Get the size right
Weight is a good place to start: our size guide lists the weights each size suits. To be sure, measure your dog from nose to the base of the tail while they sleep, and pick a bed at least that long. If they’re between sizes, or sprawl out when they sleep, size up. Large and XL dogs especially need room to stretch their legs without hanging off the edge.
Older dogs and sore joints
Older dogs, and dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia, stiff muscles or a healing injury, need a bed that supports them. Look for thick, contouring foam that doesn’t flatten under their weight, so hips and elbows never reach the floor, and a low edge that’s easy to step onto.
The Furvana™ Rectangle Bed and Armor™ Rectangle Bed are flat to the edges, with 3 to 5 inches of shredded foam that American Dog designs for older dogs and sore hips. If your dog struggles to get up or lie down, talk to your vet: a good bed helps, but it isn’t a treatment.
Dogs who run hot
Plenty of big dogs get a lovely new bed and still sleep on the kitchen tile. Often it’s because the floor is cooler. If your dog keeps choosing the floor, try a low, flat pad with a smooth nylon top instead of plush fleece, like the Armor™ Crate Pad. Dogs who sleep belly up are often cooling off, too.
Diggers and chewers
Some dogs dig, scratch and circle before they settle, and some chew whatever they sleep on. Armor™ beds are 1680D ballistic nylon all over, with zippers hidden away from teeth. No bed is chew-proof, but Armor™ is the toughest choice we carry.
Allergies and sensitive skin
Dogs with allergies or sensitive skin do best with bedding that’s easy to keep clean. Every bed here has a cover you can take off and machine wash, which keeps dust, dander and odors down, and a spare round cover means there’s always a clean one on the bed. Our care guide explains how to wash each one.
Little dogs
Does your little prince or princess like a special place of their own? Small dogs often love a bed with walls: a soft hideaway to curl up in, like the Small Furvana™ Round Bolster Bed, or the X-Small Furvana™ Cloud Bolster Bed, with an edge to rest their chin on.