Best Dog Beds for Cold Weather

When temperatures start to drop, our first instinct is to cozy up with a warm blanket. But what about our furry friends? 

Dogs don’t have the luxury of turning up the heat when they’re feeling cold. So, it’s important to make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep that will keep them warm. However, our pups aren’t like us, and many don’t want to be buried under mountains of blankets. Some, like St. Bernards, are cold-weather breeds and even prefer to be cool. 

It might sound like a tough call, but we’ve got you covered with the best dog beds for cold weather. They provide you with plenty of options. So, fur babies who run cold will be nice and toasty, and others will just have a relaxing night’s sleep. 

1. L.L.Bean Premium Oval Bolster – Reversible for Year-round

One glance at L.L.Bean’s Premium Oval Bolster dog bed, and you’ll want to curl up inside. 

This bed doesn’t have accessories like warming inserts, but it doesn’t need it. The Sherpa lining and surrounding bolsters provide a comforting little hideaway. And, with four sizes, it’ll hold all but the largest breeds. 

Please note: The listed dimensions are overall, so deduct some space for the sidewalls.

Bottom Line – The word premium is intentional as L.L.Bean’s Premium Oval Bolster is a pricier option. However, it’s well-made and should last for years. In addition to keeping your furry family member cozy and warm, it’s multi-functional. All you have to do is flip over the mattress, and the Sherpa turns into denim. So, you’ve got one of the best dog beds for cold weather – and warm!

2. Nest Bedding – Wool Dog Bed for Cold Weather

Like L.L.Bean, Nest is a premium provider of dog beds. So, you pay more upfront for a quality product that’ll last much longer compared to bargain brands. However, unlike L.L.Bean, with its expansive dog bed line, Nest sticks to two models: Bolstered and Wool. 

While the Bolstered Dog Bed is squishy and surrounds its user with soft material, we chose to highlight the Wool Dog Bed. It’s an ideal choice for breeds that need just a little warmth at night without going overboard. 

The Wool model is a high-profile mattress-style dog bed with a colorful canvas base and an off-white wool topper. It’s up to 10” thick and will keep your fur baby off the cold floor

Bottom Line – Even dogs who don’t mind the cold can get comfortable on this Nest Wool Dog Bed. It doesn’t go overboard with features aside from heat dissipation. Plus, pups who like to stretch out will appreciate the simplicity, as there aren’t side bolsters. The downside is that it’s not large enough for extra-large and jumbo breeds.

3. K & H Pet Products Deluxe Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Bolster Pet Bed

K & H markets this dog bed for cold weather as the “only outdoor heated bed that is also soft AND has a bolster!” Enough said, right?

The K & H Pet Products Deluxe Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Bolster model is an investment, but one that’ll pay off if your pup spends a lot of time outside. The bed features dual thermostats to direct the warmth to match your pup’s body temperature. And the cord is steel wrapped and MET-certified, meaning an independent lab considers it safe.

Bottom Line – If you’ve got a dog with an outdoor house or who spends a lot of time outside, this is an excellent product to keep them warm. However, you must know your dog’s habits before purchasing this one. It’s not great for pups who like to chew. Instead, consider a warming pad that uses your pet’s body heat instead of electricity to circulate warmth.

4. Kuranda Elevated Dog Bed with Heated Blanket

Like the K & H Pet Products model, Kuranda’s heated blanket isn’t for all of our furry friends. We don’t advise using any electrical pet product with pups known to seek and destroy. But if that’s not your dog, then you might appreciate building the best bed for cold weather, warm weather, and everything in between.

Kuranda is known for its line of elevated pet beds. So right off the bat, the user is off the cold ground or floor. But when you add the removable heated blanket, you’ve got the complete package for when it’s cold inside or outside.

We’ve covered Kuranda’s beds in depth. So, we’ll turn our attention to the company’s relatively new heated blanket. The “blanket” is actually a fleece cover with a PVC water-resistant heating element inside. It attaches to any of Kuranda’s beds, including the crate model, with elastic bands at the corners. 

Bottom Line – The heated blanket is just one in Kuranda’s wide range of accessories to accompany its elevated dog beds. If you’re leery about using an electric warmer, you can still turn a simple cot-style into one of the best dog beds for cold weather. Kuranda also sells canvas bed toppers, ultra-plush microsuede slipcovers, fleece blankets, and pillow pads.

How do I know if my pup is cold at night?

Without verbal communication, it’s tough to tell what’s going on with our pets. However, there are signs and signals that your fur baby is cold and relying on you to comfort them. The most obvious is shivering or shaking. If you’ve bathed your pup at home, you’ve probably watched them tremble under the bath towel, an obvious indication that they’re uncomfortable. It’s the same, even when water isn’t involved. 

Other less apparent signs include whining or excessive barking, looking for new places to rest, a tucked tail, or even raising their paws to keep them off the cold floor.

What dog breeds benefit the most from dog beds for cold weather?

Smaller dog breeds tend to need some extra warmth at night. For the most part, they don’t like the cold like Siberian Huskies or Newfoundlands. Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas are just a few pups that wouldn’t mind a good dog bed for cold weather. But you might be surprised at some others. For example, a Great Dane falls into the large dog category but has a short coat and benefits from a blanket at night.

How cold is too cold for a dog to sleep?

The name says it all with dogs like Alaskan Malamute, Newfoundland, and Tibetan Terriers, as they’re bred for cold weather and can tolerate lower temperatures. Even so, though, we don’t recommend leaving them outside when the thermometer dips below 50 degrees, especially if they’re in the house most of the time. Other breeds will shake and shiver even at 60. 

Fortunately, pet product providers have all kinds of options to keep fur babies warm, from warming pads to electric beds.

Do all dog beds for cold weather use electricity?

No. There are very few pet beds or accessories that rely on electricity to provide heat. Some of the most effective dog beds for warming are Sherpa lined, surrounded by bolsters, or have a self-warming mattress insert.

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Beds for Cold Weather

Cuddlers and Bolsters – Dog beds with raised sides create a warmer cocoon for dogs who like to sleep warmer. Combine that with a warming insert or mattress with heat dissipation, and most won’t even need a blanket.

Electric Heat Depends on the Pup – Buying a bed or blanket with an electric warmer might seem like the optimal solution. However, you really have to know your dog before you “plug in.” We suggest a warming insert that uses body heat to keep your fur baby comfy if you have a pup who likes to chew.

Some Dogs Like it Cool –  We tend to assume that when we’re cold, our dogs are too. But, some pups love to sleep in a cold room or even outside when there’s a slight chill in the air. So, we wouldn’t advise jumping right to a fleece bed or warming insert, as it may have the opposite effect. 

Heated Pads or Blankets – You don’t need to use electricity to keep your furry friend toasty warm at night. An entire pet products market is devoted to accessories and dog beds for cold weather. You’ll find warming pads, Sherpa-lining, fleece blankets, and other options – none of which require an electric outlet.