5 Best Calming Dog Beds of 2025
We’ve tried & tested the top 5 calming dog beds claiming to help relieve separation anxiety and joint pain. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Does your dog get anxious as soon as you start to leave the house?
You might notice them pacing around, whining, or even destroying things as you leave, or even if you just open the door.
Many dog parents think these behaviors are just their puppy getting frustrated – but in reality, they're signs that your dog might be dealing with serious separation anxiety or chronic joint discomfort.
While many pet owners focus on training and medication to fix this issue, they often overlook one of the most important factors in their dog's well-being: a proper resting space.
Just like humans, dogs require a secure, comfortable spot that helps them feel protected and supports their joints.
In fact, studies have shown that dogs have an instinct to seek out calming spaces whenever they feel stressed or vulnerable…
Which helps them relieve anxiety, finally calm down, and get good rest.
This is where specially designed calming beds come in that provide the comfort and support your dog needs.
And if you’re reading this, thinking “But my dog always sleeps on the couch, or lies on his back on the floor” - this could be due to the joint pain they’re already experiencing and because your current dog bed (if you have one) is too uncomfortable for your puppy.
A proper calming dog bed does more than just give your dog a place to sleep.
Veterinarians and animal behaviorists have found that these specialized beds can have profound effects on your dog's mental and physical well-being.
They’re specifically designed to address both separation anxiety and joint pain through their unique design that combines therapeutic features with instinct-based comfort, creating a safe space that helps reduce stress behaviors.
The filling inside of them supports healthy joint alignment and relieves pressure points, while the bed's structure provides the comfort dogs naturally seek when anxious. This helps your furry friend stay calm even when you're away!
But sadly, not all dog beds that claim to reduce anxiety and provide joint support actually deliver on their promises.
What we look for in a reliable dog bed
Veterinarian Development:
A properly designed calming bed should be developed with input from veterinary professionals who understand the behaviors of dogs and their needs. This ensures the bed effectively provides both separation anxiety and joint support.
The right combination of shredded memory foam and plush materials is crucial for proper joint support and comfort. This specialized filling helps distribute weight evenly and prevents pressure points from forming which keeps joint pain miles away from your puppy.
Special Orthopedic Filling:
Exterior High-quality faux fur that mimics a mother dog's coat provides the comfort that your pet needs and it also helps trigger natural calming responses in anxious dogs.
Premium Faux Fur:
Elevated sides create a secure, den-like environment that dogs instinctively seek when stressed. These rims should be sturdy enough to provide both physical and mental support to your furry friend.
Ultra-Raised Protective Rims:
The bed must include a removable, machine-washable cover for easy cleaning, and come with a satisfaction guarantee that shows the manufacturer stands behind their product.
Washable Covers:
We tested them for the following criteria:
After thoroughly testing each bed against these crucial criteria, here's how they stacked up.
Here are our test results
Key Features
Veterinarian Development
Ultra-Raised Protective Rims
Washable Covers
Special Orthopedic Filling
Premium Faux Fur
Other Consideration
Number Of Positive Ratings
11,000+
421
9000+
835
Money Back Guarantee
100 Days
180 Days
14 Days
Proven Formulation
Our Rating
Overall Grade
F
Price: £28.49
Pros
Veterinarian developed
Ultra-raised protective rims
Cons
Lacks premium faux fur
Basic orthopedic filling
No money-back guarantee
Limited verified reviews
Basic filling materials
Budget-friendly price
The most basic option in our lineup, Silentnight's bed includes veterinarian development, raised rims, and orthopedic filling, but lacks premium faux fur. With no money-back guarantee and limited verified reviews, it offers minimal assurance of long-term effectiveness.
While the low price point is attractive, the absence of premium filling materials and any guarantee makes this a risky choice for addressing serious separation anxiety for your furry friend.
Our Conclusion :
Our Rating
Overall Grade
C+
Price: $39.90+
Pros
Special orthopedic filling
Premium faux fur exterior
Ultra-raised protective rims
Cons
Limited verified reviews
Unclear money-back guarantee policy
Machine washable
Less proven track record
Best Friends by Sheri's Donut Bed offers some quality features but has limited verified customer data. While it includes special orthopedic filling and premium faux fur similar to our winner and maintains the beneficial raised rim design, its effectiveness lacks the extensive user verification of our top pick. With only 421 reviews compared to our winner's 11,000+ reviews, long-term reliability is less proven.
