On average, your pooch snooze for around 12 to 14 hours a day. Aside from their night sleep, they also nap a lot during the day. With all the sleeping that happens, dogs deserve to rest on the best dog beds for puppies and senior dogs. But with dog beds, it’s not a one-size-fits-all. Big and small dogs have completely different bed needs, same with puppies and senior dogs.
Dog owners also need to put into consideration their dog’s habits, like the preferred sleeping style and position, if they often run hot, do they chew on things, or if they pee in their sleep. With all of these factors to think of, shopping for dog beds might no longer be a quick errand and with dozens of choices in the market, it can get quite overwhelming picking which is the best one.
For a Shiba Inu, the right bed depends entirely on life stage: a puppy needs a warm, washable, chew resistant surface it can grow into, while a senior needs firm orthopedic support and a cover that survives accidents. A young Shiba will teethe on anything soft and have accidents while it learns, so durability and easy cleaning beat plushness. An old Shiba needs its joints supported and its bladder forgiven, so orthopedic foam and a wipeable cover matter most. Buy for the dog in front of you, and expect to replace or upgrade as it ages.
The short version, in four parts:
- Puppies: washable and chew resistant. Expect accidents and teething, so pick a cover you can strip and a bed that survives mouthing.
- Puppies: warm and secure. A den style or self warming bed helps a young Shiba settle and sleep.
- Seniors: orthopedic support. Firm foam eases aging hips, joints, and arthritis.
- Seniors: accident friendly. A waterproof liner and a cover you can wash often handles fading bladder control.
Best Dog Beds for Puppies and Senior Dogs
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best dog beds that pooch owners all around the world would vouch for! Read all about which are the best dog beds for puppies and senior dogs.
Dog Beds for Puppies
Newborn dogs until between 1 and 2 years of age are considered puppies. However, taking into consideration their breeds, puppy maturation process, size, and socialization, the puppy stage varies from dog to dog.
Pet Magasin Thermal Self-Heating Puppy Mats
The Pet Magasin Thermal Self-Heating Puppy Mats comes with two mats, a small and large-sized mat. This dog bed set allows you to use the smaller one for when your pooch is an adorable pup and transition into the large mat for when they get bigger (and they do, in just a couple of weeks!)
It is self-warming with your dog’s body heat and is electricity-free so you have assured safety. The warming technology is perfect for both dogs and cats and the mat perfectly fits into a crate. It is padded with hypoallergenic foam, rubberized, and has a slip-free bottom.
PetFusion Memory Foam Dog Bed
If your puppy is a big fan of lounging, then this PetFushion Memory Foam Dog Bed is the perfect one for him. It is padded with 2” of extremely comfortable memory foam with raised bolsters. If you have a big breed puppy, it also comes in 4” for a larger size.
The bed is made of polyester and cotton twill and the cover is removable for easier washing and water and tear-resistant.
FurHaven Snuggery Burrow Bed
FurHaven Snuggery Burrow Bed has a unique design that we are sure your pup will love! It has an enclosed cover that resembles a comforting den. If you have a nervous pup, this might be the perfect dog bed for him since it’ll make him feel safe and protected.
This dog bed is made with orthopedic egg-crate foam and faux-fur and has a removable cover for easier cleaning. Dog owners who purchased this dog bed claimed that it helps comfort their dogs during times of anxiety.
Dog Beds for Senior Dogs
Same for puppies, there’s no definite age that a dog can be called senior since it varies from one size to another. Small breeds are deemed senior at around 10 to 12 years old, medium-sized breeds at 8 to 9 years old, while large dog breeds are considered senior dogs at around 6 to 7 years of age.
As you noticed, larger dog breeds age more quickly than smaller ones. Also, age is not just the indicator that your dog is entering its golden years. Some aging signs that you’ll notice are muscle loss, white hair on the muzzle and face, loss of hearing, weight gain or loss, and changes in behavior such as a decrease in energy levels.
And because they are a bit older, they deserved all the love they can get! Aside from a comfortable dog bed, there are also a few must-have products for senior dogs.
Furhaven Pet Plush Sofa Orthopedic Dog Bed
Furhaven’s Plush Sofa Dog Bed is available in small, medium, large, and three other sizes. What makes this highly ideal for senior dogs is its egg-crate foam that is suitable for dogs with joint pain, arthritis, and hip dysplasia.
It is a high-quality orthopedic bed, designed to provide maximum comfort and support. It has a headrest and the sleeping area is lined with plush faux to prevent your pooch from being cold. The cover has a zipper enclosure and is easy to remove and is machine washable.
