The short answer: watch how your dog sleeps and choose the shape that matches. Curlers settle best in a round bed or a bolster bed with sides to lean on, sprawlers need a flat cushion with room to stretch, burrowers want a bed with a blanket to tuck under, and dogs who rest their head on the arm of the sofa will love a bolster to lean against.
J’adore makes ten bed styles in two families: bolster beds with raised, padded sides, and cushion beds that are flat or nearly flat. This guide matches each sleeping style to the right bed, explains how the beds differ, and helps you choose for puppies, senior dogs and cats.
Start With How Your Dog Sleeps
Spend a few evenings watching your dog doze off. The position they choose most often tells you what they need from a bed.
The curler
Curlers tuck their paws in and wrap their tail around themselves, often in a tight ball. They usually feel most secure with something around them: a round bed, or a bolster bed with sides to press against.
The sprawler
Sprawlers stretch out on their side or back with their legs in every direction. They need space more than sides, so a large, flat cushion lets them stretch out without bumping into a bolster.
The burrower
Burrowers dig, nest and crawl under blankets, pillows or your laundry. Many terriers and Dachshunds are natural burrowers. A bed with an attached blanket gives them a covered spot of their own.
The leaner
Leaners like to rest their head on something raised, like a pillow or the arm of the sofa. A bolster bed gives them a soft edge to lean on in any direction.
Which Bed Suits Which Sleeper
| Bed | Family | What makes it different | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuddle | Bolster | Plush bolsters on the back and sides, a dipped front for an easy step in, fully reversible | Curlers and leaners |
| Cozy Cuddle | Bolster | Bolsters of equal height on all four sides, fully reversible | Pets who like to be surrounded; senior and small dogs |
| Edgy | Bolster | Three structured foam bolsters, an open front and a modern shape | Leaners; dogs who want support without a fully enclosed bed |
| Throne | Bolster | Four tall foam bolsters, the tallest we make, and an attached furry fleece blanket | Burrowers and nesters |
| Penthouse | Bolster | A J’adore original with five bolsters | Curlers who like contact on every side |
| Rectangle | Cushion | The classic flat cushion, with room for a full-length stretch | Sprawlers and large breeds; crates and specific spaces |
| Square | Cushion | A compact cushion for corners and smaller spaces | Compact breeds and cats |
| Round | Cushion | A gentle circular cushion with no raised sides | Curlers |
| Pillow | Cushion | Our lowest-profile cushion, with no edge to climb over | Sprawlers, puppies and older dogs |
| Cave | Cushion | A cushion with a soft blanket attached that drapes over it to make a covered space | Burrowers and cats who like an enclosed spot |
Bolster or Cushion: What’s the Difference?
A bolster bed has raised, padded sides around a cushioned base. The raised edge gives a dog somewhere to rest their head and a sense of being tucked in, which is why bolster beds suit dogs who curl up or lean while they sleep. Our bolster beds are the Cuddle, Cozy Cuddle, Edgy, Throne and Penthouse.
A cushion bed is a well-filled pad with no raised sides, so there’s nothing to climb over and nothing in the way when your dog stretches out. Our cushion beds are the Rectangle, Square, Round, Pillow and Cave.
One sizing difference matters: bed sizes are outside dimensions, so on a bolster bed the sides take up part of the size and the sleeping area inside is smaller. Our dog bed size guide shows how much room to add for each style.
Our Bolster Beds
Cuddle
The Cuddle Bolster Dog Bed is our classic bolster bed. Plush fiberfill bolsters wrap the back and sides so your dog can lean, rest their head or curl in, and the dipped front makes stepping in easy. Flip it over and you have a second look in the same fabrics. Many pet parents choose it for dogs who settle faster with a bolster to lean on.
Cozy Cuddle
The Cozy Cuddle Bolster Dog Bed has bolsters at the same height on all four sides, so there’s support wherever your pet leans. It’s the smaller, snugglier take on the Cuddle, with standard sizes from 19″ x 19″ to 40″ x 32″, and it suits senior dogs and small dogs who like to tuck in.
Edgy
The Edgy Bolster Dog Bed pairs three structured foam bolsters with a clean, contemporary shape. The open front is an easy step in, and the foam bolsters hold their shape for a firmer edge to lean on.
Throne
The Throne Bolster Dog Bed is for pets who love to feel surrounded. Four tall foam bolsters create an enclosed space with a place to rest their head at any angle, and an attached furry fleece blanket invites burrowing and nesting.
Penthouse
The Penthouse Dog Bed is a J’adore original with five bolsters. The extra bolster gives a pet who curls up more places to lean and a cozier, more enclosed feel than a four-sided bed.
Our Cushion Beds
Rectangle
The Rectangle Dog Bed is the classic cushion shape and the one most large breeds prefer, because it lets them stretch out full length. It also fits neatly into a crate or beside a sofa, and custom sizing goes bigger still.
Square
The Square Dog Bed is the same supportive cushion in a footprint that suits corners and smaller spaces. Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and cats are a natural fit.
Round
The Round Dog Bed has a gentle circular shape that makes a natural resting spot for pets who curl up to sleep. Measure your pet curled up and add a few inches to choose the diameter.
Pillow
The Pillow Dog Bed is our lowest-profile cushion. With no raised edge to climb over, it’s easy to step onto, it moves easily from room to room, and the cover can be used on either side.
Cave
The Cave Dog Bed has a soft blanket attached to the cushion. It isn’t a structured hood: it drapes loosely over your pet, so they can tuck themselves under it and push out from any side. Underneath is the same supportive cushion as our other beds.
Choosing for Puppies, Senior Dogs and Cats
- Puppies: the Pillow has no edge to climb over, and you can size for your puppy’s expected adult size so the bed lasts.
- Senior dogs: the Edgy has an open front for an easy step in, the Cozy Cuddle gives them something to lean on from any side, and the Pillow has no edge at all. For fill, see our guide to beds for senior dogs.
- Cats: cats tend to love the Cuddle, Round and Cave styles, and the smaller sizes fit most cats comfortably. Read more on why cats love plush and enclosed beds.
Fill, Size and Fabric
Once you’ve chosen the shape, three more choices finish the bed:
- Fill: fiberfill, memory foam or high-density foam, depending on the bed. Our fill guide compares them, and orthopedic vs. plush explains the difference in feel.
- Size: standard sizes cover most dogs, and every bed can be made in a custom size. Start with the size guide.
- Fabric: choose from more than 300 fabrics, a different one for each part of the bed if you like. See our dog bed fabric guide.
Three Ways to Get Your Bed
- Design Your Own: choose every fabric, the size and the fill, and add your pet’s name for free.
- Signature Styles: fabric combinations our designers have already put together, still made to order in your size.
- Ready To Ship: beds that are already made and ship the next business day.
Every bed is handmade to order in our Kansas City workroom, has a removable, machine-washable cover and comes with a one-year warranty. Browse all dog beds to compare them side by side.
