If your dogs are like ours, they have super powers when it comes to chewing and that seems to go double for chewing their dog beds! We’ve had cheap beds and expensive “chew proof” beds and they’ve managed to tear their way into the beds every time, tearing the inside foam to shreds.
The solution: a heavy-duty dog bed made from heavy blue jeans. This inexpensive project takes an hour or two of time.
Supplies
To create a chew proof bed for a medium-large dog, you’ll need just a few items. (See our tips below for creating a small or XL bed.)
Round up these supplies:
- one or two pairs of jeans (depending on the size of your dog and the size of your jeans)
- needle and thread (a sewing machine is great but this can be done by hand)
- cedar bedding (about $7 a bundle at garden supply stores. A bundle is enough to fill two or three large dog beds)
Selecting Jeans for a Dog Bed
First, select the heaviest jeans you’ve got in the rag box.
Don’t use jeans with torn knees or pockets or those with thin material. Your dog will be able to use tears and thin places to start ripping up the bed.
You’re looking for heavy fabric without areas where you dog will be able to start tearing.
Hemming the Jeans
First, turn the jeans inside out.
Sew the bottom of each leg of the jeans straight across about one inch from the bottom hem. When you turn the pants right side out, the bottom seam will be inside the legs (and harder for your dog to tear apart).
Next, tack the two legs together at least four places down the inside seam to form a solid pillow.
Sew the zipper fly shut. You don’t want your dog to have access to the zipper. Similarly, if there is a loose pocket, you’ll want to stitch the pocket shut.
Take your cedar bedding and fill the jeans from the waist. Holding the pants up, fill the pants about 2/3rds full so there’s still a little room for your dog to push the pillow down and get cozy in it.
If you don’t have any cedar bedding, you can use rags, old pillows, etc. as your bedding.
Sew the waist shut. If you’re sewing by hand, sew just beneath the waistband (you won’t be able to get a needle through the heavy waistband by hand). You can use non-toxic liquid fabric glue, available in fabric stores, to glue the waistband shut after you sew it.
Lastly, top the bed with any fleecy or fake sheepskin material you might have to make it extra cozy. This is an optional step depending on if the bed will be used indoors or outside, and on the season.
DIY Dog Bed for Small Dogs
If your dog is small, just use the legs of the jeans. This way, you’ll avoid the easy-to-chew pockets, zipper, belt loops, etc.
Blue Jean Bed for XL Dogs
If your jeans are too narrow to make a large enough bed for your dog, take another pair of jeans and split them, using one leg and one half of the body to make another pillow just as you did the first. Tack it to the first pillow.
Another option is to visit a thrift store and look for the largest pair of men’s jeans you can find in heavy duty denim. You’ll save all the work of sewing on the third leg.
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