Have you fallen for a Scooby Doo look-alike?
Arguably the world’s most famous Great Dane, Scooby Doo, has a reputation for goofiness, but there’s so much more to a Great Dane than just being a cartoon character.
But what fiction and fact do share with Scooby is a dog breed that is enduringly lovable, with a gentle character completely lacking in malice.
Of course the most striking thing about the Great Dane is that stupendous size.
When your four-legger puts his paws on your shoulders and his head towers above yours, he’s truly a gentle giant.
But that large size does come with certain practical problems, not least of which is finding the best bed for Great Dane.
Top 5 Best Dog Beds for Great Danes
Your outsized pet pal may feel most at home lounging on the couch – which is one option for a dog bed.
But if you’re planning on spending time on the sofa yourself, then you’ll need to provide an appropriately appealing alternative for your canine companion (Not least because he’s a bit big to share and snuggle on your lap).
There are practical problems, such as providing a large bed that’s easily washable whilst you potty train a Great Dane puppy.
Then as he grows into adulthood he’ll need a warm comfortable bed that spreads his weight so he doesn’t develop pressure sores on his elbows.
Then as the Great Dane ages and his joints become stiffer, it’s important to provide a supportive bed that adjust to his shape for maximum comfort whilst asleep.
Happily there are a tremendous options open to you.
With all the choice around hopefully you can settle on something suitable, rather than give in and buy yourself a new coach.
You need to consider factors such as the durability of the cover, washability, and how well the padding stands up to heavy duty compression by those big bones.
Instead of pounding the pavements and visiting pet stores to find your pal’s best bed, we’ve done the leg work for you.
Here’s our guide to the best dog beds for Great Dane.
1. KOPEKS Deluxe
A dog spends at least half their day asleep, so makes sure he’s comfortable.
We recommend this dog bed because it’s the doggie equivalent of a sofa bed, with bolsters all around.
This adds to the coziness of the design and eliminates reduce the dog’s exposure to drafts.
The high quality mattress is made from memory foam.
It’s also considered hypoallergenic when compared to top end human mattresses, which makes it a good option for dogs that suffer from dust mite allergies.
The cover is available in a chocolate brown or steel grey, and made from faux suede which is both comfortable to lie on and anti-slip.
There’s also a waterproof layer to the linings.
Crucially the covers are fully removable and washable, which keeps them looking good and hygienic to boot.
Again, this dog bed has a lot of love from pet parents.
Many found it exceptionally large and exceeded their expectations in terms of scale.
To give a sense of perspective, some Labrador owners felt their dog was lost in the bed, and could have fitted another one or two labs in comfortably.
This time the bed does have a low perimeter, which acts as a comfy head rest for dogs so inclined, and would stop all but the most determined dog from falling off.
Other great features remarked on by users are the quality of the mattress, and small touches such has how the mattress is anchored so it doesn’t move around if the dog wriggles.
The fabric cover also came in for praise as being comfortable for the dog but easy to wash.
2. Big Barker
If you’re fed up with dog beds that flatten under a Great Dane’s weight or pancake with time, then this Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Bed is a great choice for your outsized pet pal.
This is a jumbo sized pallet of a mattress, with a bolster end for the dog to lay his head on.
Crucially, this orthopedic dog bed is made from extra thick, extra firm orthopedic foam.
This is specifically designed to contour around and support the joints of a bigger dog, but without losing its shape in the long term.
Indeed, this foam is so supportive it’s considered too firm for smaller dogs as their lesser weight isn’t enough to trigger the contorting.
Available in burgundy, chocolate, or khaki, this cover is made from soft microfiber fabric and 100% washable.
Such is the confidence of this US based company, working from a small workshop in California, that they guarantee their product for 10 years.
Big Barker promise this bed will retain 90% of its compressibility and loft after 10 years, or your money back.
There’s confidence in a product!
3. Coolaroo
Sometimes a dog just wants a comfortable place to lie up off the ground, that’s cool in hot weather.
We particularly like this Gale Pacific ‘Coolaroo’ bed.
It consists of a treated steel frame which is weather and rust resistant, and a breathable, high density polypropylene fabric ‘bed’ that is mold, mildew, mite, and flea resistant.
Designed for indoor or indeed outdoor use, the Coolaroo provides a comfortable and firm hammock type bed for your outsized best buddy to snooze on.
A great advantage is that it raises the dog up off the ground. In cold weather this reduces his heat loss by transference to the ground and keeps him away from drafts.
In hot weather, it allows air flow around the large body, preventing hot spots and help keeping him cool.
Whilst it may not be the most luxurious bed we looked at, the price tag makes it eminently affordable and an option your dog will appreciate.
We have no hesitation in recommending it as one of the best elevated dog beds for Great Danes and something your pet pal will be pleased to rest on.
The overall satisfaction rating is high.
