Do-it-yourself dog bed - instructions for making it from fabric, wood, plywood

Most pet lovers prefer to buy dog ​​beds in stores or online. However, you can always make your own bedding or a whole bed for your dog.

You will have the opportunity to choose techniques and materials that will fit into the design of your room and will correspond to the size of your pet.

Kinds:

There are almost as many types of bedding for animals as there are for people. You can find closed and open beds for dogs, in the form of a house, sofa, mattress. When choosing a lounger, focus on the breed and size of your pet and the interior of your room.

Lounger (lounger)

The sides on the bed can serve as a pillow for the dog if he wants to sleep. You can chew them if you really want to. Manufacturers have provided for this possibility and made the sides from anti-vandal fabric. Animals that like to sleep curled up with their tail lying near their muzzle feel especially comfortable on such a bed. Often the bed is oval or round in shape.

You can put your head on the side of the lounger, like on a pillow.

Nest

The sides are wide and stable, and the bottom is slightly lower than the sides. A small dog can lie on a round bed in a way that is comfortable for it, a larger dog can curl up.

The bed looks like a bird's nest.

Sofa

Sofas can be of several types. Some actually look like human furniture, only small. This is a beautiful, but not functional accessory. A small animal can use such a bed; under an active and large one, the legs of the sofa will quickly sway and become unusable. Another type of sofa is similar to a regular lounger, only it does not have part of the side. The dog can rest its head on the existing sides, like on a pillow, or stretch out to its full height and hang from the bed where there are no sides. This sofa is comfortable for the animal.

The sofa is suitable for small dogs.

or

This type of sofa is more functional.

Lounger-mattress

It is made from the same materials as mattresses for humans and provides the animal with a sufficient level of comfort. The high mattress does not sag under the weight of even a massive Great Dane. A representative of any breed can position itself the way you want - stretch out its paws, hang over a lounger. Nothing gets in the way.

The mattress is suitable for a dog of any breed.

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Litter

Similar to a mattress, but thinner. If necessary, the bedding can be moved or even taken with you, for example, on a hike or to the country. The dog itself can change its location by dragging its rug to wherever it wants.

The dog can drag its own bedding.

Houses.

Most often bought for cats, but also suitable for small dogs. The animal feels protected (this is especially important for small creatures); the bed looks like a real booth. The disadvantage of the design is that the access to oxygen is seriously limited, and there is already little oxygen in the apartment. If the animal lies with its nose against the wall, it will be difficult for it to breathe.

The house is poorly ventilated.

Aviaries and houses

In order for your pet to live comfortably, the place must be equipped according to all the rules. If you leave your baby alone for a long time, in order to avoid injury, purchase an enclosure - a fence in the form of a cage or playpen. Prices for such structures range from 500 to 4,000 rubles.

Special houses for dogs look very cute in the interior, because they have an elegant design. By purchasing a soft “kennel”, you create a complete relaxation area for your puppy, in which he will feel like a master. When choosing a house, consider the size of your pet. It should be very spacious so that the dog feels warm and comfortable. Houses cost from 1,500 to 6,000 rubles.

House for Spitz

Dimensions

The size of the mattress depends on the preferred sleeping position and weight of the pet. For those who like to sleep curled up in a ball, you can take models that are slightly smaller than those recommended. If the dog is resting, stretched out to its full height and with its paws spread, choose a model that is slightly larger than indicated in the table. How to choose the right size dog bed?

General recommendations are:

Size	What breeds is it suitable for?
50x37 cm	A small bed is suitable for small breeds: Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas and others.
64x47	Spitz, Maltese, Pug.
70x50	Animals of medium height - dachshund, French bulldog.
90x70	Corgi, Husky, Jack Russell, Shepherd, Beagle, Cocker Spaniel.
97x117	Large dogs - Great Dane, Labrador.

Everything for a walk

Before taking your pet for a walk, prepare everything you need:

• collar or harness;
• leash or tape measure.

Select a collar and harness according to the size of your dog; they should not be very large, but you should not choose them too close. Look at the material of manufacture. Canvas collars and harnesses will be very rough on your Pomeranian. It is optimal to choose ammunition made of leather or nylon. Just keep in mind that leather products have stretching properties, and they are much more expensive. Prices for collars start from 150 rubles, harnesses - from 300 rubles, leashes - from 150 rubles, and tape measures - from 650 rubles.

On a walk

Materials: what are beds made from?

