Agility Bits Forum

[Snowbird]

The price of professionallly-made waterproof dog beds varies quite substantially, but if you have a dog or puppy prone to disembowling any soft dog bedding, even the cheapest variety can run away with money eventually.

Here's a cheap alternative:

*Buy a foam pad cut to the correct size(s) (expensive option).
*Buy a large foam pad, matrass topper or matrass and cut to size yourself to make several beds (affordable option)
*The tightwad option is to ask around at local electronics and electrical goods retailers to find out if anyone has any foam pads left over from packaging etc. which they are willing to give you free of charge. Bedding companies sometimes also throw out foam matrasses which have been used in their display room. Smaller pieces may also be available from a small local upholstery firm. It all really comes down to how concerned you are about the foam being fire retardant.

Foam pads are available in different firmnesses, thicknesses and types. For older/arthritic dogs, you can get eggbox or memory foam pads, while firmer foam is suitable for larger, heavier dogs. The foam can be cut to the precise size you need, including the exact size of your dog cage(s).

Next step:

Buy a tarpaulin. These come in different qualities, but I've had 10 years of continuous use out of £3 tarpaulin I bought from Lidl which was large enough to cover two GSD-sized foam pads. To get the best use out of an eggbox or memory foam matrass, it may be best to go for a thinner budget tarpaulin. Place the foam pad on the tarpaulin, and use a permanent marker pen to mark out a piece large enough to cover all sides of the pad as a single, continuous piece.

Wrap the piece of tarpaulin round the pad parcel-style, folding over the edges towards what will be the reverse side of the pad. Use good-quality waterproof duct tape to secure the tarpaulin and seal any openings.

If properly sealed, you now have a matrass which will repel grit, dirt and fluids, and which can be cleaned off with a hose or shower. If your puppy decides to shred it, you won't have lost a fortune and can replace it cheaply. Any little holes chewed in the tarpaulin cover can just be taped over with more duct tape.

[Pat]

What a good idea. You could probably stitch it if you didn't want to use duct tape. You can also get really cheap waterproof mattress covers from ebay. I wonder if these would be an alternative if you didn't want to use tarpaulin. Have you ever tried it?
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[Isobel]

Good idea. Leather is another good waterproof material, although harder to get free unless you have access to old leather furniture.
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Seasoned grade 1 professionals with one sometimes useless handler.

[Snowbird]

[julesinchaos]

I think Jacquie makes leather beds?
I like your idea though thanks, especially not involving sewing machines
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Jules, two girlies and a bloke xx

[Bryn's Bren]

I have a source for waterproof beds in zip off washable covers at £10.50 a time (approx 3ft X 2ft)
After Corker ended up at the vets for one of his night-time calls after stripping and eating duct tape, I tend not to use it anywhere that he might be able to get at it.........
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[Kirsty n Billy Woof]

What a good idea for posting. I've got some chunks of foam rubber - kept them coz they looked useful!
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[gally]

There is a lady who was at a show i went to recently who makes her own bed, we brought one of her waterproof ones and they are brilliant. I Know she said she will be at the godmanchester show if anyone is going and wants to look, if not i can probably get her contact details for you.

[Kirsty n Billy Woof]

& now a reeeeeally weird thing ...... After reading this and thinking what a great idea, yesterday morning I went down to the cellar to get something and sat on the cellar steps were two large, very nice quality tarps?!!! I have never knowinlgy posessed these, but there they were sat on the cellar steps - eh!!!!!!! So I've been wracking my brain for two days about this now! There has to be a logical explanation. The only person i could think of who has been in my cellar in months was a friend who I sent down to choose a bottle of wine one evening weeks ago. I actually rang her up and asked the odd question, but defo not guilty. I've only just now remembered that someone else did go down there a few weeks ago - when we had the great gas leak scare, the gas man went down a couple of times with a meter to check for seepage. I can only think that he must have had them with him - maybe for going into (other people's ) super clean houses to protect carpets? Dunno if this is true but it's the only possible explanation for their appearance. If I were a better person I might try to pursue this line of enquiry and somehow return them, but anyway they're going to make great dog bed covers. They are lovely - thick rubberised tarps with taped/sewn edges. Almost too good for dog beds!
Sorry that was very a very convoluted tale but just had to share!
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[Bryn's Bren]

Pixies or house elves.... .... you know, the ones that make your own things vanish into thin air, or into places that they couldn't possibly be expected to be in.....like the Gas Board men looking for their tarps anywhere except your cellar....
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[Kirsty n Billy Woof]

Do you think they took all the missing odd socks and sellotape and reassembled them into tarps?
Still not 100% convinced by my gas theory so will keep pondering!
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[Bryn's Bren]

[Pat]

Hmmm. Could be fairies. I'm away with them quite a lot so I know what I'm talking about.
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[Kirsty n Billy Woof]

[Pat]

...and mine
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Getting eliminated is all part of the fun.