Your pet spends more time sleeping than almost anything else. Dogs snooze for up to 14 hours a day. Cats, even more. So the question isn't really whether your pet needs a good bed, it's whether the bed they have is actually doing them any good.
At Howdy Hides, we've spent a lot of time thinking about that question. The answer, we believe, is natural sheepskin with memory foam support and it's why our sheepskin pet bed range has quickly become one of our most loved product lines. Available in grey and oyster, and in medium and large sizes, these beds are designed for pets who deserve genuine comfort, and for homes where quality and style matter in equal measure.
If you've been browsing pet beds and wondering what sets a real sheepskin bed apart from the endless sea of polyester alternatives, this guide is for you.
What's Inside a Howdy Hides Sheepskin Pet Bed?
Let's start with what makes our pet beds genuinely different, right down to their construction.
Every Howdy Hides sheepskin pet bed is built in three layers, and each one is there for a reason.
The top layer is 100% genuine sheepskin. Not faux sheepskin, not "sherpa fleece," not a synthetic that vaguely resembles wool from a distance. Real sheepskin, with the natural fleece intact, selected for its softness, density, and beautiful tone, whether that's our warm grey or the lighter, elegant oyster. This is the layer your pet actually sleeps on, and it's where the magic happens.
The middle layer is memory foam. This is what separates a Howdy Hides pet bed from a simple sheepskin mat. The memory foam core contours to your pet's individual shape, distributing their weight evenly and relieving pressure on joints, hips, elbows, and shoulders. It responds to body heat, softening and moulding around your pet as they settle. For older dogs or larger breeds who spend long hours resting, this kind of supportive cushioning isn't a luxury, it's genuinely important for their wellbeing.
The base is cotton. Practical and purposeful, the cotton base keeps the bed stable and grounded, no sliding around on hard floors, no bunching up on tiles or wooden boards.
Three materials. Each one chosen deliberately. The result is a pet bed that works on every level: naturally, therapeutically, and aesthetically.
The Power of Genuine Sheepskin: Why It Matters for Your Pet
The sheepskin surface of a Howdy Hides pet bed isn't just there to look beautiful (though it certainly does that). Genuine sheepskin brings a remarkable set of natural properties that synthetic alternatives simply cannot replicate.
Natural Temperature Regulation
Wool fibres are coiled and crimped at a microscopic level, creating millions of tiny air pockets that act as natural insulation. This means sheepskin actively adapts to your pet's temperature, trapping warmth close to the body during colder months and allowing air to circulate freely in the summer heat. Your pet stays comfortable year-round without any artificial cooling gels or heated inserts.
This breathability is particularly valuable for flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Persian cats, who are more prone to overheating and benefit enormously from a sleeping surface that doesn't trap heat.
The Lanolin Effect
Genuine sheepskin contains lanolin, a natural wax produced by sheep that coats every wool fibre. Lanolin has a deeply calming effect on animals, it's thought to mimic the warmth and scent of a mother, which is why puppies and kittens in particular settle so instinctively on sheepskin. For anxious pets, those adjusting to a new home, or animals prone to restlessness, a sheepskin surface can make a noticeable difference to how quickly and deeply they sleep.
Lanolin also gives sheepskin its natural antimicrobial properties, actively resisting the bacteria that cause pet odours. Your home stays fresher, and your pet's bed stays more hygienic between cleans.
Ethically Sourced, Naturally Sustainable
All sheepskin used by Howdy Hides is ethically sourced. Sheepskin is a by-product of the meat industry, meaning no animal is raised solely for its hide. Choosing a genuine sheepskin pet bed over a polyester-filled alternative is also a more sustainable choice, natural wool is biodegradable and doesn't shed microplastics into the water supply with every wash.
Choose Your Size: Medium or Large
We offer our sheepskin pet beds in two sizes to suit different breeds and sleeping styles.
Large – 90cm x 60cm | £125
Our large sheepskin pet bed is the flagship of the range. At 90cm x 60cm, it provides a generous sleeping surface for bigger dogs who like to stretch out fully, think Labradors, Border Collies, Spaniels, Dalmations, and similar breeds. It's also a wonderfully indulgent option for multiple cats or a cat who likes to claim the whole bed as their own.
The large size is the one we particularly recommend for older or arthritic dogs, where the combination of the generous sheepskin surface and the supportive memory foam core makes a real, tangible difference to comfort and joint health.
