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10 Best Calming Dog Beds For Anxious Dogs in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Jaimie Wisniowski

By Jaimie Wisniowski

dog in FurHaven Calming Cuddler Long Fur Donut Bolster Dog Bed

Calming dog beds are great for dogs with anxiety, giving them a place to curl up and feel secure. They’re warm and cozy, so they can quickly become your dog’s favorite place to nap.

If your dog has anxiety, loves to burrow, or simply needs a comfier bed, a donut-shaped calming bed can be a great solution. However, not all donut dog beds are the same, so it’s important that you pick the right bed for your pup.

Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you! We made a list of our favorite models and reviewed each one. Here are the 10 best calming dog beds available this year:

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Best Friends by Sheri Calming Dog Bed Best Friends by Sheri Calming Dog Bed
  • Bottom zipper gives access to the inner mattress
  • Entire bed is machine washable
  • Soft faux fur is soft and retains heats
  • Best Value
    Second place
    FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed
  • 8-inch donut bolster provides support
  • Machine and dryer safe
  • Eyelash faux fur is warm and calming
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    FurHaven Calming Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed FurHaven Calming Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed
  • 9-inch donut bolster supports curling up
  • 1.5-inch vegan faux fur is warm and soft
  • Deep little “pockets” for hiding toys
  • The Dog’s Balls Sound Sleep Calming Bed The Dog’s Balls Sound Sleep Calming Bed
  • 6-inch donut bolster made with polyester filler
  • Slip-resistant bottom
  • Removable cover that is machine washable
  • Bedsure Calming Bed for Dogs Bedsure Calming Bed for Dogs
  • Big poly-fill donut bolster to curl up against
  • Entire bed is machine washable
  • Faux fur outer layer is calming and warm
  • The 10 Best Calming Dog Beds

    1. Best Friends by Sheri Calming Dog Bed – Best Overall

    5Best Friends by Sheri The Original Calming Shag Fur Donut Cuddler Cat & Dog Bed

    The Best Friends by Sheri Calming Dog Bed is the best donut-shaped bed that provides your dog with a calming, comforting bedtime and naptime solution for dogs with anxiety. It’s made with a 9”-tall donut ring that encourages your dog to snuggle up at night or for a nap, which can help calm your anxious or restless dog. The ring contains premium AirLOFT poly-fill that is soft and movable for dogs that like to dig and burrow to get comfy, which can help relieve symptoms of anxiety. The bottom of the bed has a zipper in the middle so you can take out the mattress while the outside is lined with soft faux fur, and it retains heat to keep your dog comfortable.

    One of the best features is that the entire bed is machine washable but be sure to follow the care instructions to prevent the faux fur from matting. The only potential issue we see is that it may encourage destructive chewers to shred it, so it’s not durable for dogs that like to chew.

    Overall, this is our pick for the best calming dog bed available this year.

    Pros
    • 9” donut ring encourages snuggling
    • AirLOFT poly-fill is soft for dogs that dig and burrow
    • Bottom zipper gives access to the inner mattress
    • Soft faux fur is soft and retains heats
    • Entire bed is machine washable
    Cons
    • Not suitable for destructive chewers

    2. FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed – Best Value

    FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed

    The FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed is a great donut cuddle bed without spending a lot of money. It’s the best value when it comes to donut cuddler beds, which can get expensive if you need a bigger dog bed. The poly-fill donut-shaped bolster is 8 inches tall, providing support and comfort for your dog. We really like the eyelash faux fur cover on this bed; it’s warm, soft, and will help keep your dog calm. The whole bed is also machine washable and safe to put in the dryer but follow the instructions to prevent clumping and matting of the faux fur and filler material.

    One issue is that the bed won’t hold up if your dog likes to chew or shred dog beds, so we don’t recommend it if that’s the case with your dog. Another issue is that it may not be supportive enough for dogs with ailments like arthritis, since it’s not as thick as other donut beds or memory foam beds. Otherwise, the FOCUSPET dog bed is a great calming donut bed if you’re going for the best value.

