How to measure your dog correctly before buying a bed

The most common mistake when buying a dog bed is judging the size by eye. Measuring takes two minutes and can save you the trouble of a return.

What to measure Length: from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail while your dog lies stretched out on their side. Width: from the back to the knee while lying down. Height: from the floor to the back while standing — particularly important for crates.

The 15 to 20 cm rule Add 15 cm to the measured length for small and medium-sized dogs, and 20 cm for large breeds. This gives your dog enough room to stretch out and turn around comfortably.

Between two sizes Choose the larger one. A dog bed that does not accommodate your dog's whole body is likely to go unused.

Consider their sleeping position A dog who sleeps curled up needs less length but will appreciate raised sides. A dog who sleeps sprawled out needs plenty of surface area rather than edges.

A helping hand You can find the recommended size for each breed in our [Breed Atlas](/breeds), while the [Size Adviser](/size-advisor) will calculate a tailored recommendation for your dog.