An In-Depth Review Of The Fur King Orthopedic Dog Bed
Written By Olivia De Santos | Canine Coach, Professional Writer & Video Content Creator.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | Double B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 18th January 2024
Does your dog have aches and pains? Are their old bones in need of a soft place to rest? Enter the Fur King “Ortho” Orthopedic Dog Bed. Created by Australia’s own Pet Parlour, this dog bed is an excellent solution for dogs who need some extra cushioning… and ranked in our top dog beds available in Australia!
I put this bed to the test with my arthritic 14 year old Flat Coated Retriever and agile 11 year old Podengo. This review is an in-depth look at my findings. We’ll go through comfort level, ease of maintenance, price point, and much more.
Disclosure: This bed was gifted to me but this article is not sponsored. I will be giving my honest opinion of this bed, warts and all. If you choose to use our link to purchase the bed, we get a small kickback to support the blog. If you love what I do and this bed sounds like a good fit for your pup, consider supporting us by using our link.
Fur King "Ortho" Orthopedic Dog Bed At A Glance
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The Fur King “Ortho” Orthopedic bed is designed for dogs needing a little extra support. The bouncy, responsive, supportive memory foam creates a solid foundation for your dog as they rest.
It has a rectangular shape with a smooth raised boulder structure to provide head and leg rests. There is a slight cocooning effect with the shape of the bed. The cover is soft to touch but not furry. This makes the material breathable.
Who Is This Bed For? A Brief Explanation On Orthopedic Beds
The term “orthopedic” sounds terribly medical, doesn’t it? A little clinical and dry. You’re absolutely right. The dictionary definition is:
The medical specialty concerned with correction of deformities or functional impairments of the skeletal system, especially the extremities and the spine, and associated structures, as muscles and ligaments.” (1)
Orthopedic dog beds are suitable for all dogs in theory. Who doesn’t love a good memory foam bed? But this category of beds is mostly sold to owners of senior dogs and nursing dogs. Dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia or mobility issues are also the perfect candidates. (2)
Why is it only senior dogs or medically disabled dogs that typically use orthopedic beds?
My theory is because of the expense. Orthopedic products are not cheap. If your dog doesn’t need an expensive, luxury-quality bed with premium materials and a mattress so soft that you want to sleep on it yourself, you might prefer a standard bed at a lower price point.
Related: The Best Human Dog Beds.
With that in mind, let’s dive into why the Fur King Ortho Bed could be a good option for your pup.
Fur King "Ortho" Orthopedic Dog Bed In-Depth Review
4.5 Star Rating
- Bed Type: Orthopedic.
- Comfort Level: High.
- Suitable For: All dogs (puppies, adult & seniors)
- Washable: Yes.
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Made: No (but Australian Owned).
Having reviewed many of the best dog beds on the Australian market, we tend to use the following metrics to measure the quality of a bed.
Comfort Level 4/5
Arguably the most important aspect of any bed review is the comfort level. In this crucial aspect, the Fur King doesn’t disappoint. The main aspect of any orthopedic dog bed would be the mattress. Supporting your dog’s musculoskeletal frame is how the bed earns its “orthopedic” label. This bed uses memory foam in both the base mattress and the boulders to create that support. The material is springy and firm while not compromising on that “sinking” feeling you get when you press your hand into high-quality memory foam. I can tell that this bed will retain its shape for years to come.
The microfibre cover is seamless and fresh feeling against the skin. It’s perfect for my long-haired dog Blue who can get hot during the night. She has enjoyed sleeping in this bed since we got it, prioritising it over her older beds with thicker cover material.
If it’s so wonderfully comfortable, why isn’t this 5/5 stars? Well, I have two gripes.
One is that the bed is a little too fresh and breathable for my smaller dog Pip. Because he has short hair he prefers a warmer cover for his bedding. So this knocks off half a star for those looking for a warmer sleeping experience for their pup (however a warm blanket is an easy addition).
The second gripe is to do with the structure of the bed. The boulders are quite high off the ground, so my dog Blue has tripped once or twice getting into the bed. She has arthritis. (3) This is not an issue for able-bodied dogs. However, if your dog has hip dysplasia or severe mobility issues, they may struggle to get into the bed at times. My dog has weak hind legs. So if she is obstructed, she will give up and lie across the boulder - half in, half out. She got used to this eventually and still prioritises this bed over her others, but it’s worth noting that there was an initial “hurdle” here.
