Do you have a hyperactive, anxious, or nervous dog? Have you tried everything you can to calm him down and help him get over his feelings of nervousness? Experts agree that providing a dog bed for anxiety helps to relieve these conditions and can even calm a highly-stressed dog.
Sleep is crucial to a dog’s health and well-being, and they’re pretty good at getting enough; they tend to sleep up to 14 hours each day, larger dogs seem to need even more than that, so they get masses of practice.
One thing will disturb dogs from their sleep, and that’s if, for whatever reason, they are feeling anxious or, as strange as it seems, unsafe. Dogs, like humans, can feel worried for several reasons such as illness, they’ve recently experienced some kind of trauma, change of routine, moving to a new home, and of course, separation anxiety.
Did you know that dogs can also show anxiety by licking you excessively?
Your dog may be expressing his distress and anxiety through specific unwelcome behavior. Unusually aggressive behavior around other dogs and people, constantly licking his paws, barking for no reason, going to the toilet in the house, even though he’s trained, and even destructive behavior and excessive digging.
In this article:
Best Dog Beds For Anxiety
Helping your dog regain their feelings of security and reducing their anxiety levels are crucial to helping them get the best rest they can. Providing your dog with the right bed, one that helps calm and reduces their stress levels can undoubtedly make a massive difference to your dog.
A dog bed for dogs with anxiety may prove to be one of the best purchases you will ever make to help ease your anxious dog’s woes. These types of beds are soft and cozy, enveloping your dog in a world of warm luxury, gently easing his mind off the nervousness and anxiety, and gradually helping your dog to fall asleep.
What are the best dog beds for anxiety? There is a multitude of dog beds available; however, they are not all suitable to help your dog overcome his fears.
To help you choose the best dog anxiety bed, we’ve done all the research on your behalf and have put together this buying guide for the best dog beds for anxiety.
Best Friends by Sheri, The Original Calming Donut Dog Bed
I’ve put the Best Friends by Sheri calming donut dog bed at the top of the list because this is one of the best calming dog beds on Amazon; it’s a fantastic choice, and with over one million sold, many dog owners love it immensely.
Whatever the size and weight of your dog, there’s a Best Friends by Sheri dog bed, from a small 23 by 23 inches up to an extra-large 45 by 45 inches.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
If your dog loves to curl up to sleep, this dog bed is perfect. With the raised rim, your dog will feel perfectly secure, and the higher sides of the bed will provide excellent neck and head support. If your dog happens to be suffering from a touch of arthritis, the soft and cozy filling will help with some much-needed joint and muscle pain relief.
There are enough color choices to blend with anyone’s home color scheme, from lux dark chocolate to cotton candy pink. The manufacturers claim the faux shag fur reminds dogs of their mother’s fur coat to help soothe their mood. Along with the ultra-soft fur of the bed, there are deep crevices that encourage your dog to burrow, once again to help them fall into a restful sleep.
The bottom of the beds are dirt and water-resistant materials, so nothing is going to reach your floors. Keeping the dog bed as fresh as when you bought it and in the best condition, machine wash and dry the removable shell; you shouldn’t leave the bed out to air-dry it will cause the fur to mat and tangle.
Best Friends by Sheri beds use only pet-safe material for their beds, including the non-toxic premium filling.
Why We Like It: Best Friends by Sheri is the original and still the best soft dog bed for anxiety.
Key Features
- It contains Airloft fibers for extra comfort and support
- Double overlock-stitch for more outstanding durability
- Machine washable
- The removable zipper shell is machine washable
- Pet-friendly materials
- Non-toxic fillings
- Flame retardant
- Over one million sold
- Made in the USA
Nononfish Small Pet Donut Cushion for Orthopedic Relief
If you have a small dog suffering from arthritis or stiff and sore joints, then the Nononfish donut cushion will help provide the orthopedic relief your dog needs to get some much-needed rest.
