Can I buy a bed for my puppy?

Yes you can!  Puppies like comfort just as much as older dogs and they need the support and warmth that a good bed can provide.  Since the main reason that any dog will chew its bedding is to try to make it more comfortable and because Barka Parka beds are already comfortable your puppy will not feel any particular need to chew the bed.  Of course puppies like to put things in their mouth (just like human infants), it’s part of their education, so we recommend that you supervise your puppy on its new bed for the first half hour or so.  If they do “have a go” tell them NO.  Be firm.  Then give them a scratch or a cuddle just so they know you still love them, and provide them with a toy that they can chew on their bed.

Should I wait until my puppy is full grown?

No.  All dogs, like people, suffer serious health consequences from having poor or inadequate bedding, especially the large breeds, so the sooner they get a good bed that supports them the better off they will be.  Puppies also suffer, initially at least, from being separated from their mum and litter mates.  We have all had the experience of a new puppy crying through the night because of this.  A comfortable bed will help reduce the length and severity of this trauma.  Besides, puppies like comfortable beds and they deserve one just as much as any dog. 

If you tell us you have a puppy we will put some extra beans in the bed to make allowance for the reduced size when compared to a full grown dog.  By the time the puppy is full grown the beans will have compressed a little and the bed will still be correctly filled.

Is the Slip-cover washable?

YES.  Our Slip-Covers are fully machine washable and can be tumble dried (though they dry really well on the line).  The fabric we use is the same as the army use in its drill uniforms so just wash the Slip-Cover like you would any other piece of clothing — or linen.

Warm machine wash using a normal laundry detergent. 

What is the bed made of?

All our beds (Inners and Slip-covers) are made from a 67/33 Poly-Cotton twill fabric. This is the same fabric that the army use for their drill trousers so it is both tough and comfortable - we buy from the official supplier to the British Army. The only filling we use are polystyrene beans.

My dog keeps chewing his bedding.  What should I do?

No one can guarantee bedding, or anything, against determined dog teeth, but as Barka Parka bean beds are so comfortable, pets rarely find the need to destroy them to try to make them more comfortable. 

Dogs in the wild like to sleep in a shallow nest scrapped out of loose leaves but in the home we tend to discourage them from making a nest out of the bedding provided for obvious reasons.

We have found that many dogs have developed the habit of ripping other types of bedding apart, and cats constantly pad with their claws, simply because they are trying to make a comfortable nest.  It’s up to you really - only you know your dog.  Ask yourself these questions. 

   1/   Is my dog generally destructive or is it just bedding, a good sign they are just trying to nest.  If

         the latter then we are

         pretty confidant that a Barka Parka is the right bed for you.

   2/   Is my dog wilfully destructive - a common symptom of boredom.  If they are we recommend you

         don’t get them a bean bed until you have sorted out their general behaviour.

WARNING!  If your pet has learned the habit of destroying bedding, then we strongly suggest you supervise your pet on their new Barka Parka for the first hour or so, to give them a chance to discover just how comfortable it is. 

If they do show a tendency to chew then firmly tell them NO.  Then give them a cuddle and a toy to play with so they know you are not generally angry with them and that if they are bored they are allowed to chew things on the bed - just not the bed itself.  Most dogs work this out pretty quickly, about as long as it takes to fall asleep.

I am buying a Super Set. Can I have each Slip-cover in different colours?

Yes.  We like to think of these beds as being just like your own bed.  You buy different coloured sheets for variety and to suit different moods and to allow you to change the appearance of your bedroom.  How much more important that you can change the colouring of a piece of living room furniture like your new Barka Parka, so of course you can have your covers in any colour combination you choose.

Can I get an extra Slip-cover later on?

Yes you can.  And because we keep the same colours as part of our permanent range you can get the same colours or a new colour.  Always check before you order to see if we have any new colours in our range that suit you even better than the ones you already have.

Can I put the beds outside?

Yes but only if they are protected from weather, especially rain.  Whilst the fabric will not be hurt by exposure if the beans become soaked they are fairly hard to dry out.  The Inner can be hung in the sun by the tabs, preferably with a bit of a breeze, and the beans will eventually dry out but it is something to be avoided.

Are the beds made in Australia?

Yes all our beds are fully manufactured in Australia.  Due to issues of quality, roll width and price we import our fabric from the UK but all our other supplies are sourced from within Australia.

