Best Dog Beds by Size: How to Choose the Right Bed for Small, Medium, Large & Giant Dogs

A dog bed by size is a sleeping surface engineered to match a dog's specific body dimensions, weight distribution, and breed-related joint needs — because a 7-pound Chihuahua and a 140-pound Great Dane have fundamentally different support requirements. The right-sized dog bed should allow your dog to stretch fully in any sleeping position while providing adequate bolster height for head and neck support. At East Perry, we design our sheepskin dog beds across multiple size categories because we've seen firsthand how the wrong-sized bed leads to joint strain, overheating, and dogs who refuse to use their bed entirely.

Choosing a dog bed isn't just about picking "small" or "large" off a dropdown menu. It requires understanding your dog's actual measurements, sleeping style, breed-specific orthopedic tendencies, and the materials that will hold up under their weight. This guide breaks down exactly how to size a dog bed correctly, what to look for in each size category, and why the material inside the bed matters just as much as the dimensions outside it.

In this guide:

• How to Measure Your Dog for a Bed
• Best Dog Beds for Small Breeds
• Best Dog Beds for Medium Breeds
• Best Dog Beds for Large Breeds
• Best Dog Beds for Giant Breeds
• Dog Bed Materials: Why Size and Material Go Hand in Hand
• Dog Bed Size Chart
• FAQ

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How to Measure Your Dog for a Bed

The single most common mistake pet owners make when buying a dog bed is guessing the size. A bed that's too small forces your dog to curl unnaturally, creating pressure on joints and hips. A bed that's too large for a small breed can make an anxious dog feel exposed rather than secure.

Here's how to measure correctly:

1. Nose-to-tail length: With your dog standing naturally, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Add 6–12 inches for stretching room.
2. Shoulder width: Measure across the widest point of the shoulders. For dogs who sleep on their side, double this measurement to account for sprawl.
3. Weight: This determines fill density and support requirements — not just bed dimensions.

Sleeping position matters as much as size:

A 60-pound Labrador who sleeps curled up may need a smaller bed than a 45-pound Husky who sprawls flat. Measurements and sleeping style together determine the ideal size — breed alone doesn't tell the full story.

For a detailed step-by-step process with printable measurement templates, see our complete Dog Bed Size Guide: How to Measure and Choose the Right Fit.

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Best Dog Beds for Small Breeds

Small breed dogs — those under 25 pounds, including Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, and French Bulldogs — have unique needs that most mass-market "small" beds completely miss. Small dogs lose body heat faster than large dogs due to their higher surface-area-to-volume ratio. They're also more prone to luxating patellas, dental issues that affect sleep quality, and anxiety-driven sleep disruption.

What to look for in a small dog bed:

• Temperature regulation: Small dogs get cold faster. Materials like natural wool and sheepskin self-regulate temperature, keeping small breeds warm in winter without overheating in summer. Polyurethane foam traps heat — fine for cold months, miserable in warm weather.
• Joint support without firmness overkill: Small dogs don't need the dense orthopedic foam designed for 80-pound dogs. They need gentle cushioning that conforms to their lighter frame. Sheepskin's natural loft provides exactly this — pressure distribution without the rigidity.
• Security features: Bolstered edges or cave-style enclosures help small dogs feel protected. Many small breeds have higher anxiety rates, and a bed that feels like a nest reduces cortisol and promotes deeper sleep.
• Non-toxic materials: Small dogs are proportionally more vulnerable to chemical off-gassing from polyurethane foam, flame retardants like TDCPP, and synthetic dyes. A 7-pound dog breathing in VOCs 12+ hours a day absorbs a much higher concentration per pound of body weight than a large dog.

Recommended bed size for small breeds: 18" × 24" to 24" × 30"

East Perry's Snugly sheepskin bed is specifically designed for small breeds — the natural lambswool interior maintains warmth while the raised sheepskin edges create the den-like enclosure small dogs instinctively seek. No foam, no chemicals, no off-gassing.

For breed-specific guidance on small dogs, read our full guide: Best Dog Beds for Small Breeds (Yorkie, Chihuahua, Pomeranian).

If you have a French Bulldog specifically, their brachycephalic (flat-face) anatomy creates distinct sleep needs — we cover those in detail: Best Dog Bed for French Bulldogs.

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Best Dog Beds for Medium Breeds

Medium dogs — 25 to 60 pounds, including Beagles, Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Border Collies, and Australian Shepherds — are the most underserved size category. Most manufacturers jump from "small" to "large" with a thin "medium" option that's either too cramped or too spacious.

A medium dog bed should provide enough room for full-body stretching while still offering the bolstered edges that medium breeds prefer. Dogs in this size range are typically active breeds with moderate orthopedic needs — they need beds that recover their shape after daily use and don't bottom out within months.

