The most common reason a bed goes back is not quality, it is size. Buying by breed is unreliable — two labs can differ by twenty pounds. Measure the dog instead.
The two measurements that matter
- Nose to tail base. Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, not the tail tip. Add 6 to 8 inches.
- Height at the shoulder. This decides whether the bolsters need to be low enough to step over.
Why the extra 6 to 8 inches
A dog does not sleep in the shape it stands in. Most sprawl out with a leg extended, which adds length. A bed sized exactly to the standing length forces the dog to curl up whether it wants to or not, and that bed gets abandoned within a week.
Common mistakes
- Buying for the puppy you have rather than the adult it will become. Check the breed’s adult weight range and size for that.
- Forgetting the bolsters. An orthopedic bed with a 6-inch rim needs to be ordered larger than one with a flat profile.
- Ignoring how the dog already sleeps. A sprawler needs a flat bed; a curler is happier in a cuddler with walls.
How to check once it arrives
Lay the bed down and watch. If your dog can lie fully extended with its head on the bolster, the size is right. If it curls up and hangs over the edge, go one size up.
