Choosing a dog bed
Dogs sleep for half the day or more, so a good bed is one of the best things you can buy them. The right one depends on how your dog sleeps: curled up in a ball, stretched out flat, or leaning against something.
Dog beds by type
- Calming beds: round, fluffy donut beds with a raised rim for dogs that curl up. Many anxious dogs settle better in one.
- Cushion beds: flat or bolstered cushions for dogs that sprawl, in plush, sofa and car styles.
- Raised beds: a mesh bed on a frame, off the floor, so air flows underneath. Good in summer, in the garden and for older dogs.
- Cooling mats: a cool place to lie on hot days.
- Blankets: for the sofa, the car or the crate, and for layering in winter.
What size dog bed do I need?
Measure your dog lying in their usual sleeping position, from nose to the base of the tail, and add about 15cm. Curled sleepers can have a smaller round bed; dogs that stretch out need a long one. Each product page gives the size in centimetres.
Keeping a dog bed clean
Choose a bed with a removable, washable cover if you can, and wash it every week or two. Shake out loose hair between washes, and dry the bed thoroughly before your dog uses it again.