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We’ve updated this guide with new picks for 2022.
In the right dog bed, your pup will have an even better time drooling, rolling, and snoozing. Some need a durable bed that will stand up to the toughest canine clawing, while older dogs may prefer a plush bed with just enough support for their delicate frames. After years of research, we’ve found six options that will satisfy the pickiest of pooches, including a cuddler-style dog bed, a luxe dog bed with cushion that rivals human mattresses, a lounger bed perfect for large dogs, an elevated dog bed, a crate-liner bed, and an easy-access bed for senior dogs or dogs with disabilities.
Dogs will love curling up in this cuddler-style bed, with its pillowy raised sides and soft (yet washable) microsuede material. This one’s great for most dogs—except for those prone to chewing.
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Why we love it: The Majestic Pet Suede Bagel Dog Bed is designed to be cuddly, and it looks like a fluffy, enveloping dumpling. Your pup is bound to hop in, do a happy dance, and spend hours snoozing in it. This bed is comfortable, easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning, and machine-washable. It comes in four sizes, to fit dogs up to 110 pounds.
This style of dog bed—with its raised outer ring and cushy inner circle—goes by many names, including bagel, bolster, cuddler, or nester. No matter what you call it, this type of bed usually features a lofty, built-in pillow that’s great for a pup to rest their head on.
Despite its name, the Suede Bagel’s cover is actually made of polyester microsuede, which feels inviting and luxe. The material and the subdued, earth-tone color options work well together, and during testing the microsuede material held up well against burrowing dog claws. The bed’s removable cover stays secure with smooth, strong zippers by YKK, a Japanese manufacturer known for creating high-quality, durable zippers.
Should your dog get its muddy paws on the Majestic Pet dog bed, it’s easy to spot-clean with a little soap and water. For heftier spills or bathroom accidents, you can wash the bed in the washing machine using the gentle cycle and the air-dry settings. The two smallest beds don’t have removable covers and are designed to be tossed into the wash, stuffing and all. The two larger sizes have removable stuffing, so you can wash the cover separately.
Cuddler beds are designed to be plush, which means they have a lot of filling that fits into a little space. That also can make them a pain to assemble because it feels like you’re stuffing too tight of a space. But the Majestic Pet bed doesn’t have that problem. With its polyester filling, this bed was easier to stuff after washing than other, similarly plush cuddler beds we tested; it retained its shape well and didn’t balloon to an unmanageable size.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: A dog bed in this price range won’t last forever, especially if you wash it regularly or your pup is tough on it. But you should expect to get at least a couple of years out of this bed—if your dog isn’t a big chewer. We’ve seen some reviewers complain that their dogs chewed holes in their Majestic Pet beds, but wear is expected if you have a dog who is prone to chewing. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned this bed since we first started recommending it, in 2017, and after five years of use, the beds are only now starting to wear down.
The Majestic Pet dog bed may be too lofty for some dogs. The central cushion sits up high like a bed pillow that needs to be broken in, and that can make for a lopsided resting spot for a few days. Still, with a little scratching and that adorable ancestral nesting behavior (sometimes called comfort circling, which has dogs circling their resting spot to make the pillow just right), most pups should be able to break in this bed quickly.
The bed’s zippers sit atop the frame, rather than beneath it. They also aren’t hidden under a flap of material, so a bored or anxious dog may chew on them. If you know your dog is the kind who chews on metal zippers, this model likely isn’t the bed for them. Some other beds we like have no-skid bottoms. This one doesn’t, but the weight of your dog should keep it in place.
Sizes: four, for dogs up to 25 pounds to dogs up to 110 pounds Colors: seven, including black, navy, and rust Machine-washable: yes
With its tight construction and two-tone design, this luxurious bed is the sleekest and chicest we tested—and it’s as comfy as a human mattress. The light-colored cover shows grime easily, but it’s a snap to machine-wash and restuff.
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Why we love it: The Casper Dog Bed is pretty darn elegant for a dog bed—it looks sleeker than most other models we tested and blends in well with most decor. This luxurious dog bed is also ideal for older pups and dogs with arthritis who need firm support. And it’s great for anyone who wants to spoil their pup with a dog bed to rival their own, human bed. (It’s also one of our priciest picks.) This bed is easier to take apart and put back together than most others we tried, which makes the price feel well worth it when it’s time to throw the bed in the wash.
