OT: Recommendations for dog bed?

[deborah_r]

I know lots of you have dogs. I would like to get mine OFF of my couch. He used to NEVER go on the couch, but something happened and somehow he snuck his way on there and never left. We had given a pappisan chair over to him and he loved that, but it took up too much room so we trashed it.

So he needs a dog bed, a place he can call his. I think he really has an aversion to sleeping on the floor, so maybe something raised a little? But I guess if it were comfortable enough he would go for being on the floor. The dog kennel he used to go to told me the only bed he didn't chew up when he stayed was one that was elevated with little feet and where he laid in kind of a little hammock. But he's not a really bad chewer anymore. He's 9 years old, about 50 lbs.

Does anyone have a dog bed they would recommend?

[Momof3Labs]

Orvis dog nests! We haven't had a dog yet (out of 5 Labs and a Golden) who hasn't liked an Orvis dog nest. They have a Tough Chew option:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_chart.asp?dir_id=1633&Group_ID=1634&cat_id=1010&subcat_id=2

And here's the original canvas, which we have (we prefer the beads, which retain heat nicely so the nest stays warm and snuggly):

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_chart.asp?dir_id=1633&Group_ID=1634&cat_id=1010&subcat_id=3

They have other options, too, like the deep dish:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_showcase3.asp?dir_id=1633&Group_ID=1634&cat_id=1010&subcat_id=6

And the comfort couch:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_showcase3.asp?dir_id=1633&Group_ID=1634&cat_id=1010&subcat_id=4

Don't get me wrong - they are pricey! But the covers are washable, and the beads are refillable. My parents have one that is 8-9 years old and going strong, and I have one here that is at least 7 years old and looks great, too.

[deborah_r]

Those look awesome - thank you Lori! And they just opened an Orvis in Pasadena (next to Gymboree, LOL, I can drop all my money in one city block!) And I was figuring on spending about that much, not too pricey for my little four-legged friend! (Cheaper than a new couch...)

[pritchettzoo]

Our dogs love Snuggle Balls. We got the last one on ebay. The problem is that all the animals like them. Especially George the cat, who decided that he needed to pee on it so no one else would sleep on it. Grr.

I wonder if the Orvis ones would be more cat-pee-resistant?

Anna
Mama to Gracie (9/16/03)

[egoldber]

We have the same problem with our dog beds. The cats think they are the PERFECT place to pee. So we have am inexpensive one from Petco in our bedroom, where no cats are allowed.

[heva]

We LOVE our LL Bean dog bed!
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=33185&sc1=Search&feat=sr

And so does the doggie:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/1378.jpg

[heidi_timms]

Costco has great big dog beds for $16 usually and they even have pet throws from time to time that you can lay over your couch. The beds are cheap enough to replace once they get too beat up. Our dogs seem to chew them up all of the time, so it's nice to find them pretty cheap.
~Heidi
Mom to Kailey Ashlin
4/27/03

[Momof3Labs]

If you go to the store and they don't have what you want, they will order it for you and ship it to your house free, so it's definitely worth a trip to the store if it is close by!

[mollyi]

What a cute doggie picture!! :) Edie the basset hound also highly recommends the LL Bean beds. She says to make sure to get the fleece-top ones. (My SIL has an all-denim one for her basset and he doesn't like it). Edie is not a chewer, though, so I don't know whether they would stand up to much chewing.

Molly (Mommy to Andy 2/8/02)

[pritchettzoo]

I'm glad it's not just my little nutballs! Unfortunately there's no cat-free zone in our house. So we have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and sometimes a baby in our bed. There needs to be a size larger than king!

Anna
Mama to Gracie (9/16/03)

[zen_bliss]

we have an indestructible dog cot hammock -- easy to clean (just wipe off), gets the joints off the hard floor, thwarts chewers. they can be made any size.

http://www.hh-industries.com/satisfied.htm
those are my girls upper left (the big one, r.i.p.)

[egoldber]

Well out bedroom became a cat free zone after the cats decided that our down comforter was just as good, if not better, than the dog bed to pee on!!

[nitaghei]

Check out
www.drsfostersmith.com

They have a ton of choices, including some raised ones. My cocker, who is older and arthritic, loves the orthopedic foam bed. My PWD has a snuggle nest.

We also have the LL Bean beds, which are nice - but have one major problem - they aren't washable.

The Orvis nests are wonderful, too.

(Do I have a little problem here - I have all these dog beds - and only 2 dogs?)

HTH
(edited to correct URL)

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[mik8]

This is what our 46 lbs. Sparky has. It's a little on the pricey side but he loves it and is very comfy with it. It "comes with 2 covers." The site has a sizing measurement recommendation. The only times we noticed Sparky on the couch or sofa were when our smoke/carbon monoxide alarm batteries were running low and it emitted infrequent sounds which was even hardly audible to us. For some reason it became his haven of security because the sounds scared him so much. He's back on his bed now.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3168&R=4129&N=2001+22729+113545&in_merch=1

Good luck on your quest.

[Momof3Labs]

Orvis has a waterproof option, so you would just wash the cover and the pee wouldn't get into the bedding. But knowing cats, they wouldn't care...

[deborah_r]

Zen,

You always find the most obscure sources for things, and it's such great stuff. those cots are cool! And free shipping? Amazing!

[Kate888]

After several dog beds from Petsmart and Target, we finally got the super delux bed from Doctors Foster and Smith for our 110 lbs Newfie mix. It's SO much more durable and holds his weight nicely. Very easy to clean and vacuum, too. It doesn't seem to hold the doggie smell like other beds we've tried. There is no need to shake the bed to redistribute the stuffings. It's such a great bed and our dog likes it a lot, too :)

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3230&R=4583&N=2001+113545&in_merch=1

HTH :)

Kate
Mama to Maya 2-17-02

[pritchettzoo]

NO! I think our cats are related! Do you read Get Fuzzy in the funnies?

Anna
Mama to Gracie (9/16/03)

[Momof3Labs]

Just an FYI... www.omahavaccine.com is not as well known as Drs. Fosters and Smith, but tends to be MUCH cheaper. They don't carry the exact same things, but have a good selection of less expensive pet beds. We order all kinds of stuff from Omaha Vaccine since their prices are so great - even non-prescription meds that our Golden takes! And OVC has free shipping through December 31!

[nitaghei]

Lori,
I agree - Omaha Vaccine is a great resource - I always get flea and tick stuff and supplements from them. But Drs. Foster and Smith rule for dog beds - and toys!

Oh- and Petedge (New England Serum) for grooming stuff. Sometimes they have great deals on basic dog beds too!

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[KGoes]

For our older dog, who has a bad habit of tearing up dog beds while "nesting" and occasional incontinence issues, we ended up buying a queen sized comforter at big lots. I fold it over to create her "nest." It's not attractive, but it's comfy, easy to wash, and thick enough when folded that we do not get leak through. It was much cheaper than a regular dog bed, and she has not yet torn it up, which is a record.
Our younger, more active dog who can shred a plush toy of any kind in under 5 minutes has left her dog bed in pristine condition for going on two years.
Sometimes, I just have to go with the flow.
Kelley
DD born 7/03