Have you ever watched a person sleep? Chances are not very often because they would probably think you were creepy or unbalanced. Not so your dog.
Watching your dog rest may give you valuable insight into what kind of bed would make him most comfortable. Does he like to sleep on his back with limbs sprawled everywhere, or does he curl into a neat little ball?
Do you have a giant-sized German shepherd or perhaps one with arthritis? We would like to give you insight into choosing the best dog bed for German shepherd.
Quick Picks: The 5 Best German Shepherd Dog Beds
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Check our best pick above, or keep reading for product reviews and buying guide!
5 Reviews of the Best German Shepherd Dog Beds
Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed
This bed is specifically designed for large dogs out of therapeutic foam. It is crafted in a California workshop that also manufactures artisan furniture. It has a cover that is visually appealing and soft to the touch and yet machine washable.
The foam used in the Big Barker is made for high-end furniture for people. It is CertiPUR-US certified to have quality content, high durability, and minimal chemical emissions.
Big Barker places heavy emphasis on support, which is great for rehabilitative work, dogs recovering from orthopedic surgeries, or large canines suffering from arthritis, hip dysplasia, or generalized joint pain.
Pros:
- The bed retains 90 percent of its shape, and therefore its support, for ten years and has a warranty to support this claim.
- All materials are made in the USA.
- It has an even weight-distribution system.
- This bed has a headrest pillow, which many dogs actually like to use.
- The Big Barker is sturdy and durable, able to survive rambunctious larger dogs and moderate digging and chewing.
Cons:
- As far as dog beds go, it is fairly expensive.
- This bed is not for small dogs, even in multiples.
FurHaven Pet Dog Bed
This bed perhaps offers the most versatility for your dog’s preferred sleeping styles. It invites him to curl up or lay with his head hanging off the edge. The sofa style has built-in headrests and open-type corners if your pet prefers close quarters.
This bed is also great for snugglers who like to cozy up with their housemates. It would be great for me because I have a dog and cat who enjoy cuddling.
The FurHaven has a three-bolster design and railings for additional orthopedic and spinal support. The egg-crate style foam increases breathability, allowing cool air to circulate through the bed.
Pros:
- Three bolsters provide different tiers which improve accessibility for elderly or disabled dogs.
- The faux fur lining is designed to protect the nose for burrowers and snugglers.
- Many dogs find the bed inviting, maybe because it resembles a sofa.
- The bed is extremely roomy and ideal for dogs who like to get up and move around quite a bit.
Cons:
- The material is not the most durable and will not withstand much chewing or digging.
- It is not exceptionally supportive for large dogs.
PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed
Many dog beds have a three-inch cushion, but PetFusion features four inches of plush comfort for your dog. If your German shepherd has trouble getting around because of arthritis, the additional support this bed provides could be invaluable.
Other highlights of this Ultimate Dog Bed are a material that makes it easy to spot clean, a removable machine-washable cover, a memory-foam base, and neutral coloring. A non-skid bottom helps keep it stable as you pet enters and exits.
Pros:
- Bolsters are made from recyclable material.
- The material is 65 percent polyester and 35 percent cotton twill for increased durability.
- The cover is certified to be skin safe.
- This bed passes rigorous European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) human and environmental safety standards.
- A water-resistant cover lends further protection against accidents or incontinence. There is also a water-proof liner around the foam.
Cons:
- There were multiple reports of the lack of durability of the fabric cover. It seems to tear rather easily.
- The cover fabric retains more fur than other dog beds.
Brindle Soft Shredded Memory Foam Dog Bed
This large dog bed features memory foam and suits large breeds from German shepherds to Great Danes. It is lightweight, convenient if you like to travel with your dog. It can fit into a large crate or act as a stand-alone bed.
This bed is unique in that Brindle shreds the memory foam. The goal behind this is to help distribute your dog’s weight more evenly to eliminate pressure-point areas. This can help dogs who lay down for long periods such as less mobile pets and those recovering from surgery. It also makes the material more breathable.
Pros:
- The microsuede cover can be not only machine washed but tumble dried.
- There are three inches of memory foam fill for the bed.
- This bed is lightweight for portability.
- The company involves itself in charity work, donating dog beds to local Humane Societies.
- The bed shows excellent durability – the shredded foam maintains its shape and the cover is rip-resistant.
Cons:
- The shredded memory foam may have a lumpy feel and appearance.
- Some people reported the fabric of the cover is not resistant to persistent digging as some dogs do before settling in.
Friends Forever Orthopedic Dog Bed Lounge Sofa
Friends Forever uses human-grade memory foam that stands up to tests for durability. It also has a focus on orthopedic support and comfort for your pet. If you have a dog with arthritis, this bed has added extra polyfill.
The orthopedic dog bed has a YKK pure metal zipper to help the cover last even longer. YKK, or Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, is simply a fancy way of saying Friends Forever uses the best zippers available for their dog beds.