Durability 4/5
One thing to note is regarding the “scratch-proof” claim. Like many dogs, my pups instinctively scratch the top layer of a surface or bed before they rest. Particularly if that surface is new to them. So Pip had the first honours of scratching the sleeping surface to make himself comfortable. This didn’t rip the microfibre cover, but it did leave a mark. This doesn’t bother us and doesn’t appear to create weakness in the material, but for aesthetics, it's worth pointing out.
Sizing 5/5
The size range for the Fur King bed is impressive. There are four sizes available to suit your dog’s needs.
As you can see, the boulders account for roughly 20cm of the perimeter space of the bed. They are substantial in their width and height. The foam mattress is thick too so your dog is slightly raised.
I’d argue that there is room for an extra-small size, as the small size is still spacious. An extra-small option could be great for puppies and/or those with small dogs and small apartments.
Related How To Choose The Right Size Dog Bed?
I was sent the large size and it’s huge! You could easily fit two Labrador Retrievers on this bed if they wanted to share. That said, it's great for dogs like mine who move around when they rest and spread out to the full width of the bed.
Cleaning & Maintenance 3/5
Washing the dog bed was simple. As instructed, we washed the microfibre cover on a cool wash of 30 degrees Celsius. It came out almost as good as new, with minimal dog fur still stuck to it.
It took about an hour to be touch dry and 3 hours to be fully dry when hung out in the hot sun. Please bear in mind I live in a hot country so your mileage may vary. There was no stretching, pilling or visible damage to the material.
Then we tried to put the bed back together again. Oh my… It’s not necessarily difficult to assemble the bed after washing. More-so you have to know which direction to place the boulders in. It took us a few tries to get the orientation right. Once you have the pillows aligned in the right direction, the bed is easy to put together. However, it did require two pairs of hands given the size of the bed.
Shipping 5/5
Shipping is fast and well-thought-out. The bed came rolled up tightly into a sausage shape in a plastic roll. You simply need to unroll the bed and allow it to lay flat for a few minutes while the memory foam springs back. The bed was ready to use straight from the box. No assembly or complex instructions needed!
Value For Money 5/5
Value for money is difficult to measure. On the surface, this bed is pricey. No matter what size you choose, you’re paying over $200AUD for the bed. That may be out of budget for some orthopedic bed seekers. If that’s the case, you can check out our other reviews for potential options.
But I am an advocate of “you get what you pay for”. In this case, the adage couldn’t be more right. From the quality of the memory foam to the expert construction of the cover, I can’t fault this bed on a construction level. It’s a well-made bed by all accounts. The mattress is responsive and spongey. The cover is soft. It doesn’t melt when you wash it. The stitching is tight. There’s no doubting that the materials and build of the bed are top marks all around. The multiple excellent reviews attest to how happy other purchasers are too.
Personalisation
My particular bed wasn’t personalised but the process is simple if you want to add your dog’s name to the bed. Simply select the “personalised” version of the size bed you want and type their name into the text box before you add to cart.
Given that adding personalisation will only set you back $20 extra, it’s well worth doing!
Fur King "Ortho" Orthopedic Dog Bed Is Not For Your Dog If…
Nothing is perfect! Here are the reasons you may want to skip this product.
You are on a tight budget
Most beds in this category are at a similar price point to the Fur King Ortho bed… but that’s still pricey! If you don’t have $200+ to spend on a dog bed, this is not the choice for you. I said earlier in this article that this bed is a good investment given how well it washes and the robust structure. That said, there are more budget-friendly picks on the market if you don’t have the capacity to make this kind of investment right now.
Your dog has extremely weak hind legs
As previously mentioned, my dog struggled a little with walking over the boulders to situate herself comfortably on the sleeping surface. She has weak hind legs and trips over easily. If your dog has limited mobility in their hind legs or will find the height of the bed challenging, it may not be the choice for them. That said, my dog got used to the bed quickly and now loves it.
My Final Verdict
So, should you buy this bed? The question lies in your specific circumstances. If you have the cash and your dog could do with some extra support as they sleep, this is a fantastic option. You’ll be supporting a local Australian business while receiving a durable, well-made bed your dog will love.
Thank you to Pet Parlour for sending us this bed to review. If you want to grab your own, you can use our links to support the Gentle Dog Trainers blog!
References:
- “Orthopedics”. Dictionary.com. Retrieved August 15, 2022. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/orthopedics
- Tupler, T. November 3, 2020. “Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: All-in-One Guide”. Pet MD. Retrieved August 15, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_hip_dysplasia#hip-dysplasia-treatment
- Downing, R. “Arthritis in Dogs”. VCA Hospitals. Retrieved August 15, 2022. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/arthritis-in-dogs
