Dog beds for medium dogs
Medium-sized dogs range enormously, from a stocky Beagle to a lean Border Collie, so a "medium bed" label tells you far less than it would for a much narrower size category. Measuring your own dog rather than relying on their breed name is the single most useful thing you can do before buying.
Measure your dog, not the breed chart
Lie a tape measure along your dog from nose to the base of the tail while they are stretched out, then add at least 15cm onto that figure for the bed's internal length. A breed listed as "medium" can still vary by 20cm or more in body length between individual dogs, which is exactly why relying on the breed name alone goes wrong so often.
If your dog currently sleeps curled tightly rather than stretched out, it is worth checking whether that is genuine preference or whether their current bed is too small to stretch out in — the two look similar but are not the same thing.
Shape matters as much as size for medium dogs
A bolster or nest-style bed with raised sides suits dogs that like to curl up and lean against something, while a flat mattress-style bed suits dogs that stretch out fully, particularly in warmer weather. Watching how your dog currently sleeps tells you more than the shape shown in a product photo.
Dogs prone to joint stiffness, including many medium breeds as they age, benefit from a supportive foam base rather than loose polyester filling, which flattens with regular use and stops cushioning properly within a few months.
One bed per favourite spot
Many medium dogs settle in more than one place around the house depending on the time of day — by a radiator in winter, on a cool floor in summer. A single well-chosen bed moved between rooms, or a second cheaper mat for a secondary spot, tends to get more consistent use than one expensive bed left somewhere the dog rarely chooses to lie.
It is worth watching where your dog naturally chooses to lie for a week or two — perhaps with just a folded blanket down — before buying a bed for that exact spot, rather than guessing and finding they ignore it in favour of the sofa. Medium dogs shed and track in mud at roughly the volume of a much bigger dog if they are active outdoors, so a genuinely washable cover matters here almost as much as it does for a large breed, whatever the size label on the bed itself says.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Moderna Plastic Dog Bed Warm
Moderna's Domus plastic dog bed in warm grey, moulded from over 98% recycled plastic, in five sizes from Small to Giant.
From£14.99
Extra Large Orthopaedic Dog Sofa Bed
An extra-large sofa-style dog bed with a cushioned mattress base and bolstered sides, sized for big breeds who want to stretch out rather than curl into a nest.
From£68.99
Dubex Nordic Dog Bed Griege
A linen dog bed in a soft greige tone, with a removable washable cover
From£33.55
Dubex Ottoman Oval Dog Bed
A plush oval dog bed with a removable cover and non-slip base, in green and grey
From£25.79
Raised Pet Sofa Bed with Wooden Legs
A raised pet sofa on wooden legs with a plush, waterproof cover, keeping cats and smaller dogs off cold hard floors and making an accident a wipe rather than a wash.
From£64.99
PawHut Raised Dog Bed with Metal Frame and Carry Bag, Medium, Black and Red
A 76 x 61cm elevated cot on a powder-coated steel frame with texteline fabric and its own carry bag, wide enough for a medium dog who sleeps on their side.
£36.99
PawHut Raised Cooling Dog Bed with Canopy, 76 x 61cm — Light Grey
The small and medium version of PawHut’s elevated mesh bed, 76 x 61cm and 18cm off the ground, with a water- and UV-resistant canopy and a travel bag.
£47.99
Sharples Moderna Plastic Dog Bed
Moderna's Domus plastic dog bed in olive green, black or blue: over 98% recycled, BPA-free plastic, in five sizes from Small to Giant.
From£14.99
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
Moderna Plastic Dog Bed Extra
The extra large Domus bed, moulded from over 98% recycled plastic with a ventilated base
£29.99
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
Common questions
- What size bed does a medium dog need?
- Measure your dog lying flat from nose to tail base and add at least 15cm to that figure for the bed's internal length. Because "medium" covers a very wide range of actual dog sizes, measuring your own dog is far more reliable than trusting the breed size printed on the label.
- Should I buy a bolster bed or a flat mattress bed?
- It depends on how your dog already sleeps. Dogs that curl up tend to prefer a bolster or nest-style bed with raised sides to lean against, while dogs that stretch out fully are usually more comfortable on a flat mattress-style bed.
- Do medium dogs need a supportive foam bed?
- Not always, but it is worth considering for older medium dogs or those showing any stiffness getting up, since ordinary polyester filling flattens under regular use within a few months and stops supporting joints properly. A supportive foam base holds its shape considerably longer.
- Why does my medium dog keep moving between different beds?
- Most dogs choose where to sleep based on temperature and what is going on in the house at the time, rather than sticking to one spot. Having a bed in more than one commonly used area, rather than a single bed in a room they rarely visit, usually solves this.
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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.