We finally got rid of the old blue dog bed. First of all, both of my dogs are girls, so it was weird to have one of the beds be blue, just because that was the coziest bed at the store the day we went shopping. Second, the bed had stains on it; whether from Cricket snacking in the bed, or Butterfly throwing up on it in the car, or from Cricket’s unauthorized use of the bed for, let’s call it scratching. It was ugly and dirty looking despite many trips to the washing machine. And Cricket would fight with the bed, and yell at it, and toss it around the room, so really there was only one reliable dog bed, the red one, and Cricket would take it for herself, and leave Butterfly with the upside down blue bed in the middle of the floor.
Grumpy Cricket in her blue bed.
Butterfly, after throwing up in the blue bed.
Not quite big enough for two.
We went to all three Petco stores in our area, and Target, and Wal-Mart, and who knows where else, and found nothing. The beds they had were too big, or too small, the wrong colors, or not substantial enough; and if they were perfect, they were, of course, too expensive.
“This is no longer good enough, Mommy.”
Eventually, we found the perfect dog bed online, where I seem to find everything these days. The bed is really more of a sofa, and it’s brown and cream, which seems kind of dignified, and goes nicely with the color scheme of the living room, and the color scheme of the dogs. If I were a dog, or a small child, I would want this little couch bed for myself. It’s an orthopedic bed, which means it is firm, instead of squishy, and allows for support of aching bones. And it has a bolster for resting tired chins.
Unfortunately, next to this new, wonderful, sophisticated dog bed, the nice, comfy red and tan bed that used to be so admired, looked ratty and small and in need of replacement. And the new, wonderful, sophisticated dog bed did not smell of dog, or food, or even of people, so the girls weren’t sure what to do with it. They just stared, at both beds, and looked confused.
I decided to tempt them forward by placing chewies on the new bed. I put one down for Cricket first, and she took it, and walked away to chew on it. Then I put a second one down for Butterfly, but before Butterfly could reach it, Cricket had dropped her own chewie and come running over to steal the new one. I had to take the new chewy away from Cricket, and place it on the dog bed three more times before Cricket accepted that she was not the only dog in the room, and allowed Butterfly to creep over and pick up her treat, barely letting her paws touch the new bed before she ran away to chew in the hallway.
By the second day, without any further inducements, Cricket had curled up on the new bed to sleep. But it took a few more days for Butterfly to risk stepping up onto the bed. Eventually, when I was busy at the computer, and Cricket was elsewhere, Butterfly rested her head on the bolster, and stretched her tushy back into a corner, and fell asleep.
Cricket’s new bed, no butterflies allowed.
Wait, the red bed goes to Cricket too?
“Where am I supposed to sleep?”
My favorite moments are when each one of the dogs is in a bed, sleeping peacefully, letting me watch TV or type on the computer uninterrupted. But those moments are few and far between. In the meantime, I keep sneaking looks at the new dog bed, and wishing I could get one in my size. I could probably find something big enough, made for a Great Dane or an Irish Wolfhound, or maybe we could just cushion the whole floor!
I’ll have to think about this.
rachelmankowitz 
Such a cute post! My dogs have the same issue with their beds. They argue and fight over who wants which and end up both on the floor. Sigh.
It’s a daily soap opera around here!
How cute! We bought a supportive bed for our older dog but she won’t use it. She sleeps on the floor or on our bed. The younger one sleeps on the chair, or the couch, or the bed, and sometimes on the floor. I guess they’re spoiled. 😀
A spoiled dog is a wonderful thing!
Butterfly! where will she sleep??
It’s a mystery!
Xander always stole Riley’s beds…and once he took them, she didn’t want them back. I’m not sure which one was more spoiled!
We’ve got musical beds around here. I think they like it when the bed smells of the other dog, it makes the triumph of current ownership so much sweeter!
My completely non-scientific method to get my dogs to use new beds is to sit in them myself. However, my dogs are much larger than Butterfly and Cricket!
I might be able to sit in one of the beds, but I’m not sure I’d be able to get back up again.