The Casper Dog Bed comes in three clean, simple colors (gray, blue, and sand). The cover is suede-like on top, with a canvas-style material around the outer edge. The bed has five foam inserts plus a cover, but assembly was seamless compared with that of other picks. Other similar-style beds we tested were frustrating to put together: You must push a floppy bolster insert through the long tube-like cover. With the Casper, it’s much simpler to put the pieces of foam into their designated spots because there’s no question where they’re supposed to end up.
Unlike our Majestic Bagel Bed pick, the Casper has durable zippers on the bottom of the bed, and there’s a space to tuck the zipper away so your dog can’t grab it. But if your pup does tussle with the zipper or just doesn’t like the Casper bed, you can return it during the 30-night risk-free trial period—our only pick with this offer. There’s also a one-year limited warranty to address any defects.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The inner sleep area of the Casper Dog Bed is shallower than it looks in the picture; the narrow bolsters are only 2 to 3 inches high, depending on which size you buy. So the Casper might not give your pooch the cozy, cuddle effect of beds with bigger, higher bolsters. If your pup wants to feel extra-contained, the Majestic Bagel Bed might be a better option; even though its bolsters aren’t technically much higher than the Casper’s, they’re wider and feel cushier.
This bed is sold in just three sizes (our other picks all come in four sizes or more). So it might be harder to find a good fit if you’ve got a really teeny pup or a dog larger than 90 pounds. And this pricey bed gets dirty easily. It comes in three light colors that can’t mask the messiness of dog ownership—from dogs licking dirty paws to bathroom accidents on the bed. Spot-cleaning didn’t restore the Casper to like-new condition, but throwing it into the washing machine did.
Sizes: three, for dogs up to 30 pounds to dogs up to 90 pounds Colors: blue, gray, sand Machine-washable: yes
This mattress-style bed offers plenty of legroom for bigger breeds, dogs who like to stretch, and senior dogs who need cushiony support. Some Amazon reviewers said the zipper may break after several washes, but that didn’t occur during our testing.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $63.
Why we love it: The FurHaven Pet Orthopedic Ultra Plush Lounger is designed for dogs of all sizes who like to stretch out, rather than curl up, come nap time. It is available in several attractive colors and two different plush textures, and its cover zips off with ease and is machine-washable. The bed is also sold in six sizes, the largest of which is almost 5 feet long, made for dogs up to 180 pounds. This is the largest bed we’ve tested that’s also available in a wider range of sizes, so you can find a fit for almost every dog, from the tiniest Chihuahua to the biggest Bernese mountain dog.
Our long-legged dog tester, a goldendoodle named Ripley, couldn’t get enough of the FurHaven, favoring it over all others. During testing, cuddler beds (like the Majestic Pet Suede Bagel Bed) that claimed to offer an ideal size range for our panelists were often too small, especially for ganglier pups, like Ripley. The FurHaven in large worked well for 30-pound Ripley, but the similarly sized “medium” Majestic cuddler-style bed did not. The open-mattress style of the FurHaven allows for more freedom of movement than the raised, rounded sides of the Majestic. And the FurHaven’s zipper pull tab is hidden at the base of the bed, rather than sitting atop it, like on the Majestic. So the FurHaven is a safer option for dogs who are prone to chewing on dangly objects.
Marketed as an orthopedic dog bed, this FurHaven lounger offers firmer support for senior dogs who might struggle to get out of squishier beds. Its foam insert offers 4 to 9 inches of cushioning, depending on size, and is dense enough to provide soft yet strong support for pups with tired bones. It didn’t sag in our tests, and the foam sprang back after each use.
The bed features a sloped design with raised ends, allowing dogs plenty of space to stretch out while still keeping their heads slightly elevated—something Ripley often took advantage of. “The contoured edges were a hit; she clearly felt supported by the ortho foam,” noted Ripley’s caretaker, Jenn Wehrung, a volunteer at Friends with Four Paws rescue group.
When it comes to weathering spills, this bed’s cover zips off and is machine-washable. Plus, it comes with an additional zip-off, washable liner that’s made with water-resistant poly-canvas, to help prevent wetness from leaking both into the mattress and onto the floor. We found that this adequately protected the foam mattress itself, which should be spot-cleaned only. Ripley, who’s incontinent, had an accident on the bed that didn’t seep through the cover and onto the floor at all. And Wehrung said that after the removable cover was washed, the bed looked like new. “This bed held up great,” she said. “Not having to drag the whole bed to the laundromat is a great plus.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although our panelists and their pups loved the FurHaven, some Amazon reviews have said its zipper pull tab broke after a few washes. But our panelists’ zippers held up well after weeks of testing, and we think the FurHaven’s 90-day limited warranty and historically reliable customer service are enough to address those concerns, should a bed become defective.
