Rescuing a dog sometimes means accepting that you’ll never have a full understanding of your dog’s background and what has happened to have them feeling so anxious. Even if you didn’t adopt your pet, some breeds are more prone to anxiety than others. Whether it was caused by trauma, home environment, poor training, or genetics, anxious dogs are common. However, finding a solution for it can be a bit tricky.
There is no one easy way to help dogs with their anxiety and you should discuss anxiety with your veterinarian or qualified veterinary behaviorist. Good quality sleep is important for rest and relaxation. One of the easiest actions you can take is buying them a bed with soothing properties. There are many different types of dog beds for anxiety, so we put together a list of some of the best products on the market complete with in-depth reviews. Most calming beds seek to replicate the environment of puppies sleeping with their mother and littermates; warm, furry, something to lean up against and soft.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Best Friends Calming Dog Bed |
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Best Value | Frisco Eyelash Dog Bolster Bed |
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FurHaven Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed |
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Jespet Cave Covered Cat & Dog Bed |
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HappyCare Textiles Calming Anxiety Bolster Dog Bed |
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The 7 Best Dog Beds for Anxiety
1. Best Friends Calming Shag Fur Donut Dog Bed – Best Overall
Dimensions: | 30 x 30 x 9 inches |
Weight: | 3.5 pounds |
Cover Material: | Nylon, faux fur |
Our pick for the overall best dog bed for anxiety is the Best Friends by Sheri Calming Shag Fur Donut Dog Bed. This bed is available in three sizes and two colors, making it easy to fit any dog or look good in any home. The bed is designed with a donut shape and orthopedic padding in the center. The bolstered edges wrap around your dog so that they feel safe, warm, and secure. It is also self-heating, meaning it radiates your pup’s warmth back to them.
This dog bed is safe for the washer and dryer. The water-resistant nylon also will not allow any leaks to go through the cover in case there are any accidents. The only downside we found with this bed is that the cover isn’t removable.
- Orthopedic center
- Two colors and three sizes
- Bolstered edges
- Washer and dryer safe
- Water-resistant
- Non-removable cover
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2. Frisco Eyelash Cat & Dog Bolster Bed – Best Value
Dimensions: | 23 x 23 x 7 inches |
Weight: | N/A |
Cover Material: | Faux fur |
The Frisco Frisco Eyelash Cat & Dog Bolster Bed is one of the best dog beds for anxiety for the money. This bed is also donut-shaped with bolstered edges to wrap your dog up and make them feel calmer. There are four different sizes and three neutral colors to choose from. The filling is made from recycled materials and the cover is removable and machine washable.
The seams in the middle of the bed do seem to wear out over time and cause a decrease in support, but it is still worth the buy for such an affordable price.
- Affordable
- Four sizes and three colors
- Bolstered edges
- Machine washable cover
- Seams decrease in support over time
3. FurHaven Calming Cuddler Dog Bed – Premium Choice
Dimensions: | 30 x 30 x 10 inches |
Weight: | 4.8 pounds |
Cover Material: | Polyester, faux fur |
Sometimes you find a product that is worth a bit more investment. The FurHaven Calming Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed is a perfect choice for people willing to pay more money for a higher-quality product. This donut-shaped bolster bed is stuffed with poly-filling that encourages your dog to curl up and fall asleep when stressed. There are deep pockets found inside the bed as well so that dogs can hide their favorite toys or tuck their paws inside.
The bed is made from a vegan faux fur outer layer that is very soft and warm. Unfortunately, it’s not safe for the dryer, but it is machine washable.
- Filling encourages dogs to curl up
- Deep pockets to hide toys
- Vegan faux fur cover
- Supportive
- Expensive
- Not dryer safe
4. Jespet Cave Covered Cat & Dog Bed – Best for Puppies
Dimensions: | 18 x 14 x 12 inches |
Weight: | 1.2 pounds |
Cover Material: | Faux suede |
The Jespet Cave Covered Cat & Dog Bed provides a calming, den-like space for puppies. Puppies will love retreating to this cozy bed and will feel safe while they’re napping or sleeping.
The bed is made with soft faux suede, and the base has extra padding to create a well-cushioned resting area for your puppy. The base also has an anti-skid and waterproof lining designed to protect the bedding from potty accidents. In case your puppy does have an accident, you can simply put the bed in your washer to clean it.
We recommend this bed for small puppies, as large breed puppies will quickly outgrow it. It’s designed to hold dogs that weigh up to 15 pounds.
