2 min read • By Leena Chitnis, Founder, Timberdog
As the founder and CEO of Timberdog®, I am thrilled to announce to our fans and newcomers alike that we have set a new industry standard with our RuffRest® Ultimate Dog Bed. RuffRest is now the first dog bed on the market to receive an R-value rating. This rating, commonly used for human sleeping pads and bags, measures insulation effectiveness and thus the ability to keep people warm. By introducing this standard to pet bedding, we're giving pet owners a scientific way to assess warmth, making RuffRest a safer choice for both indoor and outdoor adventures.
For years, outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners alike have struggled to find a truly insulated, high-performance dog bed designed for both indoor and outdoor use. While human sleeping pads and camping mattresses have long been rated for their ability to resist heat loss, dog beds have historically lacked the same quality standard—until now.
We at Timberdog have always raised the bar for pet products (one of our proudest moments was being awarded the Outdoor Dog Bed of the Year from outdoor expert and juggernaut, Field & Stream), and we saw a clear gap in the market. Our customers take their dogs on adventures in all kinds of conditions, and we wanted to give them a way to measure the warmth and insulation of their dog's sleeping surface, just like they would for themselves. The R-value rating, received from extensive lab testing from a top lab in materials testing - ensures that pet owners know exactly how much protection their dog is getting from the cold.
What Is an R-Value Rating and Why Does It Matter?
An R-value measures a material's resistance to heat flow, with higher values indicating better insulation (read our comprehensive guide on R-value here). This rating system is commonly used in the outdoor gear industry to evaluate the effectiveness of sleeping pads and mattresses in cold environments. Until now, no dog bed has undergone official R-value testing, leaving pet owners to guess at how well a bed might protect their pup from the cold. RuffRest received a rating of 7.5, considered high (excellent) for thermal insulative value.
By incorporating an R-value rating, the RuffRest Ultimate Dog Bed provides pet parents with a scientific, measurable way to assess warmth. Whether at home, in a tent, or on cold terrain, customers now have a dog bed option with proven insulation performance.
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