Sizes: six, for dogs up to 12 pounds to dogs up to 180 pounds Colors: a dozen, including blue, camel, and gray Machine-washable: yes
This sturdy, cot-style dog bed sits several inches off the ground, allowing air to flow underneath. It’s great for a pup lounging outside in the sun, but we don’t recommend it for older dogs or dogs with arthritis because the height makes it harder to use.
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*At the time of publishing, the price was $38.
Why we love it: Dogs who run hot or love snoozing outdoors will enjoy K&H’s Original Pet Cot. The mesh is cool and breathable, and it doesn’t sag during use, ensuring a comfortable resting spot.
Elevated dog beds, also called cot-style dog beds, may not be what most people think of when they envision the category. But vets, boarders, and trainers often use them because they’re easy to wash and hard to destroy. Elevated dog beds allow for more air circulation than beds on the floor, and should an accident occur, they’re easy to clean and disinfect. In fact, Dr. Danelle Capobianco and professional dog trainer Barb Lenahan both prefer using elevated dog beds for their businesses, since they are easy to clean. We like that the K&H cot has a removable cover that can be tossed into the washing machine on the gentle cycle or spot-cleaned with a little soap and a damp cloth. And if you have the bed set up outside, you can even hose it down in a pinch and let it air-dry.
The K&H cot is also sturdier and easier to assemble than other cot beds we tested. Its frame consists of four solid bars that easily feed through the edges of the canvas cover (the extra-large version includes an extra-supportive crossbar in the middle). Other cots we tried required us to put together multiple bars—like an extendable curtain rod—before we assembled the bed; this was not only more challenging, but it felt less secure than the solid bars on our cot pick. Assembling the K&H takes less than a minute. Just snap the cot’s bars into place and you’re set.
This bed’s sleek mesh cover also feels particularly durable. It is strong enough to withstand occasional scratching by a restless dog, and the cover fits tautly around the cot’s top bars, making it hard for dogs to get their teeth around.
K&H claims even the smallest version of its elevated dog bed supports up to 200 pounds—more than any other cot we tested. In 2017, when we tested sag by placing a 50-pound rice bag on the beds overnight, the K&H cot held up better than the rest: Though none of them sagged dramatically, this model showed zero sign of wear. When re-tested in 2022, it didn’t sag after a few weeks of use.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Since the bed sits 7 to 9 inches off the ground (depending on the size of the bed), it’s not well suited for dogs with arthritis or other mobility issues because it can be harder for them to climb in and out of.
Sizes: four, all for dogs up to 200 pounds Colors: black, camo, chocolate Machine-washable: yes
This tufted bed is a plush upgrade to the hard floor of your dog’s wire crate. It’s hefty and has a no-skid bottom, but it’s not leak-proof.
Why we love it: MidWest’s QuietTime Deluxe Ombré Swirl Bed is undoubtedly way more comfy than the flimsy pad that came with your dog’s crate. It’s so plush that our dog tester Jerry ended up choosing his crate plus the MidWest mat over the couch. The skid-resistant bottom keeps the bed from sliding about, and the tufted design ensures it won’t become a lumpy mess out of the wash. (MidWest has a great track record: This company has been in business since 1921, and it makes our longtime top pick for best dog crate, the Ultima Pro.)
The Ombré Swirl is noticeably plusher than other crate liners we tried. Instead of a thin pad that barely keeps your dog off the ground, this crate bed is stuffed with (depending on size) 2¼ to 3½ inches worth of soft polyfill. That fill popped right back into shape after we did a sag test in which we placed a 50-pound bag of rice on the bed for 24 hours. This bed is also far less delicate than it looks: During our tests, it held up well against a dog’s abuse and a couple of trips through the wash.
As with any bed, it’s important to consider your dog and their tendencies before choosing a crate liner. “I think it is a good idea [to put a bed in a crate] if you can trust your dog to not tear it up,” said Dr. Capobianco, “especially if they’re going to be spending a lot of time in a crate. It’s definitely a lot easier on their joints, especially large-breed dogs.”
This MidWest crate bed’s swirl pattern feels cozier than the faux fleece designs of flimsier crate liners. The pattern didn’t pill or leave little fluffs of plush fabric everywhere during testing. And its neutral, earth-toned color options don’t look out of place inside a dog’s crate or even on the living room floor.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although the Deluxe Ombré Swirl is thicker than any crate liner we tested, that didn’t make it impervious to leaks. In our testing, liquid did soak all the way through the bed. If you’re crate training a puppy or have an incontinent older dog, we recommend that you pair this bed with the crate’s included plastic tray insert, or place a potty-training pad underneath the bed, if it sits directly on floors.
