How to Make a No Sew Dog Bed

Make your dog its own bed, so it won't sleep on yours.

Dogs enjoy laying on a soft, comfy bed to rest and sleep. Dog beds provide an excellent way to train your dog not to sleep on your bed by offering them an attractive alternative all their own. You can make your own dog bed with a few simple items, even if you do not know how to sew. Make your beloved canine companion a comfortable, custom bed for it to use on its own or to line its crate. Coordinate the bed to match your decor to allow your dog to snooze in style.

Things You'll Need

• Muslin
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Fabric glue
• Stuffing
• Fabric
• Hook-and-loop fastening tape

Instructions

1. Measure your dog's length and height and add 6 to 7 inches to these numbers to determine the length and width of its bed. This allows the dog to have plenty of room to stretch out in its bed.

2. Calculate the dimensions of the inner pillow by subtracting 2 inches from both the length and the width.

3. Cut two rectangular pieces of muslin, or thin cotton, to make the inner pillow.

4. Apply fabric glue around three of sides of one piece of the fabric, 1 inch from the edges. Place the other piece of fabric over it to glue the two pieces together. Allow the glue to dry completely according to its directions.

5. Turn the muslin case inside out, with the seams inside. Stuff it with any type of soft pillow stuffing you have until the pillow is plump.

6. Tuck the edges of the fabric in to form a hem on the top and bottom of the open side of the pillow, and use the fabric glue to seal the hemmed edges together. Allow the glue to dry.

7. Cut two pieces of the fabric you will use to make the outer bed cover using the original dimensions.

8. Apply glue around three edges of the fabric, facing right-side up, 1 inch from the edges. Place the other piece of fabric over it, with the wrong-side facing up, to glue the two pieces together. Allow the glue to dry.

9. Turn the cover inside-out, with the correct sides of the fabric facing outward and the seams on the inside.

10. Place the removable inner bed inside the cover.

11. Hem each side of the fabric on the open end. To do this, apply fabric glue along each edge and tuck the fabric under, over the glue, on both the top and bottom pieces. Allow the glue to dry.

12. Cut two hook-and-loop fastener strips the length of the open side and glue each to the inside of the top and bottom fabric cover with fabric glue. Close the fasteners together and allow the glue to dry before attempting to pull open the hook-and-loop fasteners to ensure it is attached properly.

13. Give the bed to your dog to use and wash its cover as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Press lightly along the glue line to help the fabric pieces adhere to each other.

• If you do not want to make an inner bed, you can make this bed by simply filling the cover fabric with pillow stuffing; however, this will not allow you to wash the bed.

• For smaller dogs, skip making the inner bed and use a pillow instead. Then make the cover according to the dimensions of the pillow.

• Make sure the hook-and-loop fastening tape works with fabric glue; some types do not. You can also purchase sticky versions of this type of product that don't require an application of glue to stick to your fabrics.

• Never place a pillow containing stuffing in a washing machine -- it can tear during the wash and the stuffing can clog the machine.

• Only use nontoxic fabric glue. Other types of glue can be toxic to your dog and are not washable.

References

• Schnauzers Rule: Homemade Schnauzer Dog Beds
• Make & Build Dog Stuff: Make Dog Beds or A Dog Pad
• Good Housekeeping: Training Your Dog to Stay Off Your Bed Read more: Training Your Dog to Stay Off Your Bed