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If you have a dog who is constantly cold indoors or a pup who loves to stay outside in chilly weather, it can be a struggle to keep them warm. Heated dog beds have come a long way in recent years with new technology and warming features—but are they safe? And how effective are they? Do they really make a difference inside? What about outside?
To find out, we talk to Dr. Alec Flaum, DVM, a veterinarian and fear-free certified practitioner at Columbia Animal Hospital to learn about the pros and cons of heated dog beds.
How Different Types of Heated Dog Beds Work
Heated dog beds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles but generally fall into two categories: self-warming or electric.
Self-warming dog beds are made with heat-reflecting material that uses your dog’s own body heat to keep the bed warm. The Amazon Basics Warming Pet Bed, for example, has a self-warming foil layer, which works like a Mylar blanket (sometimes called a “space blanket”) to reflect your dog’s heat back to them.
Free of cords and electricity, self-warming beds tend to be a bit more portable and a better choice for super chewers or puppies who are still exploring the world with their mouths.
Electric dog beds, on the other hand, use an electric thermostat that needs to be plugged into an outlet. They can be used inside or outside the home, depending on the design. Operating on low voltage, these beds provide a toasty resting place calibrated to suit a dog’s body temperature—which makes them significantly safer for pup use than your own heated blanket.
They’re popular picks for pups with little fur, senior dogs with arthritis, and outdoor loungers.
The RIOGOO Pet Heating Pad, for example, offers adjustable settings in five-degree increments, ranging from 80º to 130º F. You can program a digital timer to shut the heat off after one to 12 hours.
Out of the electric options, energy-efficient dog beds use a thermostatically controlled system, so you don’t have to worry about constantly monitoring and adjusting the heat. (They’re also great for cutting back on electricity costs.)
For instance, K&H’s Thermo-Snuggly Heated Dog Bed operates at a mere six watts of power and only warms up to your dog’s natural body temperature when they’re actually laying on the bed. All other times, it operates in eco-mode.
If you’re in the market for an outdoor heated bed, K&H also uses the same thermostatically controlled technology in their Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pet Bed. Using 40 watts of power, this mat-style model is waterproof and has a soft orthopedic foam base with a washable fleece cover—ideal for pups who like to be outside even in colder weather.
What the Experts Say about Heated Dog Beds
Heated beds can be a great warming option for dogs, especially hairless pups, senior dogs, and those who like to spend time outside. But there are some things to consider before you buy, like if your dog is a super chewer as well as the specifics of the bed’s design.
“Knowing your dog’s temperament and ability, as well as the bed’s system and what safeguards are in place, are key to avoiding excessive heat and injury,” Dr. Flaum explains.
You’ll also want to monitor your dog’s use and make sure the setup is safe. “Dogs need to have the space and the ability to get off the bed if they’re getting too hot,” Dr. Flaum says, noting this is especially important for dogs who have mobility issues.
He also warns against leaving your dog alone with an electric heated bed. “Anytime you’re dealing with an electrical heat generator, leaving them unattended is a little bit risky.”
If an electric dog bed isn’t suitable for your pup, self-warming beds offer an alternative. Dr. Flaum also suggests exploring dog-safe heated inserts that have water or oil inside of them but warns against using human heating pads, which can get too hot for a dog. They’re especially dangerous for puppies, as Dr. Flaum has seen firsthand in his practice.
There are also some good precautions to take when you’re trying to keep a dog warm outdoors. Dr. Flaum explains that if your dog is shivering, they’re expending energy to try and keep themselves warm. And the colder it gets, the faster that happens.
“I usually tell people once it starts getting below 50 degrees, for a lot of dogs, that’s going to start putting some cold stress on them if they’re not actively working,” he says. “When it starts getting down in the 30s, they shouldn’t be left unattended for more than 5 to 10 minutes.”
He also adds that if you are in a position where you need to keep a dog outside for extended periods of time in colder weather, there are things you can do to help them. “If you do have a dog that needs to be housed outside, giving them a bedding area that’s not subject to rain, moisture, and wind that has a heat source that they can access and control themselves can help drop things a good 20 degrees,” he says.
A well-protected shelter with a heating pad—and plenty of room to sit off that heating pad if a dog chooses—is a good option.
Are Heated Dog Beds Safe?
So does your pup need a heated dog bed and would one be safe for them? Well, that depends.
If you have a dog that gets cold inside or a pup who loves to spend time outdoors in the cold, then a heated dog bed can help raise their body temperature and keep them comfortable.
However, it does come with some caveats. If your dog is a super chewer or will have trouble getting on/off the bed to self-regulate their heat, then you might want to consider other options, like a self-warming bed.
We think heated dog beds are likely to have a lot of fans. In particular, we think they’re a good fit for:
- Hairless dogs or dogs without a lot of fur who easily get cold indoors
- Dogs who love spending time outdoors even when it’s a bit chilly
- Senior dogs or dogs with arthritis who might find the extra heat soothing
- Pups who have the space and accessibility to access the bed on their own terms
Heated dog beds, however, might not be the best choice for some pups, including:
- Super chewers and puppies who might gnaw on the wires
- Dogs with a lot of fur who are prone to overheating
- Pups with mobility issues who might have a hard time getting on/off the bed
- Busy pet parents who might not have the time to monitor bed use
How We Chose Our Heated Dog Beds
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We prioritized heated beds based on safety, efficiency, and practicality. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.