How long does it take for delivery?

Allow up to 3 weeks from placing your order.  If you have a special requirement (e.g. sick pet or your moving house) we can usually help.

Can I tumble dry the Slip-cover?

Yes.  Warm tumble dry, of course the Slip-covers also dry beautifully on the line.

How often will I have to replace or top up the beans?

How long is a piece of string?  Bean life is affected by many factors such as weight of the dog, amount of use, atmospherics especially humidity and the surface that the bed is sitting on. 

All that said, we normally expect that you will need to Top-Up the beans every 12 months or so.  After a few Top-Ups you will one day come to the realization that the bed is getting a bit heavy with the accumulated extra weight of compressed beans, so at the next Top-Up, we recommend you replace the beans entirely.

In summary the average need to replace the beans is about every 3 to 4 years.

How do I replace or top-up the beans?

The best place to do anything with beans is in the bath as no matter how careful you are some of the little beggars WILL run loose.

Insert a paper clip into the zip located between the tabs on the Inner bed and carefully open it.  If you are topping up then get a second person to hold the Inner open whilst you gently ladle the beans into it.  I find that a 1 litre jug is best for this purpose.  For Top-ups add 10% of the number of beans needed for a complete fill.  Close the zip, replace the Slip-cover and see what the bed looks like.  If it still looks a bit flat then add some more beans.

For refills gently tip the beans into a garbage bag—make sure it has not holes in it!

Tape a cardboard core into the neck of the new bag of beans and use this to allow the beans to gently flow into the Inner. Try to judge the number of beans according to the chart in the Top-ups booklet, but as a rule of thumb the inner is full if you lay it flat and bring the top two edges together and it is not quite full.

Of course the only way to really tell is to replace the Slip-cover and owner and see how it looks!

Can I replace the elastic in the Slip-cover?

Replacing the elastic will only be necessary after many years of use and washing at which time the elastic may lose it’s tension.  You will probably notice that he Slip-cover feels lose or keeps coming off.  It is unlikely that the elastic will come apart as it is securely sewn together. It is easy to do, just follow the link to our graphic instructions for replacing elastic.

Can I put the Barka Parka in a basket?

NO. Never!  A Barka Parka is designed as a stand alone bed which provides support and comfort.  The basket will work directly against this.  It is extremely unlikely that you would be able to get a basket large enough to fit both the bed and the dog in and even if you did, the basket will add nothing to the comfort.  In fact Barka Parka was first created precisely because of the manifest inadequacies of baskets in terms of both size and comfort.  Furthermore since many “baskets” are in fact plastic buckets they will cause the bed to sweat and smell.  Personally I recommend that if you have a plastic bucket style “basket” you buy a Barka Parka for your pet, drill a few holes in the bottom of the basket, fill it with soil and use it as a plant pot.

Can I put the Barka Parka in a kennel?

Yes you can but usually the shape of the kennel and the shape of the Barka Parka will work against each other unless you have a kennel large enough in its shortest dimension to take the Barka Parka (allowing for the fact that the Barka Parka can be squashed up a bit i.e. A size 45 will fit into a kennel 40 inches wide.)

Why don't these beds smell?

Because of the fabric we use.  The smells in pet bedding arise from the dog and cat hairs that get trapped in the fabric and then work their way down into the filling as well as general dirt and muck.  We use a twill weave fabric for both the Slip-cover and Inner bed which the hairs and dirt cannot penetrate.  Because of this the hairs and dirt remain on the surface of the Slip-cover, which is easy to wash and replace, and are kept out of the filling of the Inner which is not easy to wash and replace.  If you think your Barka Parka IS beginning to smell a bit, try taking the Slip-cover outside and brushing the surface hairs off it. You’ll be amazed at how the smells disappear!

Why do you use this type of fabric?

Because it looks great, is tough, comfortable and durable and, because it is a twill weave, it doesn’t allow the hairs and dirt that carry smells (and flea eggs which are laid on the shaft of pet hairs) to penetrate into the filling of the bed.  This fabric is so tough - and comfortable - it is used by the army in their drill uniforms.

What are the beans encased in?

The Inner bed which holds the beans is made of the same poly/cotton twill fabric that we use for the Slip-cover.

Do these beds harbour dust mites?

