How to Design and Build a Bed for your Dog – 4 Styles

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Translated by Nick R

Your canine should have his own space, so why not create it and design it yourself to suit your furry friend’s style?

There are many different types of beds that you can make, and here I give you 4 explanations and what you need to make each one.

Cushion bed for dogs 

This one is basically a cushion or pillow that your dog will be able to lie on comfortably.

My dog Amber loves these, as she doesn’t like to sit or lay on the floor, we have (apart from her house where she sleeps) a pillow for her to lie on when she is in the yard with us or even put it on the couch.

Measure

For a medium size dog, the cushion can be 70×70 cm.

Materials 

You need:

  • 80×80 cm of “rabbit faux fur” fabric, like the ones they use for thermal pajamas, in your favorite color.
  • 1 kilo of silicone wadding (which is a thick cotton sheet used as a lining) for the filling.
  • Thread.
  • Needle or sewing machine.

Elaboration 

  1. Cut two 72×72 cm squares of fabric.
  2. Sew the four edges on the back of the fabric (i.e. the part that will be on the inside) by hand or with the sewing machine, if you have one, leaving a space of 15 cm without closing to be able to fill the cushion.
  3. Then turn it outwards (leaving the seams on the inside), and insert the stuffing, which is the silicone wadding, through the space you have left.
  4. Finally, close the gap with needle and thread, using an invisible stitch so that it is not noticeable.

To learn how to make the invisible stitch you can watch the following video:

Couch bed for dogs 

Many canines love sofas to sleep and feel comfortable, so we will make a special mini sofa for your pooch.

Measure 

For a large dog (like a German shepherd), the sofa should be 50×80 cm (minimum). If you want it bigger, increase the dimensions of the materials.

Materials 

You need:

  • 1m x 50 cm of the “rabbit fur” fabric.
  • Madeflex (wood fiber sheet).
  • Thread.
  • Needle or sewing machine.
  • Half sheet (1-meter x 1 meter) of thick foam of 10 centimeters and then we will cut it 50×80 cm.

Elaboration 

  1. Cut two strips of fabric 60 cm high and 90 cm wide.
  2. Join the fabric on the reverse side (i.e. the sides that will go inside are the ones that are visible at this moment) with a sewing machine or needle on 3 sides, leaving one side of the 60 cm wide strips open to introducing the foam.
  3. Turn the fabric over leaving the seams on the inside.
  4. Cut a 50×80 cm sheet of the foam and insert it into the cushion until it fits well, then closes the hole you left with an invisible stitch.
  5. Repeat the procedure with the backrest, but cut 2 pieces of the fabric measuring 45×90 cm and the 35×80 cm foam.
  6. Likewise, join 3 parts leaving one free to fill with the foam (always sew on the back side of the fabric).
  7. Then you turn the fabric right side out and fill it with the foam, and finally, you sew the hole we left with an invisible stitch.
  8. Once you have the two pieces, join them together to form the shape of the sofa. Put the backrest on the back and sew it with invisible stitch to the first cushion, to give it stability you must cut a thin madeflex the length of the sofa and the width of the backrest, put it in the middle of the two pieces and glue them with silicone at all ends and in the center.

Bed or mattress for dogs 

This type of bed can be made with a drawer or desk that you no longer use and the size will depend on that.

Materials 

  • Old drawer.
  • Paint in the color of your choice.
  • A cushion of the width of the drawer.
  • Veil (for curtain)

Elaboration 

  1. Sand and paint the drawer or old furniture that you are going to use.
  2. Then make a cushion the size of the drawer where the dog can lie down comfortably.
  3. The drawer or piece of furniture will be turned upside down, that is, sideways, with the hole facing the front so that the dog can get in.
  4. Make a curtain with the veil, the measurements will depend on the size of the door left by the drawer. To make the curtain, first put a rail or thin curtain tube at the top of the drawer and hem the veil, leaving a circular hole at the top with the measurements of the tube to insert it.

Wooden bed for dogs 

To make a drawer or bed in wood for dogs you must get:

Materials 

8 to 10 wooden slats or shelves, the length will depend on the size we need for the bed.

  • Wooden cubes for the legs of the bed.
  • A cushion according to the size of the bed.
  • Paint.
  • Lace.

Elaboration 

  1. With the wooden shelves you make the base of the bed, for this you must make a rectangle with them (depending on the size you want the bed) and fix the shelves at the 4 ends with glue and additionally, some screws to make it firm (the shelves must be sanded).
  2. The legs should also be sanded and you can use a small wood lace to join these wooden squares to the bottom of the base.
  3. Place 5 or 6 slats separated by 2 cm, as a base for the mattress.
  4. As a mattress, you will make the cushion that I taught you to make at the beginning and it should be the size of the bed.
  5. You can paint the bed (the wood) the color you want or leave it unpainted.

Go ahead and customize your canine’s bed! Depending on his tastes and what makes him feel comfortable, you can give him one of these ideas to have his own space.

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