5 Best Wooden Dog Beds: Solid Sleeping For Your Four-Legger

It is easy to understand the appeal of wood: It is often quite attractive, and it’s a fantastic material for furniture construction.

Wood is also quite durable, which helps you get the most value for your money. Many owners love the look of wooden beds, and dogs often enjoy the comfort, stability, and support they provide.

But while wood is a great material to use in dog bed construction, there’s a big difference between a good wooden dog bed and a bad one, which will fall apart quickly or fail to keep your dog comfy.

Don’t worry, we’re going to help you learn to distinguish good models from those you should avoid and recommend five great options for your home.

The Five Best Wooden Dog Beds

There are a number of relatively good wooden dog beds on the market, but if you want one of the very best, you should probably stick to one of the following five.

1. The ANN Handmade Wooden Dog Bed

About: The ANN Handmade Wooden Dog Bed is an attractive-looking, elevated pet bed that is made to order by Etsy crafter TheRestingHound.

Features: The ANN Dog Bed features a relatively modern design, which means that it’ll not only help give your dog a comfy place to sleep, it looks great too.

You can customize the ANN Dog Bed in several ways to help ensure it suits your pet and your home’s decor. For example, you’ll have your choice of six different finishes, and you can choose the height of the bed’s legs. You can also pick between two different leg finishes: raw steel or black.

The Ann Dog Bed is a relatively large bed, which measures approximately 36-inches long and 24-inches wide. This bed is sold as a frame only, so you’ll have to make or buy a pad separately.

2. Merry Products Wood Pet Home

About: The Merry Products Wood Pet Home is much more than a pet bed – it is one part covered pet bed, one part dog house, and one part elevated sleeping platform (the manufacturer calls this a “balcony”).

It’s an absolutely adorable option for small dogs that provides your pup with a unique place to snooze or just lay around.

Features: The Merry Products Pet Home is made from naturally stained, kiln-dried cedar, which makes it both durable and attractive. A lattice “fence” is included on the balcony to help prevent your pet from falling off, and a short wooden ladder is included to give your dog an easy way to climb up top.

The top and bottom panels are removable so that you can easily clean the interior. No pillows are included with the product, but there are two places you could add one: the interior of the house and on top of the balcony.

The Merry Products Pet Home does require some assembly, but it includes all of the hardware and instructions you’ll need to set it up. According to the manufacturer, it should only take about 20 minutes to build the complete home.

3. Hanke Wooden Dog Sofa with Cushion

About: The Hanke Wooden Dog Sofa is a charming, rustic-looking, sofa-style pet bed that not only looks great, but it will give your pet a cozy place to nap (or just chill out) too. And unlike some other wooden beds, this one comes complete with a comfy cushion.

Features: The Hanke Wooden Dog Sofa is a good-looking dog bed that won’t break the bank. It is made from durable pine wood, and features a box-style construction, with 10 supportive wooden slats to prevent sagging.

The included sleeping pad features a fleece cover for maximum coziness, and the internal cotton fill material provides plenty of cushion for your canine. The cover can be removed and machine-washed to keep it looking great and smelling fresh.

The Hanke Wooden Dog Sofa is available in three colors (Antique Gray, Charcoal Gray, and Rustic Brown), and it comes in three sizes to suit canines weighing up to 100 pounds:

• Small: 15.16″ x 22.44″ x 9.45″
• Medium: 19.49″ x 28.35″ x 9.45″
• Large: 21.46″ x 34.25″ x 9.45″

4. D’Eco 79 Classic Pet Bed Set

About: The D’Eco 79 Classic Pet Bed Set consists of two rustic-looking beds, that are designed for indoor or outdoor use if placed in a sheltered area (don’t expose them to rain).

They feature very high backs and sides, which may provide special value for nervous or high-strung pups – who often prefer the feeling of security provided by high bed edging.

Features: The D’Eco 79 Classic Pet Beds are made from a series of wood panels, which are connected and held in place by three metal bands. The manufacturer doesn’t indicate the source of the wood, but it has an “aged” aesthetic which matches the styling and construction.

The smaller bed measures 23” x 16” x 14” and the larger bed measures 29” x 20” x 14”. An oval-shaped burlap cushion is included with each bed.

5. Furhaven Mid-Century Wooden Bed Frame

About: The Furhaven Mid-Century Wooden Bed Frame is a sleek-looking pet bed frame that is specifically designed to work with several different Furhaven mattresses.

