Going on a trip with a dog sounds terrific, but sleeping without a bed could have been difficult for them. Generally, dog couch beds or elevated beds are not foldable and portable. Here, we present the portable dog travel beds for your pet. You can use it at home and carry it on a trip for your puppy. Nothing can stop you from taking your dog on vacation with you. Anyone who owns a dog knows that going out or on trips, your dog(s) is usually the first decision. Do we take him or don’t we?. If you are going to a park, for a walk or even on a road trip, taking your dog with you makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. Your dog will also appreciate the additional time spent with you rather than being left behind.
We have taken Ralph and Rupert on many road trips with us. Whether it be out to the park, caravan holidays walks in the mountains and even just to friend’s houses. They love it. They love being around our two boys and us, so why shouldn’t we take them. As mentioned in our previous post, travelling to new locations or staying somewhere different can cause your dog to be a little anxious. Keeping all the family together does help reduce this anxiety.
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Portable Dog Travel Beds are great for camping and outdoor activities with your dog. They are also a great way of ensuring your dog has somewhere dry to lie/sit. Many of these Portable Dog Travel Beds can also be rolled out / opened in a dog popup tent, making them even more dry and comfortable.
With so many portable dog beds to choose from, we wanted to try and narrow the choice down to our favourites. We have reviewed several travel dog beds and looked for size, weight, durability, portability, price and comfort.
Choosing the Portable Dog Travel Bed
With so many beds to choose from, finding the perfect one for your dog can be challenging. You want to find a comfortable bed lightweight making it easier to carry around. Also, a waterproof bed is the most obvious to choose especially if using the bed for outdoor activities such as camping.
Here are 5 requirements to get the perfect Portable Dog Bed;
- Lightweight
- Durable / Portable
- Waterproof
- Cost-Effective / Value for Money
- Easy to Clean
There are also different types of Portable Dog Beds to choose from;
- Travel/backpacking Beds
- Inflatable Beds
We have reviewed the beds under these different categories below. You may want to dive straight into the inflatable ones, but be warned, if your dog likes to dig a soft spot to get comfy, Ralph does this, and then your inflatable dog bed won’t last too long.
With both the Travelling and the inflatable beds comes a nice little carry bag for you to easily store the bed whilst moving or travelling to your location. These save on storage space and are a great way of ensuring your dog’s bed is with you. In some cases, owners allow the dogs to carry their beds where possible. This again takes the strain off you. Always ensure that your dog can support this extra weight – this is mainly for larger dogs that have their backpacks too.
5 Amazing Portable Dog Travel Beds
1. Helios BackPacking Bed
If you are a keen backpacker and want to ensure your dog can come with you, then this bed is for you. The Helios Backpacking bed is perfect for hiking and setting up camp anywhere. Wind and Waterproof materials make this bed an outstanding addition to your camping trip.
The bed supports Hot and Cold temperatures as it stores heat in the cold and cools your dog down when it’s warm, like a dog cooling mat. Another cool feature is that the bed can be unzipped and made into a large bed so your dog can enjoy more space OR be wrapped like a sleeping bag. If you were to purchase more than one, then you can connect them via the zipper and cover a much larger surface. The carrying bag has a very strong nylon strap and is simple to carry around with you where ever you go.
Pros
- Suitable for All Weather
- Acts as a Cooling Bed if Too warm
- Waterproof
- Windproof
- Combine More than 1 to cover a large space
- can be used as a sleeping bag
- Nice and Simple Carrying Case
Cons
- 1 might not be enough if you have a large dog
2. RUFFWEAR
Ruffwear is a well-known company in the Dog Travel world. Whether backpacks or dog travel beds, they are of the highest quality. The material used in the Ruffwear bed is made from Polyfill, which helps keep your dog nice and warm and extremely comfortable.
