Reasons to Buy an Elevated Dog Bed, Plus Top Picks

Key Points

• Elevated dog beds have many advantages for the comfort and health of your canine companion.

• Elevated beds provide airflow for temperature regulation, better sleep quality, and improved joint health.

• Here are the top reasons to invest in an elevated dog bed for a combination of functionality and health benefits.

Investing in an elevated dog bed offers a multitude of compelling advantages that cater to both your canine companion's comfort and your own convenience. These elevated beds provide superior airflow, keeping your dog cool especially in warm seasons. This design supports better sleep quality, as it prevents overheating and allows your best friend to rest peacefully.

Elevated beds maintain your dog's joint health. The raised platform reduces pressure on joints by evenly distributing their weight. This is especially beneficial for older dogs or those with existing joint issues, offering them a comfortable and supportive place to relax without exacerbating discomfort.

According to Tipp City Veterinary Hospital, "A raised bed provides firm, even, orthopedic support across your pet's entire body. This can alleviate pressure on his joints and help protect them for the years to come.” Because the elevated bed is up off the ground, it functions as an orthopedic bed. The raised level makes it easier for your dog to get into and out of, especially if they have joint pain.

Elderly dogs suffer from hip issues, arthritis, and other joint conditions, and find the hard ground more difficult for their joints as it makes the inflammation worse. Getting up and down constantly from the floor puts more pressure on your dog’s joints and causes more pain. The elevated bed eliminates some of this pain and makes life easier for your furry friend.

Elevated beds get your pet off the cold or hot floor and reduce joint pain. They keep the air circulating in warm weather to help your dog stay cool.

Use the elevated bed outdoors for both small and large dogs. It keeps your pup out of the dirt and mud and protects them against insects. Plus, the raised bed takes wear from a large dog better than an indoor fabric bed, and the elevated bed is harder to chew.

Benefits of Using An Elevated Dog Bed

In addition to keeping dogs cool, elevated dog beds support your dog's joints. These beds are made of mesh or durable material that is breathable to promote airflow. As a pet parent, you are doing your favorite friend a favor by setting them up on an orthopedic elevated dog bed. Dog owners use this type of bed in the house or the backyard, so the dog has a comfy place to relax and get off the wet grass or the dirt.

When outdoors, insects flock to your dog. The elevated bed keeps your dog off the ground, so their coat stays dry, and ground insects don’t irritate and bite your pooch. An elevated bed lets your dog change positions easily. They go from standing or sitting to lying down without experiencing pain, and the elevation gives them a head start as they don't have to go far to get on and off the bed.

Sleeping Area Is Cleaner

The elevated design of these beds contributes to cleanliness and hygiene. By keeping your dog off the floor, the are less exposed to dirt, dust, and potential pests, which is particularly advantageous for dogs with allergies. Cleaning is a breeze as the raised structure allows for easy access underneath, facilitating regular sweeping and vacuuming. If used outside as well, your home stays cleaner because your friend doesn't come back into the house tracking dirt.

An elevated bed allows the hair to blow or fall off the sides, making it much easier to keep clean. A raised bed keeps the area where the bed is placed smelling fresher because it has better air circulation. It is an essential feature when your dog suffers from allergies.

Type of dog bed is also water resistant because the mesh allows the water to flow through. Easily hose off an elevated bed and stand it outside in the sun to dry.

Less Chewable for Frisky Dogs

Elevated beds are also better for frisky dogs because they have a taut mesh fabric instead of a cotton-filled pillow, which means the high bed is harder to chew.

Easy to Move or Travel

If you travel a lot, then raised beds are a great option because they are handy to move. You don’t have to disassemble it. It's light, so it's easy to pick up and clean under or move. These beds make a good traveling option for pet owners. Having something familiar in an unfamiliar location makes your puppy feel less stressed.

Top Pick: K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot Elevated Dog Bed

The K&H pet elevated bed is a grey/black bed with a large mesh fabric center that comes in three sizes from small to large. It is a dog bed that endures for several seasons, even outdoors in the sun and other extreme weather. Like all raised dog beds with mesh fabric that keeps your dog cool, its larger surface makes a steady bed.

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When placed outside, it is weather resistant and dries quickly. K&H is a well-known brand, one that many pet owners trust. This elevated dog bed is solid, sturdy, and easy to assemble. The mesh fabric is removable and washable. The K&H pet cot works well indoors or outdoors and collapses to travel.

Top Budget Pick: Amazon Basics Cooling Elevated Pet Bed

This dog bed is a favorite because it's affordable, and when considering the reviews, it is a durable and well-loved elevated dog bed, ideal for any pup. It is strong enough for a large dog and keeps them cool during the summer when it is hard for large double-coated dogs to keep their temperatures down. This is a good dog bed for a giant dog.

When you first unbox this raised bed, it seems a bit flimsy, but contrary to its looks, it holds up over the long run. It consists of a steel frame with a mesh fabric that pulls over the material. The bed keeps your dog about seven inches off the ground. The height gives it a cooling effect because the air flows under the dog and cools the underbelly.

