Monday, April 1, 2013

Bed Steps!

Yes, for the most part, Murray sleeps on our bed with us.  For years I have watched him jump up and down from our abnormally high bed, and I decided I wanted steps for him to cut down on the risk of him injuring himself, and also so even in older age, he can climb up to settle in each night with us.  The problem has always been that Murray is about 90 pounds, and most dog steps are rated for well under that weight.  Even the ones that claim to accomodate large dogs had mixed reviews from customers.  Leave it to Jamie to find a solution....we will build them ourselves!  Well, HE will build it himself.  Away he went to do lots of research, finding successful models and many unsucessful ones.  He finally settled on using foam board from Lowe's.  Based on the height of our bed and the size of Murray, we decided on making a two step model, each 5 foam boards thick.  He used heavy duty glue for the initial construction and then reinforced it with duct tape.  It's not pretty, but it worked!  We have covered it in an old flannel sheet to give Murray extra grip and to help protect the foam a bit.  The sheet is then also removable so it can be washed.  An added bonus is that when you are walking around at night in the dark, stubbing your toes on it doesn't hurt!
(Below is a quick video showing Murray using the steps to come off the bed)


Front View

Side View




 

Covered in Sheet

25 comments:

  1. Nice! Murray will make good use of it. The sheet looks just like one our Mom uses on one of our couches.
    Wags
    Ernie and the other furkids

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  2. Wow, thanks for thinking of the older age guys, our Shadow has hip problems and has to help her on the couch. No Me Mom has and old trunk at the foot of the bed, just right for a Scottie!


    Your Pals
    The Mad Scots

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  3. Oh I like!!! Finn sleeps with us sometimes, and we have to lift her up. This is so smart and I like the covering!

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  4. What a great idea. We have a really high bed now too! Hailey always sleeps with us and Zaphod comes up for his cuddles.

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  5. Well, Murray is one lucky pup in our opinion. First, he actually gets to sleep in your bed, and we do not. Second, he has such wonderful humans who made those great steps for him so he can sleep in your bed. And third, he actually uses them to get up and down from sleeping in your bed. Did we mention how lucky he is to get to sleep in your bed?????? Murray, we are so jealous.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  6. Very resourceful pet owners, you and Brian are! A very nice stair step and you can tell how proud he is to have his own stairway, going down!

    I have my bed under a desk/table in my Mom's room and I like sleeping there very much. But anytime I need my Mom for anything, I just get up on her bed and she pats my head and I get comfy until I want to go back to my own bed!

    Cheers,
    Stella

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  7. We use steps to get on and off the bed but we weigh less so our pawrents just bought some. Good idea though. Mom says a dog can get hurt jumping off the bed.

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  8. What a cool make shift step. I think we might need to make one for our pug Audi. Nice to meet you, we're your newest follower :)

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  9. Now THAT is a smart idea guys!!! :-D I do believe that you are a doggie MacGyver! ;-D I hope that Murray gets a ton of use out of it!

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  10. Oh, well done! I, Daisy, need one of those as I'm the only one that can't jump. but never mind, whenever I am put ON the bed, I jump off anyway. I prefer to sleep under the bed.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  11. That's a good idea! Now that Whisky is older and sometimes a little clumsy, I no longer allow her up on the bed lest she trips and falls off, especially since she likes to stand at the edge of the bed.

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  12. Great idea. Our Pip could do with some steps. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  13. That's a great idea! Does he still sometimes just jump up w/o using the steps? I know I tried using a ramp for my guys, and they just went around it...

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  14. I was just thinking that we will need a step one day for Georgia. Our beds are abnormally high too and being a big dog like Murray, she doesn't have the spring that so many little dogs have. There isn't much space for her to launch herself either! Maybe we'll all have to sleep on a futon on the floor, when the time comes :)

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  15. I have a DIY-bedstep too (a plastic storage box). I used it as I was a puppy and now I use it only for fun :o)

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  16. First, good thinking because jumping off the bed is how I broke two of the little bones in my wrist. I was in a cast for 9 weeks or something ridiculous. Second, Ma and Daddy built a ramp for our friend and her pups...they used wood and at the top is a "perch" for one of the pups to lay on. They covered it in carpet; it's cool.
    Oz

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  17. Oh Murray, you are one lucky pups!! I don't gets to sleep in the beds with Ma (well, at least I don't start OUT sleepin' with Ma, butts I usually ends up there! hehehehe!)
    Did I tell you I'm a little jealous? No? Well, I am!!! BOL
    Kisses,
    Ruby

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    Replies
    1. I used to sneak up when they were sleeping. They gave up and just let me stay all night now.

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  18. Great idea! I sneak on the bed in the daytime when mummy and daddy are at work - they only found out cos I left some of my toys on there BOL

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  19. Hello there Murray,

    We are happy to meet you. Thanks for dropping by and we hope we can continue to share adventures here. We have added your blog to our blog roll and hope you can do the same.

    So nice to see you have an easy time to go up and down your bed. And lucky you that you are allowed to sleep on the bed. What a life.

    Love,
    Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Max, Wai-Pai & Forgie

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  20. Wow, that is super cool have steps up to your bed :) Have a wonderful day xx0xxx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  21. That is a great idea. Much better than anything that would be bought in the store. There is nothing better than sleeping in bed. Glad you're still able to do it.

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  22. Awesome! Our bed is high too, and there was a time when Gracie was having a problem so we purchased one of those drug store finds... needless to say, it is way too short and Gracie didn't want anything to do with it either. The grandkids now play with it. This is way cool and I can see that Murray got the hang of it quite well! Good job!!

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  23. An ideal solution!

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