This brilliant calming bed for dogs with a donut-style design will help promote better sleep and encourages a dog’s nesting instincts while allowing the dog to curl up and feel secure and safe.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
The Nononfish donut cushion bed is available from a tiny 19 inches up to an extra-large 48 inches. For the color-conscious, this design offers a choice of thirteen colors; one will surely match any interior decor.
The bed’s exterior is ultra-soft and warm faux fur, while the filling is premium quality virgin pearl cotton. To support your dog’s head and neck, the outside rim of the bed, has 6-inch raised edges, crucial for relieving the pain associated with arthritis and joint and muscle stiffness in an older dog.
The bed base is a high-density, waterproof, dirt-resistant, and anti-slip material to prevent the bed from slipping on polished or tiled floors.
To make life easier, once the bed starts to whiff of a little doggy odor, put the whole bed in the machine to wash and dry. Don’t air-dry the bed; it will cause the faux fur to mat and tangle.
The Nononfish donut cushion bed is not an overstuffed dog bed; these beds are lightly stuffed to allow your dog the ability to burrow into the folds of the faux fur for extra security and warmth.
Why We Like It: The Nononfish donut cushion is available in four sizes and a choice of thirteen colors.
Key Features
- Blanket is included with the purchase
- Four sizes and thirteen colors
- Waterproof, dirt-resistant, and slip-proof bed base
- High-quality virgin pearl cotton filler
- Machine-washable
- Calming faux fur material to aid in better sleep patterns
SAVFOX Long Plush Comfy Calming Dog Bed
An excellent pet bed ideal for dogs that need a calming and anti-anxiety bed, the soft cushion and faux fur feel will soon have your dog curling up and burrowing into the crevices. For an extra area of support and security, the raised edges help calm your dog down and ease anxiety.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
The Savfox anti-anxiety bed is available in five colors and five sizes from small to double extra-large. The beds are featuring an ultra-soft faux fur exterior and a filling of virgin cotton. The bed’s base has a PVC anti-slip design and is also waterproof and dirt-resistant. Looking after the dog bed is straightforward; simply hand wash or machine wash and dry in a tumble dryer.
I can guarantee you’ll be looking at your dog with envy, wishing they made this anti-anxiety and calming bed in your size.
Why We Like It: The Savfox is a quality calming and anti-anxiety dog bed at a reasonable price point.
Key Features
- Choice of five colors and sizes
- Non-slip base that’s dirt-resistant and non-slip
- Machine washable and tumble dry safe
- Top-quality cotton filler
- Self-warming material
- Raised edges for additional neck and head support
- Faux fur helps produce a calming effect on dogs
PUPPBUDD Calming Cushion Dog Bed
The PUPPBUDD Calming Cushion Dog Bed can accommodate dog sizes from small pups all the way to 100-pound large dogs, and with a choice of seven colors that will satisfy even the most discerning pet owner.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
If you have a large dog breed with anxiety problems or stiff joints and aching muscles, check out this particular dog bed because it really has excellent support for the bigger dog. Some dog beds don’t have nearly enough support and cushioning in the bed base, but not the PUPPBUDD. You’ll notice immediately that your dog sits slightly higher right away on this bed; that’s due to the extra cushioning in the base.
Another change to other comparable beds in the dog bed shape; the PUPPBUDD is oval and not the round donut shape standard with these types of beds. The manufacturer believes the oval shape gives the dog more stretching room than a circular shape.
Only high-quality materials are used to manufacture this calming dog bed, from the luxurious faux fur exterior to the eco-fiber interior, providing a relaxing, comfortable and breathable experience.
Every part of the dog bed is machine washable, so once the doggy smell starts to transfer to the bed, it can be put into the washing machine on a gentle cycle and tumbled dried on low heat. However, thoroughly dry the bed in the tumble dryer, don’t be tempted to air dry because it will affect the soft feel of the faux fur exterior.