Features: The Furhaven Mid-Century Bed Frame is designed to provide a great combination of style, durability, and comfort through the use of affordable, yet attractive materials.

For example, most of the wooden components feature high-quality, natural-looking veneers, and the support slats are made from real bamboo, which is both durable and lightweight. Additionally, the bed uses metal legs, but they’re covered with great-looking wood finishes to match the rest of the bed’s aesthetic.

This bed features pre-drilled hardware holes, which makes assembly quick and easy. This also makes it easy to disassemble and store the bed, should the need ever arise.

The Furhaven Mid-Century Bed is available in bamboo or walnut finishes, and it comes in four sizes:

• Small: 22″ x 17″ x 9.8″
• Medium: 32″ x 22″ x 9.8″
• Large: 37″ x 28.3″ x 9.8″
• Jumbo: 45.9″ x 37″ x 9.8″

6. 828 Pet Supplies Raised Memory Foam Small Dog Bed

About: The 828 Pet Supplies Dog Bed may be small in size, but it’s definitely big in charm! Featuring a rustic look that most owners will love, and an orthopedic mattress that’ll please your pet, this bed deserves serious consideration from owners of little pooches.

No products found.

Features: Featuring a box-style design with hidden slats to support your dog’s body, the 828 Pet Supplies Dog Bed is made from premium Vietnamese Acacia wood, which is durable and attractive. The included mattress features a memory foam core, to cradle your canine and keep him comfy.

Unlike some other wood beds, which force owners to break out the screwdriver or drill, the 828 Pet Supplies Bed can be assembled without any tools — simply connect the four legs to the frame, throw on the cushion, and you’re ready to rock!

Unfortunately, the 828 Pet Supplies Bed is only available in one, pretty small size (it is 24.125 inches long, 18.5 inches wide, and 8.5 inches tall). The wood features a Washed Oak finish, and the cushion is Distressed Grey.

7. Kuma Products Wooden House Bed

About: If you’re looking for a wooden dog bed that looks different from most of the other options out there, you’ll definitely want to check out the Kuma Products Wooden House Bed.

Features: Featuring an unusual, five-sided design, the Kuma Products House Bed is a bit cave-like and gives your pooch a semi-secluded place to sleep. But while your pooch may appreciate the privacy it affords, you’ll likely love the bed’s unique styling.

This bed is hand-made from maple-veneered MDF and finished with a combination of tobacco-colored oil ink and polyurethane (you can also get the bed with an Oak or Gray finish).

The bed comes with an included cushion, that features a zippered cover, made from Gabardine fabric and stuffed with Delcro filling. It is only available in one size, which measures approximately 22 inches long and wide, and 18 inches tall.

8. Royal King Hexagon Wooden Pet Bed

About: The Royal King Wooden Bed by RobiDesigns is another non-traditional pet bed that gives your pet a cozy and secluded place to catch some Zs.

Features: The Royal King Hexagon Bed features (as the name implies) a six-sided design, which gives your pet more privacy than traditional wooden beds do.

The bed is made from natural pine wood, and it is finished with Italian Borma Wachs Water-Based Decor Wax. The (optional) cushion is made from washable cotton, which is waterproof and stain-resistant, making it easy to keep clean and looking great.

The Royal King Hexagon Bed is available with or without the cushion, it comes in a variety of color options, and you can get it in two sizes:

• Medium: Width 35” x Length 23” x Height 26”
• Large: Width 46” x Length 29” x Height 34” 

Things to Consider for When Choosing a Wooden Pet Bed

As when picking any product for your pup, you’ll want to select a wooden pet bed that will suit you and your dog well. This means, among other things, thinking about the following characteristics when browsing:

Size

No matter what type of bed you select for your dog, you must be sure that it will provide a suitable amount of space for your pooch.

The bed should be about as long as your dog’s head-to-rump length, and the width should be around your dog’s height at the shoulder. But the best way to choose the proper dog bed size is to simply measure the space your dog takes up when he’s sleeping, and then add a few inches in each direction for a bit of wiggle room.

Understand that beds aren’t like dog crates. Giving a dog a crate that is too large can present a few problems, but there isn’t really a huge downside to giving your dog a bed that is too large (aside from the higher cost of a larger bed and the space it takes up in your home).

So, it is always a good idea to err on the large side, when picking your pet’s bed.

Also, note that many wooden beds are designed to be used with a pillow or cushion you provide. In such cases, you’ll need to measure the pillow or cushion first, to ensure a proper fit.

Hardware

Different beds are held together in different ways.

