7 min read • By Leena Chitnis, Founder, Timberdog
Camping with your dog is one of those experiences that’s equal parts magical and messy. There’s nothing quite like watching them tear through the woods, nose to the ground, tail moving like an over-caffeinated metronome. Every twig is a treasure, every breeze holds the scent of adventure, and by the end of the day, they’re the happiest, dirtiest version of themselves.
But then night falls.
The campfire dies down, the stars take center stage, and you and your pup crawl into the tent for some well-earned rest. And this is the moment where a lot of dog owners (including me in the past) realize something crucial: not all dog beds are made for camping.
If you’ve ever brought your dog’s regular bed on a camping trip, you know exactly what I mean. It starts off fine—your pup curls up, ready for sleep—but by morning, the bed is damp, covered in dirt, and smelling like a combination of wet dog and regret. Worse, you know your dog is not well-rested, as they spent half the night shifting around, trying to get comfortable on the uneven ground, with a dampened coldness seeping through. Maybe they abandoned their bed entirely to snuggle into your sleeping bag (which sounds cute until you realize you're pinned under 70 pounds of fur).
A camping dog bed isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential gear. And if you’re still on the fence about whether your pup really needs one, let’s break it down.
Ordinary Dog Beds vs. Camping Dog Beds: The Cold, Hard Truth
Regular dog beds are designed for the comforts of home: hardwood floors, soft rugs, maybe a plush couch they’re definitely not allowed on (but somehow end up on anyway). They’re great for those environments. But out in the wild? They’re about as useful as a rain-soaked blanket.
This blog post is going to point out what you need in a camping dog bed and how the current selection does not measure up and can be downright unsafe. Meanwhile, the RuffRest Ultimate Dog Bed can handle nature's worst elements while managing to be comfortable, warm, compact, durable, moisture-proof, portable, packable, washable, and so much more. Let's start with RuffRest's best feature:
1. Reducing Exposure from the Top: A Built-In Sleeping Bag
We at Timberdog are pretty flabbergasted at the fact that no other camping dog beds seek to completely warm up your dog. Currently, none of our competitors' dog beds comes with its own integrated 3-season sleeping bag - or anything - to drape over your dog. RuffRest does.
Our sleeping bag serves three purposes: 1) stored in its pocket, it helps to form a bolster for day use; 2) when deployed in the evening, when temps drop, it unfurls into a large blanket; and 3) when zipped alongside the bed, forms a sleeping bag with plenty of space for your dog at night.
We included this gotta-have-it, award-winning feature because dogs need a covering to warm the top half of their bodies. How can any bed qualify as a camping dog bed when half of a dog's body is exposed to the elements and the cold?
2. Insulation from the Ground: The Difference Between Cozy and Cold
The first time I took my dog camping, I didn’t think much about ground temperature. I packed his usual bed—a nice, thick cushion that seemed comfy enough. But by 3 AM, he was shivering.
What I didn’t realize is that the ground absorbs and steals body heat like a silent thief in the night. Unlike your floor at home, which is climate-controlled and cozy, the ground outside is cold, even in warmer seasons. Without proper insulation, a dog’s body heat transfers straight into the earth, leaving them chilled and restless.
Timberdog's camping dog bed - the RuffRest Ultimate Dog Bed - is designed to keep body heat and provide insulation. Ours is the only dog bed on the market to have human-grade insulation standards, known as R-value (a fancy way of measuring insulation effectiveness). Just like you wouldn’t sleep on the tent floor without a sleeping pad, your dog shouldn’t have to curl up on a bed that offers zero warmth. RuffRest has a high R-value of 7.5 - considered excellent, especially for camping in three seasons.
3. Durability: Built for the Wild, Not the Living Room
An ordinary dog bed is great for surviving the occasional zoomie session or a light chew attack, but it’s not built for the realities of camping. Dirt, sticks, sharp rocks, burrs, wet leaves, moisture—none of these things are friendly to plush fabric and stuffing.
RuffRest camping dog beds are made with rugged materials, with a nylon denier of 840 or more - ie., military-grade - that can handle the elements. No more dealing with a bed that’s soaked from morning dew or torn apart after your dog excitedly digs into it, because we employ a bio-friendly, non-toxic PU coating to repel moisture.
