Charley Chau, a dog bed maker, says to measure your dog standing and multiply its length and height by 1.25 for the bed’s minimum length and depth. Earthbound, another maker, adds up to 15 cm (about 6 in) to the length and the shoulder width, and compares that with the bed’s inside size.
How to measure your dog
- Stand your dog in a relaxed, natural position with all four feet on the ground and the head up but not stretched (Charley Chau).
- Length: from the tip of the nose to where the tail joins the body (Charley Chau), the base of the tail (Earthbound).
- Height: from the top of the skull straight down to the floor (Charley Chau).
- Width: from shoulder to shoulder (Earthbound).
How much room to add
| Maker | Bed length | Bed depth or width | Compare with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charley Chau | Dog’s length x 1.25 | Dog’s height x 1.25 | The bed’s minimum length and depth |
| Earthbound | Dog’s length plus up to 15 cm (about 6 in) | Shoulder width plus up to 15 cm | The bed’s inside size |
Each rule is written for that maker’s own beds, and Charley Chau says its rule is just for guidance because all dogs are different.
Room to stretch out
Charley Chau says to allow enough room for your dog to stretch out fully, even if it usually sleeps curled up, so it has the choice. It says this matters most in hot weather, since one way dogs cool down is by stretching out on their side.
Inside size vs outside size
Earthbound says to check a bed’s internal measurements, the usable space inside, and that the outside size is how much floor the whole bed takes up. Its beds are hand-made, so sizes may vary slightly.
| Size | Outside (L x W x H) | Inside (L x W) |
|---|---|---|
| M | 76 x 62 x 23 cm (29.9 x 24.4 x 9.1 in) | 48 x 35 cm (18.9 x 13.8 in) |
| L | 92 x 75 x 29 cm (36.2 x 29.5 x 11.4 in) | 59 x 49 cm (23.2 x 19.3 in) |
| XL | 108 x 85 x 29 cm (42.5 x 33.5 x 11.4 in) | 71 x 61 cm (28 x 24 in) |
A worked example
Take a dog 50 cm (19.7 in) long, 40 cm (15.7 in) tall and 20 cm (7.9 in) across the shoulders.
- Charley Chau: 50 x 1.25 and 40 x 1.25 give a bed at least 62.5 cm long and 50 cm deep (24.6 x 19.7 in).
- Earthbound: up to 65 cm long and 35 cm wide inside. Its XL (71 x 61 cm inside) gives the full 15 cm of length, its L (59 x 49 cm) 9 cm, and its M (48 cm long inside) is shorter than the dog.
Covered beds
Charley Chau says its Snuggle Beds, which have a cover, need a little extra length and depth because your dog has to get under the cover.