Sizes: seven, for dogs up to 6 pounds to dogs up to 110 pounds Colors: gray, taupe Machine-washable: yes
This bed has a lower entry point than most, so it is easier for senior dogs or dogs with mobility issues to climb into. But the side bolsters didn’t retain their shape as well as we would’ve liked after washing, especially given this bed’s higher price.
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*At the time of publishing, the price was $119.
Why we love it: The PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed is premium in both design and price, and it blew us away for its combination of quality, comfort, and accessibility.
Averaging twice the price of many dog beds we recommend, this model features superb stitching, three soft color options that blend into most home decor, and a generous foam insert.
The PetFusion UItimate is also our only pick with a dedicated opening lower to the ground than the rest of the bolster. So it’s easier for mobility-challenged dogs or older dogs to climb into than beds with huge bolsters that wrap all the way around. Its entry opening is only 4 inches off the ground, whereas the similar-style Casper bed’s wraparound bolster is 7 inches high, a potentially insurmountable height for a senior dog to scale.
“Diana enjoys the easy accessibility of the bed; she can scoot easily onto it,” noted Friends with Four Paws’ Nina Aguero Rios, who’s 7-pound terrier mix, Diana, is paralyzed from the waist down. There’s also a no-skid bottom, which makes it easier for dogs to get in and out—so owners of dogs with disabilities shouldn’t worry about the bed sliding away if a pup loses its footing.
Like our FurHaven pick, the PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed works well for pups who are incontinent or potty training. It has both a water-resistant cover and an inner liner, to ensure leaks don’t penetrate the cushion insert or delicate floors underneath. When accidents do occur, both the poly-cotton blend cover and the liner can be removed for easy washing, and the inner bolster and base pillows can go into the washing machine too. The PetFusion Ultimate has two inner pillows for stuffing; we found it faster to stuff the smaller cushions back into this bed one at a time, rather than trying to reshape one big, overfilled pillow, as we did with other beds we tested.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This bed’s poly-cotton shell isn’t as refined-looking as other picks’ suede-style or textured covers, and some testers said the material made the bed look cheap.
Our testers also noted that the PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed tended to sag more than our similarly priced Casper pick, so it didn’t feel as sturdy. Also, the side bolster lost its shape after a few weeks of testing, but it fluffed up after a run through the washer and dryer.
Sizes: four, for dogs under 25 pounds to dogs over 100 pounds Colors: brown, gray, sandstone Machine-washable: yes
As Wirecutter’s pets writer, I’ve covered everything from cat beds and litter boxes to GPS pet trackers and pet cameras. I can tell you how to clean a dog’s bed and how to keep a dog from wetting their bed. As a lifelong pet owner with experience fostering animals and volunteering at shelters, I’ve gotten my hands on hundreds of pet beds over the years. I also enlisted the help of Oklahoma-based pet rescue Friends with Four Paws, to test out our dog beds with its animals.
This guide builds on earlier work by Wirecutter’s Nick Guy, whose 45-pound dog, Jerry, helped test dog beds for us in 2017. Nick also spoke with pet professionals to get their take on what’s important when it comes to dog beds: Barb Lenahan, of K9 Connection in Buffalo, New York, is a dog trainer with 15 years of experience, and Dr. Danelle Capobianco is a veterinarian who, at the time of the interview, was at City Creatures Animal Hospital, also in Buffalo.
The right bed will be different for every dog. “It really just depends on what you think your dog’s likes and dislikes are,” said Dr. Danelle Capobianco, a veterinarian at City Creatures Animal Hospital at the time of the interview. “If you notice they spend a lot of time sitting on the floor in the corner, they might appreciate something with bolsters on the sides. If you notice that before they lie down in bed for the night they’re doing a lot of digging, then they might like something they can nest in. If they’re constantly lying on the cold tile, then something with more air circulation might be better for them.”
Retailers classify dog beds into dozens of categories, but we grouped them into the following four categories. A cuddler dog bed has raised edges that both embrace your dog in a hug and act as a pillow for added snoozing comfort, making this type ideal for most indoor sleep situations. An elevated dog bed allows air to flow underneath it, so this type is great for warm environments, both indoors and out. A crate dog bed fits inside a dog crate and provides padding while your furry friend is inside—though a crate bed isn’t leak-proof, so it’s not the best option when crate training. And a premium dog bed uses orthopedic cushioning and durable materials often found in human beds, making it ideal for pet owners who want to treat their dogs to something special or for dogs who need extra bedding support as they age. But don’t be surprised if some dog beds—including our picks—fall into multiple categories, like some hybrid mattress models do for us humans.
