Short answer: the dog bed that gets used is the one that is big enough for how your dog actually sleeps, sits somewhere they already choose to lie, and has a cover that comes off and goes in the machine. Measure your dog nose to tail base while they are lying down, add roughly 15 to 20cm, and buy that size. Everything else is preference.
Most unused dog beds fail for one of three reasons, and none of them is the fabric. They are too small, they are in the wrong room, or they got wet once and never quite recovered. This guide covers all three, in the order that matters.
How to size a dog bed (the only measurement that counts)
Ignore breed charts. A tucked-in whippet and a sprawling one need different beds, and the label on the packet does not know which yours is.
Wait until your dog is asleep in their usual spot, then measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. That is your working number. Add 15 to 20cm for a curler, and 25 to 30cm for a dog who sleeps flat out on their side with their legs pointing at the wall.
If your dog does both, and most do, size up. A dog will happily curl in a bed that is too big. They will not stretch out in one that is too small, and after a few weeks of hanging their head over the edge they simply stop bothering.
A rough sizing table
| Dog lying down, nose to tail base | Bed size to look for | Typical dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Up to about 50cm | Around 70 x 55cm | Dachshund, Jack Russell, small terrier, Chihuahua |
| About 50 to 70cm | Around 90 x 62cm | Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, French Bulldog, Border Collie |
| About 70 to 90cm | Around 110 x 70cm | Labrador, Retriever, Boxer, larger crossbreeds |
Two dogs sharing? Measure the longer one and go up a size again. They will still end up in a heap in one corner, but at least it will be their choice.
The removable cover is the whole point
This is the part people skip and later regret. A dog bed absorbs everything: rain, mud, the smell of a dog who found something interesting in a hedge, and a slow accumulation of hair that no amount of hoovering fully lifts.
If the cover does not come off, the whole bed has to go in the machine, and most whole beds do not fit in a domestic drum. So it gets sponged, half dries, keeps its smell, and quietly moves to the garage.
A bed with a zip-off cover gets washed roughly every two to four weeks without anyone thinking about it. That is the difference between a bed that lasts three years and one that lasts a winter.
One practical note on washing: skip the fabric softener. It coats fibres, which is fine on a jumper and unhelpful on anything meant to stay breathable. Wash on a warm cycle, and dry the cover fully before it goes back on, because a slightly damp cover on a padded base is exactly how a bed starts to smell.
Bolster, flat or crate bed?
These are not tiers of quality. They suit different sleepers.
- Padded beds with a raised edge suit dogs who curl, tuck their nose under a paw and want something to lean their chin on. Most small and medium dogs are in this camp, and so are a lot of anxious dogs, who settle better with a physical edge against their back.
- Flat beds and mats suit sprawlers, heavy-coated dogs who overheat easily, and older dogs who find climbing over a rim more effort than it is worth. They are also far easier to fit into a crate or a car boot.
- Crate and boot beds are a category of their own. What matters here is that the surface is waterproof rather than merely water resistant, because this is the bed that meets wet fur, sand and the occasional accident. It also needs to be flat enough that the crate door still shuts.
If you only buy one, buy for how your dog sleeps at 2am, not for how the bed looks in the photograph.
Where to put it (the reason half of them fail)
Dogs do not choose a bed. They choose a spot, and then tolerate whatever you put in it.
Watch where your dog already lies when nobody has told them to. Almost always it is one of three places: near a radiator, in a doorway where they can see the room, or as close to the front door as they can get away with. Put the bed there. Do not put it in the corner you would prefer.
If the floor is wood, tile or laminate, a non-slip base stops the bed doing its slow nightly migration across the kitchen. It sounds like a small thing. It is the difference between a bed that stays put and one you nudge back into place every morning until you stop caring.
The dog beds we stock right now
Straight with you: our bed range is currently two beds, not twenty. We would rather list two we can stand behind than pad the page out with things we cannot actually send you.