Underneath is a superb quality polyester that is highly waterproof and prevents any dampness from seeping through. This Ruffwear bed also rolls up nice and tight for a snug fit into the lovely little carry bag it comes in. Finally, the main surface of the bed is a super-soft easy-clean microsuede. It is comforting for any dog to lie on and sleep on. The bed is approximately 1 inch thick and comes in 2 sizes. Although this bed is superb quality and popular bed, it does come at a slightly higher cost than other beds on this list. Not for dogs that eat, chew or drag their beds around everywhere, it’s too expensive for that.
Pros
- Cosy
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Easy to Clean
Cons
- Quite Expensive
3. Chuck It
When looking for the perfect portable dog bed the Chuck It bed came up many times. This bed is a great camping bed as one side of the bed is extra warm which is perfect for cold weather. The underside is extremely waterproof and perfect for cold surfaces and outdoor colder weather. Internal padding is separated into small pockets to ensure the bed remains warm, comfortable and in shape after lots of usage.
The price of the Chuck It bed is superb and very affordable.
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Simple to Wash and Dry
- Waterproof
- Provides Great Warmth
Cons
- Do not tumble dry – hang out using the loop and air dry
4. KURGO
Camping beds come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Kurgo has provided an amazing dog bed that rolls uptight and is small enough, like a sleeping bag, to carry around. The material used up and bottom is extremely waterproof and allows for camping in ALL weather conditions including wet and muddy floors. The bed comes in 2 sizes, medium and large, suitable for all dogs from small to large. For comfort, the bedding is 4 inches thick and super comfortable for your dog.
Pros
- Weatherproof
- Super Thick for Comfort
- Great Price
- Waterproof
- Rolls up Tight
Cons
- Not Great for Snuggly Dogs
5. SportPet Waterproof Bed
WOW. The SportPet Waterproof bed is simply amazing. Folded away very nicely into a carry case style, the SportPet simply helps you carry many things and not just the bed. It even has pockets for smaller items such as toys. The bedding is made from full waterproof material helping you ensure that your dog is dry and safe when out camping or hiking. The outer cover is easy to remove and machine washable helping you keep it clean and help for a long-lasting bed.
From Small to Large dogs, this bed is a great addition to your camping trip although can be difficult to carry if you already have plenty of other things. The carry case can only be handheld and not carried on your back thus taking up one of your hands. This however does have its positives as you can put food/toys/treats and accessories in the bag to save space somewhere else.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Machine Washable
- Folds up Into a Carry Case
Cons
- Takes up 1 hand instead of a Backpack style
When Should I Use a Dog Travel Bed?
Good question. Dogs can be very specific about their sleeping arrangements so buying the right bed is key. Using their sleeping blanket or bed from home is not the idea as they won’t be great outdoors. Having a bed just for travelling/hiking is a great way of protecting the bed at home
Here are a few things to remember;
- Travelling is stressful for everyone, including dogs. “have I got everything?”,” What else do we need?” are just a few things adults will say before Travelling. For dogs, it’s the fear of the unknown. It is always to make sure your dog is familiarised and surrounded with things it knows. Having 1 travel bed that you use EVERY time you travel is a great way of giving your dog that understanding of where you are going. Also taking a familiar toy will help reduce and stress and anxiety they may have.
- Training using a travel dog bed is the same as a normal bed. You need to pay close attention to the dog’s behaviour. You have to ensure that you be patient and train your dog with a travel bed outside as that’s where they will use this bed the most. There’s no point in confusing your dog and training them inside.
- Comfort is a key part of your dog when using a travel bed. Sleeping outside for anyone is a very different experience and for dogs, this is no different. They must be comfortable to ensure that they are not disturbed by the great outdoors.
- Cleaning your portable dog travel bed is an absolute must. If the bed is not easy to clean then it’s not worth buying. When you are outside your beds quickly get dirty and if not cleaned regularly can quickly deteriorate and become useless costing you more money.
Wrapping Up
Buying any Portable Dog Travel Beds should be a simple decision if you think about what would you want in a bed? Comfortable, Durable and Portable. Three elements to any travel bed should always be considered. We have tried to find the portable dog beds that have the value for money. Whether they are elevated, inflatable or a normal portable bed.