Why We Like It: The PUPPBUDD calming dog bed is excellent for larger dogs with joint and muscle problems because of the extra support in the bed’s base.
Key Features
- Calming materials designed to help dogs suffering from anxiety
- There are five sizes and nine color choices
- Non-slip, dirt-resistant, and waterproof base
- Machine washable
- Tumble dry safe (on low heat)
- Oval shape to allow bigger dogs more room
- Eco-friendly filler
- Raised edges for additional head and neck support
The Dog’s Bed Original Sound Sleep Donut Dog Bed
The Dog’s Bed Sound Sleep Donut Dog Bed is another excellent choice of a soft bed for dog anxiety. This particular dog bed will accept small to large dogs because of a great range of sizes. The smallest measures 23 inches and the largest 54 inches. There’s also a perfect selection of eight colors.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
The Dog’s bed sound sleep is exceptionally well made with an outer diameter ring of premium 1.5-inch vegan fur. If you have a new puppy coming home, buy one of these and see how quickly the puppy takes to this bed. The ultra-luxurious pile reminds the puppy of his mom’s feel and touch, making it so much easier for him to settle into his new home.
Many dogs exhibit nesting tendencies, and this bed will help your dog curl up and sleep. Should your dog suffer from any anxieties, the high sides of the bed and the thick fur pile will induce feelings of serenity and security, helping your dog to relax and sleep soundly.
Soft and self-warming materials with superior body support will reduce the need for your dog to constantly be up and down and eliminate any night-pacing seen in many anxious dogs.
The entire bed comes with removable covers so you can thoroughly clean every part; easy to wash and quick drying. If any bed starts to wear out over time, you can purchase replacement covers rather than buy an entirely new bed.
Why We Like It: The Sound Sleep dog bed has fully removable machine washable covers that can also be purchased separately.
Key Features
- The bed features vegan fur
- Covers are removable and machine washable
- Extra covers can be purchased separately
- Five sizes and eight color choices
- Premium 1.5-inch contours
- A comfortable dual-layer base
- High sides with long vegan fur
- One-year limited manufacturers warranty
SAVFOX Long Plush Comfy Calming Orthopedic Bed For Dogs
Comprising of top-quality synthetic and plush fur and full of fluffy filling makes for a combination of a breathable and incredibly comfortable range of dog beds.
This particular Savfox bed provides a comfy, calming, and orthopedic style for those dogs needing the extra warmth and support because of stiff joints and aching muscles.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
Should your dog suffer from separation anxiety or is anxious because of other factors, this bed will provide a warm snuggly environment to help ease your dog’s worries and concerns, whatever the reason. Calming your dog’s fears is a great way to help your dog get the kind of quality sleep dogs need.
Attention to detail is essential, and this bed doesn’t disappoint. The choice of colors will help the bed integrate into any color scheme in your home, and for safety, the bed’s base is non-slip, waterproof, and dust-resistant.
Once the bed begins to smell a little “doggy,” the bed can be machine or hand washed. If you choose to machine wash, only use a gentle cycle and low heat in the tumble dryer; ensure the bed is completely dry before re-use and don’t air-dry the bed.
The bed is eight inches high, so there’s excellent support for your dog’s neck and head; with a choice of five sizes from small to double extra-large, there’s a size suitable for most dogs.
Why We Like It: The Savfox Comfy, Calming bed is so comfortable you might need to buy your dog a second one to use while you wash the first bed.
Key Features
- A choice of three colors and five sizes
- Synthetic plush fur
- Non-slip, dust-resistant, and waterproof base
- Easy care; hand or machine wash and dry
- Premium cotton filler
PetFusion Calming Cuddler Dog Bed
If you’re not fussed about the donut shape calming dog beds and prefer the more traditional shape, then the PetFusion Calming Cuddler Dog Bed might be right up your street.
