Raised dog beds

red_arrow_2

Hi- hope this is in the right place! Having got 2 dogs, one of which is now very elderly (she was originally rescued from Madeira!), & the weather is turning much colder, I`m looking to buy them some dog beds that are raised up from the floor, rather than the ones that they`ve got at the moment, as I`ve read that they are up to 7 times warmer. Have found a few on the internet, but besides being expensive, I`d like to know if they are also strong, as our younger dog is a Labrador (not a great big one, though). Has anyone found any that are any good? Any info would be much appreciated,please :j

Debt_Free_Chick

The only ones I've seen were built by a neighbour but I just wanted to say ... consider whether they will be used/suitable when the dogs get old to the point of finding it difficult to get and down from the beds. Said neighbour found that their old KC Spaniel simply couldn't get up into her bed when she got too old.

And remember that dogs don't want to be too warm. My springer gets out of his bed and lies on the tiled floor at night, when the heating is off :eek: He's just too hot in his bed, which only has a basic dog-bed and no blanket :eek:

Could you put something underneath the bed, instead?

red_arrow_2

A good point- maybe I`d better consider that- however, our elderly dog, while quite frail, will still jump up on our bed, or on the sofa. Appreciate your speedy reply, though, thanks!

Nile

Hello red arrow

I'll move your thread to the 'Pets & Pet Care' board, where it should get more responses.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

foreign_correspondent

I guess the theory of a raised bed is that it does not conduct cold from the floor, but I tink there are other ways to achieve this. (you lost 3x as much heat through the floor than to the surrounding air!)

My mums skinny lurcher isnt keen on the cold, but sleeps in the kitchen which is quarry tiled, so she had a plastic dog bed (many of which have a little rim around the base, so the base is not resting on the cold floor, reducing heat conductivity), into which we have fitted two layers of wool carpet offcuts, cut to fit the base of the bed, then a dog cushion. She seems happy in it!

I suppose an alternative would be to cut a piece out of one of those thermal camping roll-mats which should be warm and comfy!
maybe something like this -
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shopscr3028.html

red_arrow_2

That`s a great idea- thanks! well worth trying, I reckon :beer:

pboae

You can make a raised bed from an old pallet, the slats have a little give in them, much like a proper bed. Then you can just put a normal dog bed or duvet on top to make a mattress.

Hintza

Or if you can get bit of polysyrene and cut to shape of the bed?

foreign_correspondent

I have used wool carpet offcuts, which are nice and warm and free! (I saved mine from when I had new living room carpet, but I have seen them free to take away at carpet shops!)

red_arrow_2

Can`t get much more money saving than that! Thanks :j

pamelab21

Our dog has a bean bag that she sleeps on in the kitchen but with a porcelain tiled floor it gets very cold in the winter, I put a small rug from Ikea under her bed and its perfect, very thick and keeps the cold out.
Its this one:
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50141489

a cheaper option!