A mattress for a pet can be either homemade or made by professionals. There are quite a lot of filling options. There are only two requirements for them - the lounger must be comfortable for the pet, and it can be easily cleaned (or even washed in a washing machine). Let's consider several options.

• Polyurethane foam, monolithic block. Another name for the material is artificial latex. It holds its shape well, is easy to clean, allows air to pass through, and therefore does not accumulate dust and dirt inside. Modern polyurethane foam differs from foam rubber, which was used 10 years ago. This is a high-tech foam that is used in both pet beds and human mattresses.
• The polyurethane foam crumbs pleasantly pour under the pet and have a slight massage effect. A bed made of cut polyurethane foam is always quilted, so the filling does not bunch up, but is evenly distributed throughout the entire product.
• Hollofiber consists of many thin synthetic fibers twisted into spirals. Unlike natural fillers, it is not of interest to pests; colonies of microorganisms do not settle in it even after many years of use.
• Coconut coir. Hard natural filler with antibacterial properties. Inside the coconut bed, no conditions are created for the life of pathogenic microflora and parasites. Unlike artificial fillers, coconut cannot be washed in a washing machine; it is not advisable to bend it. But coconut can withstand heavy loads and not deform even after years of use; it is suitable for large breeds.
• Bikokos. A mixture of coconut and artificial fibers. Durable, tough, durable material. Do not bend or get wet.
• The memory mold is made from an innovative material that follows the contours of the animal's body and does not exert back pressure when pressed. It is considered an elite filler even in mattresses for people. Memory is especially needed for dogs with sore and sensitive joints. There is only one drawback to shape memory foam - the material is afraid of water. Memory beds usually come with a removable waterproof cover that is easy to wash. It is enough to vacuum the filler.
• Natural latex is an elastic, durable material that can last more than 10 years. It springs a little when loaded, quickly recovers after deformation.

Best fabric for upholstery:

Matting. Durable, abrasion-resistant fabric. Double or even triple weave of threads makes the material resistant to deformation.

Velours. It is inferior to matting in strength, but it is superior in appearance. Velor is similar to velvet; a bed made from it will decorate your interior. Small breeds - Yorkies, Chihuahuas, pugs - look especially impressive on this model.

Flock. Soft, pleasant material consisting of fibers glued to artificial fiber.

Chintz. The most budget material, not very resistant to the claws and teeth of animals. A model with chintz upholstery is worth buying for calm adult animals who will not chew their bed.

Membrane waterproof fabric is not used on its own, but as a backing for another material. It allows air to pass through and allows the filler to ventilate, but retains moisture and protects against contamination.

Feed accessories

When choosing a bowl for feeding your pet, give preference to ceramics. Ceramic bowls, according to experts, have a number of significant advantages:

• absence of a specific chemical odor;
• increased strength;
• stability due to the heavy weight of the product;
• no slipping.

Attention ! Buying a plastic bowl can lead to poisoning of your pet.

Prices for feeding utensils vary from 250 to 4,000 rubles.

Tips for choosing

There are several factors to consider before purchasing.

• Dimensions of the animal. The taller and longer the animal, the larger the sleeping place for it should be. A dog bed can be significantly larger than required, but not smaller.
• Favorite sleep position. For those who like to sleep in a ball, beds with sides are suitable. If the dog sleeps with its paws stretched out, take a mattress.
• The price depends on the filler and the manufacturer. The average price of a couch is from 1 to 7 thousand rubles.
• Houses and other models with a roof are suitable for a small number of small dogs. It is better to choose models with an open top, as it will be easier for your pet to breathe.
• Choose a washable bed for your puppy, that is, filled with holofiber or polyurethane foam, not coconut coir. A small puppy is not yet toilet trained, and he may get his bed dirty. A good option is a zippered model with a waterproof membrane backing.

Place on the owner's bed

Very caring owners of Spitz dogs often give in and let their plush pets come to their bed. This is not recommended for the following reasons:

• The Spitz will quickly get used to sleeping next to its owner on a large and warm bed. After this, it is difficult to accustom the Pomeranian to his house or bed. If you manage to wean him from the habit of sleeping on the bed, then only if the new sleeping place is next to the bedroom. And throughout its life, the pet will not be able to sleep peacefully away from its owner.
• The owner of a Pomeranian can harm him at night. The Pomeranian is a small and fragile breed. A person in a dream does not control his movements. When a sleeping person turns around in a different sleep position, the health of the small Spitz lying next to him is in danger.
• The height of the bed is quite high so that the Spitz can jump off it on its own. At night, when a pet wants to go to the toilet, it can jump out of bed. The knee joints may move out of their normal position. In this case, treating the Spitz will take a long time and will be difficult for the Spitz.

