- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
As we’ve incorporated more in-house testing of pet products here at The Dog People, tapping the expertise of our team of dog-loving writers (as well as an obliging pool of Rover office dogs) along the way, we’ve put a lot of dog beds to the test.
To select the best dog beds in 2021, we reviewed some of our most recent, most popular articles about dog beds and let our dogs weigh in. Our list includes beds for everyday and outdoor use, for dogs with special needs (got a chewer on your hands?), and even beds we ranked for style. Whatever you choose, rest assured, your dog will rest…assured!
The Best Dog Beds of 2021
From orthopedic memory foam to raised beds that keep a dog cool in hot weather, we’ve rounded up some of the best dog beds of 2021, based on our in-house tests.
Made from 100 percent cotton canvas, this dog bed can withstand years of chomping, wet paws, and enthusiastic digging. The nontoxic water-repellent coating makes it easy to keep clean, its triple-stitch seams and sturdy brass zipper hold up to years of spin cycles.
Verified review: Our tester noted that the bed is a good size, yet lightweight and easy to move around. For more about this bed, check out our video review below.
Brought to you by the popular pet toy brand, Bark Box, this memory foam dog bed comes in four sizes and four colors. Waterproof and machine-washable, it contains a combo of memory foam and gel foam to support joints.
Verified review: “We tested this bed at our Rover office and found that our canine coworkers quickly gravitate to it as a napping spot, including a senior beagle and a chew-prone terrier mix, Vera. The gray color is quite plain and the bed looks a bit thin coming out of the box, but it’s surprisingly sturdy and soft for the price.
It didn’t seem that it would stand up to heavy chewers, but so far, it’s done well with Vera, who’s known to nibble up beds. We can easily imagine washing it, too, as it would fit handily into an average washing machine, unlike some of the other washable beds we’ve tried. Not only that, but the bed comes with a cute small toy—which Vera promptly slobbered all over.”
We sourced this review from our article, “Rest Easy: 15 Excellent—and Affordable—Dog Beds.”
This mash-up between high-quality pet product manufacturer Orvis and Western-style mavens Pendleton is not just ultra-comfortable, it also looks great. The bed insert is like a medium-firm pillow (the company describes the filling as “plush memory fiber material”), and its polyester-fleece cover is durable and machine washable.
Verified review: This bed proved to be a big hit with our tester’s pet family—a senior beagle and two full-figured cats—who traded turns using it. Available in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, we tested the medium, which out of the box looked on the large side but soon proved to be just the right size for the constant parade of pets getting cozy on it and trying it out. (This jives with the bed’s sizing chart that suggests ordering a size up based on your dog’s size; if your dog is “small,” order a “medium,” etc.)
After a few days of constant use (and a few hissy fits), the bed became covered with pet hair and dirt, but stood up well to a few heavy vacuuming sessions.”
We sourced this review from our article, “The Best Orvis Dog Beds.”
These indestructible beds are frequently used and loved by shelters and rescues, so you know they’re tough! Heavy-duty tubular support made of PVC or aluminum pipes hides and protects the fabric platform from chewers. There are lots of sizes, covers, and upgrades available, and all have a one-year warranty.
Verified review: “The item came in a box and required a bit of assembly. The box did not contain instructions for assembly so I found a video on YouTube. Took about 15 minutes. The bed is simple in design and attractive. I like the simplicity of this bed and my puppy really enjoys it. She likes to lay on it with her blanket and seems to like the netting style.
The medium size offers plenty of room. We don’t have any complaints about the product. I would have appreciated having some setup instructions in the box but overall, my dog really enjoys this bed. I have this set up at the Rover office and am considering another for home.”
We sourced this review from our article, “6 Indestructible Dog Beds for Chewtastic Dogs.”
You may also like “Our 6 Favorite Elevated Dog Beds.”
This American-made orthopedic bed was designed with larger breeds in mind. Big Barker combines seven inches of memory foam with a soft, washable microfiber cover for a bed that never goes flat. A 10-year warranty on each bed guarantees it.
Verified review: “This bed is outrageously comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that we considered throwing a sheet on it and using it for sleepovers. It absolutely lives up to expectations: It’s huge, comfortable, and high-quality. But I’ve really gotta emphasize the “huge” here. You need primo floor real estate to make space for this thing (ed note: Our reviewer tested this bed in size extra large for her husky).
You’re investing in a high-quality and rather enormous new addition to your home. But if you can swing it (and have the room for it) your dog will love you for it. The only “complaint” (if you can call it that) that I have is that this bed is more than big, it’s huuuuge. But that’s what I signed up for and boy did they deliver! It’s a terrific, exceptionally comfortable dog bed for big dogs who love a little luxury.”
We sourced this review from our article, “The 12 Best Luxury Dog Beds.”
