A Cautionary Tale of Two Dogs, A Cat and A Moose

Outdoor furniture comes in all shapes and is made from a number of different materials.  Which of these is best for a pet owner?  This will depend a lot on your situation, your taste, and your pet. Having worked in the furniture industry for quite some years and being a pet owner all my life, these are my experiences.   

Wicker furniture has a classic look all its own.  The intricate weave of the individual strands is beautiful and fascinating.  Unfortunately, these strands can be fascinating to your pet as well.  At least three or four times a year we receive phone calls from customers asking if we can repair the damage done to a wicker furniture set by their pet.  In some of these cases, the culprit was their cat. The damage we typically see is repeated clawing in the same spot which breaks the individual strands of the wicker.  This is not only unsightly, but once the strands are broken it makes it more likely that it will unravel further.  If you catch it early enough, you can sometimes glue the strands back together, but this depends on the size and location of the tear. 

With dogs, especially larger dogs, the situation can be worse.  Dogs can start to lick and then chew wicker – sometimes even going so far as eating the wicker fibers.  This is obviously not good for the animal, and, in most cases, you are usually left with no option except replacement.   

Metal framed furniture is a good option, but the fabric on the cushions is the weak point.  My wife and I are pet lovers.  We have 2 small dogs, a cat, and a moose.  The character above is Moose.  He is a Norwegian Elkhound.  For those of you not familiar with the breed they are very intelligent and loyal.  They are also extremely independent, and, at least in Moose’s case, have a wicked sense of humor. 

A few years back we had a set of aluminum-framed outdoor furniture.  This was the type that has the plush cushions and was extremely comfortable.  We had a family event planned, so the week before, my job was to make sure the deck - including the outdoor furniture - was ready for guests.  Since the furniture was about five years old, my wife decided that it would be a good idea to clean the cushions, which I did.  After letting them dry completely, I reinstalled them and we were ready for guests.  This was on Thursday. Our guests weren’t due until Saturday afternoon. 

Fast forward to Saturday morning.  I let the dogs out into our large backyard as I normally would.  When I went to call them in an hour later, I was shocked to find Moose covered in mud and lying on the patio sofa.  Not only had he found the only spot in the yard with mud, but he also rolled in it, returned to the deck, and climbed on every piece of furniture, getting mud everywhere.  To this day, my wife is firmly convinced that this was done intentionally, and knowing Moose, I’m inclined to believe her.  We did what we could to get the mud out of the fabric before our guests arrived, but it still looked terrible and was embarrassing.  After our guests left, I cleaned the cushions again and Moose never repeated the event. 

Fast forward a few years, and we started looking to replace our outdoor patio furniture. My wife has a long memory.  My instructions were to find outdoor furniture that was comfortable, durable, easy to clean and Moose-proof. 

BERLIN GARDENS

My solution was Berlin Gardens.  Berlin Gardens is made here in the U.S.A, from the highest grade of poly lumber, also known as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).   The poly lumber comes with a wood grain, they offer a huge selection of colors, and you don’t have to worry about rot, mold or paint coming off.  If you have a Moose, cleaning up Berlin Gardens furniture is a breeze, and in most cases, you just hose it down and wipe it off.

They offer several different collections (including cushioned deep seating, for you brave souls), but our favorite is the Comfo Back collection. This collection includes Adirondack Chairs, Porch Swings, Dining Chairs, both Counter and Bar Chairs, Chat and Outdoor Dining sets, as well as Moose’s favorite, the 2-Seat Glider.   We have found them to be extremely comfortable without cushions, and for those occasions where we want to dress to impress, we just add a few throw pillows that we normally keep inside. 

Everyone’s situation and tastes differ but at least from our perspective you can’t beat Berlin Gardens.  Oh, and by the way, Berlin Gardens also gets Moose’s seal of approval as well.  He thinks the glider is his. And who are we kidding? It pretty much is.