This is Misty. She is old, deaf and blind. She still enjoys life though, and especially resting on the porch, which all the dogs love. The problem is , how to keep water dogs who enjoy the outdoors from ruining the porch and their bedding while drying off before coming inside for the night.
Look at the mud on the back porch. Look at the dogs cramming themselves into the crates. Yes, they love the crates, and tussle with each other for the chance to have the crate to themselves. Another dog will eventually roost on top of the crates. The problem is the Viszla loves to always have bedding under himself and he drags the bedding out into the grass, dirt , or mud to sit on. I have watched him drag the blanket or expensive dog cushion around as he follows the sun spots. Smart, but eventually the bedding is soaked or filthy or both and often ruined, especially if the dogs play tug of war with the bedding.
My husband and I don't like the place to look like a doghouse, which is why we put a gate on the back porch and the dogs have to dry off before they come inside for the night. But we also want the porch to look nice. Practical, and nice. What to do, what to do?
I found these dog beds when I googled "Durable dog beds". Up popped these dog beds by
Coolaroo at HealthyPets.com . They promise to be durable, easy to clean, and they were relatively inexpensive. They also arrived within 2 days of ordering. I assembled them easily.
Look! Two dogs on each bed.
The dog beds are supposed to be cleaned by hosing down, I like that.
I think the beds are a winner as far as the dogs are concerned. Now I have to again pressure wash the back porch and scrub the railings. We are painting the house this summer ( if summer ever comes ) and then I think I will put a protective barrier on the back porch siding of the house, a WASHABLE protective barrier.
Shortly after I put the beds on the back porch I saw one of the Labs scratching fiercely at the bedding to do her usual shredding of the bedding. The canvas remains undamaged. So far these beds are a big thumbs up for me. I will let you know later if the beds withstand the abuse 4 dogs can dish out.
Delilah, my half Jacob and half Romney ewe lambed 2 /26/2011.
Delilah gave birth to one ram lamb who is mostly black and is now sprouting 4 well spaced horns. Delilah lambed the same day in the same place as Cedar Pond's Thora. I am pretty sure Thora had triplets, but somehow she claimed only one ewe lamb and left 3 little ones milling about trying to nurse from a very confused Delilah.
Delilah claimed two little ram lambs and they are thriving.
Thora and her little ewe lamb. 2/26/2008 ~ I am bottle feeding the lamb neither claimed, and Cindy is doing very well.
Sassafras and her ram lambs. 2/21/2011
First lambs born here and doing well. Cedar Pond's Viking is the sire.
Bide-a-wee Buttercup and her ram lamb. Buttercup is also the mother of last years' Cedar Pond's Barbarian who is for sale. Look at the horns already sprouting from this lamb's head, first day of birth, OUCH ! Cedar Pond's Goth is the sire of this lamb.
Bide-a-wee Chicory and her twin ram lambs born 3/3/2011. Cedar Pond's Goth is the sire of these ram lambs, Chicory and her lambs are for sale.
They are so cute, it is too bad they grow up into rams. A person can only keep so many rams you know.Anyone interested in buying Chicory will get these handsome ram lambs with her, they can be registered and should be magnificent rams.
Cedar Pond's Mara and her wee little ewe lamb, born 3/3/2011. Cedar Pond's Viking is the sire. Mara has 5 horns, two have fused together making it look like she has 4 horns.
Bide-a-wee Chicory and ram lambs.
Cedar Pond's Valkyrie and her ram lamb, born 3/17/2011.
