Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Rescuing a dog sometimes means accepting that you’ll never have a full understanding of your dog’s background and what has happened to have them feeling so anxious. Even if you didn’t adopt your pet, some breeds are more prone to anxiety than others. Whether it was caused by trauma, home environment, poor training, or genetics, anxious dogs are common. However, finding a solution for it can be a bit tricky.
There is no one easy way to help dogs with their anxiety and you should discuss anxiety with your veterinarian or qualified veterinary behaviorist. Good quality sleep is important for rest and relaxation. One of the easiest actions you can take is buying them a bed with soothing properties. There are many different types of dog beds for anxiety, so we put together a list of some of the best products on the market complete with in-depth reviews. Most calming beds seek to replicate the environment of puppies sleeping with their mother and littermates. Warm, furry, something to lean up against and soft.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Best Friends Calming Dog Bed
Orthopedic center
Two colors and three sizes
Bolstered edges
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Best Value
Frisco Eyelash Dog Bolster Bed
Affordable
Four sizes and three colors
Bolstered edges
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FurHaven Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed
Filling encourages dogs to curl up
Deep pockets to hide toys
Vegan faux fur cover
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The Dog’s Bed Calming Donut
Soft, removable cover
Machine washable
Slip-resistant bottom
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FurHaven Cozy Pet Beds with Cave Tent
Orthopedic base
Dual-purpose
Machine washable cover
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The 7 Best Dog Beds for Anxiety
Our pick for the overall best dog bed for anxiety is the Best Friends by Sheri Calming Shag Fur Donut Dog Bed. This bed is available in three sizes and two colors, making it easy to fit any dog or look good in any home. The bed is designed with a donut shape and orthopedic padding in the center. The bolstered edges wrap around your dog so that they feel safe, warm, and secure. It is also self-heating, meaning it radiates your pup’s own warmth back to them.
Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 9 inches
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Cover Material: Nylon, faux fur
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This dog bed is safe for the washer and dryer. The water-resistant nylon also won’t allow any leaks to go through the cover in case there are any accidents. The only downside we found with this bed is that the cover isn’t removable.
Pros
Orthopedic center
Two colors and three sizes
Bolstered edges
Washer and dryer safe
Water-resistant
Cons
Non-removable cover
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Orthopedic center
Two colors and three sizes
Bolstered edges
Washer and dryer safe
Water-resistant
- Orthopedic center
- Two colors and three sizes
- Bolstered edges
- Washer and dryer safe
- Water-resistant
Non-removable cover
- Non-removable cover
The Frisco Frisco Eyelash Cat & Dog Bolster Bed is one of the best dog beds for anxiety for the money. This bed is also donut-shaped with bolstered edges to wrap your dog up and make them feel calmer. There are four different sizes and three neutral colors to choose from. The filling is made from recycled materials and the cover is removable and machine washable.
Dimensions: 23 x 23 x 7 inches
Weight: N/A
Cover Material: Faux fur
The seams in the middle of the bed do seem to wear out over time and cause a decrease in support, but it is still worth the buy for such an affordable price.
Pros
Affordable
Four sizes and three colors
Bolstered edges
Machine washable cover
Cons
Seams decrease in support over time
Sometimes you find a product that is worth a bit more investment. The FurHaven Calming Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed is a perfect choice for people willing to pay more money for a higher-quality product. This donut-shaped bolster bed is stuffed with poly-filling that encourages your dog to curl up and fall asleep when stressed. There are deep pockets found inside the bed as well so that dogs can hide their favorite toys or tuck their paws inside.
Affordable
Four sizes and three colors
Bolstered edges
Machine washable cover
- Affordable
- Four sizes and three colors
- Bolstered edges
- Machine washable cover
Seams decrease in support over time
- Seams decrease in support over time
Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 10 inches
Weight: 4.8 pounds
Cover Material: Polyester, faux fur
The bed is made from a vegan faux fur outer layer that is very soft and warm. Unfortunately, it is not safe for the dryer, but it is machine washable.
Pros
Filling encourages dogs to curl up
Deep pockets to hide toys
Vegan faux fur cover
Supportive
Cons
Expensive
Not dryer safe
4. The Dog’s Bed Calming Donut Dog Bed – Best for Puppies
Filling encourages dogs to curl up
Deep pockets to hide toys
Vegan faux fur cover
Supportive
- Filling encourages dogs to curl up
- Deep pockets to hide toys
- Vegan faux fur cover
- Supportive
Expensive
Not dryer safe
- Expensive
- Not dryer safe
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Dimensions: 23 x 23 inches
Weight: 2.7 pounds
Cover Material: Faux fur
Another donut-shaped bed perfect for anxious puppies is the Dog’s Bed Sound Sleep Calming Donut Dog Bed. The faux fur is extra soft and will help keep small dogs warm and anxiety-free. There is a huge selection of colors and sizes available as well, so you can choose a bed to suit any dog breed and match any décor in your home. The bottom is slip-resistant and the cover is machine washable in case they have any accidents. The bed is a little pricey, and the plush mattress might not be supportive enough for senior dogs with arthritis or joint problems.
