Our dogs come in all sizes, shapes and breeds; therefore, there are many types of dog beds and pet bedding available to buy online.
When looking for a dog bed you need to keep in mind your dog’s size and maybe even breed, today’s blog is aimed at larger breeds of dogs as I was recently purchasing a new bed for my 11-year-old Alaskan Malamute, he’s still really active and showing no signs of stiffness when getting up but I want to make sure he has the best bed to take him forward in his twilight years, which is why I started to research about the best orthopedic dog beds for large dogs. My top 5 I have included here, which includes the 1 that ended being the perfect bed for my dog.
What is the best type of bed for your dog?
There are quite a few factors you need to consider when purchasing a bed for your dog, for example, if you and your dog have a lifestyle that involves a lot of traveling and adventures away from home, then you need a bed that fits that lifestyle, so maybe look at buying a bed that is portable, can fit in your car, a bed that is waterproof and can be used indoors and out. You can also get accessories for example canopies that keep the sun off your dogs bed when spending time outdoors, depending on the type of travel you do will depend on the type of bed you need.
Maybe you have a more nervous dog that likes their own space, so you could get a bed that is enclosed that they can get inside which will help them feel more secure.
As this blog is about orthopedic dog beds for large dogs, that is what the rest of the article will be about. Orthopedic beds are great if your dog breed is prone to physical problems as a lot of larger breeds can be, or maybe your dog is just getting old, or you want to really pamper your dog and get a bed that will last and benefit them in the future when they do get older, if so then look at getting an orthopedic dog bed or an elevated dog bed as raised beds are good for large breeds and they are raised up from the floor making it easier for them to get on and off, especially as they age and they are also raised away from cold floors which can be a factor of arthritis in dogs.
Take care of your dog; after all, they are a part of your family.
Our dogs need the comfort of a warm bed the same way as we do. But buying a dog bed is considered by some as being an unnecessary expense. It is, however, far from being a luxury item, in fact, it is a necessity for your dog to have a comfy bed of its own, especially if you do not want your dog to sneak onto your sofa or curl up on your own bed.
Investing in a dog bed is as important as providing good food for your dog. Don’t choose a bed just because it’s cheap, as chances are it will cost more in the long run, if the first time you wash it falls apart or after a few weeks of your dog laying on it the stuffing has gone flat as a pancake. Your main concern when purchasing a dog bed should be durability and comfort. If you invest in a good quality dog bed it may last the lifetime of your dog, while a cheaper one will wear out quickly forcing you to spend even more money replacing them.
As your dog grows older, they tend to suffer from arthritis. Therefore, sleeping on a hard and cold floor can be a painful ordeal for them. This can cause sleepless nights for you and your dog and may also cause your dog to become lethargic and unwilling to go for walks or engage in exercise which can cause further problems with arthritis and may also lead to depression. Orthopedic dog beds aid in relieving these symptoms. A warm dog bed will provide your canine companion with the comfort they need, especially on a cold night.
A nice dog bed will make your dog feel more secure, and enhance their health and emotional well being. Dogs are typically territorial and will favor a particular area where they like to lie down more often. This is the spot where you should place their bed.
Things to consider when buying a bed for your dog.
Another thing that you need to consider while buying a dog bed is the size. You may have a rough idea of this by gauging the area covered by your dog in its natural sleeping position. To get a more accurate size measure your dog from head to toe when it is in its natural sleeping position and add about 6 inches onto this for a smaller breed, and 8-12 inches for a large breed. This measurement will be the size of bed you need to get. If you find it difficult to measure your dog sleeping, try measuring them when they are standing. This will give you a slightly longer measurement but you will still know what size bed you are looking for.
Also, ensure that the type of bed you get suits your dog. What I mean by that is when looking for a bed for my boy I know he likes to sleep with his head raised up which is why he loves my sofa! So I wanted to purchase a bed for him that had a raised edge to it.
No matter the type of bed you buy, there are a couple of things you need to make sure of.
Firstly, make sure every part of your dog’s bed is washable. No matter how many times you wash your dog, they will still make their beds smell bad especially if they have been for a walk and got wet even if your dry them off they are still gonna lie on that bed. And if it’s a bed that maybe you keep in your own bedroom, you don’t want those odors keeping you awake at night.
