It has been our pleasure to host a large Berkeley orthopaedic dog bed at our London office for the last few weeks, so we’ve taken some time to review it for you.
We were very excited of course when the bed arrived. We rushed to unbox it and, normal practice or not, everyone in the office had a lie down on the spanking new dog bed. From our perspective it seemed perfect for our lunch time naps. However, it ultimately belonged to the office dogs so we begrudgingly put it on the floor and allowed the dogs to have it.
Upon arrival, it had a slight ‘plasticky’ smell which we assume has to do with the waterproofing and the fact that the bed was brand new. This smell dissipated within the first few days, we never noticed it again and the dogs never seemed to mind it. The other thing that we immediately noticed is the bed’s very high build quality. It genuinely feels like it has been made to last. The bed is also big. Really big. Berkeley offers three sizes; Small/Medium, Large and Extra Large. We reviewed the Large option, so just imagine how big the Extra Large is.
Yogi, a large Karelian Bear Dog and Ramón, the pug fit perfectly comfortably on the large as you can see:
On the underside of the dog bed you’ll find a large velcro opening, allowing you to remove the cover from the internal orthopaedic mattress. Again we noticed the build quality – even the velcro feels durable and strong. Attention to detail is everything. The fit of the cover is very exact to ensure the mattress is well supported. As a result, removing the cover and putting it back on again can feel like a bit of a wrestle. Ultimately, for the lifespan of the product, that’s a good thing. You can see that the mattress inside has been made to exacting standards as well.
Quick tip: Try the vacuum cleaner on the cover to easily remove dog hair. It worked a treat for us.
A fair number of dogs came through the office and during our time with the dog bed and the vast majority ended up having a nap on it. It’s worth noting that there were other beds available too. Here’s a little gallery of the dogs taking full advantage of the bed.
In conclusion, this definitely isn’t any old dog bed. There are plenty of positive things about the bed – the waterproofing, the velcro opening instead of zip, the removable cover, but ultimately what sticks with us is that it’s just so sturdy and feels so luxuriously comfortable. The price point may be higher than you’re used to paying, but there isn’t any doubt that a Berkeley dog bed would far outlive the average dog bed. In the end what you pay to replace multiple dog beds over the years may cost you more than you would have paid on a Berkeley bed.
Berkeley sell their dog beds online via their webiste. Their orthopaedic beds, like the one we’ve reviewed, range in price from £139 to £225. Raised platforms are also available for an extra cost. Click here to visit the Berkeley Dog beds shop.