Called the “Apollo of Dogs” and “gentle giants,” Great Danes are sweet and courageous companions that combine a protective nature with an affectionate, loyal personality you will adore.
While this mighty dog's powerful yet graceful physique is beautiful to behold, with great size comes great responsibility. Extra large dogs like Great Danes are prone to joint issues. That means your pet needs a supportive dog bed that will help to keep his joints in tip-top shape throughout his life.
This post is your guide to the best Great Dane dog beds. You can scroll down for our in-depth reviews or keep reading for our complete guide to choosing a suitable bed for your gentle giant.
Why Your Great Dane Needs the Right Bed
If you were going to make a one-time purchase to improve your health and quality of life, what would it be? Many people would reply, "A great mattress."
Likewise, buying your Great Dane a comfortable and supportive dog bed is one of the best things you can do to support his health and well-being. Here are some benefits of matching your dog with his ideal bed.
Choosing a Size for Your Great Dane’s Dog Bed: How to Measure
The first thing you need to figure out before shopping for a bed for your Great Dane is what measurements you need.
Great Danes are giant dogs. According to American Kennel Club, the average measurements for Great Danes are:
Height
30-32 inches (male)
28-30 inches (female)
Weight
140-175 pounds (male)
110-140 pounds (female)
Measuring your dog to get exact measurements is a good idea.
Add 6-12 inches to the final measurements to get the ideal measurements for your Great Dane’s dog bed. Most of the time, you will choose the largest dog bed size available since Great Danes are so massive.
While you are at it, thickness is an extra important dimension to account for when choosing a dog bed for this breed. Great Danes are heavy, so if a mattress is too thin, they will be in contact with the hard floor through the bed, which will not provide the support and comfort they need. Aim for 5" or more.
What Kind of Dog Bed is Best for Great Danes?
Here are some additional features that matter when picking a bed for your Great Dane.
Orthopedic Features
Great Danes vary a lot in appearance; they can be black, brindle, fawn, or even Harlequin. But one thing they all have in common is a predisposition to bone and joint issues.
Winter Park Veterinary Hospital explains, “You've probably heard of hip dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the hip joints to form improperly and leads to arthritis. Unfortunately, it is common in Great Danes."
This site also mentions that Great Danes may be susceptible to a joint disease called "osteochondritis dessicans" which can result from overly rapid growth in Great Dane puppies.
In our section above on sizing, we already mentioned mattress thickness as an essential feature for joint support. A product made with orthopedic foam, memory foam, or similar material can also help to keep joints comfortably aligned.
Choose a product that can hold its shape under the weight of a heavy dog for many years without needing to be replaced.
Tough Materials
Many Great Danes love to chew and tear on whatever they can find. If that is the case for your giant buddy, your living room or bedroom is likely already a testament to that fact.
Get your dog a bed that features robust materials and construction, so your pet won’t rip it apart in a matter of months (or less). A sturdy enough bed can stand up to years of wear and tear.
Easy to Wash
Sometimes your Great Dane might track in mud from outdoors or have an accident on the bed. A product that is easy to spot clean features a waterproof liner and has a removable, machine-washable cover will be a big help when that happens.
Shape
Does your dog like to sleep all sprawled out, curled up in a ball, or with his head propped up on the arm of your sofa? Pay attention to your dog’s sleeping style, and pick a dog bed with a shape that will complement that style.
Pricing
Dog beds for Great Danes can be more expensive than those for smaller dogs because more materials go into their construction. But there is still a price range from low to high. Pick a product that is within your budget and provides the best value relative to the price.
The Very Best Great Dane Dog Beds Reviewed
You know what to look for when buying an extra large dog bed for a Great Dane, but which products are best? Below, we share our top recommendations with you.
1. Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Bed w/Headrest: Best Overall
Our top recommendation for the best overall dog bed for Great Danes is the Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Bed w/Headrest. Its durable materials, orthopedic design, and exceptional versatility make it the bed your Great Dane will adore.
Why You’ll Love It: As you can see, this dog bed is aimed specifically at large and extra-large dogs. Its design is open enough to be comfortable for Great Danes that like to sprawl but also includes a bolster that your pet can cuddle up to or use for neck support.
What you will appreciate the most, however, is the 7" thick elevated design featuring proprietary OrthoMedic foam made in the USA.
This foam is much thicker than what you will find in many competing products, providing the orthopedic support that even the heaviest Great Dane needs. In fact, Big Barker backs up this dog mattress with a 10-Year “Won’t Flatten” Promise.
Unlike most other products on the market, this Great Dane dog bed has been shown in a clinical study to reduce joint pain and stiffness while enhancing joint function and quality of life.
On top of that, both the mattress and the microfiber cover are durable enough to stand up to dogs that chew and tear. The zippers are tucked in for protection. You can remove the cover and put it in your washing machine when you want to wash it.
Things to Consider: The top of the dog bed is not as soft as your pet might like. The simplest solution if this is the case is just to put a blanket on top. The Big Barker does not come with a waterproof liner, but it is available for additional cost.
Cover: Microfiber
Fill: American Furniture Grade Foam
Water-resistant: Water-resistant cover, waterproof dog bed liner (optional)
Washable: Yes
Sizes: Large (48x30"), XL (52x36"), XXL (60x48")
Colors: Burgundy, grey, chocolate, khaki
2. The Dog's Bed Orthopedic Headrest Dog Bed: Best Orthopedic
The runner-up in the orthopedic category for Great Dane dog beds is The Dog’s Bed Orthopedic Headrest Dog Bed. The overall design of this product is similar to that of the Big Barker dog bed above. It has a single bolster and is otherwise open for dogs that sprawl.
