Make Dog Beds or A Dog Pad

Here are a couple of easy ways to make dog beds that can accommodate small to large dogs.

These beds are easily portable so can also be used as a dog pad for the back of your car or the inside of a doghouse.

Our Basic Dog Pad is made out of an old quilt or sleeping bag. The Pillowcase Foam Bed combines those materials with a foam pad.

Ready to get started to make dog beds?

BASIC DOG PAD

MATERIALS

• Large old quilt or sleeping bag (the kind that unzips and opens out into a square or rectangle)
• At least 24 inches (600mm) of Velcro
• Sewing machine or needle and thread or super strong glue

INSTRUCTIONS

• Fold the quilt lengthwise in half or thirds
• Try it out in the back of your vehicle or doghouse
• Make sure it is big enough for your dog to lie on!
• For a smaller dog, cut off some of the length
• Use the remainder as an extra layer or two
• Sew the edges together or use Velcro strips at least 3 inches (75mm) long at strategic points
• Note: Adhesive Velcro is easiest to apply, but it doesn’t always stick that well. You may need to secure the strips by sewing them to the fabric or by adding a super strong glue

PILLOWCASE FOAM BED

This makes a large “pillowcase” to hold the foam pad

MATERIALS

• An old quilt or sleeping bag
• Foam pad or pieces of foam, large enough to accommodate your dog
• Straight pins
• Marking pen
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Velcro or zipper to match width of pillowcase (optional)

• One to two hours

Will depend on how many of the materials you can scrounge:

• Thread: About USD 0.30
• Zipper: USD 0.00 if you can take one off an old couch cushion, sleeping bag or something you’re no longer wearing; otherwise up to USD 6.00
• Velcro: Up to USD 4.00

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place the foam on the right side of your material about 1 1/4 inches (30mm) from the bottom edge and one side (per above)

• Fold the remaining material over the foam
• Mark the bottom and side seam with your marker or pins
• Leave the top end alone
• Cut off excess fabric. Leave a 1 1/4 inch (30mm) seam allowance
• Sew along the marked seams by hand or machine
• Turn your pillowcase inside out: the good side should face out
• Insert the foam
• If you have enough excess material at the top, you can simply fold it underneath the pad as we did in the photo at the top of this page or
• Add a zipper or Velcro for a fancier finish
• The Velcro can be applied in strips at least 3 inches (75mm) long or in one long piece
• Remember you may still need to sew the Velcro down or add extra glue, even if it is the adhesive kind

We hope you found these instructions to make dog beds and pads useful.

Click here to look at some other ways to make dog beds.