What does anyone use for their dog's /dogs' beds?  At the moment we have a wicker basket with a big 'dog duvet', covered in thick fleecy dog mats (with fluffy sheep he can chase in his sleep :)  ), but though I can wash the fleeces and duvet cover, the duvet itself isn't washable which isn't much good (just bought it cheaply at a local market).  Just wondering if anyone had any supertips or could recommend a good bed!

I have always used dog duvets, as I like to change the covers regularly.  I tried washing the actual duvets, and it ruined them.  I now only buy decent duvets (not cheap ones), and immediately put a waterproof cover on.  Then the zip up cotton covers. 

Doesn't matter if the covers needing changing daily, I always keep a decent stock in.  I prefer cotton to synthetic.  And the waterproof cover just needs a quick wipe down. 

My daughter´s whippet, who now lives with me, has a plastic bed lined with a very long-"haired" sheepskin coat, wool side up.  (The fleece is about 2" long).  Then he´s covered over with a lightweight blanket.  My own little dog sleeps on the bed with me but I also have several soft, washable, dog beds around the house which the dogs and cats use if they feel like it during the day.

I use Tuffies wipe clean beds.  In the utility room they're uncovered but draped with either vet bed or cotton towels, in the other rooms they're generally covered with cotton canvas covers from Orvis.

They never smell, clean very easily after accidents and, without covers, are great for eating raw bones in this horrible weather we've been having (the dogs normally eat these outside).  I just spray with Odour Fresh and wipe down.

I recently bought 2 shallow trug buckets and line them with vet bed, if it is very cold I will throw in some loose bits of fleece they can snuggle under, all bedding easily thrown in the wash and quickly dries.

Have plastic baskets & tried many liners but the best ones have been home made & lasted years. Bought a double 4'' thick mattress topper which we cut to fit, covered in water proof fabric (came with the mattress),  covered again in material that's used for chef's trousers & then top with a towel. Towels are changed daily & the poly cotton cover is washed when required. easy to keep clean & the dogs have really taken to them. Wish we had done it years ago, only adjustment if did again would be to make a bumper to go around the sides. LOL!

Tuffies convert here have tried many other beds but these are great and keep their shape forever! I use vetbed as a top covering which is easily washed. Our plastic beds are now kept at the caravan we just take vetbed when we stay there.

Yep, Tuffies for me too.  Not cheap but last for years and years.  I have saved money in the long run, having tried all sorts of other beds which were either chewed or just did not last.  The dogs love them even if I do not cover them - but I do use the Tuffies woven covers on them most of the time which makes them extra cosy and also wicks away any dampness from the boys' coats very effectively.  Covers come out of the washing machine almost dry and the beds themselves just hose down - brilliant!  Wouldn't have anything else now.  If I win the lottery I will have a couple in each room of the house - my boys would be delighted!

I have several Danish design dog beds,one plastic bed which has a duvet and blanket in it,a very large wicker basket which is lined with vet bed,and two raised dog beds which also have vet bed on top.

Also have several fleecy crate mats in various rooms.I seem to have dog beds dotted all over the house and still my lot prefer the settee during the day and more often than not they all climb into the wicker basket together on a night!

Lots of cozy dogs out there!  Thanks for all the ideas, will go and look at Tuffies

My clumbers always had OTT beds from over the top textiles,supportive,warm and washable covers etc. They always liked the bolster thing to lie their heads on like a pillow.

>Tuffies convert here have tried many other beds but these are great and keep their shape forever

Well that didn't happen for me I'm afraid.  At Cruft's this year I spent well in excess of £200 on their stand and will never use them again.  NEVER.

I had the 2 biggest beds, and asked about covers.  They only had the heaviest most expensive for the biggest bed, and the medium range for the 2nd size down.  I bought both.  £60 (They saw me coming!)  It would have been helpful for them to have said that the heavy cover needed an industrial size washing machine. 

The 2nd size cover only had 3 washes before tufts of material came out, and it looks moth eaten and tatty.  Total rubbish craftmanship and quality.  The larger one, I found wouldn't go in my machine, although I do have the larger domestic drum. 

I washed it in my double walk in shower.  I couldn't physically lift it once wet.  Had to wait for my dog sitter to come and help me drag it down the garden.  I only used tepid water and a mild washing powder.  It shrank so narrow that I struggled to force the largest bed into it.  It did not keep it's shape forever, it is totally rucked up and looks like those corrugated roofs.  I tried to explain the problem to Tuffies, who sent several emails more or less doubting me, and if I sent the covers back and they didn't agree with me, then I would have to pay the carriage both ways, instead of one.  And they quoted enough to make me realise that I wasn't going to get satisfaction.  I didn't like the tone, or the intimidation.  I had to let it drop. 

