How to choose the right size dog bed

Choosing the right size dog bed starts with your dog, not the bed. How long they are, how they like to lie, and where the bed will sit matter more than a breed name on a size chart. This guide explains how to measure your dog, how to read bed dimensions, and how to match the shape to the way your dog rests.

Why dog bed size matters

A bed that is too small pushes a dog back onto the floor or the sofa, however good it looks. A bed that is very large can leave a dog that likes to curl up with nothing to lean against. The aim is a bed your dog can settle into fully, in the position they naturally choose, with a little room to turn around.

Most sizing guides point to the same mistake: buying for the dog you picture asleep, rather than the one you actually have. A few minutes of observation and a tape measure avoid it.

Watch how your dog sleeps first

Before you measure, spend a few evenings noticing how your dog rests. Most dogs lean towards one of a few habits.

• Curlers: Sleep in a tight circle, often with the nose tucked towards the tail. They tend to like raised sides to press against.
• Stretchers: Lie on their side with their legs extended. They need length more than walls.
• Leaners: Rest their head or back against something, such as the arm of the sofa or your leg. A bolster or raised border gives them that edge.
• Changers: Start curled and end the night stretched out. Size the bed for the larger of the two positions.

If your dog seems to ignore their current bed, look at where they choose to lie instead. A dog that sprawls across the sofa every evening may simply need more room.

How to measure your dog for a bed

1. Wait until your dog is lying down in their usual sleeping position, ideally relaxed rather than alert.
2. Measure the length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail with a soft tape measure. For a curled dog, measure across the widest point of the circle instead.
3. Measure the width across the body when your dog lies stretched out on their side, from the back to the tips of the paws.
4. Add room. A curler needs a little space to turn before settling. A stretcher needs more: a common rule of thumb is up to around 30 cm beyond the nose-to-tail length.
5. Compare with the lying area, not only the overall size of the bed. The next section explains why.

Reading bed dimensions: outer size and lying area

Bed dimensions are usually given as length × width × height. On our bed size table, these are outer measurements. Raised sides and bolsters take up part of that footprint, so the flat area your dog actually lies on is smaller than the overall size.

That is not a reason to size up automatically. For a dog that curls up and leans, the bolsters are part of the comfort. For a dog that stretches out, check that their nose-to-tail length fits within the inner area, so the bolster becomes a headrest rather than an obstacle.

Height matters too. Our lounge beds range from 18 cm to 26 cm high depending on size, which changes how easily your dog steps in and out. The lounge shape has a lower front entrance for that reason.

Choosing a bed shape

Lounge: bolsters on four sides

The lounge shape has bolstered sides and a lower front for stepping in. It suits dogs that like to rest their head on an edge or lean against a side, while still giving them a defined, flat area to lie on. The Gaya lounge bed and the Teddy lounge bed share this shape, as does the bouclé version. Lounge beds come in three sizes: 65 × 50 cm, 85 × 65 cm, and 100 × 75 cm.

Nest: a continuous raised border

The Bouclé Infinity bed has a rounded, nest-like shape with a raised border running all the way around, so there is an edge to lean on from any angle. It suits curlers and dogs that turn several times before settling. It comes in 80 × 63 cm, 100 × 70 cm, and 120 × 85 cm.

Matching bed size to your dog

Breed is a starting point, not an answer. Two dogs of the same breed can differ in length and in how they sleep. As a rough guide, our bed size table suggests:

• Lounge, 65 × 50 cm: French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Dachshunds.
• Lounge, 85 × 65 cm: Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, and Whippets.
• Lounge, 100 × 75 cm: Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Vizslas.
• Infinity, 120 × 85 cm: Dalmatians, Boxers, and German Shepherds.

If your measurements and the breed suggestion disagree, trust the measurements. If your dog sits between two sizes and likes to stretch out, choose the larger one. If you are still unsure, send us your measurements and we will help you choose.

Measuring the space as well as the dog

A bed that fits your dog but crowds a hallway tends to be moved, and a bed that keeps moving is harder for a dog to treat as their own. Measure the corner or alcove where it will live before you order, and leave room to walk around it.

The spot your dog already chooses is usually the clearest guide to where the bed should go. On hard floors, a base that keeps moisture away from the filling is worth having: the Gaya and Infinity beds, for example, have a water-resistant underside.

Living with the bed through autumn and winter

As evenings draw in and walks end in the rain, the bed sees more use. A removable cover makes that easier to live with. The covers on our beds unzip and are machine-washable; the product page gives the washing temperature for each model.

After a long, wet walk, a towel by the door and a few minutes to dry off keep the bed cleaner for longer. The walk, considered covers the rest of what goes out with you.

Frequently asked questions about dog bed size

• Should a dog bed be bigger than the dog? Yes, a little. Your dog should be able to lie in their usual position with room to turn around. For dogs that stretch out, the inner lying area should be longer than their nose-to-tail length.
• Is it better for a dog bed to be too big or too small? A little too big is usually easier to live with than too small. The exception is a dog that curls up tightly, which may prefer a nest shape in a closer size so there is always an edge to lean on.
• How do I measure my dog for a bed? Measure from the nose to the base of the tail while your dog lies in their usual position, then add room according to how they sleep.
• What kind of bed suits a dog that curls up? A bed with raised sides or a continuous border, such as a nest shape, gives a curled-up dog something to press against.

When a bed is the right size, it tends to become your dog's place rather than one of several. That is the quiet test of a good choice.

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