Finding the best large dog bed for your canine friend can be nerve wracking. Sure, it sounds easy enough, but walk into the pet store and you’ll quickly see that it isnt simple at all. Dog beds come in all shapes and sizes, and choosing the best bed for your dog can be a tricky endeavor.

All large dog beds come in some various styles and types. Pillow-type beds are the most common type, and most often are shaped either circular or rectangular. Pillow beds usually come with a removable cover that can be washed, with the inside filling of the bed consisting of standard stuffing, foam, or cedar. While all of these types of padding provide excellent comfort, cedar is especially useful for use outdoors, as it is a natural flea repellent, and gives off a pleasant, natural scent. Dogs that like to sleep stretched out tend to like these types of bed, as they allow them to spread out fully while sleeping and resting.

Doughnut style dog beds are very common for small dogs, but many large dog beds also available in this style. Such beds can come in two sections, such as a low-sided basket with a flat bed inside, or an all fabric design where the outer portion is padded and the doughnut hole is less padded, giving the dog a nest to cuddle into. Some dogs prefer these beds to others, especially dogs who like to nest to feel secure. Many a large dog has tried rather comically to fit into doughnut beds for their much smaller animal siblings. If your dog is a “nester” it will appreciate a doughnut bed in the right size!

Elevated dog beds are a newer type of bed, with many types of construction and design, from miniature couches to suspended hammock-type beds. The idea of these types of beds are to keep older dogs above the cold ground and drafty floor level, also allowing them to get up from laying down more easily, as they are not all the way on the ground. Dogs who have not grown up with this type of bed may take some convincing at first that its a safe place for a dog to sleep, but after an introduction, most dogs decide that the strange look is worth the comfort!

Orthopedic dog beds are another type of large dog bed that can be especially useful for big dogs. All dogs, but especially big dogs tend to develop arthritis as they get older, and often experience stiffness or even difficulty getting up after laying down for a long time. Orthopedic dog beds can help to alleviate that stiffness and make it easier for an older dog to get up and moving after resting. Orthopedic dog beds come in many of the common styles of beds that are already available, but utilize more modern types of padding for increased comfort, such as orthopedic mattress foam, gel-foam and even built in heating devices to increase comfort and circulation within the joints.

Selecting the right dog bed for a large dog can be confusing, but if you carefully match the needs of your dog with its preferences and your needs, finding the right dog bed for your home can be done easily.

Before buying your next dog beds, be sure to visit dog-beds.com for informative large dog bed buying advice.