There are however occasional issues with the quality of the fabric, but on the whole this is a ‘does what it says on the label’ type product which comes at an affordable price and is definitely an option to consider.
4. FurHaven
Just because a fellow is big, doesn’t mean he likes to rough it.
Sometimes even a bigger dog just craves to snuggle up like his smaller canine cousins, to feel safe and secure inside a padded oval bed.
This option from Furhaven is a traditional type oval bed with walls, and a cut out section at the front to aid climbing in comfortably.
It’s lined by cozy Sherpa fleece on the inside, with the outer being made from attractive flannel.
Indeed, there is a wide choice of fabrics, thirteen in all, some patterned and some plain, meaning there’s bound to be a match for your home décor.
This bed does divide opinion, some pet parents are extremely pleased; they found the fabric soft and the bed washed well.
Whilst other pet parents had the opposite experience and were disappointed by the thickness of the mattress and found it extremely difficult to wash.
5. The Dog’s Bed
Features
- Premium quality waterproof orthopedic dog bed. XL Grey Plush 43.5 x 34 x 4 inches with 10 inch bolster sides. Solid 2” premium grade, high density, orthopedic memory foam over a solid 2” base of high stability premium support foam with covers designed so that your bed fits your home decor seamlessly and your dog can stay close to the family
- A prudent preventative measure for younger dogs of breeds predisposed to joint conditions, ensuring your dog’s joints remain mobile into their senior years, improving their quality of life and keeping your dog healthy and active for longer
- Therapeutic bed designed to provide relief and comfort to tripawds, dogs with joint conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, patellar luxation, osteochondritis and other conditions such as torn cruciate ligaments so they can get the rest they need. Prevents elbow calluses as well as pressure sores due to immobility during illness or post-surgery
- Mattress designed for dogs with reduced mobility who have difficulty stepping up to excessively high mattresses. Bolsters provide neck support and ensure that your dog doesn’t roll off the bed
- Bed comes with removable covers that are easy to wash, quick-drying and include a waterproof mattress protector to catch accidents associated with incontinence
Big dogs do everything on a larger scale. When they get muddy, they get very muddy. When they drool, they drool a lot…
Which quickly makes for a dirty bed.
From a practical perspective having a washable bed is a real winner.
But do you have to sacrifice looks and comfort for functionality?
No, not with the Dog’s Balls dog bed.
This Dog’s Balls bed has an outer faux fur cover which feels soft and comfortable against the dog’s skin.
Beneath that is a waterproof liner, which protects the mattress from harm, meaning this is a great bed for the older dog that might have incontinence issues.
The outer cover removes easily and can either be hand washed or put through the machine on a gentle cycle.
The cover is available in a range of attractive colors including practical brown, black, and grey, through to pastel pink and soft blue.
But don’t think this bed is all about looks because it’s also incredibly comfortable.
The business end of the bed, the mattress, is of high quality memory foam, meaning added comfort for the larger dog.
When we checked the bed out with pet parents who have used it, a recurring theme is that their dogs took to the bed immediately.
Several owners had bought the bed because their large dog had undergone orthopedic surgery and needed to rest comfortably for several weeks.
These owners were suitably delighted because their dogs did indeed rest well and in comfort.
The main constructive criticism of this bed was that the occasional dog will roll of it, as it doesn’t have side walls.
Of course, you may look on the lack of sides as a blessing in disguise, if your dog likes to stretch out completely flat rather than curl up.
You know your dog and what suits them!
Beds for Giant Dogs
Everything about a Great Dane is outsized, and this includes the cost of finding products that are comfortable for this giant of a dog.
Unfortunately, their larger size means many dog beds prove a disappointment as they either don’t cushion the dog enough from the floor or else the mattress pancakes in a relatively short time, due to the dog’s weight.
The good news is that at least there are some great options out there.
The factors to weigh up include:
- Size: Is the bed big enough for a large hound to lie flat with their legs extended?
- Padding: Does it sufficiently raise the dog up off a hard floor?
- Support: Does the mattress shape itself around sore, arthritic joints, whilst supporting the rest of the dog
- Durability: Will the mattress stand up to the weight of a Great Dane, not just on the day it’s delivered but in the months and years to come
- Ease of Cleaning: Are the covers removable and washable?
When you throw everything into the mix, sometimes a cheaper bed that appears appealing based on the price, can actually be a false economy.
Sometimes it’s worth spending that bit more in order to get a dog bed that endures and will give your dog may years of comfortable sleep.
Sarah Robinson
Dr Sarah Robinson attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University receiving a D.V.M. in 2008. Sarah’s longtime interest is to help people to better communicate with their pet companions, and in doing so, to help them to strengthen their relationships with their dogs and cats. Sarah has published numerous articles on canine feeding in pet related magazines, veterinary journals and leading natural health web sites.