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Sewn classic

Using the same scheme, you can make a dog bed of a slightly different type. With folding sides with ties or zippers, it will also be transformable, and if sewn tightly, it will be a permanent home item. Of course, in this case it can also be placed on the frame for a large dog.

Patterns of simple soft beds for medium-sized dogs are shown in Fig. On the left is “for growth”, with an entrance for the puppy; on the right - for an adult dog. Dimensions are for solid foam padding; textile parts should be given a processing allowance of 2-3 cm.

Patterns of simple soft beds for dogs

The usual sewing method is reversed:

• On the sides of the parts mating in the product, opposite the fold lines, the allowance is doubled;
• The modules (cushion, sides) are stitched from the inside out, leaving armholes for the stuffing;
• The mating sides of the modules are stitched with a double seam to further form a wing 2-3 cm wide, free from stuffing;
• The sewn modules are turned inside out through the armholes;
• The side wings and pillows are folded onto the inside (where the dog will be) and sewn together with a front seam;
• Stuffing is placed through the armholes into the sewn modules;
• The armholes are sewn up with a facial stitch;
• The sides are sewn together according to step 5.

This is also not the only possible sewing method. You can sew a soft bed for a dog as shown in the story

Video: soft dog bed

​Buy or make it yourself?

Today there is no need to roll up your sleeves and take up tools, turning a room into a workshop, wasting your sometimes short leisure time. However, many people prefer all this to going to the store, rightly believing that a handmade item contains a piece of their soul and talent, which means it will be more pleasant to use. Both views deserve respect, but we prefer handmade.

There are many advantages to making a dog bed yourself, but there are also disadvantages - time spent and, perhaps, not a very professional level of production. The last statement is very controversial when an experienced needlewoman (or needleworker) gets down to business.

The following arguments can be made for a homemade corner for a pet:

• you can make a dog bed of any size;
• getting to know the animal’s habits will allow the owner to more accurately determine the size, shape, level of rigidity of the bedding and even the color of the bed;
• if you wish, you can get confused and create a truly exclusive dog (or cat) bed, which, at the same time, will become a landmark in your home;
• This is not such a complicated matter, as you can easily see by looking at the illustrations in this article and doing some additional googling;
• making a cozy bed for everyone’s favorite is a great reason to get the whole family together, and for a friendly group, any task can be done!
• saving the family’s financial resources is a necessary thing, and to build an excellent bed you can only use available materials.

In support of the above, we can add the fact that animals that are strongly attached to their owner often like to sleep on elements of his clothing. Therefore, beds are often made from old sweaters, T-shirts, shirts or jeans. Industrial designs smell of new textiles, dyes and storage facilities, which does not at all guarantee the animal’s attachment to its new habitat. And here the dog will be happy, and unnecessary things will be disposed of.

Exhibition accessories

If you are going to show your pet at an exhibition, you need to collect a fairly large list of everything you need:

1. Show rings: you will need several of them, as they get torn or lost. They cost 260-1,600 rubles.
2. Combs: 600-2,500 rub.
3. Bowls, water and treats with a bag.
4. Toys: 60-900 rub.
5. Number holder: 150-450 rub.
6. Pre-ring cosmetics: 150-250 rub.
7. First aid kit for dogs: 450-1,500 rubles.
8. Carrying cages: RUB 1,500-5,200.
9. Towels and diapers: 200-1,000 rubles.
10. Table and table for grooming: together from 6,500 rub.

At the exhibition
Also, do not forget a certificate from the veterinarian, documents for the dog, wet and dry wipes, a garbage bag, a schedule for the rings, an invitation to the exhibition, and, of course, the pet itself!

Source

Cloth

The Pomeranian breed and other types of Spitz are famous for their thick coat and dense undercoat. These dogs are not afraid of cold conditions, but they still need clothing to avoid unnecessary brushing and small debris getting into their fur.

Note ! Different costumes are required for boys and girls.

Jumpsuits

A chic fur coat does not always save your pet from the cold during long walks, and hypothermia can lead to serious illness for your pet. It is in frosty weather, especially when there is heavy rainfall, that you wear overalls on your Pomeranian. They come in varying degrees of insulation. For frosts from 20 degrees, blowers with or without hoods are perfect. Their prices vary greatly from 800 to 8,000 rubles.