Pros
Soft, removable cover
Machine washable
Slip-resistant bottom
Cons
Pricey
Not plush enough for seniors
5. FurHaven Cozy Pet Beds with Cave Tent
Soft, removable cover
Machine washable
Slip-resistant bottom
- Soft, removable cover
- Machine washable
- Slip-resistant bottom
Pricey
Not plush enough for seniors
- Pricey
- Not plush enough for seniors
Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 3 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Cover Material: Faux suede, Sherpa
The orthopedic FurHaven Cozy Pet Beds with Cave Tent is dual purpose. While it works as a cozy bed, the hooded design also doubles as a tent or blanket for your dog to crawl underneath and create a safe space to ease anxiety. It is available in multiple sizes and colors, and the Sherpa material keeps your pooch extra warm and cozy.
The bed has a supportive foam base and a removable, machine washable cover. According to some pet parents, the hood will not stay up on its own, unfortunately. You also might need to coax your dog inside if they’ve never used a hooded bed before.
Pros
Dual-purpose
Multiple colors
Orthopedic base
Machine washable cover
Cons
Hood doesn’t stay up on its own
May take some training to use
6. Ethical Pets Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave Dog Bed
Dual-purpose
Multiple colors
Orthopedic base
Machine washable cover
- Dual-purpose
- Multiple colors
- Orthopedic base
- Machine washable cover
Hood doesn’t stay up on its own
May take some training to use
- Hood doesn’t stay up on its own
- May take some training to use
Dimensions: 22 x 10 x 17 inches
Weight: 1.9 pounds
Cover Material: Faux suede
If your dog really likes to burrow, then the Ethical Pets Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave Dog Bed might be worth a try. The bed is shaped like a sleeping bag so your pooch can hide in a warm, dark place to relieve their anxiety. The faux suede exterior looks nice but is still easy to clean and machine washable. There isn’t a framing to hold the top open, though, so it might droop over time. There is also only one size, so it isn’t a good option for large dog breeds. Without a non-skid bottom, you also might find that dogs can slide around if they aren’t careful.
Pros
Good for burrowing
Machine washable
Faux suede looks expensive
Cons
No framing to hold the top open
Only one size is available
Not for large breeds
No non-skid bottom
7. ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed
Good for burrowing
Machine washable
Faux suede looks expensive
- Good for burrowing
- Machine washable
- Faux suede looks expensive
No framing to hold the top open
Only one size is available
Not for large breeds
No non-skid bottom
- No framing to hold the top open
- Only one size is available
- Not for large breeds
- No non-skid bottom
Dimensions: 31.5 x 31.5 x 10.63 inches
Weight: 4.4 pounds
Cover Material: Faux fur
The ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed is designed to calm your dog when they have anxiety. The donut ring is filled with 8 inches of soft polyester to make it padded and supportive. There are three size options suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds. The bed is waterproof with a non-slip bottom, and is machine washable and safe to put in a dryer too.
Unfortunately, there are also a few problems with this bed. It isn’t the most durable, and dogs that like to chew could easily rip it open. The Faux fur also isn’t as soft as other bed options. Even with the non-skid material on the base, the bed does slide around easily as well.
Pros
8 inches of padding
Suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds
Machine washable
Cons
Not very durable
Faux fur isn’t as soft as other options
Slides around easily
Not for extra-large dog breeds
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Dog Bed for Anxiety
It doesn’t matter what pet product you’re buying, there are always things that must be taken into consideration in order to spend your money on something that is both comfortable and durable. Let’s take a look at some of them.
8 inches of padding
Suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds
Machine washable
- 8 inches of padding
- Suitable for dogs up to 75 pounds
- Machine washable
Not very durable
Faux fur isn’t as soft as other options
Slides around easily
Not for extra-large dog breeds
- Not very durable
- Faux fur isn’t as soft as other options
- Slides around easily
- Not for extra-large dog breeds
Budget
It would be nice if we didn’t have to consider a budget, but most of us don’t have tons of extra money to spend on extra pet goods. If you decide on your budget ahead of time, then you can narrow down your search and only look at options that work for you.
Size
Size is another crucial thing to think about. Have you ever ordered something thinking it was going to look perfect in your home, only for it to be delivered and be completely useless? That’s what happens when you don’t think about your dog’s size ahead of time. Double-check that you are buying a bed that can work for your dog’s breed size, weight and style of sleeping.
Quality
When you invest in a bed, try to sort out the lower quality beds from the higher quality ones. The chances are high that you can still find good-quality beds in your price range if you read a few reviews.
Pets
Ask yourself who is going to be using the bed. Having a multi-pet household might mean buying one bed to accommodate all the animals or buying multiple beds so each pet has its own.
Space
There is no point in buying a new dog bed if you don’t have anywhere to put it! This is harder to do when you’re trying to accommodate larger dogs in small spaces.
Décor
This isn’t the most important criteria while shopping for dog beds, but it can definitely sway a decision. Some people don’t mind when the dog bed doesn’t match the home’s décor, but others do. Looking for something in neutral tones is the best way to make a bed look good in any space.
Conclusion
We hope that these reviews of dog beds to help reduce anxiety can make your pup feel safe in their own home. Buying one of them is a step towards combating any unpleasant stress or feelings that they may have. Our top choice for the best overall dog bed for anxiety is the Best Friends by Sheri Fur Donut. If you want to invest in something really nice, then the FurHaven Calming Cuddler is a wise choice. Anyone on a budget might consider the Frisco Bolster Bed.
We hope these reviews helped you find the dog bed that will work best to create a calm environment for your pooch and fit nicely in your home. When all’s said and done, your dog is going to appreciate the effort, and be happier overall with a safe place to retreat to.
Featured Image Credit: charlesdeluvio, Unsplash
