A dog bed is where your dog recovers after exercise, decompresses after a long day, and stays comfortable throughout their many hours of rest. Dogs sleep an average of 12-14 hours daily — puppies and senior dogs often more — so the quality of that sleep surface matters more than most owners realize.
Start with Sleeping Style
Watch how your dog sleeps before buying anything. Dogs have a few distinct sleeping positions, and each points toward a different bed design:
- Curled up in a ball: This dog wants security and warmth. A donut-style or bolster bed with raised edges is ideal — the raised perimeter creates a cocoon effect.
- Sprawled out flat: This dog needs space. An oversized pillow bed or flat mat works best. A bolster bed will just get ignored.
- Burrower: Some dogs — Dachshunds and small terriers especially — have a strong instinct to burrow under blankets. A cave-style bed with a flap or covered entrance is the right fit.
- Pressed against a wall: This dog likes the security of having their back against something. A bolster or bolster-sided bed placed in a corner works well.
Get the Size Right
Measure your dog from nose to the base of the tail while lying in their typical sleeping position, then add at least 6-8 inches. When in doubt, size up — dogs do not mind extra room, but a cramped bed gets abandoned. For puppies, start appropriately sized rather than buying one they will grow into; a very young puppy in an oversized bed can feel insecure.
Orthopedic Support: Who Actually Needs It
Quality orthopedic beds use high-density or memory foam that distributes weight evenly and prevents pressure points at the hips, elbows, and shoulders. Dogs that genuinely benefit:
- Large and giant breeds (Labs, German Shepherds, Great Danes): Hip dysplasia affects a significant percentage of large and giant breeds. Supporting joints during rest matters even before symptoms appear.
- Senior dogs: Arthritis is nearly universal in older dogs. A supportive surface reduces morning stiffness and improves mobility.
- Dogs recovering from surgery or injury
- Overweight dogs: Extra body weight puts additional stress on joints; a supportive surface reduces cumulative wear.
For healthy adult dogs without joint issues, a comfortable foam or fiber-filled bed in the right size is completely adequate.
Waterproof Liner
Consider a bed with a waterproof inner liner for puppies still being house-trained, senior dogs with occasional incontinence, or dogs that come inside wet regularly. Waterproof liners protect the foam core — a wet foam core that cannot fully dry becomes a source of mold and bacteria. The outer cover should still be removable and washable.
Washability
Any bed that cannot be machine washed is a problem. The outer cover at minimum should be machine washable. Wash it every 1-2 weeks on a hot cycle to kill bacteria and dust mites, then tumble dry on low. If the foam insert is not washable, spot-clean it and let it air out in the sun periodically — UV light has a modest antimicrobial effect.
Durability
For dogs that chew, look for beds with ballistic nylon or ripstop fabric covers — not indestructible, but significantly more resistant than plush. Avoid beds with loose decorative stitching, buttons, or accessible zippers on a chewer. For non-chewers, soft sherpa, faux fur, and microfiber are comfortable and easy to clean.
Location
Dogs are social and generally want to sleep near their people. A bed next to your bed or in the main living area will get used far more than one tucked in a spare room. Avoid drafts near exterior doors in cold weather — older dogs with arthritis are particularly sensitive to cold, which worsens stiffness.
Bottom Line
Match the bed to your dog's size, sleeping position, and health needs. For most healthy adult dogs, any well-made washable bed in the right size works well. For large breeds, seniors, and dogs with joint problems, orthopedic support is worth the extra cost. Get the size right, confirm it is washable, and place it somewhere your dog actually wants to be.