Kuranda Dog Crate Bed

Basic Info:

Product name: Kuranda Dog Crate Bed
Website: http://kuranda.com/dog-crate-beds/standard-dog-crate-bed/

Size: Large 40 x 25 inches [1.02 x .64m]
Weight (from UPS): 10lbs [4.54 kg]
Fabric Ordered: 40oz Vinyl
Cost: $82.95 base + $11.51 shipping = $94.46 total



(image from Kuranda home page)


Description

When we first got our dog, we found ourselves at some odds trying to determine how to provide her a comfortable place to sleep at night and one which she would not utterly destroy in the process.

At first, we were naive enough to select a thin, soft, comfortable dog cushion. We assumed that the young pup would snooze her night away on this luxurious pad and that we would find her lying there comfortably when we retrieved her early the next morning. That didn't last long.

Over the next few weeks, she would be treated to a varying salvo of sleeping options, from a "tough" bedding to a bunch of towels to the sterile plastic bottom of the kennel - all resulting in the same outcome: utter destruction.

She chewed the bottom out of her kennel	The remnants of a comfy bed we tried	El destructo herself

So, at this point we thought it would be prudent to consult our good friend, the internet, for some possible solutions for "Problem Chewers".

Enter the Kuranda

After some searching, we found the Kuranda dog beds, along with their claim of being "chewproof". In looking at comments about this product on other sites, it seemed like this claim was not always the case, but it was clearly a step in the right direction. So, with that, we ordered.

Since our dog sleeps in her crate at night, we elected to order the "Crate" version of the bed, which is the same bed as the normal variety, but with shorter legs to provide the pup some additional head room.

We placed the order on a Wednesday, and after the order was placed, we received a confirmation email. In this email, it was noted that it takes around one week to ship an order, which was a timeframe that was accurate to when it was actually shipped. We received a notification again once the product was shipped.

Product Description and Assembly
Note: It's been a bit since we have received the bed, so my details may not be 100% accurate, but I'll try to recall it as best as I can.

The bed arrived in a long, thin, tube-like box, roughly 9"x9"x4' (22.6cm x 22.6cm x 1.21m), which we found to be unexpected for the product. The package contained the bedding material, various pvc tubes, and a few nuts and bolts. The package included two sets of legs so the height of the bed over the floor can be adjusted.

The vinyl sheet contains rods sewn into each edge and there are four pvc pipes with an inset circle running along one side. The main assembly involves sliding the rod in the bedding material into the circles on the pvc pipes. This is a bit hard to describe, so I would say that it's very similar to the way puzzle pieces fit together.

Once the four pvc pipes are on the sides, four pvc corner pieces are secured via the included nuts and bolts. These pvc sides completely cover the edges where the vinyl is secured. This means that the dog can't get to the actual material in order to chew it. Overall, this design seems like a really great idea, as the material always seemed like our dog's first line of attack.

Once the corner pieces are secured, the legs and floor protector are simply inserted and the bed flipped over. I would estimate that it took longer to find where I lost my screwdriver than it took to set up the bed; it probably took 20 minutes or less once all pieces were out of the package.

Packaging
While it's sometimes hard to estimate whether or not the packaging choices were made by the manufacturer or the end-seller of a product, this was an order direct from a manufacturer. As such, I was pleased to see that the product was shipped in a reasonable container and contained no unneeded padding or filler, making this a fairly good purchase, in terms of eco-friendliness.

Initial Thoughts
Once in the kennel, our dog was a little apprehensive about stepping on the bed. I think it was based on the fact that bed was a bit higher than anything else we've put in the kennel and the fact that the bed was suddenly a bit 'springy'. That said, a couple of treats and an extended tummy rub seemed to be all she needed to feel comfortable settling down.

After this initial session, it was fairly easy to get her into her kennel for bed-time. As a fairly finicky dog, this was actually a big surprise.

Long Term Thoughts
Our dog weighs approximately 65lbs (29.5kg), and when we set up the bed, we opted for the shorter legs and were a bit concerned that this may be too low for a dog of her size. In fact, after roughly six months of use, the bed has exhibited almost no sagging after the initial bit of adjustment to the dog's weight.

In the time we've had the bed, our dog has not been able to do any damage to it - none. At the same time, I think that the bed has provided her more comfort than before, and that has done equal if not more to curb her destructiveness when in there.

Summary
Overall, we have been extremely happy with the bed and it has definitely been the key to her biggest issue when crated. If we find anything that seems off with the bed in the future, we'll make note, but overall, I have to say hats off to Kuranda!