Do you know what sort of PU coating is on your current dog bed? Is it non-toxic? It is earth and dog-friendly?
When you get home, RuffRest is easy to clean—either with a quick shake or wipe, or a toss in the washing machine after emptying its inner components.
4. Portability & Packability: Can Your Camping Dog Bed Do This?
Let’s talk about packing space.
Camping gear takes up a ridiculous amount of room. Between the tent, food, cooking supplies, sleeping bags, and whatever unnecessary gadgets you convinced yourself you needed, there’s not a lot of space left for a bulky dog bed.
A good camping bed is lightweight, compact, and designed to be packed easily. RuffRest is designed to be rolled up into a duffel shape. This makes a huge difference when you’re trying to fit everything into your car or backpack. The last thing you want is to be playing Tetris with a massive, unwieldy dog bed when you’re already struggling to close the trunk.
Additionally, RuffRest is designed to operate not only as a dog bed, but as luggage, too. It opens up like a carry-on suitcase, and comes with a detachable organizer inside - so you never have to rifle through bags for your dog's things again. The detachable organizer is also see-through, so you can immediately locate what you need for your dog. And the best part? It hangs up via a velcro loop large enough to fit around a tree branch.
5. Comfort: Because Your Dog Deserves Good Sleep Too
At the end of the day, your dog needs good rest just like you do. If they’re uncomfortable, they won’t sleep well—and neither will you.
A camping bed is designed to provide proper support on uneven terrain, so your pup isn’t spending the night shifting around, trying to find a comfortable position. Some even have memory foam or padding to cushion against rocks and roots.
And let’s be real—after a full day of hiking, swimming, or sniffing every single plant in a three-mile radius, your dog needs quality sleep. A well-rested dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog makes for a much better camping trip.
Unlike any other camping dog bed, RuffRest has not one, but TWO types of foam. The top layer is a memory foam for softness, comfort, and warmth, while the bottom layer has a firm, high density foam that is not only water-resistant, but provides infrastructure to the bed and firm support against rocky, cold terrain.
Currently, no other dog bed, much less camping dog bed, has this dual-layer technology. Most camping dog beds are either a thin mat that rolls up, or a bulky bed that's awkward to travel with. Other than RuffRest, we have not seen a Goldilocks middle that comes with any safety features.
Making the Switch: What to Look for in a Camping Dog Bed
If you’re ready to upgrade your pup’s sleep setup for the great outdoors, here are a few things to look for:
- Insulation: Look for beds with an R-value or insulating materials. (Currently RuffRest is the only dog bed on the market with an R-value.)
- Waterproof/Water-resistant Material: A must for keeping moisture out. Does your current set up have a bio-friendly, non-toxic PU coating? RuffRest does.
- Durability: Reinforced stitching and rip-resistant fabric go a long way. Make sure to look for ballistic or military-grade nylon (pro tip - RuffRest's got it!)
- Portability: Roll-up or foldable designs make packing easier. RuffRest can roll up and be cinched together with its integrated compression straps.
- Ease of Cleaning: Because let’s face it—camping gets messy. RuffRest is machine washable and comes out perfect every single time (this New York Times review confirms it can be cleaned no matter what's thrown at it).
Investing in a quality camping dog bed is one of those things you don’t think you need until you do. And once you see how much better your pup sleeps (and how much easier your life is because of it), you’ll never go back.
Final Thoughts: Your Dog Deserves the Right Gear
Camping with your dog should be fun—for both of you. They already rely on you for food, water, and safety, and giving them a comfortable place to rest is just another part of making the experience great.
So next time you’re packing for an outdoor adventure, leave the plush living-room dog bed at home. Your dog deserves better. And honestly? So do you. Because a dog that sleeps well in camp makes for a much happier hiking buddy the next morning.
And trust me—after a long night under the stars, you’re both going to need all the energy you can get. Check out all three inspiring RuffRest Colorways from Timberdog and get your dog the safest, most comfortable dog bed on the market today.
Need the perfect tent to go camping with your dog? Read on here.
Photo credit: Marc Prefontaine