The Best Dog Bed: Durable and Inexpensive

Belle on Her Dog Bed

Both of our dogs are indoor/outdoor dogs. We have hardwood flooring, so when they are inside, they prefer to sleep on a dog bed. Finding a dog bed that works for us required a little thought.

What makes a good dog bed

Here are the things I look for in a dog bed:

• Able to wash it often
• Holds up well
• Doesn’t show too much hair
• Isn’t too expensive
• Has enough cushion/softness
• Fits well with decor of house
• Is the right size for the dog
• Doesn’t show stains
• Inexpensive
• Fits in a crate

We’ve had some beds that although they were nicely shaped to hug the dog (kind of round with a high back), they were impossible to wash. Some were just too thin to provide enough padding. Some just didn’t stand up to the frequent washings.

Beds are nice comfort for dogs, but let’s face it, they can get pretty gross if your dog is an outside dog too. Being able to wash a bed and having a bed that doesn’t show stains or dog hair very much is a big plus.

Review of Sporting Dog Solutions Dog Bed

I got tired of spending money on dog beds and decided to give the Sporting Dog Solutions Dog Bed a try. Technically they call it a mat, but it has plenty of cushion and our dogs really like it. They come in three different sizes, so we were able to get one that fit both Belle and Georgia and the cost was pretty great. We got green (olive) ones.

They withstand the washings, the color helps it to not show stains or dog hair, and it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in our rooms. It’s also the right size for a dog crate, so if we need to use it in one, we can just pick it up and move it.  I also like the funny tab at the end. It makes it easy to pick up and carry, though I’m not sure what it was originally for. It’s also somewhat waterproof as things spilled on it run right off.

It’s a functional bed and meets our needs, and it wasn’t very expensive. I would definitely recommend this one to my friends.

PROS

• withstands frequent washings
• doesn’t show dog hair or stains
• quilting keeps stuffing in place
• blends in with other furniture
• water resistant
• fits into dog crate
• inexpensive

CONS

• hard to get the hair loose (had to use a Furminator to remove it)
• takes a long time to dry