The loose style blanket gives your dog all the warmth and security he’s going to need, and with it being a blanket, your dog can position it precisely how he likes. If your dog feels anxious or nervous, he can burrow under the blanket; he can even hide his precious toys under the blanket for safe-keeping.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
The intelligent design provides high-walled support for your dog’s neck and head. In case of any accidents, the interior of the bed has an inner waterproof lining that’s tear-proof, so even if your dog is scrabbling to position the blanket, there’s no risk of tearing the lining by accident.
The bed’s base is non-slip and dirt-resistant and is memory foam that provides a fantastic amount of support for dogs with arthritis, general joint stiffness, and aching muscles.
For every dog owner’s peace of mind, these dog beds are completely safe and free from toxic materials; no mercury, lead, formaldehyde, phthalates, or ozone depleters. The cover fabric is “skin contact safe.” The Petfusion bed passes the European REACH safety standards.
Spot clean until the doggy odor gets too much when it does, remove covers and machine wash, and tumble dry on a gentle cycle.
Why We Like It: The Petfusion calming bed is ideal for dog owners wanting an anti-anxiety bed but are not keen on the donut style. The manufacturer also offers a one-year warranty.
Key Features
- CertiPUR-US memory foam
- Eight-inch high bolster sides
- Machine washable and tumble dryer safe
- Made from polyester and fabric
- The bed’s base is non-slip and dust-resistant
- The inner lining of the bed is waterproof
- Non-toxic materials
- Loose blanket top
- Manufacturers one-year warranty
SlowTon Dog Calming Bed
The SlowTon dog calming bed is perfect if you have a toy to a medium-sized dog at home and you’re looking for a brilliant anti-anxiety or calming dog bed.
The dog bed is available in XS, S, M, and L sizes. If you go up to the large size, your dog bed comes with removable covers. There’s also a selection of seven colors to match any home decor if you prefer to have your dog’s bed blend in with its surroundings.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
The super-soft faux fur is 4cm long, and it makes for an exceptionally comfortable and fluffy covering. Add to this the PP cotton filler that’s thick and full, and you have a remarkable calming dog bed.
Donut-shaped dog beds are perfect for dogs that enjoy sleeping in a curled-up position. The outer rim of the dog bed is nicely raised, giving your dog some much-needed head and neck support. This support is especially crucial if your dog suffers from debilitating arthritis or an older dog with lots of muscle fatigue.
To get the perfect size for your dog, wait until he gets into his regular sleeping position and measure from nose to tail.
The base is non-slip to ensure the bed stays in the location you want when you have tiled or highly polished floors; lining the bottom are rows of sticky skid beads. The base consists of a high-density fabric that’s waterproof and mildew proof.
The Slowton dog bed is quick and easy to clean; it’s lint-free and easy care. The smaller sizes do not have removable covers, but you can pop the whole bed into the machine for a wash, use only a gentle wash cycle and dry on a low heat in the tumble dryer.
Why We Like It: The Slowton dog calming bed is perfect for toy dogs up to medium-sized. The large size has removable covers.
Key Features
- Four-centimeter long faux fur provides plenty of thickness and comfort
- PP cotton filler adds support to the dog’s weight
- Four sizes and seven color choices
- Raised edges along the outer rim for neck and head support
- Anti-slip, waterproof, and anti-mildew base
- Machine washable and tumble dryer safe
- Removable covers with large size
Bedsure Calming Dog Bed for Small Dogs
Bedsure seems to be focussing on the small dog market with its calming dog beds. However, they seem to be producing a fantastic quality calming and anti-anxiety bed. The maximum size they offer is only suitable for dogs up to 45 pounds. The company also only offers two colors at this time a camel and dark grey.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
Bedsure makes these beds extra comfy and plush and fills them with air loft fibers for total body support. The rim around the donut is raised sufficiently for the dog to rest his head and supportive enough to provide that crucial head and neck support. The bed is self-warming for those pets that have arthritis issues or stiff joints and aching muscles in the morning; you might find you’re dog is so cozy he might not want to get up in the morning.
