A dog sleeps for a large part of the day, which makes the bed one of the few purchases that genuinely earns its money. It is also the one most often bought for how it looks in the room rather than for the dog lying in it.
I am not a vet. This is what I worked out after buying three beds our dog refused to use and one he never left.
Where the bed goes matters more than what it costs
Location, temperature, surface, size and comfort can all affect bed use. Try a quiet accessible spot your dog chooses, and seek advice about a new refusal or signs of pain.
Dogs choose spots where they can see what is happening without being walked past. A corner with a view of the room, out of the main traffic, near where the family is but not in the middle of it, is usually the winner.
Watch where your dog already sleeps before buying anything. He has told you where the bed goes, and it is often not where you would have put it.
Match the bed to how your dog sleeps
Sleeping posture can suggest shapes worth offering, but does not dictate one correct bed. Give room to change position, stretch out and leave freely.
Size is where most people go wrong, in both directions. Too small is obvious. Too large is also a problem for a curler, who wants contact with the edges to feel secure.
Use the manufacturer’s usable sleeping-area measurements and allow comfortable stretching and position changes. A hand’s width is not a universal fit rule; check the fit as your dog grows.
Match the bed to the dog
| Your dog | What suits him | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Curls into a ball | Bolstered or donut shape with raised sides | Large flat mats with no edges |
| Sprawls flat out | Large flat mattress, no bolsters | Donut beds he will overflow |
| Older, stiff, or arthritic | Firm orthopaedic foam, low entry Worth the money | Deep sagging cushions and high sides to climb |
| Puppy or dog who chews | An appropriate, washable setup monitored for damage | Price does not establish safety. Remove damaged material and ask for help if bedding is swallowed. |
| Anxious or noise-sensitive | A quiet refuge freely chosen by the dog | Keep it well ventilated and cool. A cover must not trap heat, obstruct airflow or be reachable for chewing. |
| Incontinent or unwell | Waterproof liner, removable washable cover | Anything that cannot go in a machine |
General guidance based on how dogs choose to sleep. Joint problems are a veterinary question, not a bedding one.
Older dogs, where the bed does real work
This is the case where spending more is justified. A stiff dog on a thin mat gets up sore, and a sagging cushion means he has to haul himself out of a hole every time.
Firm supportive foam, thick enough that he is not resting on the floor through it, with a low entry he can step onto rather than climb into. Put it somewhere warm and away from draughts, because cold makes stiff joints worse.
The bed does not treat the underlying problem. The AVMA notes that reduced activity in older pets is commonly caused by arthritis, with signs including stiffness when walking, difficulty standing or sitting, and resistance to being touched. If that is your dog, the bed is comfort while your vet handles the cause.
Washing, and why it matters
Buy a bed with a removable cover before you consider anything else about it. A bed that cannot be washed easily will not be washed often, and a dog bed collects hair, dander, dirt and, in an outdoor dog’s case, whatever came in on his feet.
Wash covers every week or two, and more often if anyone in the house has allergies. Check the inner too, since some are machine washable and some are not, which is worth knowing before the first accident rather than after.
Have a second cover. The single-cover problem is that the bed is unusable on wash day, and the dog goes back to the sofa.
Before you buy
- Watch where your dog already chooses to sleep
- Note whether he curls or sprawls
- Check the usable sleep area allows a full stretch and position changes
- Check the cover comes off and goes in a machine
- Buy a second cover at the same time
- For an older dog, choose firm support and a low entry
- Choose for fit and safety; remove damaged bedding at any price
If he will not use it
Do not force him onto it or lift him into it. Move it to where he already sleeps and leave it there for a week. Put something that smells of you on it. Feed him near it, and drop a treat on it when you walk past without saying anything.
Allow comfortable exploration without a fixed acceptance deadline. A new inability to settle, refusal of a familiar bed or signs of pain deserves veterinary advice rather than a two-week wait.
If he sleeps on the sofa instead, that is a household rule question rather than a bedding one. Decide it once, tell everyone, and be consistent, because a dog allowed up occasionally will keep trying. Our guide to discipline and communication covers why intermittent rules are the hardest to undo.
A bed supports comfort but does not treat illness. Ask your vet about new stiffness, pain, changed sleep or accidents. If bedding may have been swallowed, call promptly for advice rather than waiting for symptoms; severe illness needs urgent care.
- Is stiff getting up, or takes a while to settle once down
- Has started avoiding stairs, jumps, or the car
- Resists being touched, or is grumpy when disturbed while resting
- Has begun sleeping much more, or in unusual places
- Is having accidents on the bed when he did not before
- Is chewing and swallowing bedding, which risks an obstruction
Suddenly refusing a bed he has always used is worth mentioning too. Dogs change where they sleep when getting into a spot has become uncomfortable, and that is often the first sign of a joint problem.
What is actually worth paying for
Support, a washable cover, and the right size. Those three things are the whole list.
Choose fit, support and a washable cover according to your dog. Cost alone does not establish quality or safety; inspect bedding and remove damaged material that could be swallowed.
Our guides to healthy aging in dogs and safe confinement cover the rest of where your dog spends his day.
Tonight, note where he chooses to lie when nobody is directing him. That is where the bed goes.
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If your dog curls up to sleep instead of stretching out, a bed with raised sides gives your dog a rim to rest against. The Best Friends by Sheri Calming Donut Bed is a common take on this shape. Its removable, washable cover may matter more in daily use than any marketing promise.
Questions people ask
How big should my dog’s bed be?
Check the manufacturer’s usable sleeping area and make sure your dog can stretch fully, turn and change position. Sleep style may guide options, but a fixed hand-width allowance is not a fit guarantee. Recheck as a puppy grows.
Where should I put my dog’s bed?
Start with the place your dog chooses without your help. Look for a quiet corner that has a view of the room and stays clear of foot traffic and draughts. Your dog may want to remain near you without resting in the centre of the action. Test that spot before deciding the bed itself is the problem.
What kind of bed is best for an older dog?
Choose firm, thick support that keeps your dog off the floor, plus a low edge that does not require climbing. Place the bed in a warm spot away from draughts. Watch for stiffness, trouble standing, avoiding stairs, or resistance to touch. A bed can add comfort, but it cannot treat pain or joint disease, so call your vet about these changes.
Should a dog bed have a removable cover?
A removable, machine-washable cover makes hair, dirt, dander, and accidents easier to manage. Check whether the inner cushion can go in the wash and consider a waterproof liner if your dog has accidents. A spare cover lets your dog keep using the bed while the first one is being cleaned. Read the care label before buying.
Why won’t my dog sleep in the new bed?
The location or shape may not suit how your dog rests. Move the bed to a place your dog has chosen before, add an item that smells of you, and place a treat on the bed without pressure. Give your dog time to investigate. If your dog stops using a familiar bed or seems stiff or sore, call your vet.
Sources
- AKC, explains that a dog bed should fit your dog and provide a place for rest.
- ASPCA, recommends a warm, quiet resting place away from draughts, with bedding washed often.
- PDSA crate guidance, on room, bedding and a comfortable suitable space.
- Cornell emergency guidance, on vomiting, painful abdominal swelling and severe illness.
Updated October 18, 2026. We corrected unsafe waiting and handling implications and unsupported guarantees, while retaining the useful planning tools, existing links and individual focus.