10 Best Dog Beds for German Shepherds in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Your German shepherd deserves a sturdy bed that’s comfortable, supportive, and easy to keep clean. But there are quite a few models on the market, so which dog bed will work best? Don’t worry, you won’t have to spend too much time shopping for the perfect bed.

To help you shop more efficiently, we did all the research for you. We tested all the best models and put together this list of the 10 best dog beds for German shepherds of 2020. For each model, we’ve written a detailed review, looking at price, size, padding, durability, ease of cleaning, waterproof features, and more. If you want to know more about any of these features, consult our buyer’s guide, which will walk you through your options.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 10 Best Dog Beds for German Shepherds

1. The Dog’s Bed Orthopedic Dog Bed – Best Overall

Our top pick is The Dog’s Bed Orthopedic Dog Bed, which is reasonably priced, waterproof, and particularly well-designed for older dogs.

This 7.5-pound dog bed, which comes in a choice of sizes and colors, has a replaceable, machine-washable cover and a waterproof mattress protector. It’s six inches thick, with two inches of memory foam and four inches of support foam, and does a good job supporting your dog’s hips.

The non-plush cover is great for thick German shepherd hair, keeping your dog comfortable and cool. We found the cover to be less durable than we’d like, but the foam is sturdy and very supportive. This dog bed comes with a one-year warranty.

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2. MidWest Bolster Pet Bed – Best Value

If you’re looking to save money, we find the MidWest 40248-GY Bolster Pet Bed to be the best dog bed for German shepherds for the money.

This light three-pound pet bed, which is sold at a very low price, comes in a range of colors and sizes. There’s a padded polyester bolster and a synthetic fur cover, which is machine-washable and dryer-friendly. This dog bed is designed for larger dogs weighing up to 110 pounds and fits in most standard crates.

When we tested this model, we found that the plush cover may be too hot for German shepherds, and it’s not very durable, frequently shedding fibers. It feels a bit too small for larger dogs, and can’t hold up against dogs that like to chew. There isn’t an included waterproof pad. MidWest offers a one-year warranty.

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3. Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Bed – Premium Choice

Are you shopping for a premium dog bed? You may be interested in the Big Barker Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed, which is pricey and somewhat heavy but is also well-built and well-padded.

This bed comes in three sizes and four colors, all of which are designed for large dogs, and Big Barker recommends the 13.16-pound extra large for German shepherds. There’s a nice machine-washable microfiber cover. This therapeutic bed is essentially a real mattress, with a four-inch contoured foam bolster, four inches of H10 comfort foam, and three inches of H45 support foam.

This bed isn’t designed for smaller dogs, and the cover isn’t durable enough to withstand digging, clawing, or chewing. There’s a strong chemical odor, and the price point is very high. Big Barker offers an impressive 10-year “won’t flatten” guarantee.

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4. Furhaven 45536081 Pet Dog Bed

Another option is the Furhaven 45536081 Pet Dog Bed, a large and inexpensive bed with convenient bolsters but lower-quality padding.

At eight pounds, this bed, sold in a range of sizes and colors, is plenty portable. There are three bolsters made of recycled foam and covered in suede. The main dog bed is filled with less supportive eggshell foam and covered with a plush faux fur cover. It’s plenty large for a German shepherd, though the plush cover may be too warm.

We found the machine-washable cover thin and less durable, and there isn’t any waterproofing. Furhaven doesn’t offer a warranty.

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5. BarksBar Orthopedic Dog Bed

The BarksBar Orthopedic Dog Bed is fairly priced and reasonably light but isn’t very durable and is somewhat small.

This 9.39-pound dog bed comes in two sizes. It features a bolster, a non-slip bottom, and a soft, quilted polyester cover. The mattress is made of four-inch eggshell foam.

When we tested this dog bed, we found it to be less padded than many other models and fairly small for German shepherds. The thin cover rips easily, and there’s no memory foam or waterproofing. BarksBar doesn’t offer a warranty.

Collars for German Shepherds – See our reviews

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6. Brindle Memory Foam Dog Bed

Brindle’s BR5234KP30SD Soft Memory Foam Dog Bed is inexpensive but also heavy and filled with lower-quality foam.

This bulky 14.3-pound, sold in a range of sizes and colors, has a machine-washable microsuede cover. It’s filled with three inches of shredded memory foam. Large enough for German shepherds and designed to fit in standard crates, this dog bed also has protective fabric flaps covering its zippers.

With no waterproof liner or bolster and a thin, less durable cover, this dog bed doesn’t offer great value. The shredded foam provides less support, meaning it’s not a great choice for older dogs and may be lumpy or uneven. We also found a strong chemical smell. Brindle offers a good three-year warranty.

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7. BarkBox Memory Foam Dog Bed

Another lightweight and inexpensive option is the BarkBox Memory Foam Dog Bed. This model offers few features and may be too small for your German shepherd.

This five-pound dog bed is sold in several sizes and colors and comes with a pea-shaped squeaky toy and a wearable paper crown. There’s a machine-washable cover, and the mattress is padded with three inches of gel-infused memory foam, keeping your dog comfortable and cool.

We found this bed to be lumpy and not very padded. The zipper isn’t well-designed, and there aren’t any waterproof features. This bed may also be too small for large dogs. BarkBox offers a one-year warranty, but it doesn’t include the cover.