The outer cover faux fur is ultra-fine microfiber, incredibly plush with tremendous warmth. The bed’s base has a thick supportive bottom which is entirely non-slip and waterproof.
When the doggy smell gets too overpowering, just put the entire dog bed into the washing machine, select a cold wash on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry only on low heat, do not air-dry the bed, and do not use bleach in the machine.
Should you choose the camel color dog bed, you’ll quickly discover the color variations under different lighting conditions; this is nothing to be concerned about; it’s pretty natural.
Why We Like It: The Bedsure calming dog bed is primarily for small dogs and features extra support in the base and eight-inch high sides for complete support.
Key Features
- Thick supportive bed base
- Non-slip and waterproof base
- Extra height around the whole rim of the donut
- The filler is air loft fibers
- Plush and tremendously soft and self-warming microfiber
- Three sizes and two color choices
- Machine washable and tumble dryer safe
MIXJOY Orthopedic Cuddler Dog Bed
If you want to offer your dog a slightly more roomy dog bed but still with orthopedic support for those stiff joints and aching muscles in the morning, the Mixjoy orthopedic cuddler dog bed might be the ideal choice. Should you choose the large size, you’ll get a nice 36-inch donut-shaped dog bed. This size can be perfect for dogs that typically don’t sleep in a curled-up position but prefer to stretch out and sleep on their backs.
Amazon link: CLICK HERE
You also have a choice of colors to choose from, a nice medium brown, grey, grey-blue, and pink. If you like your dog’s bed to match the interior decor of your room, then one of these colors should suit.
As mentioned, these beds are for small dogs that like to have plenty of room to stretch out, or the bed will suit two tiny dogs that enjoy sharing their sleeping quarters. Whichever you choose, the largest bed will support up to twenty-five pounds comfortably.
Even small dogs suffer from debilitating arthritis and need some support for their joints, so they can sleep peacefully and not in constant pain. The support offered by this bed is second to none. The raised outer rim allows the dog to rest their head, providing some much-needed support for head and neck, without forcing the head up too high creating pressure on the dog’s back.
Even though the bed is plush and thick, it’s still lightweight, so if you travel with your dog and your dog loves the bed so much, take it with you.
To keep the bed clean and in the best condition, you can handwash anytime. However, it is machine washable, providing you wash on a gentle, cold cycle only. The beds are better tumble-dried but only on low heat.
If you have tiled or polished hardwood floors, no need to worry the bed will slide around. The bed’s base is non-slip and is also waterproof in case of any accidents.
Why We Like It: We like the Mixjoy orthopedic dog bed because it’s oversized for small dogs that prefer stretching out when they sleep.
Key Features
- Orthopedic and joint support
- Non-slip, waterproof bed base
- Machine washable and tumble dryer safe
- Non-toxic, per-safe materials
- Self-warming material
- Raised outer rim for added cushioning
- High-loft recycled polyester fiber filling
- Three sizes and four color choices
How Do Calming Beds for Dogs Work?
Beds that can help relieve anxious or nervous dogs, making them feel more secure and comfortable, are seen as anxiety-relieving dog beds.
These types of beds can also provide additional support for older dogs or dogs suffering from arthritis. The extra internal fillers, memory foam base, and higher sides can help relieve joint pain and sore muscles. Many of these beds also have self-warming capabilities.
Anxiety is a real problem for many dogs, and it can be there are many reasons for such anxious feelings. Separation anxiety, fear of thunderstorms, strangers calling at the home, abuse suffered by the dog by previous owners, and even moving to a new location or home can trigger anxious behavior in dogs.
A calming dog bed can help provide a secure and safe space for the dog to lessen these feelings. The donut-shaped bed is beneficial in these situations. The raised outer rims of the donut shape, providing head and neck support, the ultra-plush, soft and warming outer material which allows the dog to burrow inside the covers, all offer an anxious dog respite from nervousness and anxiety. In turn, this allows the dog the much-needed feeling of security that will enable the dog to sleep peacefully.
