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Calming dog beds are marketed to help dogs with anxiety, however, do these beds really work? Here are my thoughts after trying the bed out for several months.

After months of wondering if calming dog beds work, we received a bed from BobbyBed.com to try out with our dogs in exchange for our honest thoughts. Honestly, I love the dog bed. The dogs love their new dog bed. And while my dogs love curling up in the calming dog bed, it's not the answer to thunderstorms and fireworks. But that doesn't mean that it's not a great addition to our collection. In this post, I'm going to share my honest thoughts on the calming bed from BobbyBed.com.

What is a Calming Dog Bed?

A calming bed, at least the ones that I've seen promoted on social media, are round beds with a bolster ring (to rest the head on) which are made of a soft and shaggy faux fur material that is supposed to remind our dogs of cuddling up with their littermates or their mom. When I first saw these marketed on social media there were claims that these beds are great for dogs with anxiety and I'm sure I'm not the only person who rolled her eyes and kept scrolling.

I changed my mind when a friend purchased a calming bed for a foster dog. This dog was afraid of everyone and she loved her calming bed, so I began to wonder, “does this thing work?”

Calming dog beds remind dogs of what it was like to cuddle up with their littermates, giving them the comfort of that time. The beds are easy to wash, returning to their original look and feel easily. However, do they really help with anxiety?

Does a Calming Dog Bed Work?

Long story short, sort of. It does calm my dogs down, but not as I expected.

When I first began seeing ads for calming beds, I immediately thought that they were being marketed as a solution for dogs that are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks and for dogs with separation anxiety. Now that we've had a calming bed in our home for more than six months, I see the benefits. Nope, our calming bed doesn't help Rodrigo through windstorms, thunderstorms, and fireworks. And it was an absolute failure when Apollo had intense separation anxiety. But the calming bed has proven to be a great tool in our arsenal. For instance, the other night, the wind was going crazy and Rodrigo isn't a fan of storms. I got a heads up from our local news and added CBD oil to Rodrigo's morning and evening meals in anticipation of the storm. Usually, the CBD oil helps, but Rodrigo still struggles. But with CBD oil AND the calming bed, he slept straight through the night.

All of our dogs have tried the calming bed and we've seen the benefits.

When Apollo joined our family, he had a severe case of separation anxiety. While the calming dog bed didn't alleviate his anxiety, he still loved sleeping in this comfortable bed.

Are Calming Dog Beds Comfortable?

I chose a size that would accommodate all of our dogs and allow them to curl up inside of it comfortably. However, when the bed arrived, I was immediately disappointed to see that there wasn't any cushion for the dog to lay on – it's very thin on the bottom, which won't do in our home. When it arrived, we had two dogs with arthritis and they wouldn't be able to enjoy the bed comfortably. I laid the calming bed on one of their orthopedic beds and that seemed to be a workable solution.

The calming bed was moved to another room where it lies on a round dog bed from Costco ($45).

Are Calming Dog Beds Machine Washable?

Yes! I've already washed our bed twice and it's still in amazing condition. The cover comes off and can be tossed in the washer/dryer with no issues. Once clean, the bed is just as fluffy as it was before it was laundered.

When Sydney was still with us, she loved the calming bed. She passed away in September 5 weeks after being diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma.

What Materials are Used to Make Calming Dog Beds?

The calming dog bed that we received for this review has an exterior of faux fur (polyester) and an interior of PP cotton stuffing (a man-made material). The bed is made in China. I haven't had any issues with the materials or the quality of the bed. It's held up pretty well to a Husky mix dog that used to drag it around the house like a giant stuff toy. I've only had to sew a small tear once. Excuse me as I pat myself on the back.

How Much Do Calming Dog Beds Cost?

BobbyBed.com offers five sizes: small, medium, large, extra-large, and Jumbo. We have a large and it's great for our dogs (60-72 lbs); however, if I had to do it again, I'd go for an extra-large. The prices range from $90 to $376, which is consistent online for this style of a dog bed. At the moment, BobbyBed.com is offering a Black Friday sale all month – you can save 50% on one of their beds. So, if you've been curious about trying one, this is a great time to place an order.

Take advantage of the Black Friday Sale to try your calming dog bed.

2 Comments

dog panting at night on November 25, 2020 at 8:22 am

It’s great that I found your article. Recently, another small family member has appeared in our family – our dog. Despite being small in size, she is very restless. And I wondered how I can help her feel safer than now. While looking for an answer, I came across an ad about soothing pillows like yours. But I also thought that all this won’t work and was just a publicity stunt. But your article completely changed my opinion on this matter. Now I think it’s worth giving this bed a chance and putting it to the test. Especially considering that there is a discount now.
Mike B on November 22, 2020 at 10:24 am

My dog loves his calming bed I have one at my office and he lays in it all day.

Do Calming Dog Beds Work for Anxious Dogs?