How to Choose a Dog Bed

Written by

Kosar Koohi

Editor at Pretty Fluffy

Updated 2 September 20269 min read

Editor · Dog Lover · Pet Expert

About Kosar

Kosar is the editor of Pretty Fluffy, a lifelong dog lover, and the proud mom of Yuki, a Maltese who has very high standards. So does Kosar. She researches everything obsessively before it ever makes it onto the page.

All articles by Kosar

Dogs sleep 12 to 14 hours a day, which makes the bed the most-used piece of furniture in your home. Knowing how to choose a dog bed matters more than people expect, because the wrong one is not grudgingly tolerated. It is ignored, and your dog goes back to the floor.

A 2021 peer-reviewed paper in Topics in Companion Animal Medicine found that sleep disturbance in dogs affects cognitive performance, immune response and pain sensation, with deprivation increasing anxiety-like behaviors. Where your dog sleeps has a direct line to how well they rest. For specific products, our roundup of the best dog beds covers picks across every style.

Measure your dog nose to tail base in their sleeping position and add 15 to 25cm, match the shape to how they sleep, then set support by age and health. Anxious dogs suit a donut calming bed, arthritic and senior dogs need orthopedic foam, puppies need a waterproof washable bed, hot sleepers need elevated or gel foam. Always choose a cover that unzips.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Dog Bed

Three decisions do almost all the work: the right size, the right shape for the way your dog sleeps, and the right support level for their age and health. Fabric, color and how the bed suits your living room matter only once those three are settled.

The factors below are ordered by how much each affects whether your dog chooses the bed, rather than by how prominently it appears on a product page.

1. Size. The most common and most expensive mistake. Measure, add 20cm, size up when you are between options.
2. Sleeping style. Curlers want walls to lean against, sprawlers want a flat surface. Give a curler a flat mattress and it sits empty.
3. Support. Age and joints decide this. A large or senior dog needs real foam depth underneath them.
4. Washability. A cover that does not unzip becomes a hygiene problem within weeks, whatever else the bed does well.
5. Temperature. Thick-coated and flat-faced dogs overheat on deep memory foam. Cold sleepers want plush and high bolsters.
6. Durability. Match the fabric to the dog you have, not the dog in the product photo.
7. Placement. The bed goes where your dog already rests, not where it looks best.

Use the table as a shortcut. To browse by brand instead, the Dog Beds and Blankets directory is organized that way.

Dog Bed Size Guide

Size is where most people go wrong. A bed that is too small forces your dog into positions that leave them stiff, and one that is far too large feels insecure for a small dog who wants edges to settle against.

How to Measure Your Dog for a Bed

1. Measure length. With your dog in their natural sleeping position, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, not including the tail.
2. Measure width. Measure the widest part as they sleep, shoulder to shoulder or hip to hip.
3. Add 15 to 25cm to each measurement so they can stretch and turn without hanging off the edge.
4. Round up when unsure. A folded dog blanket makes an oversized bed cozier. Nothing fixes one that is too small.

Dog Bed Size Chart

The formula behind the chart: nose-to-tail length plus 20cm is your minimum bed length, shoulder width plus 20cm your minimum width.

Match the Bed to Your Dog's Sleeping Style

Watch your dog sleep for a few nights before buying. Their resting position tells you almost everything about which shape will work.

Burrowers are the group people misread most often. A dog who tunnels under blankets is usually following instinct rather than signaling distress, and our guide to why dogs sleep under the covers covers when it is worth a closer look.

Dog Bed Types Explained

Orthopedic and Memory Foam Dog Beds

Orthopedic and memory foam beds do the same job through slightly different foam. Both distribute weight evenly and keep pressure off elbows, hips and shoulders instead of letting your dog sink through to the floor. This is the strongest choice for large breeds, seniors, and any dog with arthritis or hip dysplasia.

Two numbers matter. Depth should be at least 4 inches for a medium dog and 5 to 6 inches for a large one. Density should be 4lb or higher, since 1lb to 2lb foam flattens within months. The word orthopedic is unregulated, so check the foam specification rather than the label.

Calming Dog Beds for Anxious Dogs

Calming beds use a donut or bolster shape with raised edges your dog can rest a chin on. The enclosed shape mimics being curled against littermates, which is why nervous dogs settle faster in one than on an open mattress.

Look for a high surrounding bolster and a center that is soft but still supportive. If your dog sinks through to the floor, the bed is doing neither job. These get heavy use, so a machine-washable cover is not optional.

