Dog beds are one of the most popular accessories in the world of pet products. They give comfort to pets and can complement the interior. Of course, you can do without them, but is it worth it to deny pleasure to your pet. Can I make a sunbed with my own hands?
Why do I need a sunbed?
Not all dog owners understand whether it is really necessary for their pets to have a separate lounger. After all, they already roam freely throughout the apartment. Wherever they want, there may lie down to sleep. But this is not the right approach.
In the wild, the presence of personal space where the animal can feel safe, the territory where it will hunt, are very important. And, despite the fact that dogs live with people for a long time, it is difficult to overcome wild instincts. If the dog’s food production problem has been resolved, then the owner should arrange his own place for it. The best way to do this is to purchase or make a special place for yourself. Sun loungers for dogs not only secure a certain territory in the apartment or house for the pet, but also protect it from drafts. The health of the animal directly depends on this, no matter how much it has a wool coat. Dogs can endure the cold, it does not harm much, but a draft is contraindicated for them. Therefore, all good loungers for dogs always come with sides.
What size should the sunbed be?
Size is important for the convenience of the dog. If the dog feels discomfort, he will refuse to sleep on his own piece of furniture and the money for his purchase will be wasted. You can determine the size of the couch based on the dimensions of the pet itself. Armed with a measuring tape, it is necessary to find out the length and height (with the head) of the animal. The size of the lounger for the dog depends on these indications. The length of the berth should exceed the length of the dog by fifteen to twenty centimeters, and the width is two times greater than the height of the fourth friend. If you choose a too spacious sunbed, he may not appreciate this generous gesture, but rather be afraid of such a vast place. Then the owner will not be able to make the pet sleep in it.
There are nuances of choosing the size of the sunbed for large dogs. When buying a puppy, let’s say a Labrador, it’s better to take a “bed” for him, taking into account the breed sizes of an adult. A dog from a very young age gets used to his bed, and a change to a new one after a few months can be hard for his psyche to perceive. Stress is contraindicated in animals, so you should not take away his old beloved “bed” from him.
The form
When choosing a lounger for a dog, you should remember how exactly she prefers to sleep. If the dog is stretched to its full height, spreading its legs or tucking them under itself, then the model can be selected close to a rectangular shape. If the dog likes to sleep curled up in a pretzel, then he will be more comfortable with a sunbed of a round or oval shape. For those who like to jump onto a master bed or sofa, the pet products market provides a huge selection of upholstered furniture for animals. Most often, these beds for large dogs. For example, a characteristic part of the behavior of the Great Dane is to stretch out on the whole sofa, which cannot but cause inconvenience. In this case, the owners of such giants often buy them separate plank beds. They resemble ordinary human furniture, but in miniature. The coating is designed for dog claws and frequent brushing.
With or without roof
A lounger for a dog, as mentioned above, is a corner of his personal inviolable space. Among the produced stove benches, especially those made in the form of upholstered furniture, they are quite often found with a canopy and even sashes that cover the dog from prying eyes. Some individuals feel more comfortable, “hiding” for sleep just under such a canopy. But not only for this reason, some dogs need shelter. Bitches during estrus or during pregnancy try to prepare a “nest” in such a way that puppies can be hidden from people's eyes. So that she does not arrange a "shelter" somewhere in the closet, it is better to immediately get her a sunbed with a canopy or even with a booth. On the Internet, there are many offers of combined sunbeds from manufacturers of upholstered furniture. They are made in the form of small sofas, the basis of which is a decorated booth.
Large dogs, individuals with copious undercoat are often quite happy with an open sunbed.
Do it yourself from a warm sweater
If the owner of the pet is prone to needlework, you can make a lounger for the dog with your own hands. The easiest and cheapest way (from the area of "life hacks") to make a "bed" is to use an old sweater.
The following elements will be needed:
- in fact, an old sweater, preferably of tight knitting;
- pillow or filler (synthetic winterizer);
- scissors;
- needles
- threads.
If the sweater has a neck, it must be cut off and the cut-off point sewn up. Then the sweater is sewn with threads at the level from the neck to the shoulder blades, so that together with the sleeves a single pipe is formed. After that, a synthetic winterizer is stuffed into the formed cavity. Get a U-shaped roller. The sleeves already stuffed with a synthetic winterizer are sewn to the sides of the sweater. Inside the sweater is a pillow or synthetic winterizer. Next, the bottom of the product is sewn up and the sleeves are sewn together. After the sleeve, sew on the bottom of the sweater. It turns out a round warm stove bench.
DIY from unnecessary pants
To make a round model, you need a pattern. First you need to determine the diameter of the bottom. It will depend on the size of the dog, for example, sixty centimeters are suitable for medium-sized pets. Next, you need to add ten to twenty centimeters on the sidewalls. The video shows the entire manufacturing process well.
The edges of the bed can be supplemented with a lace or elastic band. Then they can be tightened so that the pet is comfortable.
Where to find a place
Better, when the dog herself finds a place to his liking, there you can install a couch. But if the dog chose this shelter unsuccessfully, from the point of view of the comfort of the rest of the family, the final choice remains with the owner. True, you need to consider several rules. A cozy shelter for the dog should eliminate drafts. Not suitable for a couch and an entrance hall, kitchen or bathroom. Lying on a cold tile, the pet may catch a cold.
Having chosen a place once, as a rule, with a puppy's drive to the house, they no longer change it. In cramped apartments, after rearrangement of furniture, dogs usually tend to return to their territory, even if there is already a TV on it, and a lounger in another corner of the apartment.