There’s something ever so cosy about a donut-shaped dog bed. Soft, plush and fluffy, with raised sides, making a nest-like hole for your pup to snuggle down in, the best donut dog beds are perfect for the dog who loves to sleep curled up in a ball, and it can provide a calming effect for anxious dogs seeking a safe space.
There are dog beds for all types of sleepers. If your pooch loves to sprawl out, or sleep on his back, the best large dog beds are probably more suitable. Young dogs benefit from one of the best puppy bed as they leave their litter for the first time. Calming dog beds are specifically designed for dogs who feel anxious and need a safe space. Some dogs are intent on destruction and are best suited to a specially designed dog bed for chewers. But for those who love nothing better than burrowing into a nest for a snooze, a donut dog bed is the best option.
Best donut dog beds: the choice
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Silentnight Calming Donut Pet Bed
Sizes: S/M or M/L
Colour: Grey
RRP: From £35
Topping the chart of the best donut dog beds is this bed from Silent Night. It appeals to your dog’s natural nesting instinct and helps create a calming environment, reducing anxiety.
The premium materials are specifically designed to give your dog the same level of comfort as Silentnight’s top-quality beds and pillows, made for humans. It is filled with responsive fibres that support your pet while he snoozes.
It is machine-washable and finished with a non-slip base and covered in a super-soft plus fabric to provide the ultimate comfort.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Dog’s Bed Sound Sleep Donut Dog Bed
Sizes: XS–XXL
Colours: Brown, beige, white, silver, grey or pink
RRP: From £31.99
Designed by global experts in sleep solutions for dogs, this plush round bed with 4cm vegan fur contours makes for deep and luxurious sleep. The fur is designed to replicated the warmth of the mother’s fur and being in a puppy pile, so this is especially suitable for puppies settling into their new home.
The manufacturer highlights the bed’s “unsurpassed comfort due to the unique dual-layer base mattress cushion design”. The top layer forms around the dog’s body, while the solid base pad supports the dog’s weight. The generously filled bolsters surround the dog to make them feel secure while providing a comfortable head rest.
This bed satisfies the nesting instinct of dogs who like to curl up while they sleep, with the high sides and fur “hugging” the dog’s body. This can help reduce feelings of vulnerability and anxiety by inducing a sense of security.
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Best Friends by Sheri: The Original Calming Donut Dog Bed
Sizes: S–XL
Colours: Frost, grey, mink, dusty rose, taupe or cotton candy
RRP: From £20
The Donut bed’s round shape is ideal for dogs that like to curl up. The raised rim is designed to create a sense of security and provides head and neck support, while the super soft filling offers joint and muscle pain relief.
It is cosy, finished with faux shag fur, which is meant to be reminiscent of the pet’s mother’s coat. It has deep crevices that encourage the dog to burrow and feel safe. Manufacturers claim that the premium CoziLoft fibres keep their shape three times long than other pet beds.
It has a water and dirt-resistant base, and all sizes but the small beds have removable shells which are machine-washable.
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Enjamoy Plush Donut Dog Bed
Sizes: L–XXL
Colours: Grey, brown, dark grey or pink
RRP: From £23.99
A donut-style bed made from premium plush, breathable, skin-friendly material, which is super-soft and fluffy. The manufacturer describes it as the pet “resting on clouds”, and claims it can offer joint and muscle relief.
The raised rim supports the dog’s head and neck, and is ideal for pups who love to curl up and feel a sense of security.
The whole bed is machine-washable, and can be tumbled-dried.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Mirkoo Calming Pet Bed
Sizes: L–XXXL
Colours: Black, brown, pink, grey, dark grey or khaki
RRP: From £27.99
Big dogs can be just as anxious and insecure as little ones – often more so! This doughnut-shaped design satisfies the nesting instinct of larger dogs who love to curl up, mimicking their mother’s fur and providing a calming, anxiety-reducing space. It can also offer joint and muscle pain relief and help pets to relax and sleep soundly.
It has a raised rim and super-soft filling with high-quality cosy material, which is durable, breathable and machine-washable.
Four sizes available from large upwards.
How we chose the best dog beds
The most important thing when choosing a donut bed is getting the right size for your dog. A wolfhound trying to squeeze itself into too small a bed will never enjoy the comfort and sleep quality these beds should provide, while a Chihuahua in too large a bed won’t get the snug and cosy benefits of the donut shape. We’ve picked a selection in a range of sizes to cater for all sorts. Plus a variety in colour choices, to coordinate with your home.
Machine-washable is another important factor. Who wants dirty sheets?
Do donut dog beds help with anxiety?
A dog bed in itself cannot cure anxiety. However, certain beds can be a useful tool to help manage your dog’s anxiety. The shape of a donut dog bed is designed to wrap around the dog and give it a sense of comfort, appealing to their natural nesting instinct. Some believe that it mimics the sensation of being in a litter, cuddled up, cosy and warm, against their mother and littermates, and the furry fabrics typically used enhance this. The raised edges give dogs a ledge on which to rest their heads, being able to see what’s going on while feeling safe and secure in their “nest”. For dogs that like to curl up into a tight ball, feeling protected from perceived outside threats, a donut is ideal.
Why do dogs like donut beds?
Donut beds are designed to be soft and comfortable, to provide joint support and pain relief for those pups who need it. The raised rim supports the head, to allow the spine and neck to rest more comfortably. The soft, supportive filling is soothing and can help dogs sleep better.
Many dogs like to snuggle up in these nest-like beds. They are typically covered with plush, cosy fabric – mimicking the fur of littermates – which can help reduce feelings of anxiety, improve sleep quality and enhance wellbeing.
Brachycephalic breeds can particularly benefit from these beds as the raised rim supports the head and neck, enabling them to breathe more freely.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
