What’s a really big dog gotta do to get a bed around here?
By Christie Keith
November 26, 2006
Since moving five weeks ago, I’ve been on a quest for new dog beds for my giant breed dogs.
I used to use Drs. Foster and Smith’s orthopedic beds, and was always happy with them, despite the fact that I pretty much had to take out a second mortgage to afford the largest size. Truth is, they lasted forever and held their shape perfectly, so they were worth the massive price tag.
I am, I guess, in the minority among dog owners, in that I actually care what my dogs’ beds look like, and want them not merely to blend in with my decor, but actually complement it.
In other words, I want them to be pretty as well as functional.
Sadly, Foster and Smith has discontinued many of their fabric choices, and the few they still offer just don’t work in my new house. So my poor dogs are huddling on piles of quilts laid over old, semi-stinky, seen-better-days, really-belong-at-the-landfill beds.
Okay, scratch the “poor dogs” thing, because they don’t care. They consider the odor and soil a welcome patina. It’s poor Christie, because I’ve always been pretty house proud and at the moment that’s not easy. Because beds for giant breed dogs take up a lot of floorspace and make a definite statement in the room.
I put out a call on the Deerhound list, asking where people bought their dog beds. I got a lot of links to sites that make beds for giant breed dogs. Apparently, everyone who owns giant breed dogs lives in a log cabin, because plaid and denim are pretty much my only fabric choices.
A few other people sent me instructions on how to make my own dog beds. I found this quite charming. The only problem with this suggestion is that when I lose a button off a shirt, I stop wearing it. Me and sewing, not so much. Make that, not at all.
And most of the really cute dog beds? The designer-fabric, custom-look-upholstery, brocade and tapestry and ultra-chic piped-edge beds? The wonderful little donuts and faux-sofas and just about every fabulous and gorgeous dog bed in the world?
Too. Darn. Small.
Yes, I need a bed not much smaller than a twin bed. Beds whose dimensions are given in feet, not inches. Four feet by five feet is good. Something a dog who, when standing on his rear legs, could play professional basketball would like to stretch out on.
And did I mention pretty?
Are these big enough? They look nice.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 26, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
The rectangular ones are currently on my short list, but they don’t make my heart sing. The sofa and nest-style ones are all too small. They make one I crave like an addict craves drugs, but it’s too small:
Bed
In the “Duke” pattern.
Sob.
Comment by Christie Keith — November 26, 2006 @ 1:49 pm
Why not just buy a twin bed? Or a day bed?
Comment by Judi — November 26, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
I read this through the LJ feed but had to come over and comment.
http://www.bowsers.com
I love them. We have something like five of their donut beds in various sizes scattered through the house, the microvelvet dehairs itself with a simple shake, they’re almost completely machine washable, and 18 months after we bought them, the only damage thus far is one tiny rip on one of them.
And during that 18 months, we had a puppy. :) They’re also really attractive and the dogs love them and they come in XXL.
Comment by Stephanie — November 26, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Well, that’s why Vince and I sleep in a king-sized bed…and Cedar takes up more than her third in the middle! And, as she’s not interested in being in bed when we’re not in it, that works for us.
Comment by Sharyn — November 26, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
What about a twin-bed-sized mattress topper? A good one is cheaper than some of the dog beds I’ve seen, and those “memory foam” toppers (Tempur-Pedic, etc.) are super comfy. Yeah, you’d be stuck with a white fabric cover —- but your local upholsterers would be happy to whip up a great-looking cover in the fabric of your choice. Have ‘em add bolsters! Here’s a topper link:
http://www.healthyfoundations.com/toppers.html
And here’s a SoCal upholterer’s link, just for ideas. (Day bed… hmmmm.)
http://www.angelsandmadmen.com/251138.html
Comment by Luisa — November 26, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
Check out a futon store? The one we got our futon pad from (Norka Futon) had every fabric under the freakin’ sun, and definitely had pads in the size you’re searching for.