    Pros
    • Best value for your money
    • 8-inch donut bolster provides support
    • Eyelash faux fur is warm and calming
    • Machine and dryer safe
    Cons
    • Not suitable for dogs that chew
    • May not support dogs with arthritis enough

    3. FurHaven Calming Cuddler Bolster Dog Bed – Premium Choice

    FurHaven Calming Cuddler Long Fur Donut Bolster Dog Bed

    The FurHaven Calming Cuddler Long Fur Donut Bolster Dog Bed is a premium donut cuddler bed, providing calmness and luxury in one product. The donut-shaped bolster is stuffed with poly-fill that encourages your dog to curl up and sleep, with deep little “pockets” that your dog will love for hiding toys and tucking their paws. The 1.5-inch vegan faux fur outer layer of the cover on this bed is extremely soft and will easily keep your dog warm, which can help calm and soothe your dog’s anxiety. This bed is our favorite for dogs that need more support than a plush mattress pad, featuring a nice foam pad to support your dog’s body and joints.

    The FurHaven Cuddler is on the expensive side compared to other models, especially if you’ll need a bigger size bed. For that reason, we kept it from being in our Top 2. Another downside is that the cover is the only washable part, so the mattress pad and bolster inserts may trap odors. Aside from those two issues, we highly recommend the FurHaven Cuddler if you’re looking for a premium dog bed for calming anxiety.

    Pros
    • 9-inch donut bolster supports curling up
    • Deep little “pockets” for hiding toys
    • 1.5-inch vegan faux fur is warm and soft
    • Foam mattress pad that supports the body
    Cons
    • On the expensive side, especially for bigger sizes
    • Cover is only washable

    4. The Dog’s Balls Sound Sleep Calming Bed

    The Dog’s Balls Original Sound Sleep Calming Bed

    The Dog’s Balls Original Sound Sleep Calming Bed is a donut-shaped cuddler that can help reduce your dog’s anxiety. The 1.5-inch faux fur is soft and will keep your dog warm, with a wide selection of colors and sizes to customize to your taste. The donut bolster has a removable polyester-filled insert and measures around 6″, which keeps your dog curled up and comfortable. The bottom is slip-resistant, which is good for older dogs that might slide around getting in and out of bed. It also features a removable cover that is machine washable, but the pad and bolster insert are not washable and may trap odors.

    However, this bed is on the expensive side compared to our Top 3 Picks, especially if you have a large breed of dog. The plush mattress feels soft, but it may not be enough to support dogs with joint problems and other conditions. Lastly, the donut bolster is only 6 inches, which is shorter than most donut cuddler beds. This bed is good for small or medium dogs, but it may not be supportive enough for bigger dogs.

    Pros
    • 1.5-inch faux fur in multiple colors
    • 6-inch donut bolster made with polyester filler
    • Removable cover that is machine washable
    • Slip-resistant bottom
    Cons
    • On the expensive side, especially for bigger sizes
    • Plush mattress pad may not support dogs with arthritis
    • Bolster is on the shorter side

    5. Bedsure Calming Bed for Dogs

    Bedsure Calming Bed for Dogs

    The Bedsure Calming Bed for Dogs is a good donut dog bed that is great for dogs that love to curl up. The big poly-fill donut bolster is overstuffed with poly-fill for a snug feeling, which is perfect for your dog to snuggle up in and help feel calmer. The faux fur outer layer is soft and soothing to the touch while also keeping your dog nice and warm. The Bedsure Calming Bed is also completely machine washable, which helps reduce odors that may stick over time. This bed would be higher up on our list, but it’s only available in two size options, so it’s not an option for dogs larger than 50 pounds. The faux fur outer layer is also shorter compared to other beds, so it doesn’t feel as luxurious as it could. The inner diameter is also a bit small from the overstuffed donut ring, which could be a potential issue for bigger medium-sized dogs.

    This bed has potential for small or medium dogs, but there are other options on our list that may be a better fit.

    Pros
    • Big poly-fill donut bolster to curl up against
    • Faux fur outer layer is calming and warm
    • Entire bed is machine washable
    Cons
    • Inner sleeping area is small
    • Faux fur is a bit short
    • Only two size options

    6. SHU UFANRO Dog Calming Bed

    SHU UFANRO Dog Calming Bed

    The SHU UFANRO Dog Calming Bed is a donut cuddler bed designed to reduce your dog’s anxiety. It’s got a 6.7-inch bolster that promotes curling up for a nice, snug feeling that can help calm your dog. The entire bed is machine washable to help eliminate odors, a good feature to have compared to dog beds that only have machine washable covers. There are some good things about this bed, but we also found some potential issues.

    The mattress pad is not as supportive as the other beds in our Top 3, so it’s not a good option for dogs that need a foam bed. Another problem that this bed has is with the filling material, which tends to clump after washing. It’s also not suitable for dogs that like to excessively dig or chew, which will destroy the bed quickly and waste your money. The SHU UFANRO Calming Bed is a good choice, but we recommend trying other models on our lists first.

    Pros
    • Soft faux fur that retains heat
    • 6.7-inch bolster promotes curling up
    • Entire bed is machine washable
    Cons
    • Not as supportive as other beds
    • Filling may clump after washing
    • Not suitable for destructive chewing or digging

    7. HACHIKITTY Dog Calming Donut Bed

    HACHIKITTY Dog Calming Donut Bed

    The HACHIKITTY Dog Calming Donut Bed is a dog donut cuddler bed for dogs with anxiety. It’s made with a 9-inch polyester-filled donut ring for a snug circle to curl up in, while also supporting the head and neck. The center pillow is removable for more room, which is different than other beds. It also has a vegan faux fur outer layer that is self-heating, comforting your dog when anxious. Although this bed seems like a good value at first, there are a few problems that we ran into. The biggest issue is that the center pillow is too thick, and it’s almost the same height as the donut ring, but there’s no support without it.

    Another issue is the lack of a zipper to remove just the cover or to fix the filler inside. Lastly, it tends to clump up a lot after going through the washing machine, even though it says it’s machine washable. The HACHIKITTY Dog bed could be a great bed, but there are models that are a better value for your money.

    Pros
    • Center pillow is removable for more room
    • Vegan faux fur helps comfort your dog
    • 9-inch donut ring for support
    Cons
    • No zipper to remove cover
    • Center pillow is too thick
    • Filler clumps up after washing

    8. MFOX Calming Dog Bed

    MFOX Calming Dog Bed

    The MFOX Calming Dog Bed is an average-quality donut-style dog bed aimed at relieving symptoms of anxiety. This model has soft faux fur that comes in multiple color options, which is good for matching your home décor. The entire bed is also machine washable, so you can clean it and get rid of any odors. While there are some pros to this model, there are some issues that we couldn’t overlook.

    A big problem with this bed is the lack of padding in the whole bed, so it’ll have no support for joints or curling up. Another issue is that the faux fur is too thin, so it’s not nearly as cozy and calming as it could be. It also slides around on hardwood floors and can be a pain for older dogs, even though it claims to have a non-slip bottom. However, the biggest issue by far is with the strong chemical smell out of the box, so you’ll need to air it out for at least a day before your dog can even use it.

    Pros
    • Faux fur outer cover with multiple color options
    • Entire bed is machine washable
    Cons
    • Faux fur is too thin
    • Whole bed has little to no padding
    • Bottom of the bed slides around
    • Chemical smell out of the box

    9. BinetGo Calming Dog Bed

    BinetGo Calming Dog Bed

    The BinetGo Calming Dog Bed is a donut cuddler bed that encourages curling up and supports your dog’s body and head. The soft vegan faux fur is great for calmness and comfort, which will keep your dog cozy and warm. The entire bed is machine washable and dryer safe, but it’s crucial to follow the care instructions to prevent clumping of the polyester filler material. While those features are good to have, there are things that we didn’t like about this bed. The BinetGo donut bed is on the expensive side for the size of the bed, which is not ideal when there are similar models of better quality in the same price range. The donut bolster itself is only 5.5 inches, so it’s not nearly as supportive as the other beds with 7-inch bolsters or higher.

