How to Make a Custom Therapeutic Dog Bed

Elderly dogs suffer many of the same maladies as elderly people.

If your best friend has been showing signs of joint stiffness and seems restless, it may just be that your dog is getting on in years and suffering the hardships of old age. The bed that has been serving your dog well for many years may not be as comfortable as it once was. Like people, as dogs age, their bones weaken, their joints become arthritic and they experience muscle ache from the daily activities of living. A therapeutic dog bed may comfort your friend in his old age, and making a custom bed just for him is an act of love and friendship.

Things You'll Need

• 3 to 7 inch memory foam cushion or egg crate pad
• 2 yards of your choice of fabric
• 1 yard of fleece
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Measuring tape
• Heavy-duty zipper

Instructions

1. Measure your dog's body with a tape measure. The bed should be large enough that there is a 3- to 5-inch margin around the dog's body when he's fully stretched out on the center of the bed. Measure from snout to tail, and from the top of his head to his paws, and then add 15 to 20 square inches to allow for this margin.

2. Spread your fabric on a table and smooth it out with your hands to get an accurate measure. Decide if your bed will be rectangular, square or circular. Once you have decided on the shape of the bed, measure the fabric and mark the lines and angles with chalk or a pencil. Cut along the lines so that you have two identical pieces of material.

   Once you have cut your fabric, put it aside. Spread your fleece, if you are using it, on a table. You will only need one piece of fleece for the top of the bed. You may elect to put fleece on both sides but it is not necessary. Cut your fleece material according to your measurement.

3. Cut your memory foam, egg crate or padding. The depth of the memory foam or mattress material should be 3 to 4 inches for small dogs, 5 to 7 inches for a medium or large dog. The memory foam and egg crate can be used together. If you decide to do both, place the egg crate foam on top of the memory foam.

4. Turn your fabric (not the fleece) inside out. Pin along the edges to keep the fabric stable. Using your sewing machine, sew along the edges to create seams on one long side, and both short sides. Do not pull on the fabric or your stitches will be uneven. This creates your casing.

5. Reach inside the casing and turn the fabric right side out so that the fabric pattern is now showing. Sew the zipper into the remaining long side. Attach the piece of fleece to the top of the casing by stitching it to all four sides. The fleece will give your dog added cushioning and keep him warm in cold weather.

6. Stuff the memory foam into the casing. If using egg crate foam padding, be sure the egg crate side is up towards the fleece and not upside down. Center the memory foam and padding into the casing and zip it up.

Tips & Warnings

• Washable fabrics such as cotton, duck, canvas, denim, twill and broadcloth are best. The fleece is also washable. Be sure to use a heavy-duty zipper.

• If your memory foam is extra thick, you may need to put a 5- to 7-inch-wide strip of fabric between the two sides of your casing to accommodate the thickness of the foam pad.

References

• Stitch and Save: Sew a Dog Bed
• Petplace: How to Make a Dog Bed
• Jandofabrics: Washable Fabrics