Comment by Laura — November 26, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
Consider hiring someone like myself who can do the sewing for you to make a cover for the really nice dog bed you already know and love. If you get a nice cover, it’ll come off and you can wash it regularly. Get two, ideally, so one can be in the wash and/or ready to slip on fast before company comes over.
Comment by Georg — November 27, 2006 @ 5:29 am
http://www.westpawdesign.com/
they have great orthopedic beds and will also make custom orders…and they have great customer service.
Comment by Mcappy — November 27, 2006 @ 9:32 am
Christy,
you have to check out http://www.bigshrimpy.com
THey have fabulous big dog beds, (their xl original bed is 47X49 their large nest bed is 40X47. I have Danes and the Xl is big enough for a huge dog to spread out, or 2 huge dogs to cuddle up together. Fabric choices are ultra suede or fleece and the whole bed is machine washable!
Comment by Tracey Rentcome — November 27, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
Check out http://www.dogbedworks.com. They have the Big Shrimpy beds and Bowser Beds. The Bowser Beds come in many different prints and the XL is 52” round.
My favorite is Jax and Bones (www.jaxandbones.com) but at 36 x 36, I don’t think they are big enough. The prints are amazing, though and the fabric is a strong cotton/canvas upholstery fabric. I like it because it doesn’t attract hair like microvelvet or microsuede.
Here’s a picture of Norman, my (big) standard poodle on his Jax and Bones bed: http://www.dogviews.com/2006/0.....lucky.html
Comment by Kim Hanson — November 28, 2006 @ 5:09 pm
Wow. Maybe I need to start up a ‘big dog bed’ business… There seems to be a market niche for big dog products. I don’t mean 48 x 36, I’m talking BIG dog beds… Christie, I have the ‘sewing gene’. I’ve made all manner of things for my (not giant, but not small) Labrador and other hunting ‘mixes’. I’ll give it some thought. Sounds to me like you could buy a twin mattress, or a ‘crib mattress’ and buy a cover for it for a whale of a lot less money than some of those beds! (Hey, you might even talk me into making the cover if you picked the fabric… Good practice and it would be ‘pay back’ for some of the wonderful info you have contributed…)
(Thanks for posting your pic with one of your Pups, love to see the face I’m ‘typing’ to!
Cheers! - Jan
Comment by Jan Parker — November 29, 2006 @ 11:35 am
[…] I’m home sick today, so this’ll be my only post. I’m going to go back to bed! Dr. Marty promises a behind-the-scenes post on the making of his PBS special, “The Animal Doctor With Marty Becker,” which is showing on stations around the country this month. And Christie promises to follow up on big beds for big dogs. […]
Pingback by Pet Connection Blog » The Monday morning news crawl — December 4, 2006 @ 10:44 am
How about a baby crib mattress? I had been looking for a bed for my almost 9-year old dog and was taken back by the prices, not that he isn’t worth spending big bucks on.
I first got the idea of using a crib mattress while browsing at my local thrift shop. It looked similar in size to what I had been looking at on the web … but unfortunately, it was a little to “stiff” so I passed. But the idea lingered and I continued to look every time I visited a thrift store. Then one day … voila! Across from my favorite bakery, was a baby mattress set out on the curb for trash collection. It was in excellent shape.
On the way home, I stopped at a thrift store and picked up a baby mattress contour sheet (Martha Stewart, no less!) for 50-cents that I would use as a temporary cover until I made one or had one made to match my home’s decor.
Before letting the pooch use his new bed, I went over it with a sponge and a commercial pet odor remover. Even though I could not detect any odors, my dog might. After washing the sheet, I covered the clean mattress … my pooch has been sleeping on it every night since.
What is nice about this baby mattress, and probably most, is that is upholstered with a waterproof covering. It also has an inner-spring construction of some sort. I, myself, find it quite comfortable. However, if necessary, I could add a foam mattress topper if my pooch needs more padding in the future.
The size of the bed: approximately 27”x50”.
Comment by Shadeau — December 14, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
The above site gives the information of about various kinds of dog beds i have gone through the similar site which gives a very good idea of different kinds dog beds of various sizes and shapes
Dog beds
Comment by Ricky — March 21, 2007 @ 2:03 am