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If you're a dog owner, you know that your furry friend is more than just a pet - they're a beloved member of the family. Because hey- dogs are people too, right? And choosing cozy, comfortable bedding that you and your pup can enjoy is a must.
We understand the needs and frustrations of dog lovers, because we're "dog people" too. Since starting Retro Barn almost 20 years ago, our family has included multiple canine companions, and they've all spent countless hours in the people bed. Sometimes invited, sometimes not... you know how dogs are! We've also had access to a wide variety of bedding options- probably more than the average family because our family business happens to be selling quilts, comforters and other assorted bedding items. Therefore, we've done plenty of product testing, with the help of some pretty cute (but hairy) four legged friends. So here is a summary of our best bedding advice for dog lovers, and a few of the bedding sets that we would recommend.
1. Choose bedding that is easily machine washable.
Yes, this one is obvious. No matter how good your pup is, eventually they will make some sort of mess on the bed. And the last thing you need is an unexpected trip to the local dry cleaner just because it rained and your little Pookie Bear got his tooties all muddy. Choose bedding that is machine washable, but not just machine washable- easily machine washable. Something that actually fits into your home washing machine so you can throw it in there often. What we have found to be best in this regard are quilts. Most of them are machine washable, and compact enough to fit into your home washing machine as needed. Which brings us to point #2.
2. Choose bedding that is durable.
Again, this is a no brainer. But knowing what is actually durable can often be difficult. Especially when shopping online. We have found that wholecloth, machine stitched quilts work best for us. Unlike patchwork quilts, wholecloth quilts are made from two solid pieces of fabric, one for the front and one for the back. With batting inside and all-over quilting to hold it all together. Patchworks are gorgeous, but with doggie nails and sometimes teeth coming into play, those gorgeous patches can sometimes be a little too fragile and/or tempting to withstand long term doggie use. Not to mention, the frequent laundering that is generally required when a dog shares your bed. Yes, a good machine stitched wholecloth quilt is definitely the way to go. Stay tuned for a few specific recommendations below.
3. Choose bedding without buttons or fabric ties.
Okay, we learned this one the hard way. More than once actually. Pillows and pillow shams often have decorative buttons or fabric ties on the back. This works just fine for humans, but for a dog they are a massive source of temptation. Even a good dog, a grown dog who is past her puppy stage can still fall victim to the cute little buttons and tie thingies. Not only will they get her in trouble with the owner lady, they can actually be dangerous to her health! Dogs are quite prone to ingesting things that they should not, so it's always better to err on the side of caution and choose bedding that does not feature anything they can easily ingest. We recommend using shams and pillows with a small "hidden" zipper rather than ties or buttons. Or simply forgo the shams and use pillow cases only, if your pooch is prone to chewing and/or ingesting various and sundry things.
4. Choose bedding that can be de-haired.
Okay, this is a big one. Some textures and fabrics just seem to hold dog hair better than others. It can actually get trapped in the fabric fibers and make you crazy trying to remove it. No doubt you know what that feels like. A loosing battle. Honestly, we can not tell you that anything we have found totally solves this problem. It's just part of the deal. Roses have thorns and dogs have hair... But there are some fabrics that seem to work better than others. Cotton, linen or even some synthetics can work well in this regard. But, again it can be difficult to make a good selection when shopping online since you can't actually feel the texture of the fabric. Some cottons and polyesters work great with pets, while other work as a hair magnet. We've listed a few of our best durable picks for you below.
And just FYI- we have also had good success in managing dog hair using sticky rollers and/or the rake style hair remover. Nothing totally fixes the dog hair issue, but the right bedding selection plus a handy hair removal device can really go a long way to reducing the unwanted fur in your life.
5. Choose the right color bedding.
It sounds kind of funny, but it does actually seem to help if you choose bedding that matches your dog. While it does not truly cut down on the amount hair, it makes it bit less visible to the eye. So if you have a dark pup, go with darker bedding. If you have a white pup go with a lighter color. But don't go with white because that's just asking for trouble! And if you have a multicolored dog, well that's a toss up... But you get the idea. Also, a nicely patterned quilt can be a good choice to disguise the hair and occasional paw print or other doggie induced stain that may transpire during the course of life.