Beds were always an issue- eventually my guys would sort it out, and then occasionally both squish into one bed together. 🙂
Butterfly would love to cozy up with her sister, but Cricket has rules about who can cozy up on who, and when, and where. It’s a complicated system.
Nice comfy spot! Yeah we should all have such beds.
I took gymnastics as a kid and I keep thinking of those gym mats. I’m sure I could fit one in the living room.
Great idea. I sleep on a futon with a mattress cover with my three…instead of the beds, just because it feels cozier that way.
Marcos loved his dog bed, but I’ve given up on cat beds for Marcel, Marceau and Marble. They look at them and say – thanks but no thanks we’ll take the people beds & chair & sofas. Last Christmas since Marble was new to the house and untested in cat beds, I bought a pink one for him, so I know what you mean about a blue one for your girls. It was a nice cozy igloo type one. They all tried it out, and then Marble did finally consent to sleep on it. That’s right – on it, not in it. He flattened it like a pancake.
But it sounds like Cricket and Butterfly will be all settled in for all their long winter naps to come.
They had igloo type beds for dogs at the pet store, but I was afraid the girls would refuse to climb into it. Cricket only likes tents she makes for herself. She’s a suspicious little character.
Cricket is such a riot! The expression on her face with Butterfly’s little butt near her is too darn cute.
Cricket has every version of outrage down pat.
Wow that is a great bed. I have to talk my humans into getting me one.
It does look very comfortable!
Those new beds just don’t smell right at first.
Cricket is in the process of smelling up the new bed right now.
They are too cute. Maggie has a similar dog bed which would fit both your girls. She never uses it anymore tho – too busy hogging the human bed! Woof!
I considered getting a double wide bed, to encourage the girls to cozy up, but i guess I’m just not as optimistic as I used to be.
Woof! Nothing wrong with being realistic! 🙂
You’re into color too much. We canines don’t see colors in the same way as you humans/
I bet you’d notice if your green beans changed color.
Do NOT mess with my green beans!
Some of the best nights have been spent in the dog bed! I started that before I can remember – my mum said she often found me in the morning cuddled up to Zulu (a huge Alsatian)
I have a nephew who would LOVE to sleep in the doggy bed with Butterfly, not so much with Cricket. I probably have more than one nephew who’d like to sleep in the doggy bed, but only one who can still fit.
Had to smile at this post, so two female dogs…..and you still haven´t gone to the psychologist? I only have one female and se drives me nuts, well nuttier than the male I should say. Fun post to read here in Spain early in the morning.
Hmm, I think I’ll ignore the implied misogyny. Cricket and Butterfly are big fans of tapas. Enjoy!
misogyny….that´s a new one for me. I wouldn´t take it that serious but anyways I´ll definately enjoy the tapas.
It is hard to find just the right bed, just like Goldie Locks
The pet stores have it wrong, keeping dog beds up on shelves. Clearly there should be a try out area so that the dog can choose her own bed. I just worry that Cricket would choose the one meant for a Great Dane.
Looks so cozy 🙂
Cricket hasn’t let me try it out yet, but it really does look good!
One of the things that had to go was Maggie’s official dog bed.
We have aways joked though that she had her own bed….. it’s 4’6″ and we’re allowed to share it. House, caravan, tent and now boat, some things never change! Smashing pics by the way.
Cricket believes that she owns every piece of comfy furniture in the apartment. She lets us have desks and tables, but everything else is hers.
But we love ’em, right? 🙂
Always!
that’s my favorite moment too, when Easy sleeps :o) we always bump our fists together with whispering: YAY!
We have to do very quiet fist bumps around here, because Cricket is always listening.
My living room is basically carpeted with beds for Lola Pug. She rotates between them during the day – it’s most amusing to watch. I have recently considered culling the herd, however. Love to watch the peacefully sleeping little ones!
My dogs like to change their sleepy places and positions very often during the day. I didn’t know there were so many varieties of sleep to choose from.
Lovely post! A new bed is a big deal for everybody isn’t it? I am so glad that they are used to it now… and I agree a giant dog bed does seem like it would be so much comfier than the options we do have!
