The best large dog beds

Large breed dogs have specific requirements when it comes to choosing a suitable bed. The best large dog beds offer superior cushioning, strong support, and durability. Large dogs typically weigh between 50 and 90 pounds, while giant breeds can tip the scales at 90 to 180 pounds. Because of their greater size and weight, they benefit from high-quality foam that helps reduce joint pain and pressure sores, issues that are more common in larger breeds.

To identify the top options, we tested 17 beds with a pack of large dogs, including a Bernese Mountain Dog, two Leonbergers (weighing 133 and 120 pounds), a Newfoundland, a King Shepherd, a Pitbull-German Shepherd mix, and a large Poodle-Husky mix. Our overall favorite, the Furhaven Luxe Lounger, is a sleigh-like bed with a thick, durable foam core that comes in extra-large sizes. For a more affordable option, the Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed delivers great value and comfort. Although it's not as durable as our other recommendations, it's available in a wide range of colors and offers a spacious 44.5-inch sleeping surface in its largest size.

Our top picks for the best large dog beds

Best overall: Furhaven Luxe Lounger - $50-$130 at Chewy

Best budget: Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed - $40-$50 at Chewy

Best orthopedic: Bully Beds Orthopedic 3 Sided Dog Bed With Bolsters - $260-$400 at Bully Beds

Best cave: Snoozer Rectangle Cozy Cave Dog Bed - $163-$223 at Chewy

Best durable: K9 Ballistics Ripstop Dog Bed - $230-$315 at Chewy

Best elevated: K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot - $45-$58 at Chewy

Best for crates: Big Barker 4" Orthopedic Crate Bed - $170-$230 at Big Barker

Best overall

The curved shape is great for different sleeping styles. The Furhaven Luxe Lounger's gently sloped, sleigh-like design is a happy medium between a flat mattress and a bolster bed. Both of my dogs regularly chose it for naps: Bug, my Poodle-Husky mix who likes to sleep in a ball, could curl up in the flatter center while Croc, my 60-pound Pitbull-German Shepherd mix, stretched out to rest her head on the raised end. Three other dogs tested the bed, too, and all were big fans, including a 99-pound Bernese Mountain Dog who slept on the jumbo plus-size.

The raised ends aren't as firm or sharply angled as a true bolster, but they're supportive. They're almost like an ergonomic neck pillow. This design also keeps the bed low to the ground, so you can easily step over it and move it around if you're tight on space.

The thick foam offers plenty of cushioning without making the bed too high-profile. The non-toxic CertiPUR-US foam measures 3 to 5 inches thick at the center, depending on the specific bed size, and the curved ends rise slightly higher (from 6.5 inches on the large to 9 inches on the giant size). Although the middle compressed more than the ends under my dogs' weight, the bed remained well-cushioned and bounced back reliably after they got up. After six months of my dogs sleeping on this bed every night (and usually during the day), the foam has held its shape and height.

Consider sizing up if your dog likes to sprawl. My dogs fit comfortably on the size recommended by Furhaven's chart, but long-legged Bug (28 inches tall) couldn't completely splay out. I'd go a size up if your dog likes to sleep fully stretched out. Thankfully, this bed also comes in five sizes, for dogs up to 180 pounds.

The plush cover is cozy, but a bit difficult to spot-clean. The brown cover hides everyday dirt and grime very well. However, sticky messes are difficult to wipe clean with just soap and water, and the fabric sheds significantly with digging.

The cover is not waterproof, but you can purchase a water-resistant liner separately for under $10. The liner kept the foam completely dry, held up well across three wash-dry cycles, and its wide, three-sized zipper made removing and replacing the single foam block easy.

The bed is easy to move around, but the bottom isn't non-slip. It was very easy to pick up and move around on my own as an average-sized woman, which is a big bonus for cleaning. The bottom doesn't have any kind of non-slip grip; I prefer this since I live in a small space and need to move the dog bed regularly, but this could be an issue if your dog runs and jumps on the bed a lot or if you have an older dog that needs the bed anchored to the ground to safely get on and off.

Best budget

Some egg-crate foam beds can feel flimsy, but the Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed uses fairly dense foam that provides ample support. A 70-pound English cream retriever looked very comfortable and held aloft on the extra-large-size bed. She also made good use of the sturdy bolsters, sleeping with her back pressed against them.

The bed is aesthetically pleasing and available in a wide variety of materials and colors. "I like the solid structure and two-tone colors of this bed, which give it a classic look," says Alex Rennie, a freelance pet reporter who tested the bed with small dogs. "All the materials have a high-quality look too."

