[nagdu] Dog Beds

[Robert Hooper]

Good Morning Gleeful guide dog gurus:

I find myself with a quandary relating to, as the subject may hint, dog beds. Currently, Bailey has a massive, fluffy, heavy bed with a massive, fluffy, heavy pillow-case-like covering. However, this poses a few annoying problems with which I should like to dispense with the upmost haste. I have decided that a new bed-or something made to resemble a bed-is in order. So, I will list the qualities of Bailey's current bed along with some of the things I desire in a new bed.


1.       Smell and general hygiene. The covering on Bailey's current bed resembles, in texture, a fleece type material. This, as many of you experienced dog owners will know, traps smells and hair very readily, necessitating frequent laundering. As his bed is cumbersome to maneuver and manipulate, getting the covering on and off the bed isn't very convenient. Also, if I have to wash the thing, I do so with towels or other non-clothing. This means an extra load of laundry, which in turn means more money and detergent used (although one sort of implies the other, no?). I would like the material of his new bed to repel hair and be easily cleaned. Something with the qualities of leather or pleather, for example. I would like maintenance to be simple, preferably consisting of a wipe-down, vacuuming, etc.; it's not that I am completely opposed to ever having to wash the bed-I would just prefer to do so infrequently-maybe 3-4 times a year or such. I've noticed a stronger Bailey odor after he's been laying on the bed for a while, and I think that a hair/body oil repelling material would be a better solution. So, do any of you have any recommendations for beds optimized for little maintenance and odor/hair retention?

2.       Size and weight. I love his current bed with regards to comfort. However, it is very bulky, and probably weighs about 20-25 pounds. Do any of you know of a bed that is still comfortable yet more compact or portable?
Well, I thought I had more requirements, but I think that's enough for now. Here are just a few more comments that might help you guys think of a bed best suited for Bailey's and my situation:

1.       He is an 85 pound GSD with the standard coat.

2.       I do not crate him.

3.       My new apartment's floors will be hardwood (although I will probably install an area rug in the bedroom).

As far as feature priorities are concerned, I listed the most important first. If anyone has any suggestions or experiences that would help me find a suitable bed for Bailey, I would be, for the duration of my admittedly limited existence, filled with a gratitude whose magnitude exceeds linguistic boundaries of expression.
Toodles,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu<mailto:Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology; Department of Neuroscience
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Columbus, Ohio 43202-3702
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