Hugs, Carrie and Pups x
Thank you!
I can so relate to this post. When Buddy came into our lives, the first day he plopped himself down in Ginger’s “living room” bed. When left alone for the day, Ginger must have let him know, in no uncertain terms, that this was not okay; Buddy did not go into that bed again (until last year). We have an outdoor bed that is blue, fuzzy on one side and denim on the other. It belonged to Buffy (name monogrammed and all). Buddy would not go on that bed for the longest time. Now he and Ginger alternate on that bed (which came from L.L. Bean some 16 years ago and still is holding up well). We just ordered another of the same beds (smaller and in a more fashionable color) and had it monogrammed BuG (“Bu” as in Buddy and Buffy, “G” as in Ginger, bug, because that is what we call them, our little bugs). I recommend this bed highly! They are thoroughly enjoying fuzzy-side-up on this cool Fall day on the deck by our sides.
Cricket would LOVE to have an outdoor dog bed. She’d just sit out there all day, screaming at passersby.
Tis why I have 10 dog beds around…
5 dogs and 10 dog beds spread around in different rooms. At night it’s two of us and four little dogs in the King size bed. The fifth, Gilda the large one, then has two big beds stacked on top of each other for the night beside our crowded bed. She’s happy to have her own double thick bed.
Oh my! I am clearly neglected my puppies!
I’ve just tweeted this and ‘Hairy Dogs’: both charming.
Thank you so much!
Oh my they look so cosy bless them, lovely post.
Best Wishes x
Thank you!
Dogs are funny. We have a little dog bed and a bigger dog bed. The 20-lb dog curls up in the little bed, leaving the the 5-lb dog to curl up in one tiny corner of the big one.
Cricket has always been a fan of squeezing into small spaces. She used to sleep between two bookcases.
Too funny, Too cute! It all sounds so familiar. 🙂 My husband opts for dog beds, but I opt for floor pillows and plenty of them, I just pile them in the corner and they drag them where-ever they please, but it never fails, one always wants what the other one has. Love your little babies…Great post. 🙂
Thank you so much!
We have beds inside and outside. I have two dogs and three dog kennels and they still argue – except when they are inside and they snuggle up together on the same bed,
My two will snuggle on the floor, but Cricket gets very territorial about her actual bed. She’ll even try to drape herself across both beds if she can manage it, and Butterfly just has to stand by and watch.
I hear a commotion so I go outside to see what’s the matter and there is Chienne relaxing in a kennel and the Man standing in front of it barking his silly head off because that’s the bed he wants. Chi gets out and walks away – he goes in and goes to sleep. I think it would not matter where Chi is, that would be where he wanted to go, and she gives in – which is odd because she has teeth and he hasn’t :o)
Doggie beds can be tricky. I’m glad that the girls have worked it out. You reminded me of the time that Rex as a puppy ate Marshall’s bed, it was beyond repair. You also reminded me of the time that we had to buy Rex another bed because he was taking Jack’s brand new bed and even though none of his body parts fit in the bed, he tried to lay in it anyway. Great memories 😀
Surprisingly, neither Cricket nor Butterfly has tried to unstuff a doggy bed. Cricket has dismantled any number of stuffed toys in her life, but beds are off limits for some reason. Thank God.
You aren’t joking, they get expensive. Rex ate us practically out of house and home. He didn’t stop at the doggie bed, he chewed on ottomans, chairs, the stairs and then he outgrew the chewing thank goodness lol.
Cricket stuck to chewing the legs of things (chairs, tables, people, etc), but she managed to unravel a whole wicker garbage can. I have to admit, I was impressed.
Unraveling a wicker garbage can, that takes patience. You go Cricket lol
Seriously, she could have taught an un-weaving class!
LOL
How sweet they are! Our new rescue dog has been quite the expense. Over $400 thus far and we’re not seeing the end of the tunnel yet. Another $300 and we should be good. Luckily, however, he’s not a chewer….just a big cuddler.
The trip to the pet store after adopting a dog is the most exciting shopping spree ever!
