Dog pillow beds
There are several things you must think about before purchasing or making dog pillow beds. I will never forget the horror with which my friend greeted my offer of a nice soft lambskin for her very ill Airedale. "Egads," she said, "Thank you, but no! I'm afraid she'll eat it!"
That may be an extreme case, but if your dog is accustomed to having pigs ears, hoofs, bones, or leather thongs to chew on for strong and whiter teeth, what's to distinguish between them and a nice fur bed? Not a thing. There are many fibers that are appropriate for dog pillow beds. All of them are washable. Most common of these cover materials is a poly/cotton blend that is soft enough to make for a comfortable snooze, but will hold its shape after repeated machine washings. Other materials for dog pillow beds are polyfiber suede, fleece, burlap, and canvas.
Of utmost importance is the fill used in dog pillow beds. You will want to be sure that it is washable, mildew resistant, and yet soft enough to be malleable. Many is the dog bed that will be shunned because it won't respond to piling up. You've seen the nest-making routine: your pet circles round and round, pawing up the bedding into a nice, comfortable pile until it plops into the mess contentedly. If the bedding can't be paw-handled into a pile, it is likely to remain unused.
Current bedding uses industrial strength Velcro for cover closures. The fiber fill inside dog pillow beds is in a sack that can be washed and fluffed in a dryer. Any flea or insect infestations will probably require that the internal sack be thrown out, but you will be able to avoid this by washing the bedding--both cover and fill sack--weekly, using the same soap that you use to wash your pet. The best defense is a strong offense: keep the fleas off the pet and the bed will likely stay pest free.
If you are an advocate of dog pillow beds for an outside dog house, be sure to line the floor under the pillow with a moisture-resistant liner. That will keep the bed from absorbing moisture from below, but it is still best to sundry the bedding whenever possible. Sunning counteracts fungus growth which could be transmitted to your pet.
The Outdoor Pet Bed
Perfect for lawn, patio, deck or dog house.
The outer material of this dog bed is an open weave fabric of vinyl coated synthetic yarn designed to withstand continuous wear and exposure to outdoor conditions.
