Custom dog bed for Odyssey?

[Houndhill]

I know dogs need to be crated in vehicles for their, and passengers, safety, but I confess I have gone all these years transporting my Irish Wolfhounds without crating them, except when they are puppies and fit into crates. I usually had a Suburban or Yukon XL with dog beds in the back. Now, I have a new dog vehicle, a Honda Odyssey! I am hitching together two X-pens inside to make a 4’ x 6’ dog area, where one or two could ride without becoming projectiles in the event of an accident, or getting loose.

My question is, has anyone had a custom made dog bed of these dimensions, and from whom? I could do two 36" x 48" beds, which are readily available, but I fear they would get between them if there was a crack. They really need foam to ride on in a vehicle, they are so big and heavy.

I know I could probably buy foam, but I am hopelessly inept at sewing a cover, and the foam would need a cover.

If anyone has any suggestions I would be most grateful.

By the way, I am loving the minivan, so much lower for the hounds to get into! Unfortunately I have to keep my high mileage Yukon XL for towing the horse trailer. I swear this minivan is way smarter than I am, it has all kinds of bells and whistles it came with. I had to get a new phone that it could communicate with!

[Over_the_Hill]

Maybe this would work for you ?http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Dog-Training-Supplies/Dog-Travel|/pc/104791680/c/104715180/sc/112488480/KH-Quilted-Cargo-Cover/1350932.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fdog-travel%2F_%2FN-1108334%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_112488480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104715180&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104715180%3Bcat112488480

[Canaqua]

You could go to a home good store and try to find a memory foam mattress pad on sale in full size. That would be 54" x 75", you’d just have to cut a few inches off in each direction. I’ve found that an electric knife (the kind you’d use for carving a turkey) makes very quick and easy work of cutting memory foam. Using scissors is tough.

My dogs have old LL Bean extra large dog bed covers (with other dog’s names sewn on them ;)) that I got at the outlet store. I fill the beds with our old foam mattress pads after cutting them to size with the electric knife. So, their beds get a restuff whenever we decide to upgrade our mattress pads. The dogs love the beds.

If you sew, or know someone who does, you could make a custom sized, washable, cover for it. I don’t sew, so I’d probably just throw blankets or towels over it ;). I don’t think there is much in the way of any ready made cover in a 4’ x 6 ’ size. Maybe a full sized matress proctector, but I don’t know how that would hold up to dogs.

[Canaqua]

Oh, look! These “caravan or boat” mattress covers are just the right size and would allow for 2" thick memory foam. Wonder if they have them in the US?

http://cbscc.net/caravan_and_boat/caravan_boat_mattress_covers_protectors.html

[Canaqua]

Another cover idea. Who knew that there was such a bed size as “antique” and it is 48" x 72". All kinds of bedding. You could use a waterproof mattress protector to keep the foam clean and dry and then have a fitted sheet you could just throw in the wash.

http://www.finewebstores.com/Antique-Size-Sheets-Mattresses-and-Bedding_c_5825.html

You can tell I’ll do anything to avoid trying to sew myself ;).

[Bicoastal]

No sew custom option

On Belg-L, someone makes custom chew-proof crate pads by assembling a piece of plywood, foam, then vinyl fabric. She staples the fabric around on the underside of the plywood. Does that make sense?

[Houndhill]

Thanks to everybody for your helpful suggestions!

I found the “antique mattresses”, while the right size, were $$$$$. The boat/RV mattresses were a little better. But then I found that some rollaway bed mattresses are this exact size, and cheaper, though I need a waterproof cover and then something comfy but washable to put on top, like a flannel fitted sheet though I would prefer synthetic sheepskin.

Then I found this website:

http://www.mammothoutlet.com/foam-memory-dog-bed.htm

They make a nice dog bed with memory foam and a nylon liner, plus they have a “bumper” that I like. But the size is 72" by 55", which is too wide, i need 72" by 48" so I emailed them and they will custom make beds, yay! Downside is they are closed for inventory til June 9, but I might wait. I’ve also got a couple more inquiries out about custom made dog beds.

Thanks to everyone. Third world problem, I know, but I do want the hounds to be safe and comfortable, and the bedding non-smelly if the hounds are wet (well, the bedding able to be washed so that it is as nonsmelly afterward as possible)!