Padded Dog Bed with Removable Washable Cover, from £39.95
The everyday house bed. Deep, soft and properly padded, with a non-slip base so it stays where you put it on wooden floors and tiles, and a cover that lifts straight off for the machine.
- Small 70 x 55cm at £39.95, Medium 90 x 62cm at £44.95, Large 110 x 70cm at £49.95
- Light grey or blue
- Removable, machine washable cover
- Non-slip base
It is a soft padded bed rather than a chew-resistant one, so if your dog treats soft furnishings as a personal project, keep an eye on them early on. See the padded dog bed.
Waterproof Dog Crate Bed, from £26.95
The one for crates, back seats and boots. Flat, waterproof and machine washable, so wet fur and damp sand stay on top of it rather than soaking into your car.
- Small 76 x 46cm at £26.95, Medium 91 x 56cm at £31.95, Large 107 x 69cm at £36.95
- Olive or dark grey
- Waterproof surface, machine washable
- Light enough to lift in and out on the way to the car
And if you mostly need something portable
A roll-up travel mat at £19.95 is not a bed and we would not pretend otherwise. It is 110 x 68cm of water-resistant 420D Oxford fabric with a carry case, for campsites, pub floors and the back of the car. Water resistant rather than waterproof, which is worth knowing before you leave it on wet grass all afternoon.
How often should you wash a dog bed?
Every two to four weeks for the cover in normal use, and immediately after anything that involves mud, a river or a fox. If someone in the house has allergies, weekly is better.
The base and filling need airing rather than washing. Every couple of months, take the cover off and leave the base somewhere warm and dry for a day. Beds rarely wear out. They get quietly retired because of smell.
Signs the bed is not working
- They sleep beside it rather than on it. Usually too small, or too hot.
- They dig at it for a long time before settling. Often means the surface is too firm or too slippery underneath.
- They use it in the day and the sofa at night. That is a location problem, not a bed problem.
- They have started avoiding it since it was washed. Check for detergent residue, and rinse it again with no product.
- An older dog who used to use it and now does not. Worth mentioning to your vet, because stiffness and joint pain often show up first as a change in where a dog chooses to lie.
Frequently asked questions
What size dog bed do I need?
Measure your dog from nose to the base of the tail while they are lying down, then add 15 to 20cm if they curl and 25 to 30cm if they sleep stretched out. Buy the bed that matches that total. If you are between two sizes, go bigger.
Are washable dog beds worth it?
Yes, and it is the single feature we would prioritise. A removable, machine washable cover is what keeps a bed in service. Beds without one tend to be replaced within a year, which makes them the more expensive option in the end.
What is the best dog bed for a dog with anxiety?
Generally a padded bed with a raised edge, placed somewhere the dog can see the room rather than tucked in a corner. The edge gives them something to press against, which many dogs find settling. It is a small help rather than a cure, and if your dog is genuinely distressed when left, that is a conversation for your vet or a qualified behaviourist.
Do dogs need a bed at all if they sleep on the sofa?
They manage without one, but a bed of their own gives them somewhere to go that is theirs, which matters more on busy days than quiet ones. It also saves your sofa a certain amount of hair.
Can I put a dog bed in a crate?
Yes, as long as it sits flat inside without the edges folding up and the door still closes properly. Measure the crate base, not the dog, and choose a flat waterproof bed rather than a padded one with a rim.
How do I stop the bed sliding on wooden floors?
Buy one with a non-slip base. It is a genuinely useful feature rather than a marketing line, and it is why beds on hard floors stay where you put them instead of ending up under the radiator by Thursday.
How long should a dog bed last?
Two to four years for a well-washed padded bed in normal use. Heavy chewers and very large dogs will get less. If the padding has gone flat enough that your dog is effectively lying on the floor, it is done.
The short version
Measure the dog, not the breed. Put the bed where they already lie. Buy one with a cover that comes off. That is most of it.
Both of our beds are in stock now, from £26.95, with free UK delivery on orders over £30 and dispatch within 1 to 2 working days. If you are still deciding on size, our measuring guide covers the same technique for coats and jumpers, and it is the same tape measure either way.