What would be good for my dogs to lay on outside??

[redhen]

Okay...heres the deal..
My dogs are mostly indoor dogs..BUT in good weather..they are outside most of the day.. (as long as its not too hot or cold outside...well during the winter they are inside all day long..its just too cold..)
So anyways.. they have a pretty big dog pen...but the problem is...they get FILTHY! The ground of the dog pen is 3/4 inch landscaping rocks... and also just dirt...
So they lay on the rocks and dirt and then come inside at night..and my floor gets filthy every night and they get filthy every day... i cant keep them clean.. after a bath, they are dirty as soon as they go back outside!!...

So... we are buying concrete pavers to pave the whole dog pen.... its about a quarter done... hubby said it'll be $500 to buy all the pavers...so we are buying like $100 worth every week until its done....
BUT..heres the problem... i feel bad making them lay on concrete all day long... I cant put cloth dog beds out here..because of rain and dirt..etc...
so... what can i use for them to lay on?? Wood pallets?? What DO other people use??

also..they are very big dogs.. Mastiff and Saint Bernards...
Thanks for any ideas...

 

[Cara]

Our dogs have access to our enclosed porch/sun room, and we use these beds:

http://www.entirelypets.com/coolaro...e_eDCHdRFyukTk_LIQYAkAuf8aRdOF6iadQ8pzvjpmPvL

They can be used outside also as they are water repellent, and can be hosed off. They are also indestructible, our dogs like to drag blankets outside and shred them but have had these beds for two years and they look like new.

 

[chickensioux]

Patio mats. They are very large, made for outdoors. Or outdoor carpet or astroturf. Sometimes you can get remnant pieces of astroturf. Hope that might help. Good luck. I'm tired of mud........

 

[Slywoody]

I'd just throw a bale of straw out there.

 

[MagsC]

Well....there is a kind of dog bed that has a washable canvas type cover? Maybe that AND the straw?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's what I was thinking. Just spread out some stray. Or come on over and I'll give you a round bale of hay.

Oh and I went and splurged on a large rubber-backed mat for the backdoor; the door the dogs use. The top fabric is a kind that grabs loose debris. It has made a world of difference in how long my kitchen floor stays clean.

 

[Dar]

these are called Kuranda beds.... REALLY expensive (In my opinion) But are VERY easily made with supplies bought from Home Depot and a little imagination

http://kuranda.com/all-purpose-dog-beds/

 

[slightlyscrambled]

Dar, those are what I was thinking, and in the summer they help with air circulation. Our dogs love them.

 

[teach1rusl]

The thing with straw is that it will get in the St. Bernard's fur and be drug all over the house when he/she comes inside. For cost effectiveness, I'd go for a good sized indoor/outdoor sectional rug (although I love the dog beds metioned by DAR).

 

[redhen]

Great ideas guys!! Thanks so so much!