How we chose the best dog sofa beds
When buying a dog sofa bed, it’s important to assess the support it provides as an actual bed. Many sofa beds are designed to look great with comfort second, and while this doesn’t mean the bed will be cosy and comfortable, many of them may not be suitable as the only dog bed.
A dog sofa bed is great for day lounging, but if your pup stays in the same position for eight hours a night, they may need something that provides more joint support, comfort, and positioning flexibility. If you intend for the dog sofa bed to be the only dog bed, then we recommend the Orvis memory foam bed – it really does give you the best of both worlds. There are plenty of other ‘couch’ beds as well, including the JOYELF Memory Foam Dog Bed and the Bedsure Orthopaedic Sofa Bed.
But naturally, you miss out on the luxe, structured designs of the more ‘sofa’ like beds.
Preferences
A big part of choosing the right dog sofa bed is considering how your dog likes to sleep. If they stretch out, then an open-ended sofa bed, like the Pawhut Storage Bed, might be a good idea since this prevents any length restriction. Alternatively, if your dog is prone to anxiety or simply likes to curl up, then an enclosed circular sofa bed with high sides will create a nest-like environment that will help them feel comforted.
Material
The material you choose largely depends on what your needs are; for example, if your pup is prone to accidents, then a high-denier polyester is water-resistant, and you should look for dog sofa/couch beds that have waterproof lining. If your dog is prone to scratching and chewing, tough materials like nylon and oxford cotton will be more suitable. If you already have a heavy-duty dog bed and you’re looking for a dog sofa that’s more aesthetically pleasing, then you really can’t beat velvet or suede for an elegant look.
When considering the padded material inside the dog bed, this will largely depend on the size of your dog and the age that they’re at. If you have a large dog or a senior dog, then quality padding is especially important, and ideally, it should be thick memory foam. If you have a small dog, then the type of padding material isn’t as important since small dogs don’t have as much pressure on their joints. As long as there is cushioning, then your small pup should be comfortable.
Size
It may be tempting just to guess that the size of a bed will be right for your dog, but we recommend measuring your dog first to avoid any inconvenient surprises. To get an idea of their size when they’re sprawled out on a sofa, measure from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail.
Durability
Sofa beds are naturally raised off the ground and therefore suspending all of your dog’s weight on four legs. This is why it’s important to check the structure’s material inside the sofa bed and what the legs are made from. It’s also a good idea to check the weight capacity because while a sofa bed may be able to fit your dog on, it may not be built to hold the weight.
Care
Dog bed covers will either be machine wash, hand-wash or professionally clean. Your choice depends on how important practicality is to you and what your dog habits are like. With any dog, hair will shed, and beds will smell after time, but if you have a dog that’s young or prone to accidents, then naturally, it’s important to get a dog bed with a machine washable cover. If your dog is pretty clean, short-haired and low maintenance, then you can afford to be a little more flexible with the care that you choose.
Spot cleaning is a simple alternative to machine washing, but if you choose a dog bed that has to be professionally cleaned, then you may need a fabric-friendly anti-bacterial spray to use on the bed in between professional washes.
