Best bed for a whippet
Whippets have very little body fat and a thin single coat, which means they feel the cold far more than most breeds and genuinely seek out warmth wherever they can find it, radiators and sofas included. Bed choice for this breed is really about warmth and padding first, and everything else, size and style, comes second.
Why warmth matters more for this breed
A whippet's lean build and thin coat leave very little natural insulation, which is why the breed is famously drawn to the warmest spot in the house rather than a cold floor. A well-padded, enclosed or bolstered bed, ideally away from draughts, suits the breed's actual physiology far better than a thin, flat mat that a stockier, better-insulated breed might manage fine on.
Raised sides or a bolster edge give a whippet something to curl against and trap body heat, which matters more here than for a breed carrying more natural padding of its own.
Bed styles that suit a whippet
A covered or cave-style bed, or a deep bolster bed with high sides, both let a whippet burrow in and conserve heat, which most whippets take to readily given how much the breed already likes to burrow under blankets on a sofa. A simple flat cushion, while comfortable, does less to actually help with the breed's cold sensitivity.
Adding a blanket inside any bed gives a whippet the option to burrow further, which many individual dogs will use even with an already well-padded bed underneath.
Sizing and placement
Whippets are a slim, medium-length breed, so bed length matters more than width when sizing, since a bed too short will leave the dog curled tightly rather than able to stretch out comfortably when it chooses to.
Position the bed away from draughts and cold floors where possible, such as directly against an exterior wall or near a frequently opened door, since a whippet's cold sensitivity applies to its immediate environment as much as to the bed itself.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Self-Heating Pet Mat, No Plug Required, Three Sizes, Two Greys
No element, no cable and nothing to switch off: the mat returns your pet's own body heat instead of letting it drain away into a cold floor.
From£10.99
Cartoon Cat and Shiba Inu Fleece Cave Bed, Four Sizes to 80cm
A domed fleece nest with a cartoon cat or Shiba Inu face, filled with rebound PP cotton to hold its shape, in four sizes running from 50cm across to 80cm.
From£21.99
Bolstered Orthopaedic Dog Bed
A supportive bolstered dog bed with a thick cushioned base and raised sides that cradle joints and give a place to rest the head. Ideal for older dogs or any pet who likes to stretch out for restful, comfortable sleep.
From£45.99
L-Shaped Bolster Sofa Dog Bed
A supportive L-shaped sofa bed with a raised bolster back and side for your dog to rest their head. The thick padded base cushions joints, and the soft rose-velvet cover is removable and washable for easy care.
From£44.99
Padded Pet Crate Mat with Corner Ties
A padded crate mat with corner ties that stays put inside a cage or carrier.
From£8.99
Machine Washable Self-Heating Plush Dog Mat, Six Colours, Two Sizes
A plush self-heating mat that actually goes in the washing machine, which most reflective mats do not, offered in six colours and a choice of small or large.
From£19.99
Memory Foam Bolster Dog Bed with Washable Cover
A supportive memory-foam dog bed with raised bolster sides for head and neck resting. The soft cream boucle cover removes for washing, making it easy to keep fresh while giving your dog proper rest.
From£69.99
Four-Sided Washable Dog Bed
A cosy bolstered dog bed with raised sides for a sense of security and a fully removable, machine-washable cover. The layered cushion and mattress lift out for easy cleaning, ideal for autumn and winter.
From£46.99
Self-Heating Non-Slip Pet Mat in Cotton Fleece, Grey or Brown
A cotton fleece mat that reflects your dog's own body heat back at them, with a non-slip backing, so there is no cable, no plug and nothing to chew.
From£12.99
ProFleece Non-Slip Vet Bedding with Hollow Paw – Multiple Sizes
Super-soft, heavy-weight fleece bedding with a non-slip rubber backing — machine washable and ideal for crates, kennels, whelping, and recovery.
From£13.99
Ancol Small Bite Teddy Donut Sage
A 70cm sage sherpa fleece donut bed with raised sides, for small dogs, puppies and cats
£29.99
Cooling Bolster Pet Sofa Bed
Supportive bolster pet bed with a breathable cooling top that keeps dogs and cats comfortable in warmer weather. Raised sides cushion the neck and the cover fully detaches for easy washing.
From£65.99
Common questions
- Why do whippets feel the cold so much?
- Their very low body fat and thin single coat give them far less natural insulation than most breeds, which is why they seek out warm spots so persistently and generally need a warmer, more padded bed than a stockier dog would.
- Should I get a covered bed for my whippet?
- Many whippets do well with a covered or cave-style bed, since it lets them burrow in and retain body heat more effectively than an open, flat bed. It suits the breed's natural tendency to burrow under blankets anyway.
- Do whippets need a blanket as well as a bed?
- Many owners find a blanket inside the bed is well used, giving the dog the option to burrow further for extra warmth, particularly in a cooler room or during winter months.
- What size bed does a whippet need?
- Prioritise length over width when sizing, since whippets are a slim, medium-length breed and need enough room to stretch out fully when they choose to, even though their narrow build does not need a particularly wide bed.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.