Why You’ll Love It: Between the base and the orthopedic memory foam, this mattress is 6” thick, providing comfortable support for your Great Dane’s joints.
The cover is machine-washable, and the liner is waterproof. You will also appreciate the durability of the materials.
We score the Big Barker dog bed higher because of the clinical study backing up that bed's effectiveness and the impressive 10-year guarantee. Nevertheless, this bed is a strong contender and well worth considering.
Things to Consider: As with the Big Barker bed, some people complain that this bed’s surface is not all that soft. The waterproof liner, while useful, also can be kind of noisy.
Additionally, you may want to set this bed on a carpeted floor if possible, as it is prone to sliding on a hard floor.
Cover: Fur or linen
Fill: Memory foam
Water-resistant: Water-resistant cover, waterproof dog bed liner
Washable: Yes
Sizes: XL (46x28"), XXL (54x36"), XXXL (64"x44"). Choose between 4" or 6" deep.
Colors: Eight, including grey, black, and brown
3. Best Friends By Sheri: Best Donut Calming Bed
For the Great Dane that prefers to curl up in a snuggly bed, we recommend the Best Friends By Sheri The Original Calming Donut Shag 2XL Dog Bed. You can buy the bed only or purchase the bed along with a blanket as a set.
Why You’ll Love It: Your Great Dane won't be able to get enough of snuggling in this comfy dog bed with its vegan faux fur cover. The bolsters will keep your pet warm and offer neck support if needed. The donut-shaped design may also help alleviate anxiety.
While many other dog beds are only available in a few neutral colors, a wide variety of color options are available for this donut bed for Great Danes. You will be able to match your décor with ease.
Things to Consider: Supposedly, the cover of this bed is machine-washable, but it is unclear whether that is the case. Some people have said that washing the cover caused problems. You might want to wash it by hand if you have to clean it.
Cover: Shag faux fur
Fill: AirLOFT fibers
Water-resistant: Water-resistant nylon bottom
Sizes: Small (23x23"), Medium (30x30"), Large (36x36"), Extra Large (45x45"), 2XL (54x54")
Colors: Fifteen, including chocolate, baby blue, rose and lavender
4. PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed: Best Couch/Bolster
The Great Dane who enjoys hanging out on the sofa with you will love the couch-style PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed.
Why You’ll Love It: With 5" of memory foam, this bed can support the weight of your Great Dane and help keep his joints comfortably aligned. The bolsters provide a sense of security and the option for your dog to rest his head, while the opening in the front makes it easy to get in and out. Therefore, it may be a perfect choice for an older dog. Speaking of the bolsters, if you are eco-minded, you will be glad to hear they are filled with recycled polyfill.
A couple more great things about this dog bed are that the cover is removable and machine-washable, and a 12-month warranty backs the bed.
Things to Consider: The mattress for this dog bed is on the firm side. In itself, this is not a bad thing. Some dogs need and prefer extra firmness, while others require something softer. You know your dog best and can determine, based on his habits, whether he is likely to appreciate the firm mattress of this bed or not.
Cover: Polyester, cotton
Fill: Memory foam
Water-resistant: Water-resistant cover, waterproof dog bed liner
Washable: Yes
Sizes: Small (25x20"), Large (36x28"), X-Large (44x34"), XXL Jumbo (50x40")
Colors: Slate grey, sandstone, brown
5. Veehoo Cooling Elevated Dog Bed: Best Elevated
Your Great Dane may need a cooling dog bed like the Veehoo Elevated Dog Bed if you live in a hot climate.
Why You’ll Love It: The textilene fabric of this elevated dog bed stays cool and comfortable. It is durable to stand up to chewing and tearing. While assembly is required, you will find it super fast and easy; you do not need a wrench or screws. Non-skid rubber feet protect your floor against scratches even if your dog jumps roughly onto the bed.
Additionally, you can use this bed indoors or outdoors. You can clean it outside using a garden hose, which is quick and convenient.
Things to Consider: This bed can sometimes make a squeaking noise when your dog gets on or off of it or moves around, especially a heavy dog like a Great Dane.
Also, while it is very durable, it is not indestructible, and the mat can tear (though there are no truly indestructible dog beds).
Cover: Textilene Mesh
Washable: yes
Sizes: X-Large: (49x33x9"), XX-Large: (59x37.5x9")
Colors: Six, including beige coffee, black, blue and brown
6. MIHIKK Orthopedic Waterproof Dog Bed: Best Value
Why You’ll Love It: This product contains an orthopedic foam mattress that measures 5”, providing even, reliable support for your pet’s joints. The plush top of the machine-washable, removable cover features soft plush fabric for extra comfort.
If you have hard floors, you will appreciate that this dog bed sports an anti-slip bottom. According to buyers, this anti-skid feature works better than the anti-slip bases on many competing extra-large dog beds.
Things to Consider: Despite being marketed as “waterproof,” it seems that accidents can sometimes leak through to the mattress.
Also, this is not the most durable dog bed around, but that is not surprising at this price point. So long as your Great Dane is not overly destructive, it may be a good choice.
Cover: comfy plush top
Fill: 5" 28D egg foam
Water-resistant: waterproof dog bed cover
Machine Washable: Yes
Sizes: 44x 32 x4", 48 x 29 x 4", 54x 44 x5"
Colors: Beige, brown, grey and dark grey
Conclusion
Great Danes are beautiful, majestic animals that delight us daily with their loyalty and vigilance. The size of their bodies is only outmatched by the size of their hearts. To get your Great Dane a bed that will support his joints, promote restful sleep, and becomes his new favorite spot to relax, click on any of the links in this post.
Featured image: instagram/bigbarkerusa