Key considerations for medium breeds:

• Durability: Medium dogs are often the most active (herding breeds, sporting breeds). The bed fill needs to maintain loft and support over hundreds of compression cycles. Natural wool fibers recover their shape naturally — synthetic fills compress permanently.
• Hip and joint support: Medium breeds like Bulldogs and Basset Hounds carry disproportionate weight on their front joints. A bed that distributes pressure evenly across the sleeping surface prevents the hot spots that accelerate arthritis.
• Antimicrobial properties: Active medium breeds get dirty. Natural lanolin in sheepskin is inherently antimicrobial and resists odor buildup — you're not washing the bed every week.
• Temperature regulation: Border Collies and Australian Shepherds have thick double coats. They overheat on memory foam. Wool's natural thermoregulation keeps the bed surface 2–4°F cooler than the dog's body temperature, preventing panting-related sleep disruption.

Recommended bed size for medium breeds: 30" × 36" to 36" × 42"

Recommended East Perry bed: The Snug (Medium) — genuine sheepskin with a natural leather base, sized for dogs 25–60 lbs.

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Best Dog Beds for Large Breeds

Large breed dogs — 60 to 100 pounds, including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Boxers — need beds that address weight distribution, joint stress, and long-term durability. This is the size category where bed quality matters most, because the physical consequences of a bad bed are compounding and often irreversible.

Why large breed beds fail:

Most large dog beds use high-density polyurethane foam to support heavy dogs. The problem: foam compresses permanently under sustained weight. A bed rated for a 90-pound dog will lose 30–40% of its loft within 6–12 months of daily use, creating the exact pressure points it was supposed to prevent. Then you're buying another bed — and your dog's joints have been on a sagging surface for months.

What large breed dogs actually need:

Orthopedic considerations:

According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, approximately 25% of all dogs develop osteoarthritis, with large breeds disproportionately affected. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds are among the breeds most susceptible to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia — conditions where bed quality directly affects daily pain levels and long-term joint health.

A bed for a large breed dog isn't a luxury purchase. It's a medical device that either supports or degrades your dog's joint health every single night.

Recommended bed size for large breeds: 36" × 48" to 42" × 52"

Recommended East Perry bed: The Snug (Large) — genuine European sheepskin with a structured leather base, designed for dogs 60–100 lbs. The natural wool fill distributes weight evenly across the sleep surface without the compression timeline of foam.

For our complete breakdown of large breed bed requirements with breed-specific recommendations, read: Best Dog Beds for Large Breeds (Lab, Golden, German Shepherd).

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Best Dog Beds for Giant Breeds

Giant breed dogs — over 100 pounds, including Great Danes, Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Newfoundlands — represent the most extreme sizing challenge in the dog bed market. Most "XL" beds are simply large beds with extra fill. They're not structurally designed for 120–200 pounds of sustained, concentrated weight.

Giant breeds face compounding orthopedic risks: hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), wobbler syndrome, and accelerated arthritis progression. Their shorter average lifespan (6–10 years depending on breed) means joint degeneration begins earlier and progresses faster. The bed they sleep on for 14–18 hours a day is arguably the single most impactful wellness product you can buy for a giant breed dog.

What to look for:

• Structural integrity: The base must not sag or flatten. Leather, plywood, or reinforced platforms outperform fabric bases for 100+ pound dogs.
• Fill depth: Minimum 5–6 inches of fill to prevent "bottoming out" — where the dog's body contacts the floor through the bed material.
• Width and length: Giant breeds need 48" × 60" minimum. A Great Dane stretches 40+ inches nose to tail.
• Edge reinforcement: Giant dogs rest their heads on bolsters. Weak bolsters collapse, causing neck strain.
• Non-toxic materials: Giant breeds are already predisposed to cancer (especially Bernese Mountain Dogs and Golden Retrievers). Minimizing chemical exposure from flame retardants and VOCs in their primary resting surface is not overcautious — it's responsible ownership.

East Perry's large-format sheepskin beds use a genuine leather base with thick wool fill that supports giant breeds without the foam compression problem. The natural lanolin in the wool resists the increased bacterial load that comes with giant breed drooling and elevated body mass.

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Dog Bed Materials: Why Size and Material Go Hand in Hand

Most dog bed buying guides treat size and material as separate decisions. They're not. The material inside the bed determines whether the size you chose actually works — because different materials behave differently under different weights.

Material performance by dog weight class:

Natural wool and sheepskin are the only fill materials that perform consistently across all weight classes. Wool fibers have a natural crimp structure that compresses under weight and recovers when unloaded — this is the same property that makes wool carpets last decades in high-traffic commercial environments.

East Perry's dog beds use this material science deliberately. Our sheepskin isn't a luxury upsell — it's the engineering choice that solves the durability-meets-comfort problem across all size categories.

For a deeper dive into dog bed materials and their safety profiles, read our guide: The Best Materials for Non-Toxic Dog Beds.

To understand why foam beds off-gas and what chemicals are involved, see: Polyurethane Foam vs. Natural Wool: What's Actually Inside Your Dog's Bed?.

