My review is primarily to give TIPS FOR ASSEMBLING the Cooleroo Elevated Dog Bed. To read my product review, scroll below. TIP #1: Take deep breaths, take your time, and have patience! Despite the simple instruction it may take a half hour for you to put this bed together. But once it's done, it's done and you're dog(s) will be so happy. :) TIP #2: Make sure that each metal leg has a bolt that will FIT. There are four bolts, one for each corner of the bed. Take a bolt and screw it into one of the metal legs until it's there's about an inch left; if it fits, leave it in (until you start assembling the bed, at which point you'll have to remove it). Repeat this for each metal leg. If you find that one of the bolts doesn't fit one leg very well, try the bolt on another leg. If you discover that one (or more) legs don't have ANY bolts that fit, return the bed or ask the vendor for replacement bolts (I don't know if they'll provide any, though). TIP #3: Duct tape is your friend! There are three components to each corner: 1) Small spring washer (silver color); 2) the bolt; and 3) a black "plastic insert." This plastic insert is curved so that it will fit the shape of the rounded metal leg. When you're screwing the bolt into the leg, the plastic insert can shift so that it no longer fits the curve. I used some small pieces of duct tape to hold that plastic insert piece in place so I could focus on screwing in the bolt — it made this step SO much easier. TIP #4: HOW TO FIX THAT FUNKY CORNER OF THE FRAME THAT STICKS UP IN THE AIR! First, understand that this is TOTALLY NORMAL. This bed uses tension to keep the fabric taut and hold the frame together. Once you've screwed the entire frame together, place it upright so that Legs A, B and C are touching the ground; Leg D will be up the the air. Legs A and D are opposite each other. Use one hand to hold down Leg A (already on the floor) and use your other hand to push Leg D down. Tension will kick in and suddenly you'll have all four legs on the ground and the fabric pulled taut. You did it! TIP #5: Tape the hex key to a bed leg so you don't lose it. At some point this bed will need to have its screws tightened and you don't want to have to hunt to find that tiny hex key. ============================ PRODUCT REVIEW I bought my first Cooleroo Elevated Dog Bed in October 2018 (large, Brunswick green). I have a beagle/pit mix who weighs around 55lb. She LOVES this bed, which we keep on our screened porch. Last summer she had ACL surgery and has developed arthritis since then, and the elevation makes her so much more comfortable. The bed did great until about March 2021. Suddenly one of the bolts would no longer fit more than 1/8" inside the hole, so it kept falling out and the bed would collapse while my dog was on it. I tried buying a replacement bolt at Home Depot that was just a hair thinner, but I couldn't find one. In June 2021, I bought a replacement bed — same size and color — and put it together today. The 2018 and 2021 versions of this bed are a bit different. First, the 2018 leg bars had indents around the holes, while the 2021 leg bars are smooth all the way around. This actually the 2021 bed assembly a little bit easier. Second, the gaps at the corners of the 2021 frame are much smaller, which might make the 2021 bed a bit safer (your dogs feet have less chance of getting stuck in the holes). Third, the 2018 version didn't have any plastic pieces and used Phillips-head bolts; you had to use your own screwdriver. The 2021 version includes some plastic caps that go between the bolt and the leg, and the bed comes with hex bolts and a hex key. Personally I prefer the Phillips-head bolts because I know where my screwdrivers are; those hex keys are tiny and easily lost (hence taping it to the bed's leg). That said, assembling both beds took about the same amount of time (about 30 minutes for me). Otherwise the beds are basically the same. I think the plastic caps on the 2021 version will provide some additional stability — I hope so, anyway. But then again, they look like cheap plastic so TBD if they will actually hold up. My dog has thrown up on her older bed and it was very easy to clean; just hose it down and clean the fabric with dish soap, water and a sponge. She has spent literally hundreds of hours on this bed, and at under $30 that makes it extremely budget-friendly. It's also a good, affordable gift to give fellow dog parents. My overall rating is 4 stars. I'd give it 5 stars except that 1) it only lasted 2½ years and 2) the instructions should explain about how to push down the fourth corner so the bed sits flat on the floor. I've seen lots of reviewers say they've returned the bed because of this, thinking the frame was broken when it isn't, and that's a shame. Editing the instructions to point this out would save their customers a lot of frustration and disappointment.
