Best Dog Bed for a German Shepherd: How to Size, Choose, and Care for It

A German Shepherd spends the day on watch. The right bed is the one place they can finally stop.

The best dog bed for a German Shepherd is sized to the dog lying down, not to the breed name. Measure your Shepherd in their usual resting position, compare it to the bed's sleeping area, and size up between sizes. Then match the shape to how they rest, and choose a cover that unzips for washing, because the double coat sheds.

Key Takeaways

• Size to the dog at rest. The German Shepherd is longer than tall, so length is usually the measurement that decides the size.
• Large is where most Shepherd owners start in our square, lounger, and rectangle beds; X-Large is the size to check in our round Puff beds.
• Match the shape to the rest style. Leaners and chin-resters suit four-sided squares, stretchers suit loungers and rectangles, and curlers suit round Puffs.
• Choose memory foam with real support. Companion-Pedic® memory foam is 4-5 lb per cubic foot; in most of our beds it sits over a firm 55 ILD support foam.
• Plan for the double coat. Pick a removable cover that unzips for a cold-water machine wash, and a color that sits close to your dog's coat.

What size dog bed does a German Shepherd need?

Most German Shepherds need a Large bed, and some need X-Large. The AKC breed standard puts males at 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and females at 22 to 24 inches, with a body longer than tall. Measure your own dog at rest and compare to each bed's dimensions, because size ladders differ from one bed line to the next.

The method we recommend:

1. Measure the dog in their real resting position. Catch them asleep. For a dog who stretches out, measure from nose to the base of the tail. For a dog who curls, measure across the widest point of the curl.
2. Compare to the sleeping area, not the outside of the bed. Bolsters take up room. Where a product lists inner dimensions, use those.
3. Map it on the floor. Mark the bed's dimensions on the floor with tape around your dog to see the fit.
4. Size up when in doubt. A Shepherd who has room to shift positions through the night will use the bed. One who hangs off the edge will not.

For a wider view of sizing across big breeds, see our guide to the best dog beds for large and extra-large dogs.

Which Animals Matter beds fit a German Shepherd?

These are the Companion-Pedic® beds we would put in front of a German Shepherd owner, with the size to start from. Dimensions are taken from each product page; check the full size chart before ordering.

The two Ortho Squares are the beds we reach for first for a German Shepherd. Equal bolsters on all four sides mean a dog who leans, rests a chin on the edge, or backs into a corner always has something to settle against, and the square footprint sits cleanly against a wall or at the foot of your own bed. Choose the Ali Jewel® in velvet, in six jewel tones, or the Ruby in faux fur.

Which bed shape suits how my German Shepherd sleeps?

Watch where your Shepherd chooses to rest for a week, then match the shape to the habit. A dog who leans into a wall suits a bolstered square, a dog who stretches flat suits a lounger or a rectangle, a dog who curls tight suits a round Puff, and a senior suits a low front.

• Leaners and chin-resters: the Ali Jewel® Ortho Square™ and Ruby Ortho Puff® Square give support on all four sides, so every direction your dog faces has an edge to lean on.
• Stretchers and sprawlers: the Katie Puff® Encore and Ruby Puff® Ortho Loungers leave a 36 x 30 inch inner area in the Large, with a low front opening for an easy step in. The Ruby Puff® Ortho Rectangle has no bolsters at all, for a dog who wants every inch to lie flat on.
• Curlers: the Katie Ortho Puff® Encore™ and Ruby Ortho Puff® wrap a curled dog in an overstuffed round bolster. For a dog who also stretches out, the Katie Ortho Puff® Encore™ product page recommends sizing up or choosing a more open bed.
• Seniors: a low entry is easier to step into than a tall bolster. The Ruby Sydney™ Ortho has a lower front and a sloping headrest; the loungers open at the front.

Is a memory foam bed good for a German Shepherd?

For comfort and support, yes. A bigger dog brings more weight to bear on a bed, so the material underneath matters more than the loft on top. Companion-Pedic® memory foam is 4-5 lb per cubic foot. In our layered beds it sits over a high-resilience support foam rated 55 ILD, a measure of firmness, so the soft layer lets your dog settle in while the firmer foam gives a stable base.

