Dogs sleep for somewhere between twelve and fourteen hours a day, which means the bed you buy them is arguably the most-used item in the house. And yet most people buy the first vaguely dog-shaped cushion they see and hope for the best. Worth doing better than that, honestly, because the right bed actually gets slept in, and the wrong one ends up as a very expensive floor decoration while your dog sleeps on your sofa instead.
Start by watching how your dog actually sleeps for a few nights before you buy anything. If they curl into a tight little ball, nose tucked under a paw, you want a nest or bolster style bed with raised sides. Curlers like something to lean against, and the enclosed shape helps them feel secure, especially useful for nervous dogs or small breeds who lose heat quickly.
If your dog is more of a sprawler, all four legs out, flat on their back, main character energy, a raised-edge bed will just get in the way. Go for a flat mat instead. These work brilliantly for bigger dogs and anyone who runs warm, since there's more surface area for them to stretch across and no walls trapping heat in.
For older dogs, or anything with stiff joints, an elevated or orthopaedic bed earns its keep. Getting up off a cold floor is harder than it looks once a dog hits their senior years, and a slightly raised bed with supportive foam makes the whole process easier on their hips and shoulders. It's a small thing that makes a really noticeable difference to how easily they get up in the morning.
Shop the range of dog beds, including the teal wool bolster bed, the flat outdoor mat, and the elevated orthopaedic option
Then there's the bed that's basically furniture. Some dogs (and some owners) want a bed that looks intentional in a room rather than something shoved in a corner and covered with an old towel. A well-made bed in a colour that suits your home does double duty: your dog gets somewhere comfortable, and you don't have to hide it every time someone comes round.
Consider the season too. A bed that's perfect for January can feel stifling by July, especially for thick coated breeds. A cooling mat or a lighter weave for summer, swapped back for something warmer once the weather turns, keeps a dog truly comfortable year round rather than making do with one bed regardless of season.
If you've got more than one dog in the house, resist the urge to assume they'll happily share. Multiple beds around the house, even a couple of cheaper ones dotted about alongside the main one, tend to keep the peace far better than expecting two dogs to negotiate a single spot every evening.
Price is worth a mention too, if only to say it isn't always the best guide. A more expensive bed doesn't automatically mean a better nights sleep for your dog, and some of the most popular styles among owners who've tried several options are actually fairly modest in price, built well rather than built extravagantly.
Whichever style you land on, check the cover comes off and goes in the wash. That one detail matters more than anything else on this list, because a beautiful bed that can't be cleaned properly will smell exactly as bad as a cheap one within a month. Wash it as often as you'd wash your own bedding, and it'll last years rather than months.