We are acting out the very same thing at the moment with new beds for our two geriatric cats. Food treats don’t work for them so I had to lay my fleece jacket into one of the beds before they’d even go near it. Fussy devils! They were £20 each those beds, I’d love one for myself.
I didn’t think of that! Butterfly would have gone straight to the bed if I out some dirty socks in it.
When it comes to dog beds, it’s ALWAYS the ‘best laid plans’ scenario. 🙂
Happy zzz’s to Cricket and Butterfly. ❤
Cricket is snoozing in the new bed right now. I think she likes it!
I’m glad it’s not just Pearl who threw up in her bed. I’m thinking it’s about time she had a new one, as well – I’ve put it off because comfy wipe-clean greyhound-size beds aren’t cheap!
Is Cricket top dog in your pack, by any chance? 🙂
Cricket is top dog in the whole neighboorhood, just ask her!
I understand the game of “musical dogs” quite well. I have 1 additional dog bed on the floor so that everyone has a choice. 🙂
Cricket just climbed over the new bed and into the old bed. She couldn’t just walk in the front way, she had to show ownership of the new bed first, so Butterfly would be warned off. I’m afraid if I got a third bed, Cricket would just call that one too, and maybe store her toys in it, so there wouldn’t be any room left for a dog. She’s a tyrant.
I have one like that, too. Any treats the dogs get have to be easy to eat in 2 minutes or she’ll growl at them and steal it. Once, I had to throw a treat out the office door and when she went for it, I closed it behind her. That way the other dogs were able to eat their treat in peace.
I find it amusing how pet shops are so big and still they dont have things we need 😉
Butterfly and Cricket are so cute and funny, and new bed looks fancy.
I laughed so much on picture where both of them are on blue bed 😀
It helps that Cricket’s favorite thing about Butterfly is the smell of her butt.
Your post reminded me a little of Goldilocks and the three bears. But I agree with them there is something cosy and comforting about an old friend like a bed or duvet.
Cricket is just like Goldilocks, except that nothing is ever quite right.
I too thought of Goldilocks when I read your post. Your dogs are adorable!
I sometimes find good deals on nice dog beds at discount stores like TJ MAxx and Home Goods, if you have them in your area.
Thank you!
I recently faced the same dilemma with dog beds. I have 3 large dogs and finding economical beds that meet all my criteria for a good dog bed is almost impossible. So I decided to make them myself. I’ve completed one so far and the dogs (thankfully) like it. It’s not as fancy as the one you found, but like you, I often contemplate making myself one as well. They do look so comfy, don’t they?
My mom is big into sewing and quilting but, suspiciously, she never offered to make a new dog bed. Maybe she was worried that once she started, she’d never be allowed to stop.
Finally read this one! Cute!
Thank you!
This post made me giggle. You always have the cutest pictures of the girls. Bailey’s grandma got him a new bed for his birthday, but he doesn’t know yet. Shhh! 😉
Presents from grandma are always the best. It’s a chemical thing.
What I need for my Poms…new dog beds!
Make sure to get extra!!!!
It sure is funny how that dominance thing works. Foxy’s need for attention quadruples when there’s another dog around. Cute post!
Thank you!
I got fed up of buying beds for my dogs, so I started making them!!
http://kazyskitchen.wordpress.com/handycrafts/dogs-mattress-out-of-old-jeans/
http://kazyskitchen.wordpress.com/handycrafts/dogs-beds-with-old-sweatshirts/
I have an Anatolian Shepherd, 3.5 years old. We also have our “spare dog” who is a Boxer mix and is about the same age. Our Boxer prefers sleeping in the middle of the bed between my husband and me but he also has his “hut” (his enclosed crate with the door removed). Between the two of them they have 6 beds, a loveseat, couch, the Boxer’s special chair, and our bed. So much for my long rule of no dogs on the furniture. But they’re worth any extra cleaning that must be done!
I LOVE the pictures and stories about your dogs! Anyone who loves dogs is my kind of person! Keep it up!
Emma
Thank you! Cricket is giving me a nasty look right now. I am clearly un-delivering on the bed situation. Maybe if we just raise up the living room rug, put it on springs like a gymnastics floor…