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8. Veehoo Elevated Dog Bed

The Veehoo Elevated Dog Bed is a lightweight and low-cost model made of mesh and steel. It’s not especially durable and doesn’t have padding.

This 6.4-pound dog bed comes in multiple colors and sizes. It’s seven inches tall, with a powder-coated steel frame and suspended Textilene mesh. The mesh allows for plenty of ventilation, keeping your dog cooler in summer. It can handle pets up to 150 pounds.

We found this bed somewhat complicated to put together. It has cheaper plastic corners and a less durable feel overall. The mesh isn’t strong enough to withstand claws, and the seams pull apart fairly quickly. Veehoo doesn’t offer a warranty but will send you replacement parts if your box arrives incomplete.

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9. Laifug Orthopedic Dog Bed

Laifug’s M1143 Orthopedic Memory Foam Dog Bed is heavy and firm, with multiple bolsters and low-quality zippers.

This bulky 17.6-pound dog bed has a waterproof liner and a water-resistant, machine-washable microfiber cover. There are two bolsters, with heights of four and 2.5 inches, and two layers of foam, 30D soft and 40D memory foam. Sewn-in pockets protect the cheaper plastic zippers.

We found this bed too stiff for smaller dogs and not supportive enough for larger dogs. Overall, the padding is too firm for orthopedic use. There isn’t a warranty.

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10. Majestic Pet Villa Bagel Dog Bed

Our least favorite model is the Majestic Pet 78899552851 Villa Bagel Dog Bed, a heavy, lumpy model with lower quality padding and zippers.

This 12-pound dog bed comes in several sizes and colors. It’s decent-looking and sized for dogs between 70 and 100 pounds. The poly/cotton twill cover is stuffed with high-loft polyester and includes a large bolster and a waterproof denier bottom layer. If you don’t have a central agitator, you can machine-wash the entire bed.

We found this bed less comfortable, with low-quality filling that bunches and flattens easily. The plastic zippers aren’t very strong, breaking quickly, and the bed isn’t designed to work well for older dogs. Majestic Pet doesn’t offer a warranty.

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Buyer’s Guide

You’ve read through our list of the best dog beds for German shepherds. But with 10 good options, which one should you choose? Keep reading for our guide to your choices.

Type

There are two major types of dog beds. The most common is the classic covered mattress, which consists of padding, a cover, and sometimes pillows. These beds are soft, supportive, and comfortable and come in a wide range of styles and budgets. A less common design is the suspension style, like our eighth choice, the Veehoo Elevated Dog Bed. These models have hard steel frames that suspend mesh covers above the ground. These elevated beds provide excellent ventilation, making them a better option if you live in a hot climate.

Size

German shepherds are fairly large dogs, so you’ll want to make sure you’re buying a bed that will comfortably fit your dog. All of the beds we’ve reviewed here will work for most German shepherds, but if you’d like to be absolutely sure, measure your dog and compare those dimensions to each model.

Price

How much would you like to spend? You can purchase a good dog bed for less than $50, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you may appreciate the improved padding and additional features of more expensive options.

Padding

In general, the highest-quality dog beds have a combination of comfortable memory foam and supportive base foam. As in human mattresses, the memory foam layer will conform to your dog’s body, relieving pressure on individual joints, and the support foam layer will ensure that your dog doesn’t fully compress the foam and end up lying on the hard floor.

Other mattresses may be designed with just memory foam or support foam. Some may instead have less comfortable, less expensive eggshell foam, while others are stuffed with blended pieces of memory foam or polyester fill. If you have a younger German shepherd, the quality of the padding may make less of a difference. If your dog is older, you may want to choose higher-quality foam.

Bolsters

Bolsters are the pillows attached to many dog beds. These may have their own covers and may be removable. Bolsters can help support your dog’s head or back, but they may also limit the sleeping area. You may want to consider how your dog sleeps and how much sleeping space you’re willing to give up in exchange for pillows.

Covers

Many dog bed covers are conveniently removable and machine-washable. They’re made of durable materials like polyester, suede, or mesh. Keep in mind that some covers may be more difficult to clean and may shed fibers when machine-washed. Plush covers, in particular, may be less durable and may also be too warm for your well-insulated German shepherd.

You may also want to look for additional cover features like non-slip rubber on the underside, high-quality zippers, and waterproof coatings. Some models also include waterproof mattress liners, which will help you protect your foam from spills and accidents.

Warranty

Not all the models we reviewed offer warranties, but several come with at least a year of coverage. If you’d like to make sure your dog bed is covered by a good warranty, you’ll want to pay attention to what each company offers.

Conclusion

Our favorite model is The Dog’s Bed Orthopedic Dog Bed, which is well-priced, waterproof, and padded enough for German shepherds of all ages. If you’re looking for a budget option, you may want to try the MidWest 40248-GY Bolster Pet Bed, a lightweight, machine-washable model with a good bolster. If you’d prefer a high-end model, take a look at the Big Barker Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed, which has a nice microfiber cover and quite a bit of high-quality foam padding.

A great dog bed will keep your German shepherd comfortable day and night. With so many options available online, you could spend quite a bit of time shopping for the best dog beds for German shepherds. We hope this list of 2020’s 10 best dog beds for German shepherds, complete with comprehensive reviews and a quick buyer’s guide, helps you quickly find the best model for you and your dog. Your German shepherd will be sleeping comfortably before you know it!