Are expensive dog beds worth it?

[CityDweller]

Overwhelmed with choice with all the bits I need to get for incoming rescue dog (4 yo, about the size of a border collie).

Beds - are the more expensive ones worth the extra cost? Looking particularly at HiK9 (with a topper) - about £85 - or a Tuffies one (£165!). Or am I better off getting a cheaper one from Amazon like this or this? Dog bed will be in hallway where it can get a bit drafty, on tiled floor, so I'd like them to be raised off the ground a bit.

Also - flat type (e.g. HiK9) or a nest type???

Too much choice!

I think it depends on their sleeping position. We’ve had some dogs that curl up in a nest, and others that prefer stretching out on a flat bed

I would get cheaper ones first. DP insisted on an £££ orthopaedic one and our pup never sleeps on it. She mostly sleeps on the floor/towel/vet bed. Her favourite is dust sheets. Sometimes she'll get in the stylish one she has in my study!!!
Basically, get something for now and see what they like before investing more in a well made/orthopaedic one. Especially if they could be a destroyer!

My dog has had a few beds and shown no interest in any of them! I would start with a cheap one and then buy a better one if they actually use it.

Chances are, the first bed will get eaten! Just get something cheap, warm and soft for the early days. Then later, I prefer a waterproof raised bed for my dirty dogs. Will try and find link for the brilliant one I got last.

We swear by tuffies dog nests - our beagle digs and scrabbles in his bed and went through so many until we found them. We’ve bought 3 in total now and only just replaced a 10 year old one.
We had an issue with DDog and an allergy issue and their customer service was top notch too. V impressed

Found it. I got the bed and noodle towel. The dog absolutely loves it. www.henrywag.com/

Best bed I have was £30 from aldi.

I agree with those who have said start cheap (cardboard box with charity shop blankets is what I use for puppies) and upgrade when you've worked out what your dog likes.

We've bought several beds but the ones that have really lasted are the Joyelf ones. They are quite hard wearing and wash up nicely and they have firm but comfy edges to rest doggy chins on:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JOYELF-Orthopedic-Removable-Washable-Squeaker/dp/B07YXY1YTM/ref=ascdff_B07YXY1YTM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=399549315531&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4167172384509626974&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045127&hvtargid=pla-847842186858&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=83794219823&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=399549315531&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4167172384509626974&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045127&hvtargid=pla-847842186858

In fact, this is the bed. In stock. Memory foam, beautifully squishy, plush fur top. I would seriously recommend. You could use as an emergency guest bed in a pinch, for a child at least, they're that comfy.

www.aldi.co.uk/cord-large-memory-foam-pet-mattress/p/707612427908801

I have Tuffies and converted my friend who’s dogs ripped up every other bed they’ve had.

Agree on Tuffies - it’s brilliant- my dog loves it

Buy a cheaper one first. My old staffy had the best bed I could find, he decided he'd rather sleep on an offcut of carpet I had lying around with a blanket!

Even when you know what your dog likes, I wouldn’t get an expensive one. They get damaged, even if your dog isn’t a chewer. You want something that can be easily washed or sprayed down. Something relatively indestructible and then it’s just see what they prefer.

We have a number of dog beds. Both digs really like the hard plastic bed which has a memory foam pillow in it. Dog 1 also likes to lie on laundry or towels. Or steal the throw when I go to the bathroom (see photo). She likes to curl up small and create a little nest of soft things to sleep on. Dog 2 has a flat, padded waterproof bed. But he also really likes the vet bed but for some reason he likes sleeping on it when it’s upside down! I’m glad we didn’t pay for an expensive bed when he likes the uncomfortable netting of the bottom of a vet bed.

Thanks everyone. I’m wondering if I should just buy some vet bed fo now. Would that keen him warm/cosy enough on a tile floor?

Although I suppose there’s high chance he doesn’t want to sleep in the hall and ends up somewhere else anyway.

A single duvet and an old cover is a good start until you get to know how your dog likes to sleep. It can be folded up and makes a snug bed. Even better, it is washable and cheap!

Any cheap beds we bought ended up lumpy after not too long and horrible to clean. I then got an orvis memory foam one, just the basic slab, in the sale. It has lasted 7 years now and looks almost brand new when washed. It doesn't need to be orvis, but I would get a decent memory foam one.

In winter we top it with a bit of vet bed.

I would go for a cheap bed first. We got one from b & m when he was a pup.
We now have a plastic one with a cushion he can curl up in and a flat one.
He rarely uses the flat one. He's a curler!
I would wait and see if dog is a chewer too. Current dog isint so would be fine with an expensive bed, last dog wouldn't have used it (he got too hot and liked the floor) and would have most likely chewed it up.
Make sure whatever you get is machine washable as they do get a bit grubby

You can start with a bit of vet bed in a cardboard box, but IME Tuffies are worth every penny. We have two, both about 4 years old, and the mattresses are only just just starting to show signs of not being brand new. We've also just had to replace a set of covers, but that's because one of our dogs is a digger.

It's very easy to get the covers off and wash them, and the mattresses are waterproof and can be hosed down - I spray them down with disinfectant, which sorts out the dog smell.

We got through a lot of cheap beds, and I wouldn't bother with them again.

HiK9 are fab beds and certainly worth the money. All my dogs love them toppers easy to wash and have lasted years and years.

A quick hoover off the fur inbetween washes.

However for very young puppies mine are usually in a crate with comfy vet bed. Easy to wash, not that easy to destroy (but some can!)

They they get promoted into Hik9 beds

I got a single duvet and cover. Cheap to buy and easy to wash/dry.
I fold it into 4 and she either sleeps on top or digs into it and makes a den. She loves it.

Yes, expensive beds well worth it for me - but not all expensive beds, they need to be designed right to be properly cleanable.

Having bought many dog beds over the last 30 years, the Overhills bed and its fleece cover are my recommendation. Not pretty (although not ugly, just not 'lifestyle' choices), but the dogs like them. Fleece cover slips off so is very easy to wash, bed is wipeable.

www.overhill.co.uk/pet-products/meg-bed/
www.overhill.co.uk/pet-products/meg-bed-covers/

(I don't have destructive dogs, these might not suit those that do.)

Those of you with the Tuffies beds How do you clean the mattresses?

It may be that my dogs are just the smelliest dirtiest dogs ever but over time even washing the outside cover the mattresses get all smelly and disgusting- What am I doing wrong?

@PollyRoulson I either spray the mattress down with Dettol and wipe clean, or hose off in the garden and leave to dry. The mattresses are basically waterproof so you can do this without worrying about the filling. I think you could scrub them and they'd be fine.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman Thank you. The one I had was a memory foam one (many years ago) and that couldnt be scrubbed or got wet once the cover came off it. Good they have changed that

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve ordered the Aldi one for now and will get some vet bed too and wait to see what kind of sleeper he is!