Does anyone make their own dog beds?  I really like the fleecey dognut beds but am loathed to spend another £30 on, as my hubby says, another bed their won't use! MEN.  Are they easy to make or am i going to be forced into convincing OH that a new bed is the only option. SIGH

i dont bother with dog beds because lucy my bullmastiff just ends up ripping them to bits i had gone through 5 before i gave up now she has old bed sheets to lay on so if she ripps them when moving them around i dont mind so much my parents have a old single duvet cover filled with the balls you get in bean bags

Have you got a really big breed of dog because I have a what I would call large medium or smallish large dog and her donut bed was £20 from Argus and I could have got a size smaller to be honest.

Yes I make mine.  My last 2 litters each had one made for them in pretty pastel cotton. great for taking puppy photos in!  Then the rest of the dogs inherit them  when the litter has gone.  I have made one or two for friends, and am making Puglet a pink furry one for Christmas this year.  I don't have a pattern, but if you want can give you directions about how to make them.  I reckon they work out costing me about £3 - £5 each for the cotton ones, and probably under £10 for the fur one.
bye
Gwen

Please do give us instructions, I'd love to have a go! :-)

Hi Carene,  OK, my price estimates were based on a smallish size - fits 1 American Cocker curled up, or 2 pugs in a heap, or 1 very streched out exotic blue cat!  First, decide on the base size you need - mine has a diameter of 20" - this gives a 24" bed.  Take the fabric you have chosen,( if using furry or fleecy make sure you work on the plain side)  fold a piece in half. and measure 22" (or your chosen diameter + 2" seam allowance) along the fold.  Take a piece of string with dressmakers pencil or french chalk (you can use  kids chalk if thats all you have) tied on the end of it, making the string exactly half the length of your 22" (or whatever your measure was)mark 11" (or half your dimension) along the fold line, and firmlly holding the loose end of the string on this mark, draw a semi circle, using the string and chalk as a compass (hope this bit makes sense, never had to explain it before :) ) Cut thorugh the double thickness of fabric along this curve, and you your base circle.  Repeat, so you have 2 pieces like this (if you feel competent, you can cut both bits together)  Measure the outer circumference of the circle, and cut a straight piece of fabric to this dimension plus 1", and about 10" wide.  Fold right sides together and sew a seam to make it into a "Hoop" so to speak.  Cut 2 pieces of Wadding to you base dimension, and 1 piece to the same dimension as your "hoop.  Carefully pin (and tack if you want) 1 of your base circles to 1 edge of the hoop, right sides together. Place the long piece of wadding in place in the "hoop" and pin the  remaining edge of the hoop fabric to the wrong side of the base, stitch in place, leaving  just enough room before closing completely so you can insert stuffing.  Insert just enough stuffing to make the donut shape.  Close the gap either by hand or machin stitch. Pin the remaining base circle wrong sides together to the base, turning the seam allowance under as you go (you can press this back first if you want), leaving enough open to insert the wadding. Place the 2 pieces of wadding cut as circles through the gap, and smooth out.  Close the remaining gap.

Thats it, a donut bed.  You can use a heavier fabric for the bottom piece.  An alternative style woudl just have the first base piece sewn inot palce, and you make a seperate double sided loose fit pad to sit inside.  IF this is not clear enough you can e mail me and I will sned photos of mine, and see if I can do a sketch pattern.

bye
Gwen

Thanks,Gwen, that's very clear. I'll definitely have a go when I've finished the "Christmas stuff". Do you use the sort of stuffing one uses for soft toys? And where do you buy the wadding? Come to think of it, we have an old quilt - perhaps I could use some of the polyester filling from that - what do you think?

I get my wadding and stuffing - yes it is the sort you use for toys - at a local fabric and craft place called Dainty Supplies.  They do mail order too.    I know our local branch of John Lewis sell it too, in the dress making department.  I think the old quilt idea woudl work just fine too!
bye
Gwen

Fab. Now i just have to convince he who thinks he should be obeyed that a pink fluffy one is just want the girls need!! LOL MEN

I bought a 'cheap' double quilt and a thick cotten duvet cover.  This folded in half is perfect for both my dogs and is easily transported around the house (and fits nice and snuggly by the side of my bed at night).  The dogs rough it up getting it just right for them - they love it and actually whine at me if I forget to bring it downstairs - most importantly they have had this for about two months now and they haven't even thought of destroying it :)

Ok - so in my last post of earlier today I mentioned that after two months they haven't even thought of destroying it !  OK, so can someone please shoot me and remind me that if something is going surprisingly well that I should just shut my mouth and be quietly pleased - had to leave the pups for an hour while I took my car for it's MOT (oh what a surprise about 600 pounds worth of work needs doing :(  ) anyway, came home pee'd off but ready and happy to be greeted by my two lovely boys who always give me huge kisses and cuddles only to find the boxer has decided to attack the bed, pull out the stuffing and run up and down the hallway with it in his mouth doing a brilliant impression of Santa Claus :D  Oh well, back to the drawing board !

:) :)

And there was me about to reply and say what a good idea!

Only Nips is rapidly growing out of his first bed and I'd like a sensible alternative!

:D :D

Always be careful not top let them read over your shoulder when posting on CD ;)

You don't know how hard it was trying to keep a straight face and be 'stern' with the pair of little monkeys, especially with a cute wiggly bum boxer running around with fluff hanging out of his mouth - he really did look like some kind of melevalent Santa :D  Of course my springer cross was totally innocent, sitting there patiently by the door when I got in with a real 'it wasn't me!' look on his face, of course when I checked his mouth for remnants of fluff and found a few pieces lurking on his teeth it all became apparant that he was probably the instigator in the whole episode, hooligans :)

Oh no!!!  Well if you must tempt fate like that!! :)

my two have cheap duvets folded, topped with a piece of vet bed. The vet bed has to come downstairs through the day because they're so attached!

nicola

I use old duvets as well cut in half. I pick them up during the day and hang them in the laundry room as they do kind of take over my house. The dogs are more than happy to lie on the floor or sofa during the day and it means that i dont have that doggy smell around all the time!!

There is currently an old duvet in the study that Molly likes to sleep on whilst I'm working so I migth shift it to the bedroom for a trial. She'll probably still prefer my bed in the end and hope on for a snuggle. Who can kick a gorgeous big eyed sad look at 5 in the morning...... most normal people i imagine!! :) :)