the well-appointed dog bed

A dog spends more of its life asleep than awake. Adult dogs typically sleep twelve to fourteen hours a day, and puppies and older dogs often need more (Sleep Foundation). PetMD puts the range at twelve to sixteen hours, spread across the night and several daytime naps (PetMD).

That is half a day, every day, in one place. It deserves the same thought as the chair you read in.

a bed of its own

The American Kennel Club is clear that dogs should have a bed of their own, even if they sometimes sleep at your side (American Kennel Club). A bed is territory. A place to retreat when the house is loud. The AKC suggests it can sit inside a crate as a refuge, and that several beds around the home can encourage a dog to use them rather than the furniture (American Kennel Club).

So the first question is not which bed. It is where. The quiet corner of the library. The landing outside the bedroom. A spot near the kitchen where the household passes. Most dogs want to see their people and be left alone, both at once.

size: measure the sleeper

Size is the decision most often made wrongly.

The AKC recommends a bed large enough for a dog to lie on its side (American Kennel Club). Large dogs with long legs often do well on rectangular beds; dogs who curl may prefer something rounder (American Kennel Club).

Watch for a few nights before choosing. Does your dog sprawl or coil. Press against a wall or lie in the open. Rest its chin on something. Then measure from nose to the base of the tail while lying stretched out, and allow room beyond it.

A bed that is too small is used briefly, then abandoned for the rug.

see beds in the edit

support: what lies beneath

The cover is what you see. The core is what the dog feels.

Orthopedic beds are built around supportive foam cores, often in more than one layer, to relieve pressure on joints, muscles and bones (PetSmart). The AKC notes that dogs of all ages can benefit, that supportive beds may help relieve the discomfort of age-related conditions such as arthritis and hip dysplasia in older dogs, and that options include memory foam and egg-crate foam (American Kennel Club).

Loose fill has its pleasures. It is soft, nest-like, easy to shape. It also flattens and shifts over time. For a heavy or older dog, a dense foam base beneath a softer top layer offers both: comfort on the surface, support underneath.

If your dog has a diagnosed joint condition, ask your veterinarian what level of support is appropriate.

the bolster

A raised edge does several things. It gives a place to rest the head. It offers the sense of an enclosed space, which many dogs seek. It helps keep cushions from spreading.

Choose bolsters that are firm enough to lean on and low enough to step over. For an older dog, the entry matters as much as the interior. Watch whether your dog can get in and out easily, and whether it looks comfortable once there. Field Mag, summarizing AKC guidance, suggests exactly this kind of observation (Field Mag).

materials: the surface

A dog bed lives a harder life than a sofa. It is dug at, turned on, slept on wet.

• Wool. Springy, dense, warm under the hand. Handsome for upholstery and throws.
• Heavy linen and cotton. Cool, washable and soft with age.
• Leather. Wipeable and handsome as trim or a base. As a sleeping surface, we prefer it beneath cloth rather than in place of it.
• Performance textiles. Made to resist stains and moisture. Useful for light colors in busy homes.

Coat matters too. The AKC suggests that flat-coated dogs who tend to feel the cold may benefit from an added blanket (American Kennel Club). A heavy coat may want something cooler. Watch where your dog chooses to lie in summer.

washable is not optional

The most beautiful bed is the one that can be cleaned.

The AKC recommends a removable cover that can be machine washed weekly to reduce hair, dander and germs, and notes that washable or waterproof covers are especially useful for older dogs who may be incontinent and for puppies still learning (American Kennel Club). PetMD suggests washing a dog's bed once a week, or every two weeks at minimum (PetMD).

Look for a full zip that opens wide, a waterproof liner between cover and core, and a care label you can actually follow. Follow the maker's instructions over any general advice (PetMD). A second cover means the bed is never out of use.

warmth, with care

Some beds are heated. The AKC advises caution and supervision with electric warming beds, especially for dogs who chew, and notes that self-warming beds, which reflect the dog's own body heat, need no electricity (American Kennel Club). For most homes, a thick wool layer and a draft-free position do the same work quietly.

the shape of a room

A dog bed is furniture. It sits in view. It should belong to the room rather than apologize for it.

Consider the scale of the space and the palette of what surrounds it. A low rectangular bed in a stone color sits easily against oak floors. A round bed in deep wool suits a study. Simple frames in wood or metal lift a bed off cold floors and give it the presence of a piece of furniture.

Restraint is the guide. One good bed, well placed, is better than several compromises.

in short

Measure the dog as it sleeps. Choose support for the body and softness for the surface. Insist on a cover that comes off and goes in the wash. Place the bed where your dog can watch the house and still be left alone.

Then let it become theirs. A bed is finished by the dog who sleeps in it.

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wagl is an independent house of curation and is not affiliated with any brand or organization mentioned here. This article is general information and not veterinary advice.