I'm looking for a new bed for my Retriever Gertie. She's getting a bit creaky in the back legs and likes to stretch out. She has several beds around the house but they're all round 'softee' beds. I've seen ads on the web for square foam beds from Norway I think. They have a 'shelf' all around and are made from wipeable fabric. Although you obviously put a vet bed or blanket in the middle. I just remember reading somewhere that dogs like to raise their heads higher than their bodies. Has anyone tried one of these beds? They are expensive, but obviously I don't mind that if I thought she'd like it. Or if anyone can recommend any other bed I'd be grateful. As long as it's supportive and comfortable for her. ie not a hard plastic preformed bed. Thank you all. Annie and Gertie.

My oldies have always liked the creature comforts when they have got older and we have always had sofas for them.Also the choiceof double thickness duvets which they have also found confortable and also easily washable for those inevitable accidents !

Lucy

Thanks for the reply Lucy. Believe me,Gertie likes the sofa as well. We have a duvet cover which she munges up in one of her beds, But she sleeps at the bottom of our bed at night, on an arrangement of pillows, square foam cushions and snuggly blankets. She likes it because she can stretch out at night, which means she's less stiff in the mornings. We just thought we might try one of these 'loungers' I found the name out last night. They come from Denmark I think. It's good to see we all make sure our dogs are comfy. Even if we have to budge up on the sofa - or vacate it completely!
Annie.

Hi

My oldie has a 35" hard bed, with a raised base, and ventilation holes in it. Inside that, she has mattressliners, which are raised all round the edge, which she loves, as it raises her head like a pillow. The liners are made from firm foam, and supports her really well. They are machine washable, tumble dryable.They have thick cotton fabric one side, and fleece on the other. In the winter, I lay vet bedding on top, to make it cosier.
The liners were from Lucky Pets, when we went to Crufts, but I have since got another one as a spare, from Lucky Pets, by ordering over the phone. They were really helpful, and the liner arrived in a couple of days. Cost was about £16.(They have a web site too.)
My oldie gets out of her bed and has a lovely stretch, and you can see she is really comfortable on it.

Sami

Hi Sami
Thanks for the info about the liners. They sound really good. Gertie likes her head raised as well. I shall check out the Lucky Pets site tonight. The bed sounds good too, did you buy it or make it yourselves?
Annie.

Hi again Sami

Just tried to find Lucky Pets. There's no website under that name for .co.uk. and one under construction for .com. Do you happen to know their website address?
Thanks again.
Annie.

Hi
I have it on my favourites, and it comes under www.eurostitch.co.uk

I've got a catalogue which they sent me here, too, and their phone number is : 01977 600123.

The hard bed is just a run of the mill hard oval plastic bed,35" size, (and you buy the liner to fit the size of the bed), but the bed has a rim round the bottom to raise it a couple of inches off the floor, and ventilation holes in the base, to stop condensation and sweating. It was fairly cheap..about £20 I think, from Pets@ Home. (They last for years, and the puppies like chewing the sides!)

Hope this helps

Sami

Take care with the hard plastic beds with the holes in the base, especially if your dog likes to dig and rearrange her bedding. A friend's dog used to do this, and managed to get a claw trapped in one of the holes.....one panicking dog managed to wrench her toenail out. :( Go for a bed with the vent holes at the sides...

EEKK!! JG ....You've given me something else to worry about now!

I even make a detour around drains in the road in case a dog gets her foot stuck in one of the gaps!

I'm sure I wasn't like this with my daughter! :D

Seriously, my lot don't take the liner out....it's too big for them to move!

Sami

Thanks for that Sami, I'll check it out now.
Annie