No!  Dust mites accumulate in pet beds because they live off skin flakes which fall off your pet and then penetrate into the filling of the bed or get trapped in the fabric itself, an ideal, warm environment for them to live in.  Our beds use a poly/cotton twill fabric which does not allow the skin flakes to penetrate, so they are left on the Slip-cover, which is easy to remove and wash, rather than getting into the filling.

Do these beds harbour fleas?

No!  Fleas accumulate in pet beds because they lay their eggs on the shaft of their victims hairs, which then fall off your pet and then penetrate into the filling of the bed or get caught in the fabric itself, an ideal, warm environment for them to hatch in.  Our beds use a poly/cotton twill fabric which does not allow the hairs to penetrate so the eggs brush off the bed with the hairs rather then getting into the filling.

My dog doesn't like the sound of beans.  What can I do?

People do occasionally report this phenomenon, however in our experience it is rarely the sound of the beans that is at the root of the problem.  Many dogs are simply wary of a new experience, especially as when they put their foot on the bed for the first time the surface moves.  Because, when this happens, we hear the beans moving around, and we see the dog showing uncertainty, we put two and two together and come up with three! 

Whilst it is true that a tiny minority of dogs genuinely don’t like the noise, (at least at first) in most cases wobbly footing is really the issue and once they realise that the bed is actually comfortable and supportive they hop right in. 

The best way to overcome this uncertainty is to “play” your pet onto their new bed.  To do this get on one side of the bed opposite your pet and call them to you.  Move to the middle of the bed so they meet you and start to play with them and then “wrestle” them to the ground.  Give them a good tummy scratch.  At this point disengage from the play and leave the pet on the bed.  They may try to follow you to continue to play so discourage this.  During this activity the pet will usually realise that the bed is really very comfortable - who cares about the noise - and the problem is solved!

They may also have experienced bean beds in the past that have too many beans in them.  This makes them look nice an full in the shop so you buy them BUT it also means that when you pet goes to step onto the bed their foot is suspended in the air rather than getting a firm footing on the ground!  We always leave enough room in the bed for both the beans and the pet, and so when they put their foot on a Barka Parka it should penetrate through and be standing on the floor. 

It is a bit like the first time you try a water bed.  The surface can slop about disconcertingly, especially if you try sitting on it. But if you ignore this and lie down properly the bed is actually quite comfortable and supportive!

Can I have the Dri-top on permanently?

Yes you can but we strongly recommend against it unless it is really needed.  The Dri-top will, because it is a plastic sheet, tend to reduce the life of the beans and may cause the bed to sweat somewhat, possibly leading to a certain amount of odour.

My dog comes in damp. Should I get a Dri-top?

NO.  Dri-top is designed to protect the bed from incontinence and bitches in season.  The Slip-cover will accept the moisture from a damp pet without any problem, but, in truth, if your dog is coming in so wet that the bed will suffer then we suggest that you dry him/her with a synthetic chamois.  These can be purchased at most motor accessory shops and can be wrung out over and over—much better than towels which just get wet!  They then fold up into a convenient size which will fit in the glove box of your car.

Can I use the bed when my bitch is in season?

Yes.  If you use Dri-Top then the Inner bed is protected from any mess by a liquid proof sheet and the Dri-top and Slip-cover can be easily removed for washing.  This means that your girl gets a comfortable nights sleep and you still have an attractive looking pet bed.

My dog is incontinent.  What can I do?

Dri-top is the perfect answer for you.  This liquid proof sheet works just like a persons plastic sheet and sits between the Slip-Cover and the Inner, protecting the Inner bed from wetness whilst at the same time allowing the owner to enjoy a comfortable nights sleep and the bed still looks attractive.  If there is an accident then the Dri-top and Slip-cover can be easily removed for washing.

Can I put the Barka Parka on a frame?

NO. Never!  A Barka Parka is designed as a stand alone bed which provides support and comfort.  The frame will work directly against this and besides the Barka Parka will tend to fall off the sides of the frame and the beans will flow to the lowest point meaning that all your dog will get our of their Barka Parka is three thicknesses of fabric.

Is the Slip-cover easy to get on and off?

Yes the Slip-cover is as easy to remove - and replace - as your own fitted sheet and it works in exactly the same way.

Is the Inner bed washable?