Some manufacturers will use screws to connect the various components, while others may use dowels, staples, nails, tacks, or rivets instead. Some beds don’t feature any type of metal hardware and are simply held together with glue.

Each choice presents a different combination of benefits and drawbacks, and no single type of hardware is inherently better than the others. Some of the most notable ramifications of different types of hardware and joining techniques are detailed below:

• Nails (etc.) — Nails, staples, and tacks are cheap and reasonably effective at keeping the components of a bed securely attached. However, they can work free over time and present a potential danger, which could cut or stab your pet. You may be able to disassemble a bed held together with nails, but it is often a bit of a pain to do so. Keep an eye on nail components to ensure that they don’t get loose and post a hazard over the years.
• Screws — Screws are unlikely to work free, but they are usually a little more of an eyesore than nails or tacks are. However, screws can be removed and re-inserted pretty easily, which makes beds using them somewhat easy to disassemble. This can be helpful for owners who plan on traveling with the bed or storing it for long periods of time.
• Dowels and Wooden Joint Connectors — Dowels and other types of wooden joint connectors (such as “biscuits”) are the preferred choice for furniture-quality beds, as they are completely invisible and produce very strong joints. However, these types of connectors are usually glued into place, which means that these beds can’t be disassembled easily.
• Rivets — Rivets are often used to provide a vintage aesthetic. They are very secure when properly installed, but they are essentially permanent connectors, which will prevent you from taking the bed apart.
• Glue – Glue and other adhesives are typically used in conjunction with special construction techniques to make very stable, permanent joints. Beds which are constructed with such techniques look great and are very strong, but they can’t be disassembled. However, they don’t have any sharp metal pieces that can back out and represent a safety hazard.
• Bolts – Because bolts typically require an accompanying nut to remain tight, they are usually left exposed to some degree. Clever design principles can mitigate the danger presented by exposed hardware (the exposed metal may be located underneath the bed, for example), and bolts make it very easy to disassemble the bed, so they’re a great choice for owners who want a portable bed.

Height

Most wooden dog beds feature feet or legs that elevate the bed above ground level. This helps protect your floors a bit and provide airflow under the bed.

Typically, the feet or legs used are only a few inches tall, which means that most dogs will be able to climb right up without difficulty. However, it’s a good idea to avoid beds with exceptionally tall legs or feet if your dog is very small or has limited mobility.

Style

Although your dog won’t care about the aesthetics of his bed, most owners will.

There’s no difference between a vintage-style bed and a modern, minimalist design from your dog’s point of view, so feel free to follow your heart and sense of style. As long as it is safe and provides your dog with a comfy place to sleep, he’ll be happy.

However, it is probably wise to select a bed with a relatively neutral, understated style if you don’t have strong preferences. This will make the bed work with a wider selection of furniture and decorating styles.

Finish

Some manufacturers coat the wood with a sealant or paint of some type, while others leave the wood bare.

Either option can work for pet beds, but you must think about a few issues before making your choice. Many people find the texture of bare, untreated wood to be quite appealing. Untreated wood also presents a mellower aesthetic, which fits some home décors more than others.

However, untreated wood is not a good option in situations in which moisture is a concern. Moisture can cause wood to warp, swell and rot, which will reduce the lifespan of the bed.

Accordingly, you should avoid selecting a bed with untreated wood if you use the bed in an area where dampness is possible or if your dog is prone to accidents.

Choosing the Right Wood for Your Pet’s Bed

There are a variety of different woods used in the construction of pet beds, and because different woods have different strengths and weaknesses, it is wise to familiarize yourself with some of the most common choices manufacturers use.

Some of the most common woods used in the creation of pet beds include:

Cherry

Cherry is a great-looking wood that has a bit of a natural reddish tint and plenty of knots and interesting grain patterns.

Cherry is somewhat expensive, but it is one of the most luxurious choices for wooden pet beds and other items. It is also an easy wood to work with, so it is a favorite of many high-end furniture makers.

Cherry does not always stain very well, so it is typically used in its natural color. It also has a very faint scent, which most people find pleasing.

Walnut

Walnut is another high-end wood, which is fairly expensive and usually features plenty of visually appealing grain patterns, knots, and unique markings.

Walnut is a rather dark wood, ranging from pale brown to chocolate. You can stain it, but because walnut’s color is a significant part of its appeal, this is rarely done.

Walnut doesn’t rot very easily, so it can be used in outdoor contexts, but there are plenty of better, cheaper options for such uses. Instead, walnut is usually used in situations that will best show off its beauty.

