How to Choose a Dog Bed Your Dog Will Actually Use

Dogs are specific about where they sleep, and most of them reject at least one bed before settling. The bed sits unused in the corner while the dog sleeps on the tile floor, the couch, or a folded towel — which is genuinely frustrating when the bed cost more than either.

The rejection is almost always about a mismatch between the bed's design and how that particular dog sleeps. Get that right and the bed gets used from day one. Here's how to read your dog's sleeping style and buy accordingly. Browse dog beds →

First: Watch How Your Dog Actually Sleeps

This takes a week of noticing and determines everything else.

• Curled in a ball, nose to tail — wants enclosure and edges to press against. Donut or bolster shapes.
• Stretched flat on their side, legs extended — needs open surface area. Bolsters get in the way; a flat mat is right.
• Sprawled on their back, belly up — needs room and doesn't want walls. Also tends to be a dog that runs warm.
• Head propped on something — wants a raised edge to rest their head on. Bolster on at least one side.
• Burrowing under blankets — wants a covered or hooded bed, or a bed with a loose blanket layer.

Most rejected beds are a donut bought for a sprawler, or a flat mat bought for a curler. It's that simple more often than not.

Then: Size It Properly

Measure the dog nose-to-base-of-tail while they're lying stretched out, and add roughly six inches. Then check that against the bed's internal dimensions, not the external ones. Bolster beds lose several inches to the raised edges, and a bed that measures 30 inches outside may have 22 inches of usable surface.

This is where most sizing errors happen. A curler can use a bed slightly too small; a sprawler cannot, and will move to the floor where there's room.

Bed Types by Sleeping Style

Donut and Bolster Beds — For Curlers

Raised edges all the way around give a dog something to press into, which is genuinely calming for anxious sleepers. The raised rim also supports the head.

What to check: the wall height should let the dog rest their head comfortably without craning. Very high walls on a small bed create a bowl the dog can't settle into. And check whether the whole thing is machine washable — many donut beds aren't, which becomes a problem within months.

Best for: curlers, anxious dogs, dogs who run cold, small breeds
Skip if: your dog sprawls or is a senior with mobility issues (edges are an obstacle to climb over)

Flat Mats and Pads — For Sprawlers

Maximum usable surface, nothing in the way. Also the easiest to move, wash, and fit into a crate or under furniture.

The thing to get right here is thickness. A thin mat on a hard floor is barely better than the floor, which is why many mats get ignored. Look for genuine loft, especially for larger or older dogs. See our mats →

Best for: sprawlers, hot sleepers, crate use, travel
Skip if: your dog seeks enclosure or needs joint support

Orthopedic and Memory Foam — For Seniors and Large Breeds

Solid foam that doesn't compress to nothing under weight. This matters for older dogs, large breeds, and any dog with joint issues — a bed that bottoms out means the dog is effectively lying on the floor with extra steps.

Check for a single piece of foam rather than shredded fill. Shredded fill shifts overnight and leaves the dog on a thin spot by morning. Also look for a low entry side, since senior dogs struggle to climb over a raised edge.

Best for: seniors, large breeds, arthritis, post-surgery recovery
Skip if: you have a young small dog who'd be fine with anything

Covered and Hooded Beds — For Burrowers

An enclosed space with a roof or a flap to crawl under. For dogs who consistently disappear under blankets, this matches an actual instinct rather than a preference.

Ventilation is the thing to watch. A fully enclosed bed with no airflow gets warm, and a dog who's too hot will abandon it. Look for an open front or a partially covered design.

Best for: burrowers, small breeds, anxious dogs, cold rooms
Skip if: your dog runs warm or is large enough that enclosure feels confining

Elevated Beds — For Hot Sleepers and Outdoors

A fabric surface stretched over a frame, raised off the ground. Air circulates underneath, which keeps the dog cooler, and nothing absorbs moisture — useful outdoors or in humid climates.

Less cozy, so many dogs prefer them in summer and abandon them in winter. Not a good choice for a dog who wants softness.

Best for: hot climates, outdoor use, dogs who overheat
Skip if: your dog seeks softness or the room is cold

What to Check Before Buying Anything

Removable, washable cover. Non-negotiable. Dog beds get dirty faster than expected and a bed you can't wash becomes a bed you throw out.

Non-slip base. A bed that slides when the dog steps into it is a bed that gets treated with suspicion.

Fill quality. Press down firmly. If your hand reaches the bottom easily, it'll flatten within weeks under a dog's weight.

Chew resistance if that's your dog. A destructive chewer needs tough fabric and no loose piping — and the stuffing in a destroyed bed is a genuine hazard if swallowed.

Where Should the Bed Go?

Somewhere the dog already chooses to lie, which you'll know from watching. Most dogs want to be near their people but out of the traffic path, with a view of the room. Putting a bed in a quiet back room because it looks tidier is a common reason it goes unused — dogs are social sleepers.

How Many Beds Does a Dog Need?

Two is often better than one for dogs who follow you around the house. A bed in the main living space and one in the bedroom means the dog isn't choosing between comfort and company. It also spreads wear across two beds.

What If They Still Won't Use It?

Give it two weeks before concluding anything. New beds smell like a factory, and some dogs need time. Speed it up by putting a worn t-shirt or their existing blanket on it, feeding treats on it, and not forcing them onto it — a bed that becomes a place they get put is a bed they avoid.

If two weeks pass with no interest, go back to the sleeping style question. It's usually a shape mismatch.

Final Recommendation

Watch how your dog sleeps for a week, then buy for that. A curler gets a bolster bed with moderate wall height. A sprawler gets a thick flat mat sized generously. A senior gets solid orthopedic foam with a low entry side.

Whatever the shape, insist on a washable cover and a non-slip base. Those two features determine whether the bed is still in use a year from now.

Explore our dog beds and blankets and mats. For more on everyday gear decisions, read our guide to car travel with a dog.