Here are a few tips for buying the right dog bed
Your new dog bed should be padded and comfortable
Your dog needs a good night sleep, just like you do! Dogs don’t always take to new beds right away, so buying a padded, comfortable bed for them to snuggle in to is always a great idea. You wouldn’t want to sleep on a cold, hard floor, so why would you expect your dog to?
Comfort is key to stopping your dog sleeping on the couch
Of course, we can’t guarantee that your dog won’t sneak back onto the couch as soon as you go to bed (mine does this all the time – his panicked look when I get up early and he’s not had time to run back to his bed is hilarious!). But, if you do have problems with your dog sleeping on the couch, then a nice, comfortable bed of their own is a good way to change that behaviour.
‘Igloo’ style dog beds are good for shy dogs
Many dogs prefer to sleep in an enclosed ‘den’, so pick the right dog bed for them. You should consider where and how they sleep without a dog bed. Do they prefer a cover? An enclosed bed might be a better choice if your dog isn’t taking to regular dog beds.
Most padded dog beds are machine washable
Of course, you should always check the manufacturer’s instructions first. All dogs smell – some worse than others! And they’ll spend a lot of time in their beds. Check to make sure your dog bed is either fully machine washable or has a detachable cover that can be easily washed.
Remember to give your dog room to stretch
When choosing a new dog bed, be sure to pick one that is big enough not just for them to curl up in, but to also stretch out if they want to. Just like humans, dogs like to stretch out their muscles too, so giving them room to do is key.
It’s also worth remembering two important facts – younger dogs will grow, and it’s easier to train a new habit than break an old one. If your puppy outgrows its bed, there’s a good chance they will just be so used to it that they will prefer to keep using it – even if they don’t quite fit! A slightly larger dog bed can always be padded with a cushion or blanket if the dog is (currently) too small.
A general rule of thumb for picking the right size of dog bed is to measure from its shoulders to the base of its tail. Then add around 6 inches and you’ll have a rough idea of the size of bed you need. Most beds come in standard sizes (small, medium, large) but the actual dimensions can vary from supplier to supplier. When in doubt, opt for the larger size.
Orthopaedic Mattress
1. The Dog’s Bed – Orthopaedic Mattress
**Recommended**
Ensuring the health and well-being of your dog is always top of the list of priorities for every dog owner, and understanding that every dog (like every human), needs a good night’s sleep.
This is a therapeutic bed designed to offer a comfortable night’s sleep for dogs with joint conditions or dogs that are recovering from surgery. It’s priced at the mid to higher range for a dog bed, but it’s a high quality product. The easy-clean cover was designed with older dogs in mind, so drooling or accidents can easily be cleaned. The covers are machine washable and there are a range of replacement covers available in a variety of different colours.
Why this is the best dog bed…
This is a good solid choice for dogs who have difficulty getting comfortable in conventional dog beds. It’s high quality and the range of different coverings available means it will fit in any home nicely.
PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed
2. PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed
The new PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed, is an orthopaedic dog mattress that promises lots of comfort to your dog.
This mattress combines several important favourable features. It is anatomic, it provides a solid yet comfortable environment for your dog and it has a unique design. The PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed is ideal for your house or your garden and it is made by premium materials that guarantee the product’s resistance against damages. It is actually made by a combination of premium quality polyester and cotton.
The bed has a solid 10cm base that will provide your pet with the necessary comfort and protect it from health issues, like back or joint pain. Also, you can remove the cover easily whenever you wish to wash the mattress or dry clean it. The bed is ideal for medium or large dogs but you can still use it on a smaller pet. It will just have more space for itself!
Why this is the best dog bed…
The PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed is a great choice for dogs who might be getting on in years and have a few aches and pains. The thick base to the bed gives them plenty of comfort and lets them rest their weary joints. The bed can be also be bolstered to allow for different lounging positions for your dog. While it’s slightly more expensive than other dog beds on the market, the high quality make and comfort it brings your old friend are well worth the price.