Waterproof and Washable Dog Beds

A waterproof bed has an inner liner that stops moisture reaching the foam, which is non-negotiable for a new puppy in house training and for seniors with incontinence. Watch the wording: water-resistant is not waterproof, and only one survives a soaked bed.

Fully washable means cover and insert both go through a standard machine. Many beds have a removable cover but a spot-clean-only insert. Check the care label before you buy.

Dog Cooling Beds: Mesh or Gel Foam?

A cooling dog bed works one of two ways, and the right one depends on the room more than the dog. A raised mesh cot moves air underneath and cools by convection, which is why it performs outdoors, on tiles, and in any room without air conditioning. A gel-infused foam top absorbs body heat instead, which suits climate-controlled homes where there is little airflow to work with.

If your dog runs hot year round, the cot wins on versatility, since it also keeps them off a cold floor in winter. Our roundup of the best elevated dog beds covers the cot-style options in detail. Deep memory foam is the thing to avoid for a hot sleeper, since it traps warmth against the body.

Dog Bed Materials Compared

Dog Beds by Age and Health Condition

Puppies

A puppy bed has two non-negotiable features: a waterproof liner and a machine-washable cover. Accidents are part of house training, and a bed that cannot be properly cleaned encourages repeat accidents in the same spot.

Buy for expected adult size and fill the extra space with a rolled blanket so it still feels secure. Skip expensive orthopedic foam at this stage, since a young puppy is unlikely to stay in one spot long enough to benefit from it.

Large and Giant Breeds

Large dogs need substantially more foam depth than standard beds provide. A Labrador or Husky on a 2-inch foam base will compress it flat within weeks, and from that point they are effectively sleeping on the floor. Look for 5 to 6 inches of orthopedic foam, a footprint of at least 100 x 75cm, and a durable cover.

A non-slip base matters more than it sounds. A big dog flopping down onto a bed that slides across floorboards takes that impact through the joints every time.

Senior Dogs, Arthritis and Incontinence

Older dogs need three things at once: real foam support, a low step-in height they can manage without a run-up, and a surface that survives frequent washing. A high-sided calming bed may look inviting but becomes an obstacle for a stiff dog, and elevated cots introduce a fall risk for anyone unsteady on their feet.

If incontinence is part of the picture, a waterproof orthopedic bed with a removable cover is the only setup that holds up. Our guide to caring for a senior dog covers the wider adjustments worth making at the same time.

Buying an Orthopedic Dog Bed in Australia

Two things change the orthopedic calculation in an Australian home, and neither shows up in guides written for the northern hemisphere.

The first is heat. Deep memory foam holds warmth against the body, which is exactly what an arthritic dog wants through a Melbourne winter and exactly what they do not want in a Queensland summer. If your dog needs joint support in a humid climate, look for orthopedic foam under a breathable cover with a removable top layer, or plan on a second cooler bed for the warm months rather than expecting one bed to do both jobs.

The second is sizing. Australian brands generally list beds in centimeters against breed names rather than in inches, so measure first and ignore the breed label. A stocky Staffy and a leggy Kelpie both get called medium and need very different footprints. Our Koko Collective rattan bed review looks at one Australian option in detail.

Covers, Washing and Durability

The cover must unzip. Removable and machine-washable is the baseline, not a premium feature.

Wash at 40C or higher. Lower temperatures do not deal with bacteria and allergens effectively, and some covers cap out below that.

Match the fabric to the damage. Canvas, ballistic nylon and ripstop hold up far better than plush or velvet under chewing and scratching. A velvet-trimmed bed is a poor choice for a muddy outdoor dog, however good it looks in the hallway.

Check the fill, not the description. Cheap polyester compresses into a flat mat within months. Quality beds use high-density foam or vacuum-compressed fill that recovers after washing.

Keep a spare cover. Wash day is when most dogs quietly relocate to the sofa.

Dog Bed Buying Checklist

Before you buy, run through these.

• Measured your dog in their sleeping position and added 15 to 20cm
• Matched the bed shape to how your dog actually sleeps
• Checked foam depth: 4 inches and up for medium, 5 to 6 inches for large breeds
• Confirmed a removable, machine-washable cover
• Confirmed a waterproof liner for a puppy or incontinent dog
• Matched support level to age and health, not to the label
• Checked fill quality and seam construction
• Non-slip base for larger or older dogs

Finding the Right Bed for Your Dog

It comes down to three things: the right size, the right shape for how your dog sleeps, and the right support for their age and health. Get those right and the bed earns its place in the room.

When you are ready to shop, our best luxury dog beds guide covers premium and designer options for anyone who wants the bed to look like furniture.