So without further ado, here are a few quilts that we would recommend to dog lovers ~
This is a great choice in so many ways. From a decorating perspective, a classic denim quilt is such a versatile piece. Just like your favorite pair of jeans, it can be dressed up or down in so many different ways. And this one is really quite durable as well. It's made from a sturdy cotton/poly blend fabric and is constructed with a simple box stitch design. It's machine washable, and it includes the matching pillow shams which have the hidden zip closure we love so much, pictured below.
This is another great choice for dog lovers. This is a coverlet, so it's a bit thinner than the quilts but still very durable. Made from garment dyed cotton canvas and stonewashed for a vintage lived-in feel. It stands up nicely to laundering, features tight stitches and simple construction without buttons or ties. The front and back are 100% cotton and the batting is lightweight polyester. A good choice for cooler climates or for those who prefer cooler bedding. It also comes in multiple colors. This pic above shows the Terra Cotta option and below is Duffle Bag Green. It comes in 6 colors. View all of them here- https://retrobarn.com/products/stonewashed-cotton-canvas-coverlet
This one is a favorite in our house. A little animal hair seems to fit right in with this bovine inspired quilt! Plus, it reverses to a nice rustic brown distressed paisley print that is a perfect match for our chocolate lab. It's machine washable, and features the hidden zip closure on the shams. 100% cotton on front and back with polyester batting. Tightly stitched and very sturdy. We've had it for years now and it's still in good shape after numerous machine washings.
this is the reverse side...
The Yosemite Quilt is a gorgeous Southwestern/ Native American inspired design with warm earthtones. It features the same rugged but simple construction as the Elsa design- still no buttons or ties on the shams. A busy pattern to help camouflage the occasional muddy paw print. 100% cotton front and back with polyester batting in between. Reverses to a tan and cream geometric print for an alternate look.
If you crave a little more color, the Del Sol Quilt might be just your style. This one is a feast for the eyes with vibrant tones of red, orange, green, gold, tan and chocolate. It works great with rustic, Western or even boho decor and really brightens up a room. Again, easily machine washable, durable construction and no tempting attachments. Soft cotton front and back with polyfill batting. And a little dog hair is really not going to catch the eye with this one. The reverse side features and beige and brown geometric print for a more subtle look.
If you pooch is more golden in hue, this one might fit the bill perfectly. It features a nice golden tan background with brown buffalo roaming across. Reverses to a striped pattern with tones of burgundy and blue for an alternate look. Made from 100% cotton with polyester batting inside.
This is a newer design with a cute retro Western motif. Designed by Tasha Polizzi for Paseo Road, this distinctive design "captures timeless scenes of pioneer life—explorers navigating rivers by canoe, cowboys on horseback, and frontier landscapes—rendered in a sophisticated palette of soft blues and earth tones with thoughtful touches of red." Reverses to a dark denim blue solid, giving you lots of decorating options. The denim blue backing is made from 60% cotton, 20% linen, 20% polyester. The front is 100% cotton. It's very durable and of course, machine washable.
And just one more because it's so darn cute- this is the new Bandana Quilt. It's also by Tasha Polizzi and as you can see, this design is structured as a patchwork of various red and blue bandanas. While this has the look of a patchwork design, it is actually a wholecloth quilt which tends to work better with dogs than a true patchwork. It's rustic, but a bit more girly than some of the others due to the pretty floral backing that features cascades of red and blue roses on a cream background.
In summary...
At Retro Barn, we understand the unique needs of dog owners. Our handpicked collection of dog friendly rustic bedding includes many assorted styles and colors to fit your needs. All of our picks are machine washable, durably constructed and feature hidden zip closure on the pillow shams. Many are even reversible, giving you an easy way to freshen up your look. We've shown you a few of our favorites, but we do have a few more you might like to check out before making your selection. You can view all of our Dog Friendly Bedding here- https://retrobarn.com/collections/dog-friendly-bedding
And if you see something that you like, be sure to use coupon code BFF10 for 10% off any set in our Dog Friendly Bedding Collection. At Retro Barn, we believe that your beloved canine deserves to hang with you in the bed. (If that's what you want too, of course!) And we're here to help you choose the best bedding to simplify your life and avoid the most common pitfalls. So please let us know if we can help you find a new bedding set that not only looks great, but also stands up to the demands of everyday life with your furry friend.