K9 Ballistics Easy Clean Dog Bed
One of the common issues that senior dogs often have is incontinence or the loss of bladder control. This is why it is important for owners to pick a bed that will suit this problem. The K9 Ballistics Easy Clean Dog Bed is an orthopedic dog bed that features a microfiber cover that you can easily take off like a fitted sheet. The cover is washable and the sleeping area is lined with durable faux fur that’ll help your dog keep warm.
Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed
The Big Barker 7” Dog Bed is recommended for large and extra-large breeds. But one of the best selling factors of this particular dog bed is its therapeutic foam that’s been clinically proven to improve mobility in older dogs in just 28 days.
It is made with micro-suede removable cover that is soft enough to provide comfort to your dog. And guess this. The bed foam has a 10-year warranty against flattening.
How to match a bed to a Shiba's life stage
After placing 250+ Shibas since 2019, from young pups to gray muzzled seniors, we have learned that the same dog needs a different bed at different ages. Here is the framework we use.
- For a puppy, plan for teeth and accidents. A young Shiba will chew and have accidents while it learns. Choose a bed with a fully washable cover and a waterproof liner, and skip anything with loose stuffing or dangling tags. A teething puppy we fostered gutted a plush bed in one evening, so we switched him to a chew resistant mat until his adult teeth were in.
- For a puppy, favor warmth and a sense of den. Pups sleep better warm and enclosed. A self warming mat or a bolstered den style bed helps a nervous young Shiba settle, which shortens the crying and speeds crate training.
- For a senior, prioritize orthopedic support. Aging Shibas are prone to joint stiffness and arthritis. Firm orthopedic foam that holds its shape supports the hips and lets the dog rise without a struggle. Thin pads that flatten under a compact 20 pound body do more harm than good.
- For a senior, forgive the bladder. Incontinence is common in old dogs. A waterproof liner under a cover you can wash weekly keeps the foam clean and the dog comfortable. A cover that peels off like a fitted sheet makes this a two minute job instead of a chore you skip.
- At every age, size up and check the coat. Give a Shiba room to stretch, and part the fur to check skin where the dog contacts the bed, since that dense double coat hides irritation.
If you want the wider aging picture, our guide to caring for a senior Shiba Inu covers more than the bed, and for the specific memory foam options, see our memory foam dog bed reviews.
What we have seen hold up
Across hundreds of Shibas since 2019, the beds that survive both ends of life are firm, low, and fully washable. For puppies, chew resistant mats and covers you can bleach clean outlast decorative fluff every time. For seniors, orthopedic foam with a waterproof liner holds up through wash cycle after wash cycle in our boarding rotation. What did not work: gel tops that cracked, self warming mats with covers that pilled, and any bed with a zipper you cannot find.
The breed specific note is the coat and the temperament. A Shiba runs warm under that double coat, so many puppies and seniors alike will abandon a thick foam bed in summer for cool tile. Offering a thinner cool option alongside the orthopedic bed solves it. And a stubborn Shiba will reject a bed that smells wrong or feels unstable, so introduce a new bed with a familiar blanket on top.
When puppies and seniors board with us, we note their sleep style, their temperature preference, and any bladder issues, so the bed setup at home can match what already works. You can see how that care model runs on our boarding page.
Related questions
What kind of bed is best for a Shiba puppy?
A washable, chew resistant bed with a waterproof liner. Young Shibas teethe and have accidents, so anything with loose stuffing or a cover you cannot easily clean will not last. A self warming or lightly bolstered bed also helps a puppy feel secure and settle at night, which supports crate training in the first weeks.
Do senior Shibas need an orthopedic bed?
Usually yes. The breed is prone to joint stiffness and arthritis with age, and firm orthopedic foam supports the hips so the dog can rise comfortably. Add a waterproof liner to handle any incontinence. An orthopedic bed will not treat existing joint disease, so pair it with a veterinary plan if your dog shows real pain.
Can one bed work for a puppy and later a senior?
Rarely the same bed, but the same priorities carry through: firm support, a washable cover, and a waterproof liner. Most owners size up for an adult, then add orthopedic support once the dog ages. Expect to replace a bed as your Shiba grows and again as its joints change, rather than stretching one bed across its whole life.
What to read next
Compare specific models in our memory foam dog bed reviews, and round out an aging dog's kit with the five must have products for senior dogs. New puppy owners should read Shiba Inu puppy must have essentials, and when you travel, our boarding service keeps your dog's sleep routine intact.
Looking to adopt or rehome a Shiba?
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