Types Of Beds For Anxiety
Orthopedic Dog Beds
This type of calming bed is aimed explicitly at dogs suffering from stiff joints, aching muscles, conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, and arthritis. Dogs like humans can feel intense pain when they suffer from these debilitating conditions.
A calming orthopedic bed would have memory foam in the base, extra filling in the raised areas. Discovering these beds and how they can help your dog alleviate the pain they feel is essential for the health and well-being of your dog.
Self-warming beds
On cold, miserable days, any type of warmth is incredibly welcoming and brings on a sense of calm. These feelings are also true of a self-warming bed for your dog. The warmth lulls your dog into a state of relaxation from where he can drift off to sleep and catch up on the amount of sleep dogs need. Remember, dogs sleep upwards of fourteen hours each day, and their health depends on enough sleep.
Self-warming beds are perfect for dogs that feel the cold more than other breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Italian Greyhounds.
Donut-style dog beds
This type of dog bed is beginning to catch on fast. Dogs that feel more secure when they can burrow or prefer to sleep curled up are definitely suited for these dog beds.
The type of faux fur the manufacturers use is designed to imitate the feel of a mother’s fur and bring back a sense of warmth and security, helping anxious and nervous dogs relax, enabling them to get better quality sleep.
Bolster Dog Beds: These beds are rectangular and raised on three sides. The sides and base are heavily padded and often feature a blanket either loose or attached to the bottom of the bed. The heavily padded raised sides are ideal for dogs that love to rest their head on something to sleep.
This bed design suits larger dogs more than smaller ones because it’s difficult for smaller dogs to rest their heads on the sides and feel comfortable.
What to Look for in The Best Anxiety Dog Beds
Dog parents need to keep in mind a few essential thoughts when shopping for the best anxiety beds for dogs.
Odor-resistant: If you can find faux fur anti-bacterial bed covers, they will help to increase the time between washes; eventually, the doggy odor will start to creep into the covers; there’s nothing you can do to prevent this from happening.
Machine Washable: Once the doggy odor gets into the covers, you will need to wash them, and then the covers must be machine washable. Search for the ones with zipper, those are almost always washable. Also, look for tumble dryer safe; this saves a lot of hassle, especially with the donut style because generally, the faux fur doesn’t air-dry very well.
Waterproof Lining: Accidents happen, especially if the bed is for a senior dog, so it pays to invest in a bed with a waterproof lining.
Non-slip bed base: The bed needs to be non-slip material on the bed base, mainly if the bed will be on a tiled or polished hardwood floor. A bed slipping and sliding around isn’t going to do much for your dog’s sense of security or well-being.
Correct size: It should go without saying one essential factor when buying a dog bed is the size. But many dog owners buy the wrong size; usually, the bed is too small for the dog.
When this is the case, the dog will not get that calming night’s sleep you were hoping for. It’s always best to measure your dog when he’s stretched out in his usual sleeping position; that way, you can choose a bed a little larger, then you know your dog will fit comfortably.
Final Thoughts – Best Dog Beds For Anxiety
If you have a nervous or anxious dog because of separation anxiety or aversion to loud noises such as fireworks or thunderstorms, your dog will benefit from dog bed for anxiety / calming bed. Without a good night’s sleep, your dog will only become more stressed as he gets more tired; you have to do something to help your dog overcome these anxious feelings and break the circle.
But a calming bed won’t work all by itself; prepare your dog for bed. Encourage your dog to get into bed and begin gently stroking him. Talk to him in a calm, soothing voice while you continue to gently stroke up and down his body and massage his ears. When he visibly begins to relax, you can leave him; hopefully, with the combination of gentle massage, stroking, and his calming bed, your dog will fall asleep.