Chin Rest Required: Why So Many Dogs Love a Bed with a Pillow

A fluffy apricot pup curled up against a pillow on a striped ice-silk NOOKI dog bed

Watch your dog settle in for a nap. Chances are their chin ends up on something: the arm of the sofa, the edge of a cushion, your leg. Lots of dogs are pillow people, they just don't have a pillow. That's why every NOOKI OrthoFlex set comes with one.

A dachshund lying on a Cream White chenille NOOKI bed beside its brown bolster pillow
Front paws down, pillow within reach.

Why dogs love a headrest

A raised edge gives a dog somewhere to rest their head and something to lean against while they doze. Many dogs naturally sleep pressed up against a wall or a cushion, and a bolster gives them that same tucked-in feeling.

It also helps long-backed breeds like this Dachshund settle in a relaxed, comfortable line instead of craning their neck off the edge of a flat pad.

Is your dog a pillow dog?

You probably already know. The tell-tale signs:

  • Their chin always ends up on the sofa arm, a cushion or your lap.
  • They sleep pressed up against the wall or the back of the couch.
  • They drag a toy or blanket into bed and rest their head on it.
  • They pick the corner of the bed with the raised edge, every time.
A fluffy long-haired cat sitting on a Ginkgo Yellow NOOKI dog bed with a brown bolster pillow while a small white dog watches
Technically a dog bed. Nobody told the cat.

The pillow is non-negotiable (just ask the cat)

The pillow comes with a fabric band that wraps around the mattress, so it stays where your dog wants it. No more chasing a loose cushion across the floor.

Fair warning: a bed this comfortable tends to attract other members of the household. In this house, the cat got there first.

A Shiba Inu doing a play bow on a Ginkgo Yellow chenille NOOKI bed next to its pillow
Ready to play, or ready to nap. Either way.

Pick your cover: chenille for winter

Our chenille cover is soft, fuzzy and warm, which makes it the cozy choice for a Canadian winter. It comes in Cream White and this cheerful Ginkgo Yellow, with a matching brown pillow.

The cover zips off and goes straight in the washer.

A fluffy apricot pup curled up against a white pillow and a toy bunny on a striped ice-silk NOOKI bed
Pillow, bunny, nap. In that order.

Or ice-silk for dogs who run warm

For warmer homes, summer, or dogs who always seem to be panting, the ice-silk cover feels cool to the touch and breathes well. It comes in soft pink, green and blue, each in NOOKI's own stripe.

Already have an OrthoFlex? A spare cover and pillow lets you switch with the seasons, or have a fresh one ready on laundry day.

From the NOOKI team
Every OrthoFlex set comes with the mattress, a removable cover and a head pillow — because in our experience, most dogs are pillow dogs. Ships from Edmonton, with free shipping over $199.
Shop beds with a pillow

Keep reading: Love Your Dog's Teepee or Crate? Upgrade What's Inside · Seven Dogs, One Mattress: Our Pop-Up Bed Test