Yes it is with the proviso that you have to remove the beans first.  Of course you should seldom need to wash the Inner, any more than you wash your own mattress.  As long as you keep the Slip-cover reasonably clean, and this can include eating fried bones on the bed, then the Inner will not need to be washed.  In the normal course, when you replace the beans (every few years) it is probably a good idea to take advantage and wash the Inner, however it’s not necessary.

What type of payment methods do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Bankcard, Money orders, cheques, direct credit and of course cash. See Payment Information

What sort of filling do you use?

We use Virgin polystyrene bead as this filling both moulds to the shape of your pet and acts as an insulator to protect them against cold floors and draughts.  Virgin Polystyrene beans are made from all new materials.  If your buying beans beware of recycled materials as they tend to easily crumble and have a substantially shorter life span.

I have two or more dogs. Should I buy one large bed?

This is a tricky question and ultimately one that only you can answer.

Basically dogs like to sleep alone in shallow nests, near to the other members of the pack, but basically alone.   In the domestic environment we usually deny them the chance to make a nest, rather providing them with relatively unyielding bedding.  As a consequence dogs will often replace the warmth and support they should get from their bedding by snuggling up to each other.  We therefore conclude that our dogs like to sleep together. 

If this is true then it is fine to get one bed for multiple dogs, just combine their weights and get the bed for the total weight of dog.  On the other hand, if it turns out that the dominant dog, often a bitch and often smaller, is simply using it’s friends as convenient bedding, then once they get a comfy bed the dominant will take the bed for itself and push everyone else onto the floor.  At its worst if you have bought a large bed for two dogs, one large and one small, you will often find the small dog in the middle of a huge bed and the large dog on the floor.  Ridiculous!

Only you know your dogs so only you can decide which crew yours fits into.

The only exception to the above are Cavalier and King Charles Spaniels which because they were specifically bred to sleep in piles (because King Charles II liked the aesthetic of piles of dogs around the palace) they will almost always share.

What is a Dri-top?

Dri-top is unique to Barka Parka.  It is a fitted sheet of polyurethane coated nylon that sits between the Slip-Cover and the Inner just like a rubber sheet on our own beds.  It acts to keep the Inner dry in the event of ‘accidents’ or if your bitch is in season whilst

My dog likes to dig.  Will the Barka Parka survive?

Absolutely!  The fabric we use and the double sewn seams mean that no matter how hard your dog digs at the Slip-cover it will stand up to it.  We guarantee it with our two year guarantee.

Mind you once your pet finds out how comfortable a Barka Parka is and how easy it is for most dogs to arrange the beans to make the nest shape they love so much, they will probably be less inclined to dig at their bed anyway.

Can I have an All-over-cover?

Yes you can but we strongly recommend against it. 

Firstly it costs a bit more.

Secondly, but more importantly, it is so much harder to take off and replace for washing that you will be less inclined to do it.  This means that smells will tend to build up and become unpleasant.  And yes you will mean to wash that cover - as soon as you have a spare moment.  Our unique Slip-cover allows you to whip the cover off in a moment and put it back nearly as easily - so you will.

Finally the bed will not work quite as well, it won’t be quite as comfortable because it is so much harder to line up the top circle of the cover with the top circle of the inner bed thus allowing the two components to work together.  Its much like a fitted sheet.  If you put a sheet on your bed crooked then you won’t expect it to lie as flat or be as comfortable.

Can I reuse the beans I have in my old pet bed?

Yes you can but we strongly recommend against it. 

The saving in money is trivial and it means that you never get to see your Barka Parka filled with just the right amount of beans, so you will find it harder to judge the correct fill level when you do fill it.

More importantly any beans that have bean used in another pet bed will almost certainly contain hairs and dirt that have passed through the fabric and into the filling.  This means that you start with smelly beans that will cause you bed to smell and that may harbour fleas.  For this reason we would not be able to honour any guarantee claim based on the use of inferior or contaminated beans.

Is the Dri-top suitable for whelping bitches?

No not really.  Giving birth is a messy and time consuming business at the best of times and whilst the Dri-top will protect the Inner it is unlikely that the Slip-cover will not be permanently stained if it is not removed for washing, something you won’t want to do during the whelping.  Dri-top is not designed to allow the Slip-cover to remain soiled and on the bed indefinitely but rather to protect the Inner bed in the short term.  The Slip-cover still needs to be washed as soon as practicable.

In any case most bitches like to go and find somewhere very private to whelp, or somewhere massively inconvenient to you, so they probably won’t choose to use the bed anyway.