Pros:
- This bed has a non-slip bottom to prevent skidding so the bed does not slide around as your dog gets in and out of it.
- The cover is hair resistant and machine washable.
- There is a water-resistant liner on the bed.
- A soft suede cover provides comfort but at the same time is tear resistant.
- The bed is roomy, deep and soft for comfort.
Cons:
- Some materials are not USA made.
- Sometimes people report a chemical smell.
Why German Shepherd Needs a Good Dog Bed?
German shepherds, as you probably know, belong to the herding class of the working group of dogs. But what does this mean?
A healthy German shepherd can be as lively as a border collie but weighs eighty to 120 pounds. German shepherds will suffer greater wear and tear on their joints than smaller dogs and may be more prone to injury, growing pains, and orthopedic disturbances like hip dysplasia.
On the other hand, German shepherds also sleep approximately 12 to 18 hours a day depending on age, size, and working status. A great opportunity to provide your dog with support for his skeleton and muscles comes during rest. A supportive dog bed will help your dog’s need for mobility and flexibility during exercise or work.
Dog beds for German shepherds need to support a heavy and dense dog that may have muscle or joint soreness. It should address pressure points whether your dog sleeps on his side or stomach. Memory foam that retains its shape without sinking to the unyielding floor works well.
This video shows a sofa-style dog bed and how well this obviously healthy and active German shepherd takes to it. The bed is sufficiently large for him to sleep on it in various positions. Here is a dog that appears to be no stranger to using a dog bed, but your hope is your friend will react similarly to his own dog bed with time.
What Qualities do You Need in a Good German Shepherd Bed?
Comfort
It may seem intuitive that your dog’s comfort is important, but what looks comfortable to you may not fit canine standards.
- Size – a dog bed must fit your dog with enough room for him to lay on his side without sprawling over the side and to get up and turn around.
- Support – dog beds address support to varying degrees. Take your dog’s needs for arthritic support or muscular issues into account when selecting a bed. Make sure your dog can access the bed with ease. Finally, bolsters, which are built-in support pillows or rails, are great for large-breed dogs.
- Material – Suede and similar fabrics are not only soft to the feel, but they also provide relatively high resistance to tearing. Materials also contribute to support when referring to fillers, frames and bolsters. Polyfil and foam are supportive yet yielding.
Ease of care
This is more for you than your pet, but you do not want your dog exposed to unsanitary or unkempt sleeping conditions either.
The beds we reviewed all have removable, machine washable covers. We think this should be a pretty basic standard. Some covers can be tumble-dried while others must be hung to dry. Most core mattresses, fillers, and bolsters cannot be machine-washed.
A bed should be easy to clean and vacuum of small accidents and hair or debris.
Durability
No dog bed will remain unscathed from wear and tear exercised by your dog. German shepherds are large active dogs with strong paws and powerful jaws and teeth. Nevertheless, a dog bed should be built to withstand reasonable usage by a large-breed dog for a year or two.
Durability applies to fabric covers and liners that should be able to survive mild to moderate tearing attempts. It also applies to the bed’s level of support. It is useful to know if your dog’s bed will not flatten after a few days.
We chose dog beds with a warranty of at least a year against manufacturing defects. Some provide more expansive guarantees.
If you are searching for a bed for a German shepherd puppy, you must take into consideration the growth of your puppy and excessive stresses he will place on any dog bed. Plan on buying several beds in a short amount of time.
Related: Best Dog Bed for Chewers
How do You Fit Your Dog for a Bed?
We recommend measuring your dog from tip of the nose to the tip of his tail to obtain length and measure the widest point from shoulder to shoulder to get the width. Add a few inches on both measurements to get the final dog bed dimensions and account for your pet’s movement.
Related: Best Dog Beds for Large Dogs
Another method that works but may be much more challenging is to measure your pet in his sleeping or resting position and add 12 to 14 inches. If you have an active dog without optimal obedience, this clearly will not go smoothly and you may need to estimate an appropriate dog bed size.
When you select a dog bed, always err on the side of a bed that is a bit too big than one that may be too small. Even if it means going up a size, it will prevent a lot of headaches.
Related: Best Dog Beds for Small Dogs
Final Thoughts
The Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed was an easy winner of our search for the best dog bed for the German shepherd. We liked the water-resistant feature of the Friends Forever Orthopedic. We thought the PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed with its sturdy bolsters was a very well-made dog bed and would have been our second choice.
We felt FurHaven Pet Dog Bed was a great choice for all those sofa-loving canines but were concerned about the lack of support and quality of materials. And we loved the Brindle’s concept and attention to comfort but wished their covers stood up better against the canine activity.
The Big Barker, despite not being small-dog friendly, uses high-quality material and provides the best benefits in terms of support, durability, and versatility. Finally, we could not find another dog bed company that stood behind its product with a decade-long support warranty.