Whippets have a reputation for vanishing under blankets and leaving just a nose sticking out. Finding the best dog bed for a whippet starts with how the breed is built. The AKC standard describes a coat that is "short, close, smooth and firm" on a dog "built for speed and work," so there's little fur and little padding over the elbows and hips. The American Whippet Club says whippets need soft bedding to sleep on, and that their coats do not provide the insulation to withstand prolonged exposure to the cold. So a whippet bed should be thick, soft, warm and, ideally, something to burrow into. Here are four picks.
Quick picks
| Badge | Pick | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave (Large) | A hooded nest with a sherpa lining, up to 55 lb (K9 of Mine) |
| Best for bony joints | PetFusion Ultimate Dog Lounge | Memory foam with bolsters; Dog Gear Review's is still going after 6 years |
| Best budget burrow bed | Furhaven Snuggery Burrow | Orthopedic foam base and a hood you can prop open |
| Best for curling up | Sheri Calming Donut (30") | Plush rim, washable shell, rated to 45 lb |
Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave (Large)
Best for: the classic blanket-burrowing whippet.
The Cozy Cave is a round bed with a soft hood that drapes over your dog, which is as close as a bed gets to a whippet's favorite thing: being under the covers. K9 of Mine calls it the best cave bed for blanket-cuddlers and says it fits dogs up to about 55 pounds, which covers the whippet's 25 to 40 pounds (AKC). The Large is 35 inches across, with a high-pile sherpa lining and a machine-washable microsuede cover. The round Cozy Cave is filled with cedar and poly fill; Snoozer sells its foam-filled versions as a separate Orthopedic Cozy Cave line (see its site), which we have not reviewed.
What we like
- Hood for warmth and privacy
- Sherpa lining for a thin-coated dog
- Cedar and poly fill, which the maker says reduces odor
- Washable cover
Keep in mind
- Round: a whippet who sprawls on their side may hang over the edge
- Needs floor space for a 35-inch round bed (maker)
Key specs: Large 35" diameter · 3" sidewall · about 8" tall · sherpa interior · cedar/poly fill · one-year warranty (maker)
PetFusion Ultimate Dog Lounge
Best for: whippets who stretch out, seniors, and dogs with prominent elbows and hips.
Dog Gear Review has had this bed for six years. Their dog slept on it every day and it went through the washing machine many times. After two months they couldn't tell which side of the foam had been slept on, and at the six-year mark it's still their dog's nighttime bed and "in great shape." It has a thick memory foam base with a bolster on three sides to lean on, a tear- and water-resistant cover that's machine-washable, a waterproof liner on the foam and a no-skid base. Its rectangular shape gives a long-legged whippet room to sprawl, which a round bed can't.
What we like
- Memory foam base for a lean frame
- Bolsters on three sides
- Washable cover; waterproof foam liner
- Six years of daily use in Dog Gear Review's home
Keep in mind
- No hood: add a blanket for a burrower
- Bolsters mean a step up on three sides
Key specs: memory foam base · bolsters on 3 sides · water-resistant washable cover · waterproof liner · no-skid bottom (Dog Gear Review). The memory foam is 4 inches tall on the Large and XL (Dog Gear Review). Check the listing for exact dimensions.
Furhaven Snuggery Burrow Bed (orthopedic)
Best for: a covered bed with foam support, on a budget.
K9 of Mine picked the Snuggery as its best large-sized cave bed. It has an orthopedic foam base for dogs with joint issues and a sherpa-and-suede build. The clever part is the hood: leave the included support tubing in and the top stays propped open so your dog can walk in, or take the tubing out and the top drapes over them like a blanket.
What we like
- Orthopedic foam base
- Hood works two ways
- Big enough for larger dogs (K9 of Mine)
- Budget-friendly
Keep in mind
- Check the listing says "orthopedic" or "foam": Furhaven sells several fills under similar names
Key specs: orthopedic foam base · sherpa and suede · hood with removable support tubing (K9 of Mine)
Best Friends by Sheri The Original Calming Donut Cuddler (30")
Best for: whippets who sleep curled nose-to-tail.
The donut's raised, plush rim makes a nest your whippet can circle into and rest their chin on. The 30-inch size is rated for dogs up to 45 pounds, which fits most whippets curled up. The removable zipper shell is safe to machine wash and dry (gentle cycle, tumble dry low), and the bottom is water- and dirt-resistant.