The Ruby Puff® Ortho Rectangle is built differently on purpose: one solid 2.5-inch piece of memory foam that works with the floor beneath it as its support. It is kept thin by design, because deep memory foam with nothing firm under it would let a dog sink too far. Construction varies by product and size, and each product page describes its own.

A supportive bed is about comfort, not treatment. If your vet has raised a hip or elbow concern, talk with them about your dog's needs, and see our guide to dog beds for hip dysplasia for how bed choice fits into that conversation.

What fabric is best for a German Shepherd who sheds?

The breed standard describes a double coat of medium length, so hair on the bed is part of life with a Shepherd. Choose a removable cover you can wash, and a color close to your dog's coat so hair reads as texture rather than contrast between washes. Velvet has a short, smooth surface; faux fur is deep and plush.

• Velvet: the Ali Jewel® Ortho Square™ comes in six velvet colors, from Diamond Sand to Sapphire Cobalt. Please allow for natural variations in the velvet.
• Faux fur: the Ruby Ortho Puff® Square and Ruby Sydney™ Ortho come in Ivory, Light Gray, and Charcoal, and the Katie Puff® Encore beds in Camel, Charcoal, and Pearl Gray (check each product page for the colors offered).
• Between washes: a regular brushing routine for your dog keeps more of the coat off the bed. Our guide to managing a blowing coat covers the seasonal sheds.

How do I clean a German Shepherd's dog bed?

Clean the cover and the foam separately. On the beds in this guide, the cover unzips for a cold-water machine wash and line drying, with no heat, bleach, or bleach alternatives. The inserts and foam are never machine washed: spot treat with half white vinegar and half water, then let them air dry fully before the cover goes back on.

For a dog who drools, comes in wet, or is getting older, the Ruby Sydney™ Ortho, both Ortho Loungers, and the Ruby Puff® Ortho Rectangle offer a With Waterproof Liner option. The Luxura-Protect™ liner sits beneath the cover to help shield the foam from occasional spills or accidents. It is not designed for ongoing moisture, so for frequent accidents add a waterproof blanket over the bed.

Where should a German Shepherd's bed go?

Put the bed where your Shepherd can rest near the household without sitting in the traffic path: a quiet corner of a room the family uses, against a wall, out of direct heat. A square bed sits flush in that corner. For more on placement, see where to put your dog's bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size dog bed does a German Shepherd need?

Most German Shepherds need a Large bed, and some need X-Large. Measure your dog in their usual resting position, compare that to the bed's inner or sleeping dimensions, and size up when you are between sizes. Size ladders differ between bed lines, so check each product's own size chart.

What is the best type of dog bed for a German Shepherd?

The best type matches how your dog rests. Leaners and chin-resters suit a square bed bolstered on all four sides, such as the Ali Jewel® Ortho Square™. Dogs who stretch out suit a lounger or a flat rectangle, curlers suit a round Puff, and seniors suit a low front entry.

Is a memory foam bed good for a German Shepherd?

For comfort and support, yes. Companion-Pedic® memory foam is 4-5 lb per cubic foot, and in our layered beds it sits over a firm 55 ILD support foam. A bed is for comfort, not treatment, so ask your vet about any joint concern.

What dog bed fabric is best for German Shepherd shedding?

Choose a removable cover that unzips for washing, in a color close to your dog's coat. Velvet has a short, smooth surface and faux fur is deep and plush. A regular brushing routine keeps more of the double coat off the bed.

How do you wash a German Shepherd's dog bed?

Unzip the cover and machine wash it in cold water, then line dry, with no heat, bleach, or bleach alternatives. The foam and inserts are not washable: spot treat them with half white vinegar and half water and let them air dry.

Does a German Shepherd need a waterproof dog bed?

It helps for dogs who drool, come in wet, or are getting older. Several of our beds offer a Luxura-Protect™ waterproof liner beneath the cover to help shield the foam from occasional spills or accidents. For frequent accidents, add a waterproof blanket over the bed.

A Bed Worth Standing Down For

Measure your Shepherd at rest, match the shape to how they sleep, and choose a cover you can keep clean. Explore our large and extra-large dog beds, and give the dog who watches over the house a place to rest as well as they guard it.