The 10 Best Raised Dog Beds
Special Honors
Frontgate Covington Pet Bed This bed is made from environmentally-friendly Rubberwood and topped off with a distressed grey finish that gives it a stylish and modern look. Plus, mocha piping along the cushion and aluminum embellishments on the sides boost its luxurious aesthetic. Additionally, it has a high-density foam mattress and a back cushion to keep dogs comfortable. frontgate.com
Editor's Notes
February 06, 2020:
While most pet owners can agree that an elevated bed provides relief in many ways for a dog, where and how your pet lounges will greatly determine which sort of bed is best. We took into consideration many possible habits and lifestyles of canines when choosing our products.
If you are looking for something that's just as attractive as the rest of the furniture in your abode, there is the Enchanted Home Pet Scout Sofa and the Paws & Purrs Sofa 6101, both of which have stylish contemporary designs, and offer comfortable sleeping surfaces for a pup. The Enchanted Home Pet Ultra Plush Snuggle should also complement your home decor nicely, and has a big storage pocket for toys.
Those in the market for a simpler option may like the K&H Pet Original Cot or the Kuranda Chewproof, both of which feature breathable mesh to keep a pooch cool in hot weather. We ultimately removed the Fikso Pets Heavy Duty because, though it has a similar cot style to the two previously-mentioned items, it is too stiff.
Pet owners who want to sleep right next to their canine, but still want their own space, will like the Petique BD01300104. Its top bunk sits so high up that it may be level with your own bed, but it also has a lower level for times Fido prefers to stay closer to the floor. We had another double decker model in the Merry Wood Home, but it lost its spot as many pooches seem to find the stairs difficult to climb.
The Gen7Pets Pathfinder lots its spot as well in order to make room for the Paws & Pals PTBD-C01-MM. These are both good camping and outdoor options, but the latter offers a more comfortable pad and folds down quite small.
Benefits Of A Raised Dog Bed
These canine cots have a host of health benefits, and most dogs think they're pretty comfy to boot.
You'd do anything for your pooch. That's why you feed her, walk her, even pick up her waste. So when it comes to her health and comfort, you're definitely willing to go the extra mile.
If that's the case, then you should consider getting your pup an elevated dog bed. These canine cots have a host of health benefits, and most dogs think they're pretty comfy to boot. After all, there's a reason Snoopy always slept on top of his doghouse.
Getting your dog off the floor prevents her from having to sleep on the cold, hard ground in the wintertime. Besides being uncomfortable, it can be painful for older dogs with arthritis or for larger breeds suffering from hip dysplasia. Meanwhile, when the mercury rises, the elevation allows air to circulate underneath, cooling off your pooch (and reducing how much she sheds, as well).
Forcing your dog to sleep on the floor also exposes her to insects. She can get fleas and ticks if she's outside, but even indoors, she's more at risk of running into nasty bugs like brown recluse spiders while on the floor.
If your dog isn't allowed on your furniture, then having her own comfy place to go can lessen the temptation to jump up on the couch when you're not looking. You can simply train her to go to her spot, leaving your area open (and relatively free of dog hair and debris). This is especially good if you feel guilty about not letting your dog sleep with you, as you can give her all the benefits of a bed without you getting kicked in the face every time she has that dream about the rabbit.
Having her own bed is simply more comfortable for her, as well. This means she'll rest better, which will keep her healthier and make her less likely to get up during the night, so you can sleep better, too.
Ultimately, the best reason to get a raised dog bed is to teach you patience after you notice that your dog will only ever sleep under it.
Teaching Your Dog To Use Her Elevated Bed
As mentioned above, dogs don't always understand that you bought furniture for their use. If you get frustrated every time you see your buddy sleeping on the bare floor instead of her new, plush cot, you might need to give her a little instruction on how to use those comfy digs.
This is especially true for rescue dogs. If your dog has never had a bed before, it may not occur to her to sleep there. After all, she's used to curling up on the street or under a tree somewhere, so she's going to try to recreate that familiar feeling even though she has better options available.
Dogs sleep where they feel safe, and she won't feel safe until the bed seems familiar.
Dogs sleep where they feel safe, and she won't feel safe until the bed seems familiar. Leave some of your old clothes lying on top of it so that it smells like you, or put her favorite blanket or toy there instead. If she's always sleeping in the same spot — in front of the living room couch, for example — try putting her bed there, so that it's now part of her space.
Don't let her sleep anywhere you don't want her to, either. You need to teach her that she's not allowed on your bed or the couch, but that her bed is a wonderful alternative. Stay consistent with this training, and she'll soon realize what's expected of her.
You can also lure her up there with treats, if she's food-motivated. Once she's up there, praise her and give her even more treats, including several at once. When she begins to associate her bed with good things happening to her, she'll want to spend all of her time there.
Of course, once she becomes a fan of her new furniture, the hard part will become getting her out of bed.
Help! My Dog Keeps Destroying Her Bed!
Perhaps the only thing worse than seeing your dog ignore her new bed is discovering that she's absolutely destroyed it. Many dogs, even ones who enjoy sleeping on their comfortable cots, will nonetheless chew it to pieces if left to their own devices. The good news, however, is that it is possible to put a stop to this behavior.
If it's something persistent, like a phobia of a certain object, you can try to desensitize her to it, or get rid of it entirely.
The most likely culprit is that your dog was simply bored, and in a moment of weakness, realized that eating her bed would give her something to do. Dogs need lots of exercise and stimulation, so make sure that she's tuckered out before she gets sent to bed, and give her plenty of toys to keep her stimulated (and to give her something else to chew on).
However, stress is another big reason why dogs destroy things. See if you can figure out if anything could have been giving her an anxiety attack. If it's something unusual, like fireworks or construction in the area, you may be able to calm her with an anxiety vest or calming treats. If it's something persistent, like a phobia of a certain object, you can try to desensitize her to it, or get rid of it entirely.
Also, be sure to rule out any medical issues that could cause stress or anxiety. A visit to the vet can ascertain whether there's something else going on with your dog — and could help you nip potential health issues in the bud (or in the butt, if that's where the problem is).
If all else fails, you can consider spraying the bed with no-chew spray, or even putting it away when it's not in use. That way, your dog will learn that the bed is only for sleeping — and that she should find something more constructive to destroy, like your shoes.