The cotton flannel cover is soft yet tough, but the lighter colors may stain. Our reporters tested caramel and dark gray, and the cream-colored top on the caramel bed had a faint dirt stain after machine washing. Since the bolsters cannot be removed from the cover, it's also more cumbersome to wash, with the bolsters coming out of the machine waterlogged.

You'll need to handle the liner's zipper carefully. On one bed, the liner's zipper was prone to snagging, and the other zipper on the other liner fell off after two rounds in the washing machine. Gentle handling and hand washing the liner may help prevent damage.

Best orthopedic

This bed has thick memory foam that provides excellent support. In our orthopedic dog beds guide, Dr. Joseph J. Wakshlag, a veterinarian and professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends memory foam because it distributes pressure evenly over a larger area, reducing pressure on a dog's joints. Bully Beds Orthopedic 3 Sided Dog Bed With Bolsters is made with 5- to 7-inch-thick CertiPUR-US memory foam, depending on the bed size. I found it to be medium-firm with just the right amount of give. My hand sank in when I pressed down, but the foam immediately rebounded. After nearly four months of daily use, I haven't noticed any flattening or loss of support.

Its spacious design accommodates different sleeping styles. The Bully Bed is wider and longer than most beds, due in part to its 4.25-inch-wide bolsters. It offers the best of both worlds: There's enough space for long-legged dogs to completely splay out with their paws and joints fully supported, while the firm bolsters on three sides give other dogs a place to prop their head or curl up against. The wide, front opening also makes entry easy, though the foam on the large size is 5 inches off the ground (7 inches for XL and XXL beds), which dogs with mobility challenges may find difficult to step onto.

It takes up a lot of space. The trade-off for such a spacious bed is that it is very big, even if it is appropriately sized for your dog. The footprint of the large Bully Bed is 12 inches wider than the large Furhaven and 8 inches wider than the large K9 Ballistics bed. I tested both the large and XL sizes, and while the XL would be comfortable for a Rottweiler to fully fit, it takes up a lot of floor space.

The durable cover looks luxe and is easy to spot-clean, but it does attract hair. With its rich, monochrome color, accent piping, and soft microfiber fabric, the Bully Bed is easily the most high-end and attractive bed I tested. It also doesn't show much wear and tear. However, the fabric shows dog hair, and the bed's large size makes removing and replacing the cover for washing a bit cumbersome.

The liner isn't completely waterproof. Although Bully Beds markets the liner as waterproof, water left on the bed for 30 minutes soaked through the cover, and the foam underneath felt slightly damp. That's a notable drawback, particularly for senior dogs prone to accidents.

Best cave

For dogs who like to burrow, the Snoozer Cave Bed is exceptionally cozy. It won't appeal to every dog, but it's become a clear favorite for my 70-pound Poodle-Husky mix who loves sleeping under blankets and in dark corners. He regularly asks to get inside the Snoozer Cave and retreats there when he's overstimulated or nervous during rainstorms.

Designed like a semi-rigid pita pocket, the structured half-dome gives dogs a place to burrow without blocking airflow or visibility. Despite my dog's size, he still has plenty of room to curl up or stretch out with his paws sticking out in the large size. The biggest size of this bed probably can't fit a dog bigger than a large German Shepherd, though.

The cushiony mattress provides good support, though it's softer than our other picks. The bed combines 3.5 inches of egg-crate foam with a plush pillow topper that compresses noticeably under my dog's weight but keeps him from sinking to the floor. The foam rebounds after use, though I'm not confident in how well it'll keep its shape after a year or two, as we've only been testing it for four months. The microsuede exterior and sherpa-lined cave interior make the whole bed especially soft and cozy.

The sherpa interior isn't waterproof, and it's hard to spot clean. During testing, liquid soaked into the sherpa immediately, and moisture reached the foam after 30 minutes. The fluffy fabric also holds onto hair and sticky messes, though vacuuming works well for fur. Thankfully, the cover is removable and machine washable; mine showed no shrinking or shedding after washing and was easy to put back on.

Best for durability

The bed is exceptionally durable and easy to clean. The K9 Ballistics Ripstop Dog Bed aced our durability tests. The ripstop nylon resisted scratching, the seams and zipper held up to abuse, and the cover showed no shrinkage or wear after machine washing and drying. After six weeks of use, largely on a covered porch outside, the bed still looked practically new. Mud and dirt wiped away with a damp cloth, and the nylon didn't hold onto dog hair. K9 Ballistics also backs the bed with a 120-day chew-proof warranty.

The firm foam provides even, long-lasting support. The 5-inch CertiPUR-US foam mattress supported my 60- and 70-pound dogs without sagging or bottoming out and remained evenly supportive throughout testing. It's also backed by a 10-year won't flatten warranty.

It's waterproof and anti-skid. The polyester ripstop cover is highly water-resistant — it didn't absorb any water for a full 10 minutes — and its liner is waterproof. During testing, the liner kept the foam underneath completely dry after water sat on the bed for 30 minutes. The cover is also has a non-skid bottom to prevent the bed from sliding around on the floor as dogs jump on and off.

Durability comes at the expense of some coziness. Neither of my dogs chose this bed for lounging without my coaxing, even though I put it in one of their favorite sleeping spots. The ripstop polyester is slicker and less inviting than plush fabrics, and the bolster-free, 5-inch-high mattress requires a relatively big step up, which is not ideal for dogs with limited mobility.

Best elevated

The bed has a breathable nylon canvas top that maximizes airflow. Elevated beds, like the K&H Original Pet Cot, can keep dogs cooler because their raised mesh platforms allow continuous air circulation.

It's extremely sturdy. To test its strength, our reporter sat on it, and all 137 pounds of their weight did nothing to stretch or distort the tight nylon canvas top of the size medium bed, which the brand says can withstand up to 200 pounds. The larger models can hold up to 300 pounds.

At 7 inches high, it may be too tall for some dogs. A short-legged dog or one with mobility issues may not be able to get on and off, but it is an ideal height for many large dogs.

It's easy to put together and take apart. Dog cots require assembly, but with this bed, we only had to snap the legs into place. However, the cot works best in a dedicated spot. The legs were prone to shifting out of alignment when it was moved around, but our reporter could easily knock them back into position.

Cleaning was a breeze since all we had to do for most stains was hose it off. With tougher messes, we removed the nylon platform and put it in the washing machine.

Best for crates

The cushiony, supportive Big Barker 4" Orthopedic Crate Bed is a great choice for large dogs who spend time in a dog crate. At 4 inches tall, it's much thicker and more supportive than the average crate pad. My editor had this bed and could lie on it without feeling the floor beneath, and her 50-pound hound looked evenly supported when resting on it. It also proved very durable, with the tough microsuede cover withstanding digging and seam-strength tests.

The two-layer foam core was strong and resilient. The bed never flattened in testing and bounced back in less than a minute when dumbbells of various weights were left on it for four hours.

The microsuede cover doesn't stay looking new for long, and it shrinks a bit. The material took on a "dusty" appearance after washing, drying, and regular use. The fabric also tightened up after washing and drying, making it slightly harder to reassemble.

For some, the cost of this bed and the waterproof liner (sold separately) may be prohibitive. Its one-year trial and ten-year warranty are outstanding, though.

It may be too high for some crates and dogs. The fact that the crate bed is 4 inches thick means it could reduce crate headroom for a large dog.

What to look for in a large dog bed

As we researched contenders for the best large dog beds, we nailed down some key qualities to consider.

Support and comfort: The larger and heavier the dog, the more important it is to find the right level of support, says Dr. Joseph J. Wakshlag, a veterinarian and professor of clinical nutrition and sports medicine and rehabilitation at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. As dogs age, their muscle mass diminishes, their joints can get creaky, and their mobility declines. "Of course, heavier dogs often have these issues,'' Wakshlag says. "The typical stuffed beds do not create any uniformity of pressure, so these pressure points can get sore." Look for a bed with a durable memory or orthopedic foam core at least a few inches thick.

You'll also want to consider how your dog typically settles in for a snooze. Dogs sort out to be side sleepers or flat-out stretchers, just like people do, on a dog-by-dog basis. The best dog beds for large dogs include flat rectangular mattresses for dogs who stretch out and cozy bolster beds for side sleepers who prefer to lean against the edge of their bed or prop their head up while resting. If you have a dog that frequently burrows, you can opt for a nest-like burrow bed, though there aren't many on the market, and they typically lack waterproof liners. If your dog is a hot sleeper, you may also want to consider a supportive elevated bed that allows air to flow beneath the sleep surface.

Ease of entry: Many large dogs develop mobility challenges with age or injury, so beds with non-skid bottoms, reasonably thick pads that aren't too high to step onto, and wide entry spaces between bolsters are ideal.

