Why a Studio Sif dog bed?
It is evening. You are on the sofa and your dog does one more round of the room. He sniffs the rug, turns in a circle, lies down and gets up again. He is looking for something. Not just a place to sleep, but a place that is his.
You want to give him that place. But a dog cannot tell you what he looks for in a bed. If you watch closely, he will show you. Every Pooch Pouch is made from what we see in dogs, starting with Sif, Saskia's dachshund.
What your dog looks for
- Something to lean against and rest his head on
- A rim that suits him: to keep watch against, or to step into and burrow away
- Something soft to burrow into
- His own scent, even when you are out and about
- A place close to you
Something to lean against
Watch how your dog lies when nobody asks anything of him. Does he crawl under a throw? Rest his head on the arm of the sofa? Press his back against your leg?
Almost every dog looks for a boundary: something to put his back against and something to rest his head on. On a flat cushion, he lies on top. In a Pooch Pouch, he lies inside, with a rim that closes around him.
A rim that suits his character
The rim of a Pooch Pouch stands up on its own, but it is not rigid. If your dog wants to keep an eye on the room, he rests his head on it and watches you. If he wants to be nowhere for a while, he burrows away and sees only the inside of his nest.
Not every dog lies the same way. That is why we make the rim in three degrees: firm, medium-firm and soft. The difference lies in how stiff the rim is: the firmer it is, the more slowly it sinks.
For the dog who keeps watch
Rim: firm
It is stiff and sinks the least. Your dog lies with his back against a solid rim and, with his head on top, keeps an eye on everything.
Of the three, this bed keeps its shape the longest. It stands just as it was meant to: a piece that belongs to your interior, even when your dog is not in it.
For the dog who can't decide
Rim: medium-firm
It stands up, but sinks when your dog puts a paw on it. So he walks into his bed without jumping, and out again just as calmly.
One evening he rests his head on the rim and watches. The next he pushes the rim up and burrows away.
For the dog who wants to disappear
Rim: soft
It folds with every movement. Your dog steps in as if there were no edge at all, turns a few circles and wraps himself up until only his nose shows.
Comfortable for a puppy, a small dog with short legs or a dog who no longer likes to jump.
To be honest: every bed becomes softer over time. Your dog turns his circles in it every day, burrows into the lining and leans against the rim. Little by little, the bed takes on his shape. A firm rim stands up the longest, but it too moves with your dog. That is how it should be: it is a bed to be lived in, and it becomes more and more his.
Why we make our beds this way
You want to give your dog a place where he can truly rest. Not the bed that looks best in a photo, but the bed he chooses himself. That is where everything starts at Studio Sif.
When Saskia was looking for a bed for Sif that was soft and sheltered, could come along in the car and fit in the washing machine, she could not find one. So she made one herself, the Denim Classic. Ever since, we have designed every bed around what dogs do when they want to rest: turning circles, digging, burrowing, looking for a fixed spot.
That is why we choose each fabric for how the rim behaves, so there is a bed to suit every dog. That is why the bed is made in one piece, without a cover or a loose cushion that slides around, with a faux fur or teddy lining to dig into. That is why it has handles, so his place can come along. And that is why it goes in the washing machine at 30°C, so you can choose a light fabric without worry.
Every bed is sewn by hand in our studio in the Netherlands, in small batches. That way, every rim and every seam stays in our own hands.
Something soft to burrow into
Inside is a faux fur or teddy lining. Your dog pushes his nose into it, turns a few circles and shuffles everything into place until it feels right.
After a cold walk, it is often the first place he heads for.
His own scent, wherever you go
To a dog, a bed smells of home. That may be the most important thing Saskia has learned from Sif. As soon as she picks up Sif's bed to leave, Sif is already at her side.
On holiday, at friends' houses, in a hotel room or on a restaurant terrace, everything is new and everything smells different. Put the bed down and your dog steps into something he knows. Sif's own bed travelled with her all the way to Greece.
With the handles you carry it like a bag. You are not taking a dog bed along, you are taking his place along.
A place close to you
Your dog wants to lie where you are. So his bed stands in the room where you live together: by the sofa, in the sun, next to the stove.
That is why we make our beds from upholstery fabrics you might choose for an armchair: teddy, plain fabrics with a linen look, jacquard or faux leather. You do not need to put it away when guests come round. It is best when both are true: your dog curls up in it of his own accord, and you enjoy looking at it.
Perhaps it seems a lot of money for a dog bed
That is a fair thought. A Pooch Pouch costs more than the bed you find at the pet shop.
But you are not buying a cushion to lie on. You are giving your dog a place that is his: in the living room, in the car, on holiday. Made by hand, to live with for a long time.
Many dogs already have a bed or two. You see the difference in where they choose to lie of their own accord.
What other owners noticed in their dogs
Nice and warm for my little dachshund. She loves to crawl in and have a sleep.
Ria IJnsen, about Pooch Pouch Teddy Lamb (translated from Dutch)Our little dog Pomme loves her new bed.
Brigitte Lutgens, about Pooch Pouch Liberty (translated from Dutch)A beautiful look. The dogs use it every day and really enjoy it.
Karin van Antwerpen (translated from Dutch)
Good to know
The bed goes into the washing machine in one piece, at a maximum of 30°C, and dries in the air. How to wash it.
| Size | Diameter | Dog's back length (base of neck to base of tail) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Ø50 cm | up to 48 cm |
| Medium | Ø60 cm | up to 58 cm |
Unsure between two sizes? The sizing page explains how to measure.
About Studio Sif
Studio Sif is a small studio in the Netherlands, founded in 2017 by Saskia Jacobs. We make dog beds, sleeping bags and blankets, by hand and in small batches. Read Sif's story.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my dog have to jump into the bed?
- Not with a medium-firm or soft rim: the rim gives way when your dog puts a paw on it, and he simply walks in. A firm rim keeps its shape. That suits a dog who likes to lie against a solid edge and keep an eye on the room.
- Which rim suits my dog?
- Look at how your dog lies now. If he likes to rest his head on something and watch the room, a firm rim suits him. If he switches between the two, choose a medium-firm rim. If he prefers to wrap himself up completely, a soft rim is the one.
- Which Pooch Pouch size does my dog need?
- Measure your dog's back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. Up to 48 cm fits Small (Ø50 cm), up to 58 cm fits Medium (Ø60 cm). Not sure? Have a look at the sizing page or send us a message.
- How do I wash a Pooch Pouch?
- The bed is made in one piece and goes into the washing machine whole, at a maximum of 30°C with a low spin of no more than 800 rpm. No tumble dryer: hang it outside by the handle or let it dry flat.
- Can a puppy that chews everything use a Pooch Pouch?
- No fabric bed can withstand a dog that chews it. A puppy or young dog that still chews a lot is best left in the bed under supervision for the first few weeks.
Start with your dog
Tonight, watch how he lies down. Does he keep watch, can he not decide, or does he want to disappear? Then you are already halfway to knowing which bed suits him. He does the rest himself: turning circles, burrowing, and then that sigh when he finally settles.