Dog Bed Mats & Pads

Flat bedding with no sides — for a crate, a car boot, the space under a desk, or on top of the sofa they have already claimed. A mat fits places a shaped bed cannot, and it is the easiest kind to get in and out of the wash. What they give up is an edge to rest their head on.

When flat is the better answer

When floor space is the constraint, or when the dog sprawls and never uses a rim anyway. Mats also travel well, which is how they end up in crates, car boots and the second sleeping spot most dogs keep somewhere else in the house.

Thickness depends on the floor under it

On carpet, thin is plenty. On tile or a crate pan, a thin mat is not far off lying on the floor itself. The product page gives the depth, and the surface underneath is what that number should be judged against.

On smooth floors, a textured or rubberised base is the first thing to check. A mat that slides out from under them as they lands on it will put them off using it at all, and that is hard to undo once it happens.