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I'm dog bed obsessed. There was a time when we had so many dog beds that Johan made me donate a few to rescue. And these aren't the cheap, pointless beds that are just fluffy rugs and offer zero support. I have nice orthopedic beds. I just can't stop. Over the years, I've gotten better at hiding the new beds in the house (stack them, put them in kennels, push them into corners), and I recently replaced two dog beds (they were ten years old!).
I doubt that my stealthiness is lost on Johan. For some reason, he's decided to leave me alone. It's one of those “bigger fish to fry” situations. Fried fish sounds good right now.
In this post, I will share the beds that have been working well for my dogs. These beds come at different price points, so I hope one or two of these will be a good fit for your dog without breaking the bank.
Our Dogs and Their Dog Bed Needs
We have five dogs, and of course, they're all unique-ish.
Rodrigo and Sydney are ten years old (they're littermates). They both have arthritis, with Sydney having more mobility issues than her brother, thanks to past joint issues. Rodrigo is just now starting to slow down a bit and looks for comfortable, soft places to sleep, so having a true orthopedic bed is important for him and his sister.
The rest of our dogs (Scout and Zoey – 6 years old, Apollo – 16 months old) are a healthy, spry bunch and don't require as much support. However, I think they deserve a great dog bed.
But, to be honest, our dogs are allowed on the furniture, and our bed is their bed too.
3 Best Dog Beds for Our Dogs
1 – Kirkland Dog Bed from Costco – $40
In 2010, on Memorial Day Weekend, we brought home Rodrigo and Sydney. In preparation for their arrival, we purchased two round beds from Costco for $25 each. I replaced those beds last month. It's crazy that they lasted that long, but they did. The only thing I changed was adding a liner, and I changed the cover – I love Molly Mutt. These beds held up well, and they're a great price. And they're washable – bed and cover. However, the Kirkland brand beds I purchased seem like they offer great support, but they don't – they're not bad, but they're not the best for dogs with orthopedic issues.
The beds are great for Scout, Zoey, and Apollo, but none were sleeping on them. Rodrigo and Sydney immediately gravitated toward the beds, which just wouldn't do. And then, one day, I was cleaning and stacking the beds, and now Rodrigo and Sydney sleep on them (not together) comfortably. So I left them stacked. They don't offer the best support for dogs with mobility issues, but these are affordable beds for folks on a budget.
$80 for two beds is still a good price.
If you decided to purchase a Kirkland brand dog bed, check to see if it has a liner; if it doesn't, purchase one – that will save your bed from wet paws or a puppy that isn't quite potty trained.
2 – Brentwood Home Runyan Dog Bed – $170-$300
We received a dog bed from Brentwood Home to test out a few years ago. Scout immediately claimed this bed as his own and still sleeps on it today (although his sister, Zoey, has her treats on the bed). This bed looks great, kind of too good to be true. Like something I would pick up at one of the chain pet stores because I loved it, but it would be a disappointment. The Runyan dog bed is not a disappointment.
The Runyan bed sports 2-inch gel memory foam layers and 2-inch therapeutic base foam that not only keeps our dogs cool but this combination offers relief for dogs with joint pain, arthritis, and hip dysplasia. It's the perfect bed for Scout, a great place to relax and recover after an intense play session or a long walk. The bed comes with a liner, so no need for the extra expense, plus, the cover is nice, removable, machine washable, and doesn't make the bed look like an eyesore in the room.
What I love best about this bed, which I haven't seen offered by chain pet stores or Costco, is that it's resistant to mold, bacteria, and dust mites. And, bonus, the bed comes with a 3-year warranty. And, if it's important to you, these beds are made in the US.
We've had our Runyan dog bed for a few years, and it's holding up well. I love it.
3 – Big Barker Dog Beds – $100-$400
Have you heard of Big Barker dog beds? These are beds that I've wanted for years, but the size that my dogs needed (X-Large) was out of my price range. So I never purchased one until they offered me a bed in exchange for a review. Long story short, I loved it. We've had our Big Barker dog bed for over three years; today, we have two beds. While I thought that these beds were out of my budget initially, after trying one out, I realized that these are a fantastic investment for dogs that need joint support.
The Big Barker dog beds are thicker than the Runyan dog bed I mention above, which may appeal to anyone raising a dog with joint issues or a senior dog. What I love about the Big Barker dog beds is that they support my dogs from the puppy years (get a lining) through their senior years. With the 10-year warranty, you only need a Big Barker dog bed.
These beds won't flatten like so many supposed orthopedic beds (ours are still just like they came out of the box), they're designed for large breed dogs (although any dog can enjoy them), and they're made in the USA, which is a bonus for many people.
With many styles, colors, and sizes to choose from, Big Barker produces a good bed for every dog home.
Have You Heard of Calming Dog Beds?
The next dog bed that I have my eye on is the calming dog bed. I started seeing them in ads on Facebook and Instagram. Ads showing dogs snuggling deep into a round fluffy bed that promises to ease separation anxiety and other fears (fireworks? thunderstorms?) immediately piqued my interest. Some people swear by these beds, and others don't notice a difference. That's when I noticed that each ad I saw was by a different company – so which is the actual calming bed? I still wanted one because one of my friends, who runs a rescue, swears by them.
UPDATE: in 2021, Costco had an orthopedic anti-anxiety bed, and I wish I had purchased two (or three). I purchased one, and it quickly became Rodrigo's favorite bed. The bed isn't as big as the normal round Costco dog beds, but they offer more support at a similar price. I don't recall the brand, just that it was available at Costco (it's not a Kirkland brand).