Sizing: Make sure the bed you purchase is the right size for your dog. If your dog likes to stretch out, make sure the bed is at least as long as their length from the nose to the base of the tail. If your dog has particularly long legs, you'll also need a bed with adequate depth. For bolster beds, the sleep surface should be big enough to accommodate your dog's preferred sleep position. The biggest bed we tested was 44 inches wide and 54 inches long, and two very large Leonbergers could, and did, share it. That, it seemed, was wider than necessary for most large breeds. A 99-pound Bernese mountain dog fit just fine on our best overall choice, the Griffith, which was 35 inches wide and 54 inches long. Most of the beds we tested were 4 to 5 inches thick to support the weight of a very large dog.

Water resistance and ease of cleaning: The bigger the dog, the bigger the mess. As dogs of all sizes age, they're more likely to have bathroom accidents and other hygiene issues, so beds with waterproof liners are ideal. Additionally, machine-washable and dryer-safe covers and liners offer added convenience.

Return policies and warranties: A bed for a large dog can be a big investment. Look for generous return policies and warranties, and read the fine print directly on a brand's website.

Certifications: Some beds carry materials safety certifications, such as CertiPUR-US,OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, and Greenguard Gold. These certifications offer assurance that some or all of the materials in a product are free of materials that may harm humans. The CertiPUR-US certification signifies that a polyurethane foam is made without formaldehyde, ozone-depleters, prohibited phthalates, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals. This certified foam also has low emissions of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is free of flame retardants known to be carcinogens and other harmful toxins. To receive certification, a polyurethane foam producer must meet the criteria set by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, which include submitting test results and samples, as well as a fee ranging from $6,000 to $8,500. To receive an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, a manufacturer must undergo an application process and submit fees that vary. This certification verifies that every part of a product is free of various substances that may be harmful to human health. UL Greenguard Gold certification is based on samples submitted by a manufacturer that undergo laboratory testing to ensure they meet low-chemical-emission standards set by UL Solutions, an international organization focused on materials safety.

How we tested the best large dog beds

Freelance reporter Amy Graves first evaluated 12 beds for this guide with the help of four large breed dogs and editor Lisa Sabatini evaluated the crate bed. Since then, freelance reporter Rachael Schultz, along with her two large dogs, has tested six beds, including our previously tested top pick from Furhaven.

In addition to trialing 17 beds with various large- and giant-breed dogs, we've conducted several tests to evaluate the materials' longevity and durability. Below are the criteria we used to test the best large dog beds.

Comfort and support: We watched the dogs closely as they rested on the beds for several weeks, assessing whether their weight was evenly supported and whether any bolsters provided adequate support. We even got on the beds to see how much support they provided. Then, we weighed the beds down with heavy backpacks and duffel bags loaded with dumbbells and bags of rice to further gauge their support and resistance to flattening over time.

Ease of entry: We observed how easily dogs could get in and out of the beds. While thicker beds may be fine for taller dogs, lower-profile, firm, and supportive beds seemed to hit the sweet spot. Among the bolstered beds, we looked for wide entry points. For all the beds, we awarded points to those with nonskid bottoms and textured tops that may prevent sliding as dogs enter and exit.

Durability and ease of cleaning: We simulated digging with a metal dinner fork, tugged on zippers, punctured seams with scissors, and scratched the bottoms of beds with sandpaper to assess their overall toughness. We soiled the beds with peanut butter, black tea, and dirt, then spot-cleaned them to see what came out. From there, we put the covers and liners through two rounds in the washing machine and dryer, per manufacturer directions, before reassembling everything to check for shrinkage, fabric wear, and lingering stains and odors.

Waterproofing: Nearly all of the beds we tested claim to have waterproof or water-resistant liners. To test this, we poured a cup of warm water onto the sleep surface of each bed and let it soak in for 30 minutes before checking whether any water had seeped through the liners.

Large dog bed FAQs

What type of bed is best for a large dog?

For big dogs, support is the most important factor. Because they spend long periods sleeping and carry more weight, they need a bed that cushions their joints and keeps them comfortable as they shift throughout the night. The best large dog beds provide consistent support in every position.

What type of dog beds do large dogs like best?

Many of the beds our large dog testers gravitated toward include bolsters. "Dogs seem to like to have their back against something,'' says Dr. Katherine Houpt, a veterinary behaviorist and professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, who has studied the sleeping patterns of shelter dogs. "If you look carefully, you will see they prefer to sleep with their backs against their owner, or against the back of the sofa, or even against the wall."

How big of a bed do you need for a large dog?

To choose the right size, measure your dog's length from nose to the base of their tail and width from shoulder to shoulder. Houpt recommends selecting a bed that's slightly larger than your dog, but not too much bigger. "If you get them a small bed, they will curl up and sleep on that," she says. But for dogs that prefer to stretch out, a bed that's too small won't offer the best rest.

The post The best large dog beds appeared first on Business Insider