Animal print dog beds have moved well past novelty-store status heading into 2026 — leopard, cheetah, giraffe, and zebra patterns are now offered by mainstream pet bed brands in the same materials and construction as their solid-color lines. That’s good news if you want a bed that looks intentional in your living room rather than like a costume prop, but it also means the print itself tells you almost nothing about whether the bed will actually hold up. Below we break down what to look for underneath the pattern, plus our current picks.
Our Picks for Animal Print Dog Beds in 2026
Furhaven Faux Fur & Suede Snuggery Burrow Pet Bed (Leopard)
- Convertible burrow/flat design fits different sleep styles
- Faux fur holds its texture after repeated washing
- Sizes run from small lap dogs to large breeds
- The hood bunches up and needs occasional fluffing
- Runs a bit small for dogs at the top of a size bracket
Bedsure Calming Donut Dog Bed (Leopard Faux Fur)
- Very affordable for the size options offered
- Bolster edge helps dogs feel secure
- Machine washable cover
- Filling flattens faster than pricier competitors
- Print fades slightly after many wash cycles
Furhaven Cooling Gel Foam Orthopedic Sofa Dog Bed (Jaguar Print Cover)
- Supportive foam base holds shape under heavier dogs
- Bolstered sofa sides double as a headrest
- Removable, washable cover
- Bulky and harder to move between rooms
- Higher price point than basic donut beds
MidWest QuietTime Defender Fashion Pet Bed (Leopard Fleece)
- Fits standard wire crate dimensions well
- Machine washable and dries quickly
- Reasonably tough fleece top
- Thin padding isn't ideal for full-time floor use
- Print is more muted than true leopard tones
K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Bed (Giraffe Print Cover)
- Genuinely warmer than standard foam beds
- Lightweight and easy to reposition
- Unique print stands out from typical leopard options
- Best suited to small and medium dogs
- Cover isn't as plush as faux fur alternatives
Furhaven Round Donut Cuddler (Cheetah Print, Small Size)
- Fits neatly in small apartments or crates
- Machine washable
- Works well for multi-pet households
- Too small for anything beyond a small/medium breed
- Bolster ring loses loft over time
Why the Print Matters Less Than the Bed Underneath
An animal print cover is just fabric — usually faux fur, sometimes fleece or microsuede. What actually determines whether your dog will use the bed long-term, and whether it’ll survive a year of daily naps, is what’s under that cover: fill type, base support, and how the cover attaches. Treat the print as a style choice you layer onto a normal buying decision, not a category of its own.
Faux Fur vs. Fleece vs. Microsuede
Most animal print beds use faux fur because it mimics real fur texture and shows off the pattern well. It’s soft and photogenic but tends to shed fibers for the first few washes and can mat down in high-traffic spots like the center of a donut bed. Fleece-printed covers (common on crate pads) are more chew-resistant and dry faster but show wear on the print faster since the nap is shorter. Microsuede holds up best to scratching and digging behavior but the print detail is usually more subdued.
Fill and Support
Look past the pattern to what’s actually inside. Polyester fiberfill is the cheapest and softest option but compresses fastest — fine for small dogs, less fine for anything over 40 pounds. Shredded memory foam or solid orthopedic foam bases cost more but keep their shape and are the better call for senior dogs or breeds prone to hip or joint issues. A few animal print beds, like the gel foam sofa style above, actually pair a real supportive core with a decorative print cover, which is the combination worth paying up for if support matters for your dog.
Sizing for the Actual Dog, Not the Room
Pattern beds tend to get bought as a design accent first and a dog bed second, which leads to sizing mistakes. Measure your dog nose-to-tail while curled up in their favorite resting position, then add a few inches — sighthounds and dogs who sleep stretched out need length more than width, while curl-sleepers do better with a bolstered donut shape that fits snugly.
Matching the Bed Style to How Your Dog Actually Sleeps
| Dog behavior | Best bed style | Print consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Curls into a tight ball | Donut or bolstered round bed | Faux fur leopard/cheetah patterns show best on rounded shapes |
| Burrows under blankets | Hooded burrow-style bed | Look for print on both the base and the removable blanket |
| Sprawls out flat | Flat orthopedic mat or sofa-style bed | Prints on flat beds are more subtle since less surface is visible when compressed |
| Chews or digs at bedding | Reinforced fleece or microsuede crate pad | Fleece prints wear faster under claws than faux fur |
| Senior or arthritic dog | Foam-based orthopedic bed | Prioritize the foam core over the print; treat pattern as secondary |
Care and Longevity Tips
Washing Without Fading the Pattern
Cold water and a gentle cycle preserve dye in printed faux fur far better than hot water. Avoid the dryer’s high heat setting — air drying or a low tumble keeps the fur nap from matting and keeps the print from looking washed-out after a handful of cleanings.
Rotating Covers
If your dog is hard on bedding, buying a bed with a removable, machine-washable cover is more important than the print itself. Some of the beds above sell replacement covers separately, which is worth checking before you buy if you want the bed to outlast the first cover.
Related buying guides
- Browse all dog bed picks
- Bed sizes and dimensions guide
- How we test beds and bedding
- About Talk Beds
- Cooling mattresses for hot sleepers
- Platform bed frames
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Check price on AmazonDo animal print dog beds fade in the wash?
Faux fur prints can fade with repeated hot-water washing and high-heat drying. Cold water, gentle cycle, and air drying or low tumble heat preserve the pattern significantly longer.
Are leopard and cheetah print beds okay for puppies who chew?
Faux fur is not chew-resistant. For a chewing puppy, a fleece or microsuede printed crate pad from a brand like MidWest will hold up better than a plush faux fur bed.
What size animal print bed should I buy for a 60-pound dog?
Measure your dog curled up or stretched out in their normal sleep position and add 4-6 inches. Most large-breed printed beds run in the 40-45 inch range, but check the listing’s specific dimensions rather than the size label alone.
Do animal print beds run smaller than solid color versions?
Not inherently, but some brands offer fewer size options for printed styles, so double-check the size chart since the largest size may not be available in every pattern.
Can I put an animal print cover in the dryer?
Most can go in on low heat, but high heat is the main cause of matting and shrinkage in faux fur. Check the specific care label, since fleece and microsuede tolerate heat better than faux fur.
Is a foam-based animal print bed worth the extra cost?
If your dog is a senior, a large breed, or has joint issues, yes — a supportive foam core keeps its shape for years longer than basic fiberfill, regardless of the cover pattern.
Will the print bed smell or trap odor more than a plain bed?
Faux fur has a denser nap that can hold onto odor slightly longer than short-fleece or microsuede. Regular washing and a washable liner underneath help manage this.
What’s the difference between a donut bed and a burrow bed in animal print?
A donut bed has a fixed bolster ring your dog curls into; a burrow bed includes a separate blanket or hood your dog can nest under, which suits dogs who like to dig and cover themselves before settling.
Sophie Laurent
Sophie Laurent is TalkBeds' Beds & Bedroom Editor. With more than ten years covering home and furniture, she leads everything on the site that isn't the mattress itself: bed frames, platform beds, headboards, bunk and kids' beds, sizing, and the interiors decisions… Full profile & sources →