We considered dozens of dog beds in the aforementioned categories that received high marks in customer reviews over an extended period of time from many buyers.
For our most recent testing, we enlisted the volunteers at Friends with Four Paws rescue group in Oklahoma—members tested the beds in their own homes with dogs ranging from 7 pounds to 30 pounds. Dog testers included one who was paralyzed from the waist down and several dogs with long bodies who needed extra space. The volunteers examined each bed for overall quality, comfort, washability and shape retention, toughness, and stain and odor resistance. Of course they also noted which beds their dogs preferred.
Previously, author Nick Guy used the aforementioned criteria but relied on objects, rather than dogs, to help shape his testing. For example, he noted which dog beds sagged by letting a 50-pound bag of rice sit on each one overnight. To consider durability, he took meat-shredding claws to each dog bed and recorded any snagging or tearing under a moderate amount of clawing.
You may have heard the term “calming dog bed,” but rest assured, it’s nothing more than marketing jargon used to convince pet owners to buy a particular bed. Any bed that helps your pup relax can be considered a calming dog bed. In general, bolster, cuddler, or nester beds are synonymous with “calming” beds. They all feature the same raised sides that act as pillows for a dog to rest their head on. And the slightly enclosed style may be reassuring to some dogs—hence the “calming” effect. We’ve tested several of these types of beds, and we consider the Majestic Pet Suede Bagel Dog Bed—our pick for best dog bed overall—to be the best calming dog bed.
The FurHaven Calming Cuddler Dog Bed is well made. But its tall walls, enclosed egg-like shape, and availability in only small sizes make it difficult for some dogs—especially those with longer bodies or legs—to comfortably nap in.
Our panelists said the FurHaven Orthopedic Dog Bed with cooling gel foam features an abrasive polyester that their dogs wouldn’t get near. And the bed sizes were too small for their long-legged pups to enjoy.
The Orvis ComfortFill-Eco Couch Dog Bed is a well-made, plush option that retains its shape nicely and is easy to wash. But it’s twice as expensive as our pricey Casper and PetFusion picks, which offer equal comfort and style.
The Tuft & Needle Dog Bed’s canvas fabric helps with durability but sacrifices comfort in the process, making this one of the “rougher” beds our panelists and their dogs tested. Its frame isn’t raised enough for this to be considered a true cuddler or bolster bed, and the dogs couldn’t rest their heads on it.
Trendy Pet’s Trellis Pet Bed (currently unavailable) is inexpensive compared with the other cuddlers we tested, but it feels cheap. The polyester exterior is slick, which is especially problematic considering that it has no grip on the bottom. Unlike with the other cuddlers we tested, with this one you can’t remove the stuffing for laundering, and we felt it bunching after just two washes. Finally, there’s the confusion as to which company actually makes this model: Its Amazon listing names both “Trendy Pet” and “Pet Trendy,” while the main image on the site has a “Comfy Pooch” logo. In our experience, this kind of thing indicates that dealing with warranty issues won’t be easy.
The BarksBar Orthopedic Dog Bed comes mostly assembled; the bolsters are already in place, and the egg-crate pad is easy to fit into its compartment. We liked the way the bed looked, as well as the rubber dots for grip on its underside. Unfortunately, we encountered problems after washing and drying this bed, as dozens of those little dots fell off in the dryer (on the delicate cycle). At first we worried that a silica-gel desiccant packet had gotten into the dryer, but later we realized that the bed was falling apart. Additionally, restuffing the bolsters was a real pain, and getting the bed back to its original shape was difficult.
IKEA’s Lurvig pet line includes two beds. The pet bed with pad looks like a dresser drawer, with a cushion that can rest in it or on top of it. This bed doesn’t appear to be particularly comfortable, with hard edges rather than the traditional soft sides of a bolster bed. It may work for your pet, but we don’t see as much value in this one compared with our Majestic pick.
The AmazonBasics Elevated Cooling Pet Bed and the Coolaroo Pet Bed have a notably similar design. Both require tools for assembly—an included hex wrench for the AmazonBasics and a self-supplied Phillips-head screwdriver for the Coolaroo—and three Wirecutter staffers found them both frustrating to put together. Although you likely won’t assemble your cot often, the consensus among our testers was that a tool-free setup was preferable. In addition, both of these beds have covers that are full mesh, which in our rice-bag tests sagged a little more than the mesh-and-nylon combination of our cot pick.