As I mentioned before make sure you buy the right size dog bed. If you are buying it from a store then take your dog with you to check it out for size. No matter how cute the bed is, or how well it fits in with the decor in your home, if your dog can’t lie comfortably in it, they won’t use it.
Also, pay close attention to what materials the bed is made of. If, it is a bed that sits in a wicker basket it may look nice. But for the dog that hasn’t quite gotten over the chewing stage yet, that wicker will look more like the world’s largest chew toy than their bed.
Beanbags can also be popular dog beds a lot of people may have one stowed away somewhere so think it will make the perfect bed for their dogs as they always found it very comfortable themselves, but we all know what is inside a beanbag, and for anyone who didn’t, if you give one to your dog as its bed you will soon find out, and that could well be the unwanted gift that will continue to rear its ugly head when you keep finding those little balls for weeks to come afterward embedded in your carpet.
Why having the right bed for your dog is important.
For me, one of the reasons I want my dogs to have the best is because of Todd.
Todd was a dog that came into our lives one day as a stray, we found him running in the main road in the pouring rain, he was covered with mange had a wound across his back and was terribly thin. Todd passed away a few months ago, but I like to think that the many years he had with us we gave him a good and happy life to make up for what he had been through before, ’what does this have to do with dog beds?’ I bet you’re thinking, well Todd had severe arthritis at the end of his life he struggled to get up and in the end couldn’t really walk anymore, but we got him a really good orthopedic bed and it did seem to help and the moments of sleep that he did have he seemed peaceful whereas the bed he’d had before although a good comfortable bed did not give him the support he needed. I always wondered if he had spent a lot of his life before us sleeping on hard ground as he had very hard calluses on his elbows, so wondered if that contributed to his arthritis.
This then got me thinking about my other four dogs. Three of them are rescues and they range in age from 5 to 11, I cannot change anything they endured before they joined our family but I can do everything to make sure their future is the best it can be, they have good food and plenty of love, but Todd’s arthritis and the change the bed made got me thinking, about their beds, and although I had never bought cheap beds for my dogs I still decided to research different beds and found orthopedic beds are good whatever the dogs age, they are not just for old or infirm dogs. So I am now in the process of upgrading all my dog’s beds to keep them comfortable, warm, and most importantly, healthier.
Why choose Orthopedic?
The definition of an orthopedic mattress on Wikipedia is a mattress designed to support the joints, back, and overall body. They are usually made from memory foam which is a durable material of high density, it generally has a longer lifespan than other materials and it is also known for providing good support and excellent pressure relief.
This is why a good quality Memory foam orthopedic dog bed may be expensive, but they are definitely worth the investment as they will give your dog the same health benefits that people get from a memory foam mattress.
Although they are comfortable and make a great bed for any type of dog, elderly and also very thin dogs will greatly benefit from orthopedic beds as they react to and supports the dog’s weight, which can help ease the pain of achy joints, the stiff foam also makes it easier for older dogs to get up after laying down.
My top 5 dog beds
The links I have included are for you to take a look at the beds and get more info if you want to but just to inform you “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.” for more information on what this means click here.
Kopeks
This is a great dog bed, it comes in a variety of sizes right up to jumbo XXL for the larger large breeds. It’s made of a 7” thick premium hypoallergenic memory foam base with a 3” thick memory built-in memory foam pillow which is perfect for those dogs like my boy who like to lie with their heads raised. It has a removable washable cover, which I think every bed needs to be able to keep it clean, and another benefit to this bed is it has a second internal waterproof cover between the outer cover and the mattress to protect the mattress if maybe your dog has been out and is still a little damp or an elderly dog who has become incontinent, or maybe a dog who just has the odd little accident, the mattress will always be protected which I think is brilliant, It also has an anti-slip bottom to it which is a great safety addition, I know my dogs will sometimes come running into the room and straight onto their beds this prevents them from sliding across the floor if not on carpet prevent any potential accidents.
