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By now, you’ve probably heard of calming dog beds—they’re all the rage, and the claims being made about them are pretty fantastic: that they soothe anxious pups who struggle with stressful situations like storms, guests, or separation anxiety. Most calming dog beds share similar qualities: plush filling, comfortable materials, and bolstered sides or a soft cover for added security.
Will a calming dog bed magically make your dog’s anxiety disappear overnight? Probably not. But they can take the edge off milder cases of anxiety, and our own test of the original calming dog bed left us impressed. Our fearful snugglers gave them four paws up—and yours might like one too.
We’ve rounded up our favorite calming cuddlers in a range of sizes and styles so you can find the right fit for your anxious pup.
Overall Best: Best Friends by Sheri Original Calming Dog Bed (Verified Review)
The Best Friends by Sheri bed claims to be the original dog calming bed—and as far as we can tell, it deserves the title. Designers chose the donut style with its high, plush sides to please snugglers and burrowers alike, creating a soft, quiet retreat for the ultimate napping experience.
We tested this one ourselves and can confirm that it’s as cozy as it looks. Our dogs used it for everything from a cave with blankets to a pillow for cat naps, making it suitable for loungers of all styles. We especially like it for dogs who need a safe space but can’t deal with traditional crates or enclosures.
This bed comes in multiple sizes and colors—and it’s machine washable and dryer safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Faux shag fur material for warmth
- Great for burrowers and snugglers
- Machine washable and dryer-safe
- Available in two colors and three sizes
Best for Small Dogs: Ethical Pet Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave
Measuring 22 x 17 x 10 inches, this cuddle-style dog bed is ideal for toy and small breeds. It features a cave-like design to give your dog a sense of security as they snuggle, burrow, or nest.
This calming dog bed is made with a micro-suede exterior for easy spot-cleaning and a plush faux-fur interior for warmth and comfort. It’s stuffed with 100% recyclable poly-fill and the bed is stitched in sections to keep the filling where it belongs.
It’s available in three colors and is entirely machine washable.
Key Takeaways:
- Perfect for small and toy breeds
- Cave-like design good for burrowers and snugglers
- Plush faux-fur materials for warmth
- Constructed to retain its shape even with washing
Best for Big Dogs: Snoozer Classic Cozy Cave Bed (Verified Review)
Finding a bed big enough for large breeds can be tough—especially when it comes to cave-style beds. The Cozy Cave from Snoozer Pet Products comes in three sizes with a diameter of up to 45 inches. But it’s not just the generous size of this bed that we love.
This nest-style bed features a plush padded base and a hooded design that keeps your dog warm. If your dog is feeling anxious, they can burrow into the Sherpa materials for a sense of security.
With a removable cover, this bed is easy to clean. The cover is machine washable, and the zippered design makes it easy to secure back in place. Plus, the polyester filling contains cedar, which helps deter pests and control odors.
Key Takeaways:
- Generous 45-inch diameter
- Cave-style design for dogs who like to hide
- Plush Sherpa-lined hood
- Removable cover with sturdy zippers
Best for Senior Dogs: Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed
Older dogs can often benefit from a little additional support—an orthopedic dog bed cushions the joints to relieve pain and prevent stiffness. This Bedsure calming dog bed features an orthopedic egg-crate foam base with padded bolsters on three sides.
The bolsters give your dog something comfortable to lean against or rest their head on. They also create a sense of enclosure, which a lot of pups find comforting. This bed is available in four sizes to accommodate dogs weighing up to 125 pounds.
Note: If your senior pup struggles with arthritis, consider a sturdier memory foam dog bed like the PetFusion Ultimate.
Key Takeaways:
- Orthopedic egg crate foam base
- Bolstered sides for support and security
- Waterproof inner liner
- Removable cover with nonskid bottom
Budget Pick: Frisco Eyelash Bolster Bed
The larger the bed, the higher the price tag. If you like the design of the Best Friends by Sheri dog bed but want to save a few bucks, the Frisco Eyelash Dog Bolster Bed might be a good choice. It features a similar donut shape and is covered in a long faux fur material.
