Dog Couch Bed
Buy the best dog couch bed selected and recommended by interior designers. By Eliza Bush.
You love your pup, but more often than not, they do have the tendency to climb up on your precious sofa, make it dirty, or worse, scratch it. A dog couch bed gives them the same level of comfort as your upholstered furniture. Designed to accommodate your pets, from the size to the materials, these types of furniture are durable and long-wearing. With our designers’ selections, your furry friends will have a place to rest and sleep without breaking your home’s aesthetics.
Dog Couch Bed
Buying Guide
Eliza Bush
Interior Design Expert
Eliza is a creative interior designer who swears by the power of sleek interiors and quality furniture to transform daily personal and professional life. With a B.Sc. in interior design from Philadelphia University and a well trained eye for craftsmanship, she offers unparalleled advice on how to arrange your space to make it sophisticated, comfortable, and functional, whether it’s the office or bedroom.
Pet couch beds give your pooches a chance to snuggle away in comfort after a weary day at play. These canine-friendly versions of human couches are designed to sustain paws, claws, drool, dander and everything else that your pets drag into them.
They come in eye-pleasing designs. More importantly, they keep rambunctious pets away from your expensive sofas and lounges. However, shopping for pet couch beds isn’t as easy as selecting dog crates. There are multiple factors that need to be considered before you narrow down on one.
Here’s some help to make the process easier.
The dog couch bed must be big enough to allow your dog to sleep comfortably. Having said that, dogs like to sleep in different positions. Some, sleep with their limbs stretched out in front of them. Others, cuddle up in a cradled position, while there are a few who sleep on their backs much like their human parents.
Irrespective of which category your pet fits into, grab a measuring tape and measure them from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. Add at least 6-8 inches to this on both sides. That’s the minimum length of the couch bed for you.
Always consider your dog’s age and health before selecting a dog couch bed. A young and healthy dog will be comfortable in just about any type of couch as long as its comfy. But an older dog might be better off with a thicker bed that provides more lumbar and joint support.
Also, the couch must not be too high off the ground which makes it difficult to climb into or get out of. If your dog has arthritis, go for an orthopedic dog bed with a memory foam fill, instead of a conventional couch which can be filled with egg foam or poly fill.
Look for a couch bed with a waterproof inner lining for older dogs with urinary incontinence. In case of puppies, this lining will protect the mattress from an accidental spill or two.
Dog couch beds should have an upholstery material that can sustain the wear and tear that curious digging claws can subject it to and is easy to clean as well.
- If you have dog breeds that shed excessively, like a Golden Retriever or a Siberian Husky, opt for a removable cover that’s made of cotton or cotton blends.
- If it’s a short haired breed, then a cover made of fleece that keeps them warm during the winters will be a better pick.
- Check if the cover is machine washable or needs to be dry cleaned.
The couch beds might or might not have an internal frame. If it does, check the material. Solid wooden frames are sturdy and can withstand the weight of heavy dogs. So are metal frames. MDF or Plywood frames might work with small, lighter dog breeds. But won’t cut the mustard for heavy dogs.
Dog couch beds are available in a plethora of attractive designs. There are pillow-styled couches which are easy to access for older dogs, donut styled beds which have cradling sides and an all-enclosed design, as well as miniature versions of normal furniture.
So, you can buy a doggie chaise lounge and pair it with your existing one. Or a sofa to pair with your couch. Match the upholstery and it would look like a mini-sofa that you got custom made for your child.
Is your dog an old-timer or a young pup? Maybe your pet has a mercurial bladder or chews when nervous. Do they sleep hot or cold? Ask yourself the same sort of questions you would if you were buying the bed for yourself.
Making the right choice for your pet is dependent on:
- your dog's age and health condition
- how large your companion is,
- what kind of coat they have,
- what their sleep and temperature preferences are.
Big dogs and older dogs frequently need support for their joints, as their bigger frames or advanced age put a lot of stress on them. For dogs who don't love jumping, choose a low-slung memory foam bed with a minimal ridge as a back.
Some beds even have a bump on one end to act as a pillow for those larger breeds who like sprawl out and at the same time have something on which to rest their heads.
Dogs, like humans, can develop bladder control issues as they age. Doggie diapers can provide some degree of a solution, but they are not really a pleasant answer for you or for your dog. Look for beds with a washable cover and invest in a waterproof liner.
Small dogs can be quite bouncy, adept, and eager to hop up onto the humans' sofa or bed. For active dogs with long-haired coats, like Maltese or Pekinese, they might love a miniature sofa upholstered in stain-resistant faux leather. These mini sofas look fabulous in opulent décors, especially if you can find a couch that matches or complements your sitting areas.
These beds often sit on four legs, as a classic loveseat or couch does. A lot of smaller breeds enjoy looking at the world from the vantage point of a few more inches in height.
If your dog is younger or is a nervous gnawer, you should look into the fabric-free options. Some sofa beds still have the general shape of a sofa - low-slung with legs and one open side - but are not upholstered or covered with fabric.
The excellent attribute of these minimalist sofa beds is that they blend very well with contemporary or modern aesthetics. They also are almost entirely smell-free, as there's no foam core to worry about your dog soiling. For cleaning, many of these beds can be taken out back and hosed down. Now that's convenience!
Usually set on a metal frame, the bed has a hammock made of either stain- and water-resistant material that your pet sleeps on. Also referred to as a cot-style pet bed, these sofa beds have the benefit of keeping your dog cool, making them an excellent choice for long-haired dogs or ones who are most comfortable in colder climes, like St. Bernards.
Although these beds may not stop your furry friend from chewing on the metal frame, it will show far less damage than a softer mattress might. If you feel as if your dog might get cold while sleeping on this type of spare bed, you can add a blanket.
When your dog is lying down flat, measure from nose to tail tip, and from shoulder to base of the paw. Add at least two inches on all sides to those dimensions. If the bed has cushions or a headrest, add those dimensions to the outside of your dog's basic size "footprint."
Although both dogs and cats love heated beds in winter, electrically heated beds can cause problems. These can include broken wires that cause the rest of the bedding to catch fire, chewing on wires, or the heat going out at a critical moment.
A better solution is a throw that can be heated in the microwave or in front of a heating device and then added to the bed.
This is a problem best dealt with when your dog is a puppy. Once you let your pup share your bed, you've already begun to lose the battle.
But it is possible to re-train older dogs to sleep in their own bed, especially if sharing a bed has begun to be uncomfortable for both of you.
- Place an old shirt, preferably one that has your scent all over it, in the bed. That ratty old t-shirt that you wore to mow the yard will do just fine.
- Pat the bed. Coax your dog to lie down in it. Add some petting and attention, maybe even a treat or two, and give your fur friend a favorite toy or two, or perhaps even a chew toy for bedtime.
- Make the bed a pleasant place for your dog, and be consistent about insisting that this is the spot for the dog as opposed to the couch, your bed, or similar locations.
- Regardless if you buy an all-in-one sofa bed for your dog or one that has removable pillows, look for options that have zip-off covers so you can easily toss them in the laundry without having to wash the whole bed.
- Opt for materials and surfaces that primarily don't attract dog hair or absorb untoward odors. Faux leather, mesh, and cotton are great choices.
- You may want to err on the side of muted colors for a dog bed. Dogs are indoor and outdoor creatures, and they often track mud into the house. If your dog bed is brown or dark green or red, it's harder to see dirt and other messes on it.
- You can also choose a color that's close to the color of your dog's coat, especially if your pet has long hair, minimizing the look of excessive shedding.