What we like
- Raised rim for a curled-up sleeper
- Removable shell: machine wash and dry (maker)
- Many colors
Keep in mind
- Poly fill, not foam: soft, but less support for bony joints than the PetFusion
- Too small for a whippet who sleeps stretched out
Key specs: 30" × 30", up to 45 lb · AirLoft fiber fill · removable shell, machine wash and dry (maker)
How to choose a bed for a whippet
Sighthound needs, and what to look for
Our own matrix, built from the AKC standard and the American Whippet Club's care notes.
| Whippet trait | Source | What it means for the bed | Picks that fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short, close, smooth coat | AKC standard | Warm lining (sherpa, plush), a hood or blanket | Snoozer, Furhaven, Sheri |
| Lean build "for speed and work" | AKC standard | Thick foam rather than thin fill under elbows and hips | PetFusion, Furhaven |
| Needs soft bedding | American Whippet Club | Soft top layer, not a hard cot or crate tray | All four |
| Not made for long spells in the cold | American Whippet Club | Indoors, off drafty floors | All four, inside |
| Burrowing and nesting | Breed reputation (not in the AKC or AWC text) | Hood, attached blanket or a throw on top | Snoozer, Furhaven |
| Long legs, may sprawl | Our inference from the build | Rectangle long enough to stretch out | PetFusion |
Whippet bed sizing
AKC: males 19–22 inches tall, females 18–21 inches, 25–40 pounds. Bed sizes are the makers'.
| Sleeping style | How to measure | Size to look for | From our picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curled up | Across the curled dog, plus a few inches | About 30–35" round | Sheri 30", Snoozer Large 35" |
| Stretched out on the side | Nose to tail base, plus 6–12" | A rectangle about 36" long or more | PetFusion (check the listed length) |
| Both | Measure the stretch | Rectangle with bolsters, plus a blanket | PetFusion + throw |
The 6 to 12 inches of extra length is our own rule of thumb, so measure your dog rather than relying on breed averages.
Foam or fiber fill?
Fiber fill (the Sheri, the round Snoozer) is soft and cozy, but K9 of Mine has noted that cotton and polyfill tend to flatten under a dog's weight. Foam (PetFusion, Furhaven) holds its shape under a lean dog's bony points. For an older whippet, we'd always choose foam. Our orthopedic dog bed guide compares thicker foam beds, and our senior dog bed guide covers low-entry options.
Hood, blanket or neither?
If your whippet burrows under your covers, a hooded bed gives them that feeling in their own spot. If they like to watch the room, choose a bolster bed and drape a light blanket over one corner. Either way, a washable throw is useful to have nearby.
Washing
A whippet's short coat sheds less fluff than many breeds, but beds still need regular washing. Here's what the makers say:
- Sheri Calming Donut: the removable shell goes in the washer and dryer.
- Snoozer Cozy Cave: the microsuede cover is machine-washable.
- PetFusion Ultimate: the cover is machine-washable and the foam has a waterproof liner (Dog Gear Review washed theirs many times).
- Furhaven Snuggery: check the care label on the listing, as Furhaven's versions differ.
Crates
If your whippet sleeps in a crate, a hard tray is the opposite of the soft bedding the American Whippet Club recommends. Snoozer also makes Cozy Cave crate beds, or lay a foam mattress cut to the crate floor with a blanket on top.
Summer
A warm sherpa cave can be too much in July. A thin gel pad laid on top of a foam bed works well; see our cooling mats guide.
Whippet bed comparison
| Pick | Style | Fill | Size for a whippet | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave | Hooded round | Cedar/poly fill | Large, 35" | Burrowers |
| PetFusion Ultimate | Bolster rectangle | Memory foam | Large or XL (check length) | Sprawlers, seniors |
| Furhaven Snuggery Burrow | Hooded | Orthopedic foam base | Check the size chart | Burrowers on a budget |
| Sheri Calming Donut | Donut | Poly fiber | 30", to 45 lb | Curlers |
FAQs
What kind of bed is best for a whippet?
A thick, soft bed with a warm lining, and ideally a hood or blanket to burrow into. Our top pick is the Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave in Large. For a whippet who stretches out, the PetFusion Ultimate Dog Lounge.
Why do whippets need soft beds?
The American Whippet Club lists soft bedding as one of the breed's basic needs. With a short, close coat and a lean frame, whippets have little natural padding between their joints and a hard floor.
What size bed does a whippet need?
Most whippets weigh 25 to 40 pounds (AKC). Curled up, a round bed of about 30 to 35 inches works; stretched out, choose a rectangle at least 36 inches long. Measure your own dog first.
Do whippets like cave beds?
Many do: whippets have a reputation for burrowing under blankets. A cave bed like the Snoozer or Furhaven Snuggery gives them that covered feeling. Some prefer a bolster bed with a blanket they can pull over themselves.
Can whippets sleep outside?
They shouldn't sleep outdoors in the cold. The American Whippet Club says their coats don't insulate them for long spells of cold, and that whippets aren't suited to an unheated kennel or life as outside dogs.
Soft, warm and something to tunnel under: give a whippet that, and they'll sleep the afternoon away.