It is not the cheapest bed on my list but I think this Kopeks dog bed would make a great investment for your dog for the long term. You can also buy replacement covers for these beds so again this is great as a bed that once purchased can last your dog through their lives, providing them with the comfort they deserve.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to the more expensive beds on this list or maybe you have multiple dogs so the expense is an issue, then this bed is a great cheaper option. It is made from a high-quality memory foam fire retardant material, and has a padded bolster pillow around the edge which provides a headrest and also some dogs may find having the built-up sides provides them with an enclosed area that makes them feel more secure. It also has a non-slip bottom and removable washable cover with the internal waterproof lining. The outer fabric is soft plush and very comfortable for your dog.
The Joyelf is a great bed for the price and again a good investment for the future, the only cons for me were that the biggest size is large which is fine for some of my dogs but not my Alaskan Malamute boy as he is too big to fit it. I also couldn’t find a replacement cover anywhere but that’s not to say there isn’t one.
This is another bed I have chosen that is at the cheaper end of the list, so perfect if you do have a budget or need to purchase beds for more than one dog. It has a 20cm thick memory foam base with a built-up pillow for the head at one end. I liked this bed as it has a double-sided option, so when the weather is colder you can have it on the plush/corduroy side which will be warm underneath your dog, or in the warmer weather turn it over to the silkier cool breathable fabric, perfect for the summer. The removable cover is also machine washable.
This again is another great bed, depending on what your needs are, I think it is slightly below the Joyelf for me as one of the cheaper beds on this list, but if your dog likes a more open bed or maybe you have more than one dog that like to share a bed this is great. Again the cons for me are the size although it goes up to a large so would easily be big enough for some larger breeds it wouldn’t be big enough for my boy, again I wasn’t able to find a replacement cover and there was no anti-slip base or inner waterproof lining. Still, Petcute is a good comfortable bed but not sure on the long term use of it, and whether it would last as long as some others will.
OK so this is the bed I have chosen for my boy and I will do a proper review on it when he has had it for a while. It is definitely nowhere near the cheapest bed on this list but I know this will last him through his life and supply him with the support and comfort he needs now he’s getting older.
It has a good range of sizes available and goes up to the jumbo XXL which was perfect for my boy. It has a 15cm thick memory foam base, which is not as thick as some other beds on the list but it is still a good thickness and a nice firm base, it has the padded bolster edge which is what he loves to rest his head-on. It also has the anti-slip bottom, and a removable machine washable cover, it does not have a waterproof inner lining but the actual cover is made of a thick durable waterproof material, and replacement covers are available to purchase. If you want it, they also do a matching fleece blanket to add some extra comfort and warmth for your dog.
For me this bed just ticked all the boxes for what I was looking for, for my boy, yes it isn’t cheap by any means, but I wanted my boy as he gets into the later years of his life to have something that he loves to spend time in, he is a dog that does love to sleep on a bed, and usually gets himself on my sofa but as he gets older he may struggle to do that, so with this Petfusion bed he won’t feel like he is missing out.
This is a brilliant mattress style bed, again it’s a great price and is available with or without the raised headrest at one end. I chose this bed as I think it also works well for dogs who sleep in a crate and is also perfect for the boot of the car if your dog travels with you.
Also, available in a wide range of sizes up to XXL, with a 10cm thick memory foam base. It has removable covers, an outer machine washable cover and it also has an inner waterproof mattress protector, and replaceable covers are available.
Again The Dog’s Bed is a great choice for your dog’s bed, I couldn’t really find any faults at all with it, it doesn’t seem to have the anti-slip bottom, but that was literally all I could find that didn’t meet my research list.
A bed is for life not just for Christmas
So that is my list of top 5 orthopedic dog beds for large dogs, there were many others I could have added but those were the ones I would buy for my own dogs and as I said before the Petfusion is the one I just got for Polar Bear, so when he’s had a chance to give it a good test I will put up a review for you all. If, anyone else wants to add to the list please leave your recommendations in the comments below.
If you are thinking of getting a new bed for your dog do consider investing in a good quality memory foam bed, just do a bit of research based on what your dog’s needs are, then go out and buy your best friend the bed they deserve. Remember to get the proper size. Make sure all parts of the bed are machine washable. And most importantly, make sure your dog likes the bed, or be prepared you may have to share yours.