This memory foam dog bed comes with a waterproof liner, as well as two external covers—one made of machine-washable denim and the other brown microsuede—making it ideal for older pups with less bladder control. The interior is made of top-quality, hypoallergenic gel memory foam to help soothe achy joints that will stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Verified review: Our reviewer, a Rover sitter, found that both her own dogs and the Rover dogs she hosted were, as she says, “obsessed” with this bed, especially with the microsuede cover. (She observed that the denim cover was not as popular, possibly because the material was too stiff; but because it’s machine-washable, after a few runs in the wash, it could soften up.)
One of her dogs who usually preferred the floor to his existing dog bed even took to using it. “He seems really comfortable and relaxed,” she said, noting that the bed was “very high quality, felt great, and appears to be supporting his joints extremely well.”
We sourced this review from our article, “The 10 Best Orthopedic Dog Beds.”
Because it’s so lightweight and easy to clean, this versatile Coolaroo dog bed is great for both indoor and outdoor use. It boasts a powder-coated steel frame and breathable high-density polyethylene fabric that keeps dogs cool and off the ground. While there’s no soft cushioning as with other dog beds, its 7-inch elevated platform design helps relieve pressure points and promotes more restful sleep.
Verified review: “The metal looked high quality, and I really liked the color it came in. I like that this bed allows my dog a spot to chew or lay on without being directly on the grass. The dogs were all interested in it, and my Boston terrier uses it as her default place to chew on her bone. It’s still holding up well through wind, heavy rain, and direct sunshine—and it’s small enough to store away for the winter.”
We sourced this review from our article, “Our 6 Favorite Elevated Dog Beds.”
You may also like “The 8 Best Cooling Beds for Hot Dogs.”
Surround your dog in cozy comfort with this cute deep-dish cuddler dog bed. It features ultra-plush cozy Sherpa fleece and a design with high walls to promote more restful sleep, giving your dog’s head and neck the support they need.
This bed is available in two sizes, various colors, and is machine-washable and dryable.
Verified review: “All the dogs at work (Rover) liked it! The high walls keep Ginger warm, and it’s really soft.”
We sourced this review from our article, “15 Dog Beds So Comfy, We’d Sleep in Them Too!”
You may also like our list, Our 6 Favorite Cave Dog Beds.
This hard-working dog bed landed on our list of the best indestructible dog beds for its chew-resistant properties, but we are basing its inclusion on this list for the number of boxes it checks in a single dog bed: it features a 4-inch memory foam base; comes with a machine-washable, tear- and water-resistant cover; and offers sturdy, nearly 360 degrees of bolstering support if you have a dog who likes a pillow (the most bolstering we’ve seen in just about all the dog beds we’ve tested).
Verified review: Tried and tested by Rover office dogs, “we were impressed with the quality of the PetFusion bed, which lives up to the “ultimate” in its name. If your dog likes to burrow, like mine, I throw a fuzzy blanket or two on top, and he’s happy as can be. The bed was a 10/10 with our dogs.”
We sourced this review from our article, “We Tested This Deluxe Memory Foam Pet Bed and Our Dogs Got Very Attached.”
Made with orthopedic foam, this Serta couch dog bed is a great choice for older dogs as well as dogs who might benefit from more support (while giving you a dog bed that actually, sort of, resembles real furniture). The machine-washable cover comes in faux leather or upholstery fabric, and the three sides of bolsters allow your dog to sleep in a variety of positions.
Verified review: “Whiskey wanted to nest in this bed and treat it like a den. No more circling around and around to get comfortable. He’s been having some spine and nerve issues, so the orthopedic foam mattress is a plus. I really love the color, too. His blonde hairs blend in. The mattress was especially cushy—it felt as nice as my human bed!”
We sourced this review from our article, “The 7 Best Dog Couch Beds.”
This washable, durable, waterproof dog bed from the trusted K9 brand is up for anything you can throw at it, which makes it great for travel and the car. It’s tough, easy to clean, and stands up to bored dogs with a tendency to chew (K9 notes it’s chew-resistant but not entirely “chew-proof”). It comes in a variety of solid colors and sizes.
Verified review: “It’s thicker than I expected, more like a plush pillow, and the cover feels very sturdy. The zipper is strong and easy to use. I’d feel confident removing and replacing the cover if I needed to. Though it’s not exactly soft to the touch thanks to its tough nylon cover (which feels more like a canvas tent cover, say, than a blanket), my dog loves this bed. She is very happy to flop out across it.
I am pleased with its durability because after one month of use, she has yet to tear even a small hole into it. She occasionally scratches at it, as if to bury her toys in it, and hasn’t even made a dent. You can’t tell, in fact, that a dog uses it unless you look closely because the fabric is basically fur-repellent. It’s very easy to wipe off. Easy to put the bed inside the cover and zip up!”
We sourced this review from our article, “9 Indestructible Dog Beds for Chewtastic Dogs.”
More About Pet Beds!
We hope the above 11 in-house reviews of top-performing dog beds help you find the one that’s right for your needs, and those of your pup! If you’re still in need of dog bed suggestions, you might be interested in: