courtnek Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Ortho Napper 26" X 38" Hunter Orthopedically designed bed relieves pressure on joints. Provides complete, therapeutic support. Made from thick, medical grade Polyfoam. Built in headrest. Washable lambswool with zippered cover. Economic and lightweight, while providing maximal comfort. Insulates from cold, damp floors. what do you guys think? I need small, easily placed beds that both dogs could use, and since they are noth getting older and I have hardwood floors I want a nice bed. opinions please? thanks. They're 50.00 each!! YIKES!! Quote
Horsefeathers! Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Just my two cents... Go to Wally World (or any of the cheapy, sell for less stores) and get a twin sized foam mattress pad... the egg crate kind. Cut it in half and wrap a sheet or blanket around each half and you'll have TWO very comfortable dog beds for just a few bucks. If you want it super thick, just double stack the two halves. The sheets are easy to take off and sling into the wash. If you want it really decorative, you can buy whatever kind of fabric appeals to you and just sew what will basically look like a big pillowcase to slip the foam padding into. I have a variety of dog beds and bedding around here, including hammock styles, and all, except one, are homemade. I think it's ridiculous to have to pay $50 for a piece of foam and a piece of fabric. Then again, I'm a tightwad. Quote
courtnek Posted September 27, 2003 Author Posted September 27, 2003 So am I, actually, but I dont have a sewing machine and hand sewing wouldnt put up with their restlessness.... I do have a 2 inch thick foam pad down, but Laurel wont lay on it, and I think it's because its "freebee's" pad....she feels like she is walking ont he Alpha dogs space. Freebee rarely uses it, she sleeps on the couch most of the time (yea, I know....but they both see ME as Alpha and obey, so I let them get away with it). I guess I dont really need two, just one for Laurel, but I dont want Freebee to feel left out..... That's why I wanted opinions. Thanks for yours!! :D I guess I want to assign them "their OWN bed" so Freebee stops growling when Laurel lays on the pad, and Laurel stops escaping upstairs to sleep... I feel bad that she's all alone up there, but I am still trying to get her over her fear of my son and his friends.... I thought this might help some. Maybe not.... Quote
Horsefeathers! Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Oh, there are so many ways to go about it! You don't actually need to sew anything. That was just a suggestion if you were wanting something a bit more "customized." You could just take the two halves of the foam mattress pad and cover them with sheets. There are a variety of ways to secure it. After all, the only part that really needs to look "neat" is the part facing upward, right? The underside is where it all goes together. You can fasten a sheet by way of pins (I don't care for them, personally... I'm afraid I always have the rogue who would want to think it's a playtoy and try to remove it), velcro straps, those little old lady girdle snaps, or any of a number of other fasteners that don't require actual sewing and would only take a few minutes (I'm all about cheap and easy, no comments, please :o ). Also, if you're making one for each, absolutely "new," it seems it would offer a level playing field. I know you're already good with behavior and training stuff, so perhaps these points may be moot, but maybe take whatever you would intend to cover each's bed with and let them sleep with it a few times before actually making it into a bed. You know... catch Freebee asleep on the couch and just bunch up "her" sheet with her. Same with Laurel, where ever she is asleep. Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but I don't see how the dog knows the difference between a $50 bed and one significantly cheaper. I'd just hate to be out the 50 bucks and the dog still ignore it. By the way, many of mine nap on the couch, too. :oops: Quote
Horsefeathers! Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 One other thought... perhaps, if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. In other words (no, I'm not being a smartaxe), maybe they each are content with their sleeping arrangements. Maybe Laurel feels more comfortable having someplace to escape to and will come down when she feels ready. It seems like you might be more worried about it than they are. :lol: Quote
courtnek Posted September 28, 2003 Author Posted September 28, 2003 One other thought... perhaps, if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. In other words (no, I'm not being a smartaxe), maybe they each are content with their sleeping arrangements. Maybe Laurel feels more comfortable having someplace to escape to and will come down when she feels ready. It seems like you might be more worried about it than they are. HF, you're right. I'm ALWAYS more worried about it than they are, thats just me. Laurel is very timid, and I've NEVER had a timid dog before. I love her to death, but I have always had to deal with ALPHA dogs (successfully), not Omega dogs.... I am out of my element here...I have never had to raise a dog that cringes at the sight of other people. Maybe I just need to be patient? It just hurts me when she is up there all alone, and I want to find a way to make her understand that nothing will hurt her..... I thought this might help. If not, please let me know!!! :D Quote
