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Mel Prout is a pet writer who tests hundreds of products for our best animal friends, including dog beds and pet drinking fountains.
We have added the Ruffwear Dirtbag dog bed as an ideal option for outdoor use. We have also tested the selected products and will continue to maintain their excellent quality.
Like humans, dogs have their own sleep preferences. And with hundreds of different beds on the market, finding the right one can be a challenge. If only dogs could take online tests like humans: “Are you a side sleeper? A stomach sleeper? Do you prefer to sleep curled up? Do you prefer a warm dirt bed or a huge human bed that takes up all the space?”
Even if you already know your dog’s sleeping habits, the process of buying a bed can still be filled with trial and error and a few returns and exchanges. To help you get started, we’ve researched and tested dozens of quality options for all kinds of picky dogs. Unfortunately, if your dog only wants to sleep in the same bed with you, you may be out of luck.
This dog bed has a low front opening for easy access. Of all the dog beds we tested, its cover was one of the easiest to clean. The foam mattress is soft and supportive, but not the highest quality.
Dogs who like to curl up and sleep will love this soft bed. The soft bottom and raised cushions create a cozy nest. The soft, durable microsuede cover can withstand normal digging, but like our other top picks, it will wear out over time.
It’s the most expensive of all the mattresses we tested, but its ripstop base is designed to resist rips and punctures (or your money back), which could save you money in the long run. The dual-layer foam mattress is comfortable and well-made.
This simple lounge chair comes in over twenty colors and prints to suit every taste. The chair cover looks great and is easy to clean even in everyday cleaning.
No need to buy a whole new dog bed anymore. These duvet covers can be stuffed with old blankets and clothes. Made from 100% cotton canvas, these duvet covers are durable and beautiful, available in dozens of colors and patterns.
This dog bed has a low front opening for easy access. Of all the dog beds we tested, its cover was one of the easiest to clean. The foam mattress is soft and supportive, but not the highest quality.
Dogs who like to curl up and sleep will love this soft bed. The soft bottom and raised cushions create a cozy nest. The soft, durable microsuede cover can withstand normal digging, but like our other top picks, it will wear out over time.
It’s the most expensive of all the mattresses we tested, but its ripstop base is designed to resist rips and punctures (or your money back), which could save you money in the long run. The dual-layer foam mattress is comfortable and well-made.
This simple lounge chair comes in over twenty colors and prints to suit every taste. The chair cover looks great and is easy to clean even in everyday cleaning.
No need to buy a whole new dog bed anymore. These duvet covers can be stuffed with old blankets and clothes. Made from 100% cotton canvas, these duvet covers are durable and beautiful, available in dozens of colors and patterns.
I’m the senior writer on the pet team and a big animal lover. I’ve had cats for over twenty years and currently have a five-year-old stray named Dave (who is spoiled as hell).
To create this guide, we scraped, painted, cleaned, sanitized, and reassembled 24 different dog beds. We spoke to veterinarians and animal behaviorists to learn about dogs’ sleep preferences and how they relate to different dog bed styles. We also spoke to several dog bed manufacturers to get insight into their R&D processes. This guide is based on research and testing conducted by Caitlin Wells and Nick Guy since 2017.
There are so many different types and designs of dog beds that it can be overwhelming. However, all the experts we spoke to say that you should consider your dog’s sleeping habits when choosing one.
“Look at what your dog has liked in the past and go from there,” says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Laurie Bergman. Do they like to lean on something while they sleep? Do they curl up into a ball? Will they expose their bodies without any concealment? Their usual sleeping positions can help you find the most comfortable sleeping position.
Some dog beds contain polyester fiber filling, while others are made of various thick layers of foam. Some manufacturers claim that their dog beds are “orthopedic.” However, Dr. Leticia Fanucci, a veterinarian and professor at Oklahoma State University, said that this is “misuse of dogs.” “There is no such thing as orthopedic bedding.”
If your dog has arthritis or other joint problems, most veterinarians we spoke with agree that you should choose a bed that’s easy for your dog to get on and off of, that will support the joints, and that won’t create pressure points. Dr. Pablo Filiquist, a veterinarian and professor at the University of California, Davis, said that these pressure points, which are “places on the body where there’s very little soft tissue covering the bones,” like the elbows or hips, are where injuries are most likely to occur. But unless your dog has underlying health issues, the risk of pressure points is low.
Fanucci says temperature is another important factor when choosing a dog bed, and you should also consider your dog’s coat. For example, a large dog with a thick coat who is used to cold weather may not like a thick, warm blanket, while a less furry dog ​​like a Chihuahua or pit bull may like a bed that helps retain body heat.