The rounded design of this bed is great for dogs who curl up to sleep, and the cozy materials provide a self-warming effect. With raised sides, the bed provides support for your dog’s head while still letting them burrow in.
This calming dog bed comes in four sizes and three colors. The Large and X-Large sizes feature a removable, machine-washable cover, while the smaller sizes are stitched closed and can be thrown in the washing machine as is.
Key Takeaways:
- Donut shape perfect for snuggling
- Long faux fur materials for warmth
- Raised sides for head support
- Removable cover only available in L and XL sizes
Best for Burrowing: Furhaven Donut Dog Bed
For dogs who love to cuddle up under the covers, this Furhaven dog bed is a good choice. It features the classic donut shape and comes with an attached blanket to suit burrowers. It’s available in a wide range of sizes to accommodate small breeds like French Bulldogs and big breeds like Huskies.
This bed has a non-skid silicone-dotted base to help keep it in place on hard surfaces. The interior is lined with plush faux fur to surround anxious pups, while the attached blanket helps reflect some of their own body heat. The blanket also acts as a cover for dogs who like to hide.
While the hooded calming cuddler is great for burrowers, some dogs may prefer a snuggle-style bed. Check out the long fur version of this donut-style Furhaven Calming Cuddler, available in four sizes.
Key Takeaways:
- Classic donut shape
- Attached blanket for warmth and security
- Plush faux fur lining
- Great for dogs who like to hide under the covers
Best Self-Warming: Petmate Aspen Pet Self-Warming Dog Bed
While heated dog beds can be comforting, especially for seniors and puppies, some dog parents prefer the cord-free convenience of a self-warming bed. The Aspen Pet dog bed from Petmate features a mylar inner lining that reflects your dog’s own body heat inward.
This pet bed is available in a round shape for snugglers or a rectangular shape for dogs who prefer to sprawl. It comes in several sizes and colors with dimensions up to 35” x 27”.
Key Takeaways:
- Mylar lining reflects body heat
- Available in round or rectangular shapes
- Faux lambswool materials for comfort
- Padded sides help deliver a sense of security
Best for Puppies: Active Pets Plush Calming Dog Bed
Puppies crave the warmth and comfort of their mother’s fur, which is exactly what calming donuts with shag fur are designed to replicate. The round shape lets a puppy curl up, recreating the cozy feeling of being surrounded by litter mates. If your pup prefers to sprawl, the raised edges will support their head.
This calming puppy bed is thickly padded and covered with soft faux fur material. It features a heavy-duty plastic cloth base to keep it from slipping on hard flooring, and in case of accidents, you can toss the entire bed in the washing machine and tumble dry on low heat.
Key Takeaways:
- Round design is perfect for snuggling
- Soft faux fur materials with thick padding
- Durable cloth base prevents slipping
- Machine washable and dryer friendly
Best Orthopedic: PetFusion Ultimate Lounge Memory Foam Bolster Bed (Verified Review)
Painful conditions like arthritis can trigger anxiety in dogs and make it more difficult for them to achieve restful sleep. Orthopedic dog beds help relieve pain by cushioning the joints and to prevent pressure points.
The PetFusion Ultimate Lounge is an especially popular pick among our testers, thanks to its excellent memory foam. Designed for puppies and small breeds, the smallest size has a two-inch base, while the Large and Extra-Large sizes are four inches thick. For big breeds, the Jumbo size has a thick six-inch base for superior support and added cushioning.
To help calm anxious or nervous dogs, this bed is surrounded on three sides by padded bolsters. The memory foam base has a waterproof liner for protection against accidents, and the cotton and polyester twill cover is removable and machine washable.
Key Takeaways:
- Medium-firm memory foam base
- Cushions the joints to relieve pain
- Padded bolsters for comfort and support
- Waterproof liner to protect against accidents
How We Chose
We selected the calming dog beds featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and comprehensive analysis of customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized calming dog beds made with warm, comforting materials that simulate the feel of packmates, strong support, and bolstered edges—design features that help dogs feel safe and secure. Our picks are also influenced by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pups, who are never stingy with their feedback.
