The short guide
How to choose a dog bed in five steps
1. Measure your dog first
With your dog standing, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, then add 10 to 15cm. That is the minimum length for the sleeping area. Dogs that sprawl need the full length, and dogs that curl up can use a little less. Our guide to measuring a dog for a bed walks through it.
2. Pick the type that matches how your dog sleeps
An orthopaedic bed has a firmer foam base. A donut or cave bed suits dogs that curl and burrow. A raised bed keeps a dog cool and off the ground. A crate mattress lies flat in a crate or the car, and a waterproof bed wipes clean.
3. Check the filling and the base
Foam holds its shape under a heavier dog, and fibre fill is softer and lighter. A non-slip base stops a bed skating across a hard floor. Each product page lists what the bed is made of and what its base is like.
4. Look at the cover and how you will clean it
A removable cover makes a foam bed practical, and a machine-washable bed saves time. If your dog comes in muddy, a wipe-clean surface is easier still. The care guide on each page explains how to wash that exact style of bed.
5. Give it a few days
Put the bed in a quiet corner and let your dog find it. Foam and fibre beds are often packed flat, so give a new bed a day or two to recover its shape before you judge it.