Finally, we looked at customer-friendly return policies and warranties. “Don’t be offended if your dog doesn’t want to use the bed you provide,” says Bergman. “You can encourage them to use it and put treats in the bed… but if they don’t want to use it, forget it.” Most of the dog beds we picked are available on Chewy and Amazon, which offer generous return policies. While there are no dog beds that are truly chew-proof, we tested a few models that are made with more durable materials and have stronger warranties for dogs who think their beds are tasty treats.
After reviewing 35 dog beds, we tested 22 of them and enlisted the help of our 65-pound mutt Dave and our 67-pound dog Hunter. We evaluated each dog bed on five key criteria:
Durability: We prepared gardening claws (imitating dog claws) and sharp butcher knives (imitating puppy teeth). Then, we scratched each blanket 50 times with each tool to see if it would withstand digging and chewing. We also gave each cover a good yank on the zipper to see if anything would break or get caught.
EASY SPOT CLEANING: We used water mixed with cheap, smelly dog ​​food to simulate vomit. We poured the disgusting stain onto each blanket and let it sit for about an hour. We also rubbed dirt onto each blanket and let it dry. We then spot cleaned both areas with wet wipes, a damp sponge, and (in severe cases) a toothbrush. We also sprayed Nature’s Miracle in the “vomit” areas to try to eliminate any residual odors (unfortunately, his own strong scent actually masked them).
Machine Wash Appearance: We spent the day at the laundromat, washing each blanket (as per instructions) three times. If drying is required, we put the cover in the dryer on low heat after each wash until completely dry.
Ease of assembly (and reassembly after cleaning): For each bed that required initial assembly, we recorded the assembly difficulty and compared it to other beds we tested. We also rated how easy it was to assemble the bed after machine washing.
Quality and Feel: Although my dog ​​Dave has tried all the beds, this wasn’t the best choice because he sleeps comfortably on almost anything. Unlike Dave, I have a bad back and my comfort level is very high. I weigh about the same as the average mastiff or St. Bernard, so I spent five to ten minutes in each bed, trying to assess how soft it was, whether I could feel the floor underneath me, and the texture of the blanket.
We also considered the aesthetics of each bed, the water resistance of the mattress cover, and the placement of zippers.
This dog bed has a low front opening for easy access. Of all the dog beds we tested, its cover was one of the easiest to clean. The foam mattress is soft and supportive, but not the highest quality.
The FurHaven Velvet Waves Perfect Comfort Sofa’s soft, cuddly foam, easy-to-clean cover, and affordable price make it a great choice for most dogs. The one we tested is the memory foam version (the company also offers mattresses with cooling gel foam and two so-called orthopedic foams). You can purchase replacement covers or foam inserts, as well as optional waterproof mattress pads.
Its barrier-free design allows most dogs to get in and out easily. Since this FurHaven model is a sofa-style bed, the front opening is a few inches lower than the other three sides (the exact height depends on the size you choose). So this model is best suited for puppies or adult dogs who may have difficulty stepping over high rugs. “If it’s painful to lift your legs and bend all your joints, we don’t want the edge of the bed to be too high,” says Dr. Barbro Philliquist.
Supportive foam will mold to your dog’s body shape. The memory foam mattress we tested had a base layer of what’s called orthopedic foam topped with a layer of viscoelastic foam, which is said to mold to your dog’s body shape. I found the mattress very comfortable, especially the king-size mattress, which has 4 inches of foam (smaller mattresses have only 3 inches). The mattress is supportive and springy, but not too firm. The foam pads are certified by CertiPUR-US, a nonprofit organization in the foam industry that tests for ozone-depleting substances and common chemicals that can degrade indoor air quality and harm human health.
The cover is soft and easy to clean. The 100% polyester cover feels great in the hand and was the easiest mattress we tested to clean. Dried dirt and fake vomit easily slid off the fibers with just a few swipes of a damp sponge, and the white faux fur on the mattress made it easy to tell if it was clean. After three washes in the washer and dryer, the fabric still looked shiny and vibrant, and didn’t bunch up or clump like some other soft mattresses we tested.
Assembly is very simple. The FurHaven mattress consists of three parts: the mattress, the pillows, and the cover. It is easy to assemble, but it takes a few days for the mattress foam to fully expand. Since the cover is made of a loose material, you will have to pull it tight to secure it when you zip it up.
