Our 6 year old Silky Terrier loves her Snuggle Ball Dog Bed, made by Flexi-Mat, and I wanted to take a minute to tell you about it.
Even though our Silky is a small dog, (11 pounds), she likes the size and plushness of her 26″ diameter Snuggle Ball Bed. It is like a round ball, with tons of foam filling. The entire ball has a plush fleecy cover, which looks like fake skeepskin.
It is available in Four Sizes:
Small 18″ Diameter For Small Pets
Medium 26″ Diameter For Small To Medium Size Pets
Large 32″ Diameter For Pets Up To 40 lbs.
X-Large 44″ Diameter For Dogs Up To 60-80 lbs
We have our dogs bed on a carpeted area, but the height and loft of this bed would definitely insulate pets from bare cold floors. When my dog lays on this bed, she is literally suspended in a cloud of comfort! We have purchased three or four beds for her over her lifetime, but she really likes the Flexi-Mat Snuggle Ball bed the best.
PROS:
Extremely lofty and comfortable
Thick faux sheepskin cover keeps her warm
CONS:
Light cream colored fabric gets dirty quickly
Cannot remove the cover for washing
Foam compacts and bed does not retain it’s shape
Thoughts
I purchased one of these beds about 2 years ago, and it got so dirty I threw it away and purchased a second one. The bed wasn’t cheap either, it ran nearly $30 at my local grocery store.
The tag says that the cover is 96% polyester and 4% acrylic, and that the bed is washable. The directions say to wash in warm water, no bleach or strong detergent, and tumble dry on delicate or gentle low heat settings.
The problem is, this bed is too large to fit into my washing machine, and the cover is not removeable. I spent a good hour on the internet trying to find a phone number to call the company to inquire how I should wash this bed. I don’t want to throw another one away, they are too expensive.
I learned that the Flexi-Mat Corporation was purchased by JLA Home, and when I called their pets division they gave me a toll free number. Unfortunately nobody answers the phone.
While I was doing my online research, I found several pet companies who sell the Flexi-Mat Fleece Snuggle Ball Dog Bed that look identical to the one we own. The price was also pretty comparable to what we paid. However, these beds state that the filling is High Loft Polysilk Fill, that won’t mat or shift so bed maintains its shape and “recovers” after use. It also claims to have a washable zippered cover.
I looked my pets bed over from one end to the next, and there is no zipper in my bed. Thinking that mine was probably an older model and that the company has improved on the design, I returned to my store to check out what was on their shelves. I was very disappointed to see the same bed that I have still for sale, with no removeable zippered cover, and still filled with foam.
Since I know how to sew, I plan on taking my dogs bed apart and adding my own zipper to it. But I still deal with the foam matting down and have to fluff it up occasionally. If you see this bed in your local pet or grocery store, please check to see if it has the foam filling with no zipper, or the
polysilk fill with the zippered cover.
We stil love this bed, but will look for the improved version. I would recommend this bed for any dog dealing with arthritis or joint pain.