Pine

Pine is likely the most commonly used wood for most consumer products, including pet beds.

Pine isn’t especially strong or attractive, but it’s cheap and works moderately well. You certainly shouldn’t go out of your way to select a pine bed, but you shouldn’t consider it an automatic deal-breaker, either.

There are a number of different types of pine, which are typically categorized as being “hard” or “soft.” Most economically priced products are made from southern hard pines, which are all very similar.

Cedar

Cedar is another affordable softwood that is used for a variety of projects.

Cedar often looks a bit more interesting than pine, and it has innate insect- and rot-resistant properties, so it is often the wood of choice for products that will be used outdoors.

Note that cheap grades of cedar can splinter pretty easily, which may present a safety concern.

There are several different tree species that bear the name “cedar.” But most of the wood labeled as such is derived from western red cedars or eastern red cedars.

Oak

Hard, strong, and relatively attractive, oak is one of the favorite woods used by furniture makers.

Oak also takes stain very well, which means it can take on a variety of colors. Oak provides good value as it is pretty affordable for its quality, and it also has a faint, pleasant aroma, which many people like.

There are many different species of oak, but the wood is usually categorized in one of two categories: red or white. There are minor differences between the two, but they are of little importance when selecting a dog bed – either type should work fine.

Maple

Like oaks, there are a number of different maple species, but sugar maple (also known as “hard maple”) is the most desirable form for furniture projects.

Maple is quite strong, abd usually features a straight grain and look great, so the wood is popular with furniture makers.

Maple rarely has many knots or other markings and it is relatively pale; normally, it is somewhere between yellow and off-white. However, there are some special types of maple (such as quilted and birdseye) which feature very attractive grain patterns and colors. These special versions almost always cost significantly more than standard maple stock.

Unidentified Wood

Beds that don’t specifically indicate the type of wood used are generally made from pine or cedar.

Both of these woods are fairly inexpensive, abundant and easy to use, so they are popular choices for beds at the affordable end of the price spectrum.

Besides, if a manufacturer goes to the expense of using high-value hardwoods, you can be sure they’ll advertise this clearly.

Wooden Dog Bed Maintenance and Care

As with any bed, a wooden bed will last longer and hold up better if you take good care of it. This is pretty easy to do, just try to embrace the following tips and practices:

Keep the Bed Dry

Moisture will quickly ruin most unfinished woods, so do your best to keep your dog’s bed dry.

Avoid placing wooden beds in damp basements or outdoors, unless they are sealed or constructed from wood that is likely to withstand moisture. If the bed becomes wet, try to dry it quickly and place it in a warm, sunny location until it dries completely.

Wipe It Down Frequently

The bed will look its best if you keep it free of dust and debris, so wipe it down with a soft cloth once a week or so.

You can use a non-toxic furniture spray on sealed woods, as long as the manufacturer reports that it is safe to do so. Just be sure to test any cleaning agent on an inconspicuous portion of the bed first, to test for discoloration.

Inspect the Corners and Connectors Regularly

Loose hardware, splintering edges, and other defects can represent a safety hazard, and they may also rip the bed’s cushion.

Visually inspect these areas at least once a month and gently run your hand across the boards to feel for any sharp edges (just be careful you don’t give yourself a splinter).

Wash the Cushion Regularly

To avoid odors and help keep the cushion looking its best, you’ll need to wash the cover regularly. Just make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s directions explicitly to avoid problems with discoloration or shrinkage.

Also, ensure that the cover is completely dry before placing it back on the bed.

DIY Wooden Dog Beds

You can always make your own wooden dog bed if you can’t find one on the market that suits you and your pup.

You can get most of the lumber and hardware you’ll need at the local home improvement store, but if you want some really fancy lumber, you’ll want to find a lumber yard in your area. You’ll also need to stop by a craft store to purchase the fabric to make the pillow.

You can sketch out a design yourself if you just want to make a simple bed, but you’ll want to consult some instructions or blueprints if you want to create a more elaborate bed.

• Here is a step-by-step guide for making a large (and pretty good-looking) dog bed.
• These plans show you how to make a dog bed from an old wooden pallet.
• This bed is really neat looking and features a built-in storage compartment.

But there are plenty of other plans out there too, so don’t be afraid to look around until you find something you like.

Wooden dog beds look great and they generally hold up well over time, so they are a great option for most dogs and their owners.

We’d love to hear about your experiences with wooden beds. Have you found a model that was especially awesome? Have you had a bad experience with a model? Let us know all about it in the comments below!