there during the day now. He doesn't use a crate anymore, but this is sort of his substitute.

[Lenajo]

I use beds as a way to trap some of the doghair The $5 mexican made gas station sold blankets are good. When they get beyond washing - too hairy, or too ripped. I throw them out.

 

Old dogs get whatever they want. Currently Jo (17) sleeps on 4 inch memory foam sheet covered with a waterproof liner and then 2 folded blankets. She's sleeps really hard now, and is incontinent. Sweet girl.

 

Beinn and Dinah have started seeking the dog beds in the den (big, thick, washable, very soft) this year. It tells me things about their ages I don't want to admit.

 

My smooth coats seem to be much more into comfort than the rough and furry dogs.

[sjones]

I have 5 beds throughout the house, ranging from soft and cushy to a homemade one using thick foam and fabric from an old comforter. Except the dog bed by the window, I try and place the beds in corners so the girls will feel like they have a private space to snooze. I like the bed from Fleet Farm that has fleece on one side and fabric on the other. The fleece grabs pet hair and I just vaccume it off. The only problem I have is Annie who likes to scratch around on the homemade bed, it takes her about 5 min of fluffing, scratching and turning in circles before she decides to lay down. Its time to recover the bed since she has completely shredded the cover. Ok, Wisp likes to fluff her bed and throw it around before she lays down(very funny to watch), but never damages it like Annie.

Samantha

[esox]

Alex ate the 2 dog beds I got her. The cats really enjoyed them before they got destroyed.

 

She sleeps in my bed and is allowed on the couch. Although I would love to know why she has to sit or lay on the back like a cat.

 

Esox

[Alaska]

My former floor-sleeper would like to put in her vote for Kuranda-type beds. Get the real thing if you have a chewer. Otherwise one of the cheap imitations, or a homemade version, would work fine.

[MaryP]

All of my dogs like dog beds, but Milo's favorite place to sleep during the day is the shower. Often, Charlie will join him.

 

 

I had a really nice big (expensive) dog bed in my living room that the dogs really liked. Then, Skittles happened.

 

[PSmitty]

Skittles!

 

I had two big dog beds, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. The one in the bedroom never gets used, since they prefer our human bed. The one in the living room gets used a lot, even though they're allowed on the furniture. However, that one got ruined when a *cat* peed on it Sunday night or Monday morning. I knew there was a reason those buggers are banished to their room overnight! Anyway, I moved the bedroom dog bed out to the living room and the dogs will use it now that it's out there. However, I need to buy a new one, since it doesn't match the colors in my living room. (Go ahead, roll your eyes at me. )

 

Here's the one I just had to toss. We really liked it! Darn cat...