AmazonBasics’ Padded Pet Bolster Bed and MidWest’s QuietTime Bolstered Pet Bed are both thin, fleece-covered liners. Neither offers much support, which means you (or your dog) will easily feel the hard ground underneath. Both also lack any sort of grip along the bottom, so they’ll more readily bunch up or slide across the floor. The big advantage to these two is just how inexpensive they are.
The K&H Crate Pad (we tested the memory-foam version, but the company also sells self-warming and odor-control models) felt just a bit more substantial than the AmazonBasics and MidWest bolster beds, but it was still thin. At the time of our testing, it was also more expensive than the other crate liners we tried.
In our tests, L.L.Bean’s Premium Dog Couch was the most difficult bed to reassemble, with interior zippers and notches in the bolster that had to be put in place just so. For the price, we’d expect nice materials, and though the denim exterior fits the bill, the stuffing is just polyester fill, rather than memory foam or a similar premium material found on similarly priced competitors. L.L.Bean used to have a lifetime satisfaction guarantee, but it now has a one-year warranty. So if you do have issues with this bed, keep that in mind.
The Orvis Memory Foam Bolster is a well-built bed. Although our testers compared the brown tweed version to a couch an aunt may have had in the ’70s, it’s easy to tell that this is a high-quality item. The big downside is the price—it’s far more expensive than our Casper pick (it currently costs almost twice as much). And it doesn’t offer a big upside. If you prefer the look or the larger bolsters, you’ll likely be happy with the Orvis bed. People who have chewers should know that the Orvis warranty covers chewing damage only on its ToughChew beds, which are even more expensive than the model we reviewed—and those beds still won’t stop a truly destructive dog.
This article was edited by Catherine Kast and Jennifer Hunter.
The best bed for your dog depends on their needs. Dogs who like to curl up come nap time will enjoy snoozing in a cuddler-style bed; those who prefer to stretch out will feel refreshed in a longer and wider lounger bed. Pups who are messy and spend most of their time outdoors will love feeling the warm breeze as they rest on an elevated dog bed. If you’re unsure of your dog’s preferences, we think the Majestic Pet Suede Bagel Dog Bed is a good style to begin with. This cuddler bed looks like a big, fluffy dumpling, and the raised bolsters around the perimeter give your dog a place to lay their head. The microsuede cover is soft yet durable enough to withstand a dog’s digging claws or a trip through the washing machine on the gentle cycle. This bed is also sold in four sizes, to accommodate dogs weighing from 10 to 110 pounds.
Many dogs may be perfectly happy without having a designated bed of their own—especially if their owners are happy to have the pup sprawl out on the couch or on a human bed. But if you want to give your dog their own place to relax (and reclaim your space, too), a dog bed is a great option. You’ll want to gauge what your dog likes, and consider where you’d want to place the bed in your home. Different bed styles are better suited for different environments. A cuddler is appropriate for general hangouts and for sleeping at night. A cot is great for warm climates (since they provide airflow to keep your pup cool) or outdoors. Crate liners fit inside dog crates and provide padding while your furry friend is locked up. But if your dog is a chewer, they shouldn’t have a dog bed because ingesting fabric or stuffing can lead to serious harm.
The Casper Dog Bed is a premium dog bed we recommend. This memory-foam bed is comfortable and retains its shape well, making it great for older dogs, dogs with arthritis, and spoiled dogs alike. It’s easy to reassemble after washing, and it’s made of high-quality materials that look and feel great. It also has a 30-day trial period, so you can return the bed if your dog doesn’t like it. The Casper model is sold in three sizes to accommodate pups weighing from 30 to 90 pounds.
Barb Lenahan, dog trainer, K9 Connection, in-person interview, June 26, 2017
Dr. Danelle Capobianco, veterinarian, City Creatures Animal Hospital, in-person interview, July 6, 2017
Volunteers (and dogs), Friends with Four Paws rescue group, email interviews, February 2022
Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. She's never met a pet she didn’t like, although she can’t say the same thing about productivity apps. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love, follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family.
Nick Guy is a former senior staff writer covering Apple and accessories at Wirecutter. He has been reviewing iPhones, iPads, and related tech since 2011—and stopped counting after he tested his 1,000th case. It’s impossible for him not to mentally catalog any case he sees. He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes.
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