I would never recommend their customer service training, or their goods.  I was made to feel awful.  And I wasted so much money, I could cry.

Nando has his crate which just has an old duvet cover in, but he only goes in there when we're out for extended periods of time. He has a 'kennelmate' bed which is waterproof and hose washable but the hairs stick to it and as such it does get quite pongy!

He also has a colaroo raised bed which is probably his favourite as it keeps him cool, it is our favourite too as it sits on top of his crate out the way if we need the floor space, you can hoover it, and it doesn't smell. The Kennelmate bed is really good but a pain in the $£%£$^ to get the hairs off it so it tends to stay in the conservatory as it looks a bit scruffy.

If you had a breed that doesn't shed as much as a GSD, though I'd really recommend them. I won mine so I didn't pay a penny but from what I understand they're about £60.

I have get bed in their drying off sleeping areas then duvet beds in the lounge when they are dry and clean.

Vet bed is great as pop them in a wash bag then after they are washed they are draped over the doors and dry off in a couple of hours.

tuffies for my girls. I have two made to measure tuffies. i have had to sleep on one and it is v comfortable. would not use anything else now.

My lot much prefer the floor to any bed...they have a large plastic bed each with vet bed in but they either drag all the vet bed out and sleep in the empty beds or just stretch out on the floor. They are shut in the conservatory at night where the beds are but 99% of the time if I look in through the night they are all zonked out on the floors...Vino likes to sleep in front of the dinning room doors on the tiles, Merlot will often be found in a bed with the vet bed dragged out! and Pepsi likes the thick rug on the floor. During the day they sleep anywhere...usually in a doorway! Bernese are hot dogs and do not need to be snuggled up. In the evening if it is dry and the back doors are open Vino likes to sleep out on the patio. Pepsi's favourite daytime sleeping spot is under the desk in the office. 99% of the time the first job in the morning is to put all the vet bed back in the beds..!! In the evening when we are in the lounge, Merlot sleeps on the floor by my feet. I have never spent a lot on beds as they all can take them or leave them..Vino likes to climb up on the sofa and suggle her Dad !!
Aileen

Must reply to Jean's experience of Tuffies.

When I said "they keep their shape forever" I was referring to the actual mattress beds I purchased. They are now 2 years old and are as good now as when I purchased them. I originally purchased them after visiting a friend with an elderly Great Dane who had hers for 5 years. It still had "bounce" even though it had a very large dog sleeping on it.

I didn't buy the covers from Tuffies so can't comment on how good or bad they are.

I simply use pieces of Vetbed laid on the top, which makes them a bit cosier but are also easy to wash time and time again. The actual beds can be hosed or power washed which I've also done.

I do now also have a "nest" bed made from the same material, the dogs all love sleeping in it, thankfully we don't have chewers so the beds should last a lifetime. In my opinion they are a good investment.

Yes, similar to itsadogslife, just want to add that I recommended Tuffies as mine are still as good as new after long wear and have been a great success.  I have three of the flat wipe clean beds, all heavily used. I have had the oldest for five years and the 'youngest' I have had for three years.  I use the tightly woven 'wicking covers' on mine.  These are also still going strong, so all in all I have been very pleased with them.

Sorry to hear about Jean' very disappointing experience with Tuffies.  I don't know if perhaps the quality has changed since I last bought one, or if the quality does vary depending on which beds/covers are chosen - a shame if this is the case.  I hope not to have to replace mine for many more years but it would be nice to think the quality would be as good when the time comes!

Two different dogs here:

My older dog would hate the Tuffies cushion type (thankfully, as I would never spend that much money on one anyway) - he likes a bed that he can be 'in' - I would like to use a plastic bed for cleaning but hate the rigidity/hardness of them. I use a fabric covered foam type bed from the cheap shop with a vet bed 'liner' inside so that the vet bed can get a regular wash and the rest of the bed only gets washed when it is good drying weather :) :) Younger dog has the same but she only sleeps in the bed if it's very cold (she sleeps in a slightly heated garden room) - the rest of the time she prefers the tiled floor :) :) These 'cheap' beds have lasted 5 years so far and are still in good nick - they are also very light so good for kicking around the floor when cleaning etc  :)

We have a large plastic bed with Vetbed on the bottom, a single duvet cover and a couple of bits of fleece. Inca loves to bury herself under it all!
I never recommend expensive cushion type dogs beds to my puppy owners as Inca and her Mum both chewed quite badly as youngsters. Towels and single duvet covers from the charity shop are the best thing I have found so far as easily washed and thrown away when too dirty / holey!

> When I said "they keep their shape forever" I was referring to the actual mattress beds I purchased.