Medium - 70cm x 45cm | £75
Our medium sheepskin pet bed offers the same luxurious three-layer construction, genuine sheepskin top, memory foam filling, cotton base, in a more compact size ideal for smaller breeds, cats, and puppies. It's also a brilliant choice as a travel bed or a secondary bed for a pet who likes to move around the house.
Choose Your Colour: Grey or Oyster
We know that a pet bed doesn't exist in isolation, it sits in your living room, your bedroom, your kitchen, and it needs to look at home there. That's why we've selected two tones that work beautifully across a wide range of interiors.
Grey
Our grey sheepskin pet bed is a contemporary classic. The warm, muted grey tone works effortlessly with modern interiors, Scandi-inspired spaces, and neutral palettes. It's versatile enough to sit alongside almost any colour scheme without dominating the room, and the natural variations in the sheepskin mean each bed has its own subtle character. As a natural product, no two beds are exactly alike.
Oyster
The oyster colourway brings a softer, lighter feel, a creamy, off-white tone that feels warm and inviting without being stark. It pairs beautifully with linen textures, natural wood tones, and earthy interiors. For homes with a more relaxed, organic aesthetic, the oyster sheepskin pet bed feels entirely at home.
Who Is a Howdy Hides Sheepskin Pet Bed For?
Older and Arthritic Dogs
If there's one pet that will benefit most visibly from a Howdy Hides sheepskin bed, it's the senior dog. As dogs age, joints stiffen, pressure points become more painful, and sleep becomes less restorative. The memory foam core provides targeted orthopaedic support, the kind that cheap flat beds and polyester-stuffed mattresses simply can't offer. Many customers tell us they noticed their older dog moving more freely and seeming brighter in the mornings after making the switch.
Puppies and Anxious Pets
The lanolin-rich sheepskin surface has a calming, settling effect that helps puppies and nervous animals feel secure. New puppy owners frequently report fewer nights of whimpering and a quicker adjustment to sleeping alone when a sheepskin bed is introduced. The natural warmth and texture trigger an instinctive sense of safety in young animals.
Larger Breeds
Large breeds need space and support in equal measure. A flimsy bed that compresses under their weight offers neither. The Howdy Hides large sheepskin pet bed, with its memory foam core and generous 90cm x 60cm footprint, gives bigger dogs the room to stretch and the structure to actually rest properly.
Cats
Cats are famously discerning about where they sleep. Present a cat with genuine sheepskin and the reaction is almost universally immediate, the natural texture, warmth, and lanolin scent are irresistible. Our sheepskin pet beds are the kind of purchase where the cat decides within seconds that it was an excellent idea.
Style-Conscious Pet Owners
You love your pet. You also love your home. You shouldn't have to choose. The Howdy Hides sheepskin pet bed is designed to look as good as it performs, a considered, beautiful object that belongs in your interior rather than clashing with it.
Caring for Your Howdy Hides Sheepskin Pet Bed
Natural sheepskin is more resilient than many people expect, but it does benefit from a little care.
Shake or brush the sheepskin surface regularly to keep the wool fibres lifted and soft. For spot cleaning, use a mild wool-friendly cleaner on the sheepskin top and allow it to air dry naturally, always away from direct heat sources, which can cause the hide to stiffen. The cotton base can be wiped clean as needed.
Avoid machine washing and tumble drying, which can damage the hide and affect the memory foam filling. With the right care, your Howdy Hides sheepskin pet bed will stay soft, supportive, and beautiful for years.
Why Howdy Hides?
Based in Poole and passionate about natural materials, Howdy Hides was built on a simple belief: that the best home accessories come from nature, not a factory. From our sheepskin rugs and cowhide rugs to our cushions and now our pet range, every product we sell is chosen for its quality, character, and longevity.
Our sheepskin pet beds are a natural extension of that philosophy. They're not the cheapest pet beds on the market and they're not trying to be. They're an investment in your pet's comfort and your home's aesthetic, made from materials that genuinely deliver on their promises.
Fast and reliable delivery is available across the UK, shipped within 2–3 working days via Parcel2go.
Ready to treat your pet to something truly special? Browse the full Howdy Hides sheepskin pet bed range, ,available in grey and oyster, medium and large, at: https://howdyhides.co.uk/13-pets