7 Signs Your Big Dog Needs a New Bed
Big dogs rarely complain about their bed. They just stop using it. Here’s what to look for, and what to look for in the next one.
No-Flatten
Guarantee
Most dog beds are designed around the average dog and then scaled up. That works for a terrier. It doesn’t work for a 90 lb Labrador or a 130 lb Great Dane, who press far more weight through the same thin foam every night.
If your dog is showing two or more of the signs below, the bed is probably the problem.
There’s a dip where they always lie
Press your hand into the middle of the bed. If you can feel the floor, the foam has bottomed out.
A big dog’s weight is focused through the hips, elbows and shoulders. Night after night, soft foam breaks down at exactly those points until your dog is lying on the floor with a cover over it.
They hang off the edge or curl up tight
Big dogs sleep stretched out for much of the night. If your dog’s legs, head or tail spill onto the floor, or they only ever sleep curled into a ball, the bed is too small.
Most “large” beds fit a Labrador curled up, not sprawled.
They’d rather sleep on the cold floor
Thick-coated big dogs overheat on stuffy, enclosed beds. So at 2 am they move to the kitchen tiles.
The floor feels cooler, but it’s hard on their joints, and large and giant breeds are the most prone to elbow sores from lying on hard surfaces.
They’re stiff when they get up
A slow, careful start in the morning is often the first thing owners notice as a big dog gets older.
What they lie on for 12 to 14 hours a day matters. A bed that spreads pressure evenly is easier on stiff joints than one that lets hips and elbows sink through.
It smells, even after you’ve cleaned it
Drool, mud and the odd accident soak straight through a sewn-on cover and into the foam. Once it’s in there, sponging the top won’t shift it.
They rest their head on anything but the bed
If your dog drapes their chin over the sofa arm, the doorstep or your feet, they’re looking for a pillow. Flat mattresses don’t give them one, and beds with a low side on one end only give them one direction to face.
It slides across the floor when they flop down
Big dogs don’t lie down gently. On wood, tile or laminate, a bed that skids away every time they drop into it is one they learn not to trust.
Spotted two or more?
Then it’s time for a bed that starts from the big dog, rather than one scaled up from a small one.
Magic Pillow is made only for big dogs: a 5-layer flatten-proof core, an all-around bolster and zip-off covers for every season, backed by a written 4-year no-flatten guarantee.
Everything your big dog needs to sleep well for years. Most of it free.
What owners say
Our rescue boxer was restless until we got the Magic Pillow. She settles in immediately now and sleeps so much longer. The bolster support seems to help her feel secure. Best purchase we’ve made for her.
My shepherd mix has destroyed every other bed. Six months with Magic Pillow and it’s still pristine. He won’t touch it—maybe he respects the quality!
Questions big dog owners ask
Which size does my dog need?+
Measure your dog lying stretched out, from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Up to 37 in: Large. 38–43 in: XL. Over 43 in: XXL. If they’re close to the limit, love to sprawl or share with another dog, size up.
Will it really not go flat?+
It’s built not to. A dense, load-bearing base sits under the memory foam so big-dog weight can’t crush it through to the floor. If the foam core or bolster permanently flattens by 1¼ in (3 cm) or more within 4 years of normal use, the bed is replaced.
What’s in the free Big Dog Bundle?+
2 waterproof liners, 1 faux fur plush cover, 2 cooling summer covers and 1 reversible winter blanket, each cut to your bed size. They’re added to your cart automatically when you add a bed.
How long does delivery take?+
Shipping is free worldwide and fully tracked. Allow 7–14 business days. Beds arrive vacuum-packed, so give the foam 24–48 hours to reach full loft.
Give them room to sprawl.
The big dog bed that holds its shape, with a free bundle worth up to $389.
Shop the bed →