Yes, I know, so was I!  And over £100 for a bed that now looks like a concertina.  Just to confirm, yes it is the beds that I would never buy again, due to the total lack of a decent customer service ethos.  They were horrible, even after I took photographs and sent them.  The woman had me in tears.

Yes, Daisy - each dog to their own and no accounting for taste when it comes to beds!  Your post made me laugh as it reminded me that after careful consideration a friend of mine invested in a Tuffie for her two Pointers.  They turned their noses up at it big time and refused to have anything to do with it under any circumstances.  She had to sell it on ... !

>each dog to their own and no accounting for taste when it comes to beds

LOL - maybe someone on here fancies this bed for their dog ??? Coming up later on Amazon Black Friday Deals - price to be announced later :) :)

Disney Princess Dog Bed

Well I'm jelaous! Only my toydogs can have actual bedding, which is inside their crates that they use as beds. It's fairly safe there. Lots of blankets etc. The big dogs that sleep in the kitchen just have plastic beds, every time I try putting vetbed in them they chew it to pieces within minutes -I have SO many large vetbeds with holes in! They even chew the hard beds! (Or they did when younger, I've just got rid of the last chewed bed and no chew marks on the new ones yet.) 3 of the Malis spend most of their time in the living room (but sleep in the bedroom on vetbeds) and for the oldie I figured she could do with a bed as when the others take up the couch (large corner one but with Paps, cats, Malis and the Cavalier, it soon gets crowded! Never mind people!) she sometimes just lies on the floor which is hard. So I got her a large plastic bed and put vetbed inside. She loved in, but I had to take it away because everyone ELSE just used it as a toilet! The toydogs, the cats, even the Mali pup! Why they felt it was a toilet I have no idea but Ripley gave up even trying to sleep in it so I had to remove it. :(

I bought a Tuffie nest for my Vizsla & she loves it.  She can snuggle up in it & I can cover her with a blanky.  Or put her sleeping bag inside it & she can crawl in.  I've had it years & it still looks as good as new - keeps all the drafts out.

I bought a heavyweight fleece cover for the base & it's been great.  She has the Large size.  2 small-ish but friendly Vizslas could snuggle up in it.

Plastic dog beds and 1/4 sheet (30" x 20" inch) piece of vet bed, wash as needed.

LOL - maybe someone on here fancies this bed for their dog ??? Coming up later on Amazon Black Friday Deals - price to be announced later 

Disney Princess Dog Bed
I'm sure my big huge GSD male would love that..! lol

Jean, sounds like you had an awful experience there, I guess you only find out about "good" or not so good customer services is when you have a problem. So far no problem with the beds I purchased, it sounds as if you had a good reason to complain, perhaps there was a poor batch or something?

Tuffies here too.

We only buy the cheapest covers - each one is about £20 - because we have a Chewer amongst us.  Each cover lasts about 8 months, during which time it gets slowly eaten from the corners inwards. 

If I don't put a cover on them, the dogs don't like them, and vet bed slips off the slippy Tuffie.

>perhaps there was a poor batch or something?

I really don't know, but when you spend hundreds of pounds, you expect any complaint to be put right at no cost to yourself.  They don't look at it that way, so I consider that to be rubbish customer service.  I honestly couldn't fork out any more money, and it was very much looking as if I would have to.  I had to drop any further action because I couldn't afford it.

I have the lowest opinion of them.  Don't know if it was a poor "batch" as I bought at Cruft's this year.  I have learned an expensive lesson. 

I feel really mean now. My dog has a simple cheap (Tesco own brand) single duvet folded into 4 which then fits inside a cover my friends mum made form an old pair of curtains. On the top is the vet bed fleecing. The vet bed fleece gets regularly washed and the cover often but less so. The duvet doesnt smell - think its because the cover is quite thick so never needed to wash it. To be honest though, if ihad to wash the duvet I would probably just chuck it and buy another as it was so cheap.

These, which I highly recommend: http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dog_beds_baskets/round_beds/polyester/129263

Don't feel mean Freds Mum - my dogs don't have beds at all. My GR very rarely used his bed when he had one and far prefers to lie on the tiled floors even in the colder months of the year and our little terrierX just lies on top of the GR :-) I gave the dog beds to our local rescue centre as they were just taking up space and were never used.

The car crate has a piece of carpet on the bottom with vet bed on the top and that is the full extent of their luxury :-)

I've 2 waterproof nest beds, i found them on sale at the local petstore and have been pleased with the quality as have held their shape and are easily cleaned, though I usually just hoover it as it doesn't seem to smell. I also use folded single duvets, as they are cheap and add extra comfort/warmth (on winter nights they like being tucked in lol). http://www.petrange.co.uk/Dog-Beds/DZD5N-80cm-(32-inch)-Navy-Oval-Askrigg-Bed. During the day the dogs spend most of the time sprawled on the sofa's.