    There are also no size options for dogs bigger than 45 pounds, so it’s limited to a smaller customer base. But the worst problem is the headache-inducing chemical smell the bed has out of the box, which will need airing out for a few days.

    Pros
    • Soft vegan faux fur for calmness and comfort
    • Machine washable and dryer safe
    Cons
    • Donut bolster is only 5.5 inches
    • No size options for 45+ pound dogs
    • On the expensive side
    • Strong chemical smell out of the box

    10. ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed

    ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed

    The ANWA Washable Dog Calming Bed is a donut cuddler calming bed designed to lower your dog’s anxiety. It features an 8-inch polyester-filled donut ring that is surprisingly well-padded and supportive. This bed comes in three size options for dogs up to 75 pounds, so it’s not limited to small dogs. However, there are too many problems with this specific donut cuddler bed that brought it down to the last pick on our list. For some reason, the bed material on the outside is particularly easy to destroy by chewing, digging, and scratching, so it’ll be destroyed by puppies and destructive dogs. Another issue is that the faux fur feels fake and plasticky, which is not how faux fur should feel.

    The bottom slides around too easily as well, so it’s not safe for older dogs that struggle to get in and out of their beds. It’s also delicate, like we said before, so we do not recommend machine washing it. We recommend trying out Top 5 donut cuddler beds before trying this one.

    Pros
    • 8-inch polyester filled donut ring
    • Size options for dogs up to 75 pounds
    Cons
    • Particularly easy to destroy by chewing
    • Faux fur feels fake and plasticky
    • Too delicate to put in the wash
    • Slides around easily

    Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Calming Dog Bed

    How to Buy the Best Donut Dog Bed

    Buying the best donut cuddler bed isn’t difficult to do, but there are factors that will help you decide. Donut cuddler beds can be a great stress reliever and a comfortable place to sleep, but not all donut beds are alike. With our reviews and guide, finding a calming dog for your bed will be much easier.

    Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Bed:

    Size of Your Dog

    Arguably the most important factor to consider is your dog’s size, which will determine what brands carry your dog’s size and what size option you should buy. A small dog bed will be useless for a 70-pound dog, so make sure that your dog can fit comfortably inside the donut ring.

    Support Needs of Your Dog

    Joint and body support are very important to consider, especially for dogs with moderate and severe arthritis and other conditions. When looking for a bed, it’s crucial to find one that has a thicker mattress pad in the center, which will help alleviate the pressure on the joints. Some donut beds are very thin in the donut’s center, so look out for beds that have thicker centers.

    dog in The Dog’s Balls Original Sound Sleep Calming Bed

    Size of the Donut Bolster

    The actual height of the donut bolster will determine how snuggly and supportive the bed really is. We recommend looking for a bed with bolsters measuring 7 inches or taller for maximum support. A bigger bolster also promotes curling and snuggling, so it’ll help calm your dog down and help reduce anxiety.

    Destructiveness of Your Dog

    If your dog is an extreme chewer, most donut cuddler beds will not survive. These beds are best for puppies and dogs that don’t excessively chew or scratch. If your dog likes to dig a little before sleeping, you should be fine with a donut bed.

    Divider 5Donut Dog Beds: Conclusion

    After carefully reviewing each model, we found the best beds to satisfy your dog’s sleeping and anxiety needs. If you are looking for the best overall dog bed, we recommend giving the Best Friends by Sheri Calming Dog Bed. It’s made with high-quality faux fur and AirLOFT poly-fill for a hug-like feeling for your dog, soothing anxiety and restlessness. Our favorite model for the best value is the FOCUSPET Dog Calming Bed, which is high in quality and a great value for your money. Hopefully, our careful research and reviews of the ten best dog donut calming beds will help you find the right bed for your dog. We crafted our guide and list with your pet’s comfort and safety in mind, so we hope it will make the shopping process easier.

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