Bunty Polar Dog Bed
3. Bunty Polar Dog Bed
The Bunty Polar Dog Bed introduced by Bunty is available in three sizes – small, medium and large to keep the dogs of all sizes and types warm and comfortable in a luxurious environment.
Bunty have developed a beautiful quality bed that will will not only fit well in any home, but be loved by any dog lucky enough to sleep in one. The bed is bolstered with high sides, which means it’s great for dogs who like to snuggle in and have a bit of protection, or even just like something to lean against. The thick, padded materials is really comfortable and clearly the result of years of experience from the manufacturer.
Why this is the best dog bed…
This is a fantastic quality dog bed and outstanding value for money. It looks great, fitting in with any home and the only real downside is you’ll find yourself looking for human-sized versions of it because your dog is comfy!
Petnap Heated Pet Tunnel
4. Petnap Heated Pet Tunnel
Even though many dogs have a thick coat, we still worry about them as the winter comes along. As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, it can be difficult for even the fluffiest of animals to keep warm, especially in big open spaces and drafty houses. The Petnap Heated Tunnel lets pet owners worry a little less about this! It allows cats and small dogs to have a hideaway place of their own and gives them a sheltered heated spot.
The heat pad is separate to the exterior body of the tunnel which means you can easily remove the outer cover to wash either by hand or in the washing machine.
This heated tunnel comes in a lovely blue colour and the interior and exterior of the tunnel is soft, making it the prime napping spot for your pet – if only one for humans existed too!
- An internal thermostat
- Long cable (measuring 6ft / 1.75m)
- 350mm wide / 300mm tall / 490mm long
Why this is the best dog bed…
It’s difficult to imagine any pet that wouldn’t like a nice warmed heated pad to cosy up on, so the Petnap Heated Pet Tunnel is great for small dogs that might be colder during the winter months.
Pillow Mattress for Dogs
5. AcornPets Pillow Mattress for Dogs
Not all dogs can settle in a more rigid bed and others love to spread out or move a lot when their sleeping, which is one of the main reasons they end up back on your sofa overnight!
Cue the giant pillow bed!
I mean, come on, wouldn’t you love to go to sleep on a giant pillow? Your dog will absolutely love this!
This dog bed is made from thick materials, meaning it’s super-comfy. The upper side is made from Berber fleece, which is a man-made fibre with a soft, fur-like texture. It’s a very smooth material which means your dog’s hairs won’t mat into the material and it can be easily cleaned. The underside is made from a suede nap, which keeps it from slipping around if your dog moves and also helps insulate the bed keeping your canine friend warm and cosy. The cover can be removed and is machine-washable.
Why this is the best dog bed…
Because it’s a giant pillow, if you want to you can easily store it into a smaller space than you could a smaller bed. But, that’s only a minor benefit as the main is that it’s really cosy and your dog will love it! It’s pretty well priced too!
Wolfybed Luxury Dog Bed
Price: ££ (check)
Made from premium materials
Quilted base and side cushions
Machine washable covers
Sizes available for large dogs
6. Wolfybeds Padded Luxury Fleece Dog Bed
The Wolfybeds Padded Luxury Fleece Dog Bed is a fantastic, luxurious bed for mid-sized dogs and boasts a warm and cosy fleece interior, wrapped in faux-suede. This means it’s a stylish and practical addition to any home and fits in well with your decor. In fact, the only problem you may encounter is the happy sound of snoring as your dog drifts off for the night.
The raised sides are great for dogs who like to rest their heads on a pillow, and combined with the comfortable fleece padding, most dogs will take to this bed without much coaxing.
As the Wolfybeds Dog Bed can accommodate a mid-sized dog comfortably (the manufacturer recommends the product for Labradors, Boxers, Border Collies, Whippets, Weimaraners and Dalmations), it can also be a great joint bed for a pair of smaller dogs, who will have no problem snuggling up together as they fall asleep.