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Dog Bed Size Chart

Use this quick-reference chart to find the right bed size based on your dog's weight and breed category:

Important: These are guidelines, not rules. A 50-pound Border Collie who sprawls flat needs a larger bed than a 65-pound Bulldog who curls into a ball. Always measure your specific dog and account for sleeping position.

For the complete measuring process with illustrations, see: Dog Bed Size Guide: How to Measure and Choose the Right Fit.

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How East Perry Designs Dog Beds for Every Size

We don't just scale a single design up and down. Each East Perry dog bed size is engineered around the specific needs of the weight class it serves:

• Snugly (X-Small / Small): Lightweight sheepskin with higher bolster walls for small breed security. Natural lambswool interior maintains warmth for dogs who lose body heat quickly.
• PupPad (Small / Medium): A flat-profile sheepskin pad that works as a standalone bed or a liner. Ideal for dogs transitioning to a new bed, crate training, or multi-bed households.
• Snug (Medium / Large): Our signature sheepskin bed with a structured natural leather base, thick wool fill, and reinforced edges. This is the bed we built for the 30–100 lb range where durability and orthopedic support matter most.

Every size uses the same material: genuine European sheepskin from free-range mountain sheep, tanned using our Relugan vegetable-tanning process (chrome-free, formaldehyde-free), with natural lanolin preserved for antimicrobial and temperature-regulating properties.

We don't use polyurethane foam in any size. We don't use synthetic fills. We don't use chemical flame retardants. The material is the same whether the bed is for a 5-pound Yorkie or a 120-pound Great Dane — because compromising on materials based on price tier is how most brands cut corners.

Browse all East Perry sheepskin dog beds →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size dog bed does my dog need?

Measure your dog from nose to tail base while standing, then add 6–12 inches for stretching room. Measure shoulder width and double it for side sleepers. Your dog's weight determines fill density requirements — a 90-pound dog needs thicker, more resilient fill than a 20-pound dog to prevent bottoming out.

Is it better to get a bigger dog bed or a smaller one?

A slightly larger bed is almost always better than a slightly smaller one. Dogs who can't stretch fully in their preferred sleeping position will often abandon the bed for the floor. The exception is anxious dogs who prefer a snug, enclosed space — for these dogs, a cave-style or bolster bed in the correct size provides the security they need.

Do large breed dogs need orthopedic beds?

Large and giant breed dogs benefit significantly from proper orthopedic support. Approximately 25% of all dogs develop osteoarthritis, with large breeds at highest risk. An orthopedic bed distributes weight evenly to reduce pressure on hips, elbows, and shoulders. However, "orthopedic" is an unregulated marketing term — what matters is the actual material performance, not the label on the packaging.

Why does my dog sleep on the floor instead of their bed?

The three most common reasons are incorrect sizing (bed is too small), heat retention (foam beds trap body heat and dogs seek cool surfaces), or chemical off-gassing (dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors and may avoid beds with strong chemical smells). Try measuring your dog properly, switching to a natural-material bed that doesn't trap heat, and observing if your dog gravitates toward the new option.

How often should I replace my dog's bed?

This depends entirely on the material. Polyurethane foam beds typically need replacement every 6–18 months as the foam compresses and loses support. Natural wool and sheepskin beds maintain their structure for 3–5+ years because wool fibers naturally recover their loft after compression. Check for visible sagging, flat spots, or your dog's body touching the floor through the fill.

Can two dogs share one bed?

Dogs can share beds, but each dog should have enough space to stretch independently. For two medium dogs, you'd need at least a 42" × 52" bed. Multi-dog households often do better with individual beds placed near each other — dogs get the social proximity they want without the space competition.

Are natural sheepskin beds safe for puppies?

Yes. Sheepskin is naturally antimicrobial (lanolin inhibits bacterial and fungal growth), non-toxic (no chemical flame retardants, no VOCs), and temperature regulating (prevents overheating in puppies who can't thermoregulate effectively). Puppies are more vulnerable to chemical exposure per pound of body weight, making natural materials especially important during their first year.

What's the best dog bed for dogs with hip dysplasia?

Dogs with hip dysplasia need a bed that distributes weight without creating pressure points at the hips. The bed should be easy to step onto (low profile or ramped entry) and use materials that don't compress permanently — because a compressed bed creates the exact pressure concentration that worsens hip pain. Natural wool over a supportive base provides the even weight distribution these dogs need.

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Related Reading:

• Best Dog Beds for Large Breeds (Lab, Golden, German Shepherd)
• Best Dog Beds for Small Breeds (Yorkie, Chihuahua, Pomeranian)
• Dog Bed Size Guide: How to Measure and Choose the Right Fit
• Indestructible Dog Beds for Aggressive Chewers
• Best Dog Bed for Golden Retrievers
• Best Dog Bed for French Bulldogs
• The Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Dog Beds
• The Anxious Dog's Sanctuary: A Guide to Calming Beds

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