Editorial ratings based on published specifications, manufacturer data and verified owner reviews. We have not physically tested this product.
| DURABILITY | 76 | STRONG | |
| VALUE INDEX | 90 | STRONG | |
| BREED COMPATIBILITY | 82 | STRONG | |
| EASE OF USE | 74 | MIXED | |
| AU SUPPLY CHAIN | 80 | STRONG |
Quick verdict
For most dogs, the Coolaroo Original is the simplest and cheapest way to get a cooler outdoor resting spot. It’s firm, it hoses clean, and at $39.95 to $54.95 on sale at Temple & Webster (checked 2 November 2026) it costs less than most foam beds. Choose something else if your dog is a heavy chewer, if it hates firm surfaces, or if it is very large and you want a published weight rating.
What it is and how it works
The bed is a steel frame with a breathable fabric panel stretched across it, about 20 cm off the ground. Your dog lies on the fabric like a hammock pulled tight. Because nothing sits under your dog, air can circulate, and your dog isn’t in contact with ground that has been heating up in the sun all day. Temple & Webster describes the fabric as breathable, helping air circulate and reducing hot spots, with a suspended design that reduces pressure on joints.
It’s worth being clear about what it doesn’t do. A raised bed has no cooling element. It won’t lower your dog’s temperature on its own, and it’s no substitute for shade, water and keeping your dog quiet in the hottest part of the day.
Sizes and materials
| Size | Overall (H × W × D) | Weight of bed | Price (T&W, 2 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 20 × 90 × 55 cm | 5 kg | $39.95 |
| Medium | 20 × 110 × 65 cm | 7 kg | $49.95 |
| Large | 20 × 130 × 80 cm | 9 kg | $54.95 |
Temple & Webster lists it as water resistant and suitable for outdoor use, with a removable, machine-washable cover. The retailer doesn’t publish a maximum dog weight, so if your dog is over about 40 kg, a bed with a published rating (such as the Superior Steel, rated to 70 kg in Large) is the safer choice.
What owners report
This is one of the most-reviewed raised dog beds available. Across retailers listed on Google Shopping it averages 4.3 out of 5 from about 6,300 reviews, many of them from overseas buyers. Temple & Webster’s own Australian buyers rate it 4.8 from 49 reviews.
What owners consistently like:
- Their dog uses it every day, often outdoors or on a porch.
- The frame feels sturdy once assembled.
- It hoses down and dries quickly.
- Puppies and young dogs that shred soft beds tend to leave it alone.
What owners consistently complain about:
- Assembly. Some owners find it easy, but others say the bars and screws are fiddly and it’s much easier with two people.
- The fabric is coarse. Some short-coated dogs won’t lie on it until a towel or thin mat is added.
- A minority report early wear or parts that didn’t line up.
How it compares
| Bed | Type | Price checked 2 Nov 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolaroo Original (Large) | Raised mesh | $54.95 at T&W (sale) | Most reviewed; no published weight limit |
| Superior Steel Hessian (Large) | Raised, hessian cover | $80 at Petbarn | Galvanised frame rated to 70 kg; replaceable cover; hessian sags over time |
| All Day Rio Raised (Large) | Raised, fabric cover | $79 at Petbarn ($60 for members) | Rated to 35 kg in Large; 4.1 from 123 Petbarn reviews |
| Kazoo Daydream Classic (Medium) | Outdoor bed | $64.99 at Pet Circle | Water-resistant and ventilated (per listing); 131 reviews |
If you want the cheapest well-proven raised bed, the Coolaroo wins. If your dog is big, or two dogs share, the Superior Steel’s published 70 kg rating and replaceable cover are worth the extra money.
Running costs
There’s nothing to run: no gel to replace and no power. The main ongoing cost is time spent hosing it down. At $54.95 for the Large, if the bed lasts three summers that’s about $18 a year. If your dog needs a towel or thin mat on top, budget for that too.
Cleaning, care and when to replace it
- Hose it down and let it dry in the sun. Temple & Webster says the cover is removable and machine washable.
- Check the fabric each season for tears near the frame, and check that the screws are still tight.
- Replace the bed, or its cover, if the fabric starts to sag enough that your dog’s body touches the ground, or if your dog starts chewing an edge.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn’t
Buy it if: your dog spends time outside or on a patio, you want something that hoses clean, or you have a young dog that destroys soft beds.
Skip it if: your dog is a heavy chewer, it’s elderly and needs cushioning, or it’s a very large dog and you want a published weight rating. Look at the Superior Steel instead, or an orthopaedic bed for older dogs.
Flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and British Bulldogs are at much higher risk of heatstroke, so for them a raised bed is one part of a heat plan, not the whole of it (Hall, Carter and O’Neill, Animals, 2020). See our guide to the best dog cooling beds and mats in Australia.
| Type | Raised (elevated) bed with breathable fabric panel |
| Frame | Steel |
| Height | 20 cm |
| Small | 90 × 55 cm, bed weighs 5 kg |
| Medium | 110 × 65 cm, bed weighs 7 kg |
| Large | 130 × 80 cm, bed weighs 9 kg |
| Maximum dog weight | Not published by the retailer |
| Outdoor use | Yes (water resistant, per retailer) |
| Cover | Removable, machine washable (per retailer) |
| Assembly | Required; easier with two people |
| Price | $39.95 to $54.95 (T&W sale; usually up to $74.95) |
| Price checked | 2026-11-02 |
| How we rated | Specs, AU prices, owner reviews (not hands-on tested) |
| Owner rating | 4.3 from about 6,300 reviews across retailers; 4.8 from 49 at T&W |
Does the Coolaroo bed actually keep dogs cool?+
It helps, but not by cooling your dog directly. It lifts your dog 20 cm off hot ground and lets air move underneath, which is noticeably more comfortable than lying on hot pavers or decking. It doesn't replace shade, water or avoiding exercise in the heat.
What size Coolaroo bed does my dog need?+
Measure your dog lying stretched out and add 15 to 20 cm. The Medium (110×65 cm) suits most dogs from Beagle to Border Collie size, and the Large (130×80 cm) suits Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. The retailer doesn't publish a weight limit, so for dogs over about 40 kg consider a bed with a published rating.
Is the Coolaroo bed hard to put together?+
Owners are split. Many put it together in minutes, but a common complaint is that lining up the bars and screws is fiddly and much easier with a second person. Once assembled, owners say it feels sturdy.
Will my dog chew a Coolaroo bed?+
Many owners of young dogs say their puppy leaves it alone where it would shred a soft bed, but a determined chewer can damage the fabric. Supervise for the first few weeks, and choose a bed with a replaceable cover if your dog chews.
Can the Coolaroo bed stay outside?+
Yes. Temple & Webster lists it as water resistant and suitable for outdoor use, and owners commonly keep it on patios and verandahs. Put it in shade, because a bed in direct sun gets hot too, and hose it down regularly.