One note though – the soft padding and covering means that this bed isn’t suitable for puppies, who will likely chew through it pretty quickly (along with everything else in their path!).
As the covering (which simply zips over the padding) can be removed and machine washed, it’s easy to keep clean and odour-free. A blessing for those of us who have ever experienced the foul stench that inevitably results from an unwashed dog bed! What’s really great is the cover is reversible – one side is lined with fleece, which is warmer, and the other is lined with faux-suede which is better during period of warmer weather.
It’s available in a range of colours, which means it will fit well in any home.
Why this is the best dog bed…
When it’s time to treat your canine friend, anyone with a medium size dog should consider the Wolfybeds Luxury Fleece Dog Bed. The comfort it offers its occupant alone is worth the cost, and most dog owners who have bought this for their dogs have reported that they have had no problem getting their dogs to use it.
Deluxe Pillow Bed
7. AcornPets Deluxe Pillow Bed
If you like the idea of a big pillow bed for your dog, but not sold on the literal pillows, try compromising with the AcornPets Deluxe Pillow Bed. It’s big and soft like other pillow beds, but the raised sides help keep your dog (and their toys) contained in the bed.
The top of the bed is made from a fur velvet material, which is soft to touch but is specially printed to be anti-chewing and anti-pilling – this helps the bed keep its look and feel even after a lot of use. The underside of the bed is made with polyurethane, which is a thin plastic-like coating that is hard enough to prevent any damage to or from your hard floor, but flexible enough to be comfortable and offer some insulation. It’s the same stuff that the soles of some slippers are sometimes coated in – the shiny, smooth material.
Why this is the best dog bed…
This is a great dog bed and definitely one to go for if you’re confused by all the options. It’s priced very well for the quality, coming in at the lower mid range and you get a great product that your dog will love.
Faux Leather Dog Bed
8. Bunty Tuscan Faux Leather Dog Bed
A little bit of luxury for your dog! This lovely dog bed has a brown faux leather base and surrounds and a soft fleece inner which will keep your dog warm and comfortable all night long. The inner pad can be removed to be washed, but unlike others with a removable cover, the whole pad would need to be washed.
The faux leather look can be a great addition to certain styles of decor and for many rooms it may very well fit in much better than fabric or plastic dog beds. It really is a luxury dog bed though – the padding is soft and deep, and your dog will love snuggling up in it. There are several different sizes available and size guides to help you pick the right one.
Why this is the best dog bed…
This lovely dog bed has all the hallmarks of luxury without the associated cost. It sits comfortably in the lower mid range of prices for similar dog beds – just as comfortably as your dog will sleep in it night after night!
Do you have any questions about dog beds?
Ask away and we’ll try to help!
Which is the best bed for larger dogs? I can’t seem to find any that will fit my Great Dane! Can you help?
Both the PetFusion and the Wolfybed beds have large sizes that will be suitable for bigger dogs.
Can you help?
I just can’t get my dog to use his bed! He’ll go into it when I tell him, but the second we’ve gone to bed he’ll jump up on the couch. It’s ridiculous – he knows he’s doing wrong as I can see the guilt in his face every single morning. But he keeps doing it!
What do I do?
Don’t worry!
The first thing I’d suggest is looking at how comfortable the bed is compared to your couch? If he has a better option, he’s going to take it. I would! If the bed isn’t padded, then try lining it with some blankets or cushions.
After that, you need to start to condition him to use it. Lead him over to it each night and give him a treat and some praise. Do the same each morning if he’s in his bed. He learn pretty quickly that he’ll get rewarded if he sleeps there.
Or he may just learn to wake up before you and go back to bed. 😉
A piece of advice…
Make sure…make double sure…make triple sure…that your dog bed is MACHINE WASHABLE! I made that mistake and the stench that came from that damn thing was unbearable. We ended up having a ceremonial burning ceremony when we finally of rid of it! Dogs smell. Increasingly bad as time goes on.
Haha sage-like advice! Thanks for dropping by!