While the bed includes some premium features, the limited user verification makes it harder to recommend confidently. The unclear return policy also provides less security for your investment compared to PupsDream's 100-day guarantee.
Our Conclusion :
Our Rating
Overall Grade
A+
Price: $69.95 $34.95 (Currently 50% OFF)
Pros
Veterinarian-developed
Special orthopedic filling (shredded memory foam & plush blend)
Premium faux fur that mimics a mother's coat
Ultra-raised rims for maximum security
Machine washable cover
100-day money-back guarantee
11,000+ verified reviews
Cons
Frequently sold out
Only available on their official website
The Calming Cloud 9 Dog Bed emerged as our clear winner, developed in collaboration with veterinarians to specifically address both separation anxiety and joint pain. What sets it apart is its unique combination of orthopedic filling (mix of shredded memory foam and plush) and premium faux fur that mimics a mother's coat. The ultra-raised rims create a secure environment that helps reduce anxiety, while the specialized filling provides crucial joint support. Each bed comes with a removable, machine-washable cover for easy maintenance, and it's backed by a 100-day money-back guarantee - the longest among all tested beds. Plus, it has more reviews online than any other dog bed in our test.
For dogs struggling with separation anxiety or joint discomfort, the Cloud 9 bed offers the most complete solution we've tested.
Its veterinarian-developed design addresses both the physical and emotional needs of dogs, making it a standout choice for concerned pet owners.
The combination of premium features - from the specialized orthopedic filling to the mother's coat-mimicking fur - creates an effective calming environment for your puppy.
The 100-day money-back guarantee shows Pupsdream's confidence in their product, giving you plenty of time to see real changes in your dog's behavior.
Our Conclusion :
Our Rating
Overall Grade
D+
Price: $199
Pros
Veterinarian developed
Special orthopedic filling
Cons
No raised protective rims
Lacks premium faux fur
Higher price point
Limited anxiety relief features
180-day guarantee
9,000+ verified reviews
Big Barker's orthopedic bed brings solid credibility with 9,000+ reviews and an impressive 180-day guarantee - the longest in our test group. However, despite its proven orthopedic filling and veterinarian development, it lacks key anxiety-relief features like raised rims and premium faux fur, making it less suitable for stressed pets.
Being excellent for joint support with proven orthopedic benefits, this bed misses crucial calming features that dogs with separation anxiety need.
The 180-day guarantee shows confidence in durability, but without raised rims and comfort fur, it can't provide the sense of security many dogs seek.
For this price point, we'd expect a more complete solution that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of your puppy.
Our Conclusion :
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Our Rating
Overall Grade
C
Price: $120+
Pros
Veterinarian developed
Ultra-raised protective rims
Cons
No special orthopedic filling
Lacks premium faux fur
Machine washable cover
Very short 14-day guarantee
Sash Beds includes veterinarian development and ultra-raised rims, but lacks special orthopedic filling and premium faux fur. With only 835 reviews and a very short 14-day guarantee period, it hasn't built the track record to justify its premium price point.
The short 14-day guarantee period raises concerns about the manufacturer's confidence in their product's effectiveness.
Despite the high price tag matching our winners, it offers fewer premium features.
The limited user feedback and missing premium materials make it hard to recommend, especially when better-equipped options are available at similar prices.
Our Conclusion :
References:
Effect of den-like environments on canine anxiety - Harlow, H. F., & Harlow, M. K. (2015). Social deprivation in domestic animals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Impact of physical comfort on stress reduction in dogs - Kirk, C. A., et al. (2015). Pain assessment in dogs: a comprehensive review. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Relationship between secure spaces and cortisol levels in dogs - Mason, G. J., et al. (2019). The welfare implications of the development of stereotypic behavior in dogs. Animal Welfare.
Tactile stimulation effects on canine emotional regulation - Meredith, M., et al. (2018). The sensory biology of comfort in domestic animals. Behavioral Brain Research.
Role of serotonin in anxiety modulation for dogs - Ribeiro, C., et al. (2020). The role of serotonin in the modulation of anxiety in dogs. Veterinary Journal.
In fact, most of them are nothing more than ordinary stuffed foam with fancy marketing.
This is why our team decided to pick the top 5 dog beds in the market right now and test them to see which one is the best. The beds we chose for our test are from reputable brands like Sleepy People, Sashbeds, Big Barker, Pupsdream, and Best Friends By Sheri.