- Cozy, den-like space
- Base has extra padding
- Anti-skid, waterproof lining
- Machine-washable
- Large dog breeds will outgrow it
5. HappyCare Textiles Calming Anxiety Bolster Dog Bed
Dimensions: | 22 x 18 x 8 inches (medium) |
Weight: | 3 pounds |
Cover Material: | Polyester |
The HappyCare Textiles Calming Anxiety Bolster Dog Bed is a considerable alternative for dogs that don’t like sinking into a donut-style bed. This bed was specifically designed with anti-anxiety in mind. The raised bolsters provide dogs with a feeling similar to being cuddled, and the soft cover material feels comfortable and relaxing. The bottom is lined with anti-slip grips that ensure your dog can get in and out of the bed safely and easily.
This bed comes in three different sizes and various colors. It’s also easy to clean and maintain, as it’s lightweight and machine washable. All these thoughtful design features make this bed an excellent option for most dogs with anxiety. The only thing to be cautious of is that it’s not filled with orthopedic memory foam. So, it may not be the most comfortable for dogs with arthritis or joint pain.
- Feels like being cuddled
- Lined with anti-slip grip
- Comes in three sizes
- May be uncomfortable for arthritic dogs
6. Ethical Pets Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave Dog Bed
Dimensions: | 22 x 10 x 17 inches |
Weight: | 1.9 pounds |
Cover Material: | Faux suede |
If your dog really likes to burrow, then the Ethical Pets Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave Dog Bed might be worth a try. The bed is shaped like a sleeping bag so your pooch can hide in a warm, dark place to relieve their anxiety. The faux suede exterior looks nice but is still easy to clean and machine washable. There isn’t a framing to hold the top open, though, so it might droop over time. There is also only one size, so it isn’t a good option for large dog breeds. Without a non-skid bottom, you also might find that dogs can slide around if they aren’t careful.
- Good for burrowing
- Machine washable
- Faux suede looks expensive
- No framing to hold the top open
- Only one size is available
- Not for large breeds
- No non-skid bottom
7. ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed
Dimensions: | 31.5 x 31.5 x 10.63 inches |
Weight: | 4.4 pounds |
Cover Material: | Faux fur |
The ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed is designed to calm your dog when they have anxiety. The donut ring is filled with 8 inches of soft polyester to make it padded and supportive. There are three size options suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds. The bed is waterproof with a non-slip bottom, and is machine washable and safe to put in a dryer too.
Unfortunately, there are also a few problems with this bed. It isn’t the most durable, and dogs that like to chew could easily rip it open. The Faux fur also isn’t as soft as other bed options. Even with the non-skid material on the base, the bed does slide around easily as well.
- 8 inches of padding
- Suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds
- Machine washable
- Not very durable
- Faux fur isn’t as soft as other options
- Slides around easily
- Not for extra-large dog breeds
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Bed for Anxiety
It doesn’t matter what pet product you’re buying, there are always things that must be taken into consideration in order to spend your money on something that is both comfortable and durable. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Budget
It would be nice if we didn’t have to consider a budget, but most of us don’t have tons of extra money to spend on extra pet goods. If you decide on your budget ahead of time, then you can narrow down your search and only look at options that work for you.
Size
Size is another crucial thing to think about. Have you ever ordered something thinking it was going to look perfect in your home, only for it to be delivered and be completely useless? That’s what happens when you don’t think about your dog’s size ahead of time. Double-check that you are buying a bed that can work for your dog’s breed size, weight and style of sleeping.
Quality
When you invest in a bed, try to sort out the lower quality beds from the higher quality ones. The chances are high that you can still find good-quality beds in your price range if you read a few reviews.
Pets
Ask yourself who is going to be using the bed. Having a multi-pet household might mean buying one bed to accommodate all the animals or buying multiple beds so each pet has its own.
Space
There is no point in buying a new dog bed if you don’t have anywhere to put it! This is harder to do when you’re trying to accommodate larger dogs in small spaces.
Décor
This isn’t the most important criteria while shopping for dog beds, but it can definitely sway a decision. Some people don’t mind when the dog bed doesn’t match the home’s décor, but others do. Looking for something in neutral tones is the best way to make a bed look good in any space.
How We Selected These Dog Beds for Anxiety
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dog beds reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dog beds available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dog beds. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Conclusion
We hope that these reviews of dog beds to help reduce anxiety can make your pup feel safe in their own home. Buying one of them is a step towards combating any unpleasant stress or feelings that they may have. Our top choice for the best overall dog bed for anxiety is the Best Friends by Sheri Fur Donut. If you want to invest in something really nice, then the FurHaven Calming Cuddler is a wise choice. Anyone on a budget might consider the Frisco Bolster Bed.
We hope these reviews helped you find the dog bed that will work best to create a calm environment for your pooch and fit nicely in your home. When all’s said and done, your dog is going to appreciate the effort, and be happier overall with a safe place to retreat to.
- Related Read: 7 Best Dog Beds for Anxiety
Featured Image Credit: Iryna Kalamurza, Shutterstock