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The top fabric is strong and breathable, but the edges are a bit underdone as if your dog is able to scratch or chew through them. The reviews are mixed, some people state they haven't had a problem, and others say their pet chewed through it before long. So be careful if your dog tends to chew through items.

It comes in five different sizes, from extra small to extra large, and accommodates a dog as large as 110 lb. Cleaning the bed is extremely easy. Wipe it down with a damp cloth or wash it occasionally with mild soap and water. Set it outside to dry for a few minutes, and it's ready.

Coolaroo A Cooling Elevated Pet Bed

The Coolaroo elevated pet bed is ideal for dogs with heavier and furry coats because the fabric is heavy-duty mesh. The most significant benefit of this fabric is that it's breathable. Another benefit of this polyethylene fabric is that it's hard to chew through. When placed outdoors, its off-the-ground design eliminates hot spots or brown spots in the yard, helping your yard benefit as well. More importantly, this elevated dog bed gives your pet a low-impact bed to relieve joint stress.

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The base is made of a powder-coated steel frame for more extended durability and strength so it holds breeds of all sizes and weights. The Coolaroo is lightweight, so it's easily movable anytime. It is weather-resistant and is the ideal bed for outdoor areas. It also offers your pup a cool retreat in his favorite indoor spot. It's easy to clean and it's design and mesh fabric prevent bad odors. Simply wipe it off and wash it once in a while with a mild soap. Importantly, the fabric is entirely recyclable and GREENGUARD certified.

Veehoo Cooling Elevated Dog Bed

Veehoo uses a powder-coated steel frame with a Textilene mesh cover that fits tightly over the edge. A nice feature this elevated bed comes with is rubber foot pads to keep it from scratching interior floors or from sliding out from under the dog. This bed has a lot to offer for a fair price.

Again this raised bed is super easy to clean. Just wipe it off or wash it with a mild soap solution and rinse it. Set it out in the sun to dry, and it is ready in a few minutes. The Veehoo dog bed has a cooling effect because of better air circulation, due to the breathable fabric used for the cover. Every Veehoo bed is raised seven inches, except for the extra-large model, which is at nine inches to accommodate the longer legs of large breeds. All seven inch models are low enough for a smaller or older dog with trouble getting into a higher bed. The excellent airflow makes your older dog feel more comfortable.

The assembly for this bed is a little more complex than others, so it's not as good for traveling because assembling and disassembling is inconvenient. Some people mention that dogs chew through the bed material, but others don't seem to have a problem. Again it depends on how committed a chewer you have.

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How Do You Assemble The Raised Dog Bed?

Most people find the elevated dog beds easy to assemble. Each bed has assembly directions, and most elevated dog beds don't require tools. It's easier to put the bed together with two people because the fabric has to stretch tightly across the frame.

How Does The Elevated Dog Bed Work?

The raised dog bed lifts your pet off the ground, keeping them cleaner and away from dirt, mud, and bugs like ticks and fleas. This type of dog bed keeps your pet cool during hot days as it is designed to let air flow underneath your dog and cool the core of your furry friend, helping regulate their temperature. The elevated bed is beneficial if you have an elderly dog, as it minimizes joint comfort.

Does An Elevated Dog Bed Perform Outside?

The elevated dog bed is perfect for outdoor areas, especially on warm days. The raised bed keeps your pooch off the grass and helps them stay cool.

All the elevated dog beds listed here are weatherproof and waterproof, so you don't have to worry about leaving your bed outside. If you live in an area of heavy snowfall, you want to bring the bed indoors and store it for the winter months, as heavy snow and inclement weather make the cover brittle and cause it to break.

Are Elevated Dog Beds The Best Option?

It depends on your lifestyle. If you travel a lot with your dog, you may not want an elevated dog bed, as a more conventional padded dog bed or crate pad is easier to pack. If your dog is older and has joint pain, or you want a bed that's easy to clean underneath, the elevated dog bed is the better option.

Where To Put An Elevated Bed?

Dogs typically like to be near their owners, so place the dog bed in a corner of the home where the whole family congregates; like a kitchen corner or a small area in the living room. Elevated beds excel for outdoor use. To use it outdoors, place it under a shady area of the yard or on a porch. You don't want your dog to get too much sun.

How Long Does a Raised Dog Bed Last?

A raised dog bed usually lasts for a  couple of years. However, its durability also depends on how much your dog uses it, how heavy it is, and whether they chew the fabric. It also depends on whether you leave it outdoors for prolonged periods, especially during harsh weather.

If your dog chews on the bed and it frays, replace the bed quickly. You don't want your pet to choke on bedding materials, fall off the bed or feel uncomfortable while resting there.

Bottom Line

These beds come in various styles and materials to suit your aesthetic preferences, ensuring a harmonious blend with your interior (and exterior!) design. This thoughtful combination of functionality, health benefits, and aesthetic appeal makes elevated dog beds an enticing and worthwhile investment for any dog owner.

In June 2023 Baypath Humane Society reported 10 tips to keep your dog cool this summer. Added to that, your dog loves an elevated bed because it keeps them cool and comfortable. You love it because it gets them off the floor or ground. It keeps them from getting dirty, hurting themselves, or causing damage to something else.

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