The mattress pad does not protect the foam from dirt. In our tests, the polyester mattress pad was easy to clean, but liquids, dirt, and hair would seep through and collect on the top layer of the foam mattress. The foam can be spot-cleaned, but it is not machine washable. If your dog is prone to contact with liquids, we recommend purchasing a waterproof mattress pad from FurHaven to help extend the life of the mattress.
The low price may have its costs. We’ve seen some negative reviews online that mention broken zippers, as well as comments that the quality has deteriorated over time. But after more than a year of extensive testing, the bed has held up to Dave’s repeated use. We’ll continue to monitor for any durability issues.
Dogs who like to curl up and sleep will love this soft bed. The soft bottom and raised cushions create a cozy nest. The soft, durable microsuede cover can withstand normal digging, but like our other top picks, it will wear out over time.
The Majestic Suede Bagel Dog Bed has been popular since 2017 thanks to its soft interior, durable cover, and comfortable shape. The Bagel Dog Bed is available in four sizes, is machine washable, and has a waterproof base to prevent spills from spilling onto your floor.
A cozy shape can trigger your dog’s nesting instinct. “Curly beds and other soft donut-shaped beds, like this Majestic model, mimic the burrow your dog lived in before they were brought indoors, so you’ll see them curling up and sometimes even digging around in the burrow with their paw, trying to remake the nest,” says Dr. Leticia Fanucci. The shape is ideal for dogs who like to sleep curled up; Dr. Fanucci and Dr. Filyquist believe this is another instinct dogs retained before they were exposed to room heaters (which helped them maintain their body temperature). But if you get the right size, the Bagel dog bed can accommodate other sleeping positions, too; on cold nights, Dave curls up with his back and shoulders against the pillows, but on warm days, he lies on his back with his head resting on the pillows.
It’s filled with soft material, making it easy for dogs to dig and nestle in. The polyester fiber-filled mattress inserts and pillows have a denser filling than other donut-shaped mattresses. “That’s because after a few weeks of nesting, the filling will shrink back to the right size,” says Matthew Zimnicki, sales manager for Majestic Pet Products. The polyester fiber filling is soft enough for dogs to burrow into and find a comfortable sleeping position without damaging the mattress.
This cover is soft and durable. In our tests, the polyester microsuede cover withstood repeated scrapes from a shredder and a garden claw; it did not stretch or tear after 50 vigorous scrapes with each tool. Initially, the filament machine left some streaks, but it was later discovered that these were simply changes in the direction of the suede, and they disappeared when rubbed with your hand.
No assembly required. Unlike other dog beds we tested, the Bagel Dog Bed comes pre-assembled. We simply took it out of the box, gave it a little shake, and laid it on the floor. Dave was asleep within minutes.
The Majestic Pet Products Plush Bagel Dog Bed provides your dog with a long-lasting place to sleep.
A dog bed at this price probably won’t last long. The material will wear out over time, especially if you wash it often or if your dog is a chewer. But if your dog isn’t a big chewer, it should last at least a few years. If you’re handy with a needle and thread, it could last even longer. Still, Trixie, a 10-pound Chihuahua mix, has been sleeping on her donut bed for more than a year, and “she’s just as full and bouncy as when we first got her,” says Wirecutter editor Marguerite Preston.
Even if you spot clean your comforter, it may still show signs of dirt or fading. But how well the stain is removed depends largely on the color you choose. The bed we tested was a navy blue, which hides most stains. But when we inspected the coverlet under a flashlight, we could still see a fading stain where we soaked it in Nature’s Miracle deodorizer to remove any lingering odor.
The bed is difficult to take apart and put back together when you need to wash the covers. The bed’s two zippers, one that connects the bolsters and the other that connects the mattress, are located deep in the gap between the two sections, where dust and debris also accumulate. And the donut shape isn’t ideal for all dogs. “It can be very uncomfortable for dogs with osteoarthritis, and they won’t be able to maintain a tight curl,” says Filiquist.
It’s the most expensive of all the mattresses we tested, but its ripstop base is designed to resist rips and punctures (or your money back), which could save you money in the long run. The dual-layer foam mattress is comfortable and well-made.
The Orvis RecoveryZone ToughChew Lounger features a scratch-resistant cover, comfortable blended foam, and a solid warranty. We tested the ToughChew recliner as well as the more expensive RecoveryZone Sofa Dog Bed with standard Orvis upholstery. Both beds scored highly on nearly every test. If your dog isn’t a chewer, the regular Orvis recliner is less expensive than the ToughChew and just as comfortable.