Getting Started
The Squishmallows Plush Pet Bed arrived in a simple cardboard box and no other packaging. It seemed very protected in the box and once open was ready to use! It also comes with an official Squishmallows tag attached. Like most things, it took a bit of coaxing to get my dog comfortable with it, but once she sat on it, she settled right in.
I ordered the largest possible size (large), and was unsure how well she would fit in it because she was on the larger end of the recommended size range. I would say she is probably the largest dog that could reasonably use it. When curled up, she fits perfectly, but otherwise she spills over the sides a bit.
Design
I love how this bed looks in my home while my dog is and isn’t using it. There were four design choices: Octopus, Frog, Shark, and Pineapple. I went with the Octopus because I loved the color and the little tentacles under the bed. The colors are very vibrant which I enjoy, but may not be for someone wanting a more subtle look, or a bed that would blend in.
The tentacles are very cute, but if you lift up the bed and set it back down, they curl under and need to be repositioned for you to see them. If you’ve been around or have used other Squishmallow products, the texture of the bed is identical to the company’s other plush items.
Performance
I like how the bed functions for my dog, as she often likes to curl up in a ball when sleeping. It does not, however, offer a lot of flexibility for a dog of her size, so for moments where she’d rather stretch out, it may not be the most comfortable/practical. But I can imagine a smaller dog may not have that issue. It is also unbelievably soft, which I think allows my dog to enjoy it more, regardless of size.
The sidewalls are very thick, which I think is nice for my dog to lay on, but they also take up a lot of space, leaving her little room in the middle of the bed. I would say overall, the bed runs small. My dog is medium size (45 pounds), albeit fairly lanky, and some might say she is even a little big for the large size. I would love to see this bed in an even larger size to accommodate larger dogs.
There is also a non-skid bottom which can be nice for a dog that moves a lot. I’m not sure how helpful it is overall, however, because larger, heavier dogs probably aren’t using the product in the first place.
Quality/Durability
The texture is heavenly, which tells me it’s well-made, however I’m not sure how long-lasting it would be with regular use. The sidewalls are thick and feel pretty durable, but the middle part of the bed is fairly thin with little padding. I think for any dog that is not tiny, the middle would wear out fairly quickly.
I would say the texture/cuddliness of squishmallows is most of their appeal, and so I question how long this soft texture would last if the bed is used frequently, and therefore, how valuable it would seem after a bit of time. It does not seem very easy to clean so if it were to get dirty, I’m not sure how it would fair with a solid cleaning.
Price
The bed is priced at $59.99 for a large size. This is pretty average for standard dog beds, and like I mentioned earlier, I think the soft texture and fun design is a big reason why you would buy this bed. I think the lack of durability makes the price seem a bit steep, and you could definitely buy another bed for this price that might last longer. The lack of size options for larger dogs also makes me question the price a bit.
Final Verdict
I would recommend this to a friend, with the caveat that you are paying for the fun design and incredible coziness. I would also only do so to those I know with dogs smaller than my dog. I would give the warning that regular, every-day use may wear it out easily. My dog seems to love laying on it, but I think the small size and thick-walled design are a bit off-putting to a dog her size.