atghylin Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 Have you tried old, clean blankets? Ones you don't use any more? That usually saves quite a bit of money. Or if you want a couple of new blankets for yourself you could just give the dogs the ones you want to replace. Just an idea. Quote
courtnek Posted September 28, 2003 Author Posted September 28, 2003 well, I cut the foam padding in two. and wrapped blankets around it that neither one has ever used.....we'll see what happens... :D Quote
Carolk9s Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 Like HF, I've got mattress foam pads with covers for them. Now I'd stitch my fingers together but my sister whipped up covers for the foam on her sewing machine for me. I have two of these, they are 24 inches by 36 inches. They stay in the van on the platform in the back. I also did buy one of the ortho beds as in the photo, any of the 3 dogs will lie on it if the couch is crowded. 8) The pillow headrest is ok but the foam is not that thick. I also found a huge 'body' pillow at Garden Ridge, a local crafts store. They were not terribly expensive and I bought two. They are something like 3 feet wide and 5 feet long, really BIG. I recently put one down on the floor beside my chair and threw an old blanket over it, that is now Jesse's preferred spot. Does not hurt that it's right beside the a/c vent, he hogs all the cool air! Hope Laurel soon learns that she's entitled to a bed too! Quote
DogPaddle Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 We also have an old foam cot mattress that I intend on cutting in half and making a cover for, I'm thinking that sticky backed velcro will work well enough to seal of the covers. Currently my boys have a big folding foamy chair in my room that they could use but still opt for the floor :niewiem: , paticularly corners or nooks or my bed (no problems with alpha here so I don't care unless the get hoggy then I tell them "off the bed" and off they go.) Quote
Lucky Chaos Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 We've actually never had a bed for the dogs, when we just had Lucky he had hisown chair, then we moved and got whole new furniture so Luck got the smaller couch and shared it with Chaos, but now with three dogs I think were gonna have to sacrifice the other couch. :o I actually never though of just using a foam matress, might be something to look into. Oh wait actually I lie, Chaos aquired her own bed when we were at a friends house and wouldn't get off and since there dogs never use it they gave it to us, what a sneak she is :lol: Quote
imported_nea Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 They're 50.00 each!! YIKES!! How about a $385.00-$465.00 bed? :lol: Luxury Pet Furniture "Leopard" print is carefully detailed to fit in with your decor as a real piece of furniture. Fabric is stain protected and zippered for removal for dry cleaning. Furniture forms are well constructed, similar to a fine piece of upholstered furniture. The cushions are filled with synthetic down-like fiber that retains its loft and resiliency. Choose from medium daybed or sofa (pet up to 40 lbs) or large chaise (pet up to 60 lbs). Quote
flypegasus Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 :o How about a $385.00-$465.00 bed? :WTF: :nono: It's better for my doggys to sleep on my bed :lol: Quote
Malamum Posted September 28, 2003 Posted September 28, 2003 We bought Indy one of those trampoline beds but he has never used it once he seems just to prefer to sleep on the floor :-? I don't really like him sleeping on the hard tiles so I think I will go the route of making him a bed like suggested above. Although I can't sew to save my life I think I will just buy the foam and the fabric and take it round to Mum's or my b/f's Mum's and get either of them to sew the cover :wink: Quote
courtnek Posted September 28, 2003 Author Posted September 28, 2003 I just realized that with the sizes of the foam padding, I can put two king size pillowcases over it end to end and be done with it. Now, to get some king sized pillow cases....easily washable too... I;m going to leave the blankets on and put the pillowcases over it. It will probably be more comfortable then MY bed..... :megagrin: Quote
ellieangel Posted September 29, 2003 Posted September 29, 2003 My 2 have tha plain old plastic ones which I fill up with old blankets I like them cos you can just change the bedding over from time to time. They were both cheap too Quote
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