Big Barker is known for their incredibly comfortable orthopedic dog beds. I've previously reviewed their Big Barker large bed. Now, the company has released their newest bed, and it's made for SUVs! There are multiple dog bed sizes available to fit in small, medium and large vehicles. Unfortunately, as with their traditional beds, the Backseat Barker comes with a large price tag.
I'll get into more of the details in a minute. Right now I want to answer the question you've been asking yourself since you clicked on the link for this dog bed review:
“Does my dog really need an orthopedic bed in my SUV?”
Need? Not really, but it could really help his overall joint health if he finds himself often riding in the car. The main reason is because the high quality foam used in all Backseat Barker dog beds acts as a shock absorber.
When your vehicle hits bumps, your dog's body won't have to absorb the shock of bouncing up and down on the seat or floor of the vehicle. Instead, the Backseat Barker will absorb all of that energy.
In my opinion, one of the things that is the most important for a dog's overall health, wellbeing and comfort is joint health. Sadly, most dog owners don't think about caring for their dog's joints until it's too late. We start thinking about joint health when we notice the signs of canine arthritis, hip dysplasia and other serious joint conditions.
Our dogs put a lot of stress on their joints every day. Running, jumping and climbing all contribute to debilitating legs, paws, hips and shoulders. You won't notice any sudden changes in your pet's mobility after spending the afternoon riding in the car together, but over time the stress of bouncing around in a vehicle can take a toll on his body.
And that's why I wanted to take a look at Big Barker's newly released dog bed, the Backseat Barker for SUVs. Is it really worth the hefty price tag? Does it really provide enough joint support? Would I recommend it to other pet owners?
Watch the video above and read my full, detailed Backseat Barker review below.
PODCAST: Health Benefits of Dog Beds
Backseat Barker Dog Bed for SUVs Review
If you've read my review on the traditional Big Barker large dog bed, then you already know that I'm a fan of this company, and so are the thousands of their customers. I was not paid to do this Big Barker review, but I did receive this dog bed free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion about the product, which I'm about to give below.
Big Barker not only use extremely high-quality materials and the technology for making their orthopedic foam, but everything is made in the USA and comes with a 10-year warranty and 100% money back guarantee. Any company that stands behind their products for 10 years definitely deserves my attention.
I already told you what this product is all about – absorbing the bumps in the road so your dog's body doesn't have to, which makes it one of the most tough dog beds out there. But, how does it do that?
As you'll see in my video of Backseat Barker review, this dog bed is designed with wings that allow it to fit in virtually any SUV. The wings have traditional filling, but the orthopedic bed itself is made with a 3-inch thick piece of foam. The top 1.5″ is comfort foam, while the bottom 1.5″ is a support foam.
I've only been using the Backseat Barker dog bed for about 2 months now, but I've had one of the traditional Big Barker dog beds for more than a year. I'm happy to report that although our dogs use the bed for multiple hours each day, the bed is still retaining 100% of its shape, which is unusual for most other beds for dogs (they normally flatten).
Big Barker guarantees that that the foam will retain at least 90% of its original shape for at least 10 years. That means that you won't see a dog-sized dent in the foam after your pooch sleeps on this bed for a few months.
As you can see in the above photo, the cover is made of soft and durable microfiber. If you flip the dog bed over, you'll find the “hidden” zippers that allow you to remove the cover easily. The best part is that the cover is machine washable.
I do have to mention one thing about washing the cover. It washes easily and air dries quickly. However, the first few times you wash it, you'll notice some little strings that come off around the zippers. The strings must be leftover from the manufacturing process when they cut the microfiber, because they're not coming from the Backseat Barker itself.
It worried me at first, but after the first 3 or 4 washes they go away.
One thing I noticed is that this dog bed cover is really durable. Our little Beagle, Molly, digs and digs before she lies down. Sometimes she'll dig for 2-3 minutes before finding the perfect spot.
Not only has the cover of our Backseat Barker dog bed held up very well so far, but the cover of our traditional Big Barker bed has withstood her digging for more than a year – no rips yet!
Our oldest dog peed on our Backseat Barker once, and I was worried about the urine smell soaking into the foam. She peed during the ride, so I'm not sure how long the urine had been soaking into the cover and foam before I found the accident when we got home.
I knew the cover would be easy to clean, but I was afraid the foam would be ruined. I used a bit of enzymatic dog urine remover to clean the urine smell and the stain, and it worked. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it came out. I think a spray carpet cleaner would work to clean the foam as well.
All in all, I'm highly satisfied with the traditional Big Barker dog bed after over 1 year of use, and the same goes for the Backseat Barker dog bed, which me and my dogs have been testing for about 2 months now.
RELATED: Bedtime Basics – Why Your Fido Needs A Dog Bed
Would I recommend the Backseat Barker?
Yes, I would recommend Backseat Barker, but I also know that it's not for everyone.
If you take your pet for rides frequently in your SUV, this is a great bed to have for your car. It gives your dog a comfortable place to lie down so he's not moving around the vehicle, and it's ideal for protecting his joints from the bumps of the road.
This bed comes in three sizes:
- Medium – 55″ X 25″ X 3″ (this is the one that I have)
- Large – 58″ X 35″ X 3″
- Extra Large – 61″ X 35″ X 3″
You can purchase these beds on Amazon for $179.95, $199.95 and $229.95, respectively to their sizes. That's a lot of money for a dog bed that's only going to get used in your car.
Technically, you could bring the dog bed into your home and use it there as well. But, it would be inconvenient to have to move it around all the time. It is a great option to take with you for camping, visiting friends and family, and taking along for picnics at the park.
Do you need this dog bed? No. Would it benefit your pet if you had one? Yes.
If you're in the market for a dog bed for the back of your vehicle, I would definitely recommend the Backseat Barker as the absolute best choice. But it's not a necessity, and I definitely see how this bed may not fit well into every dog owner's budget.
Summary of the Big Barker Backseat Barker Review
PROS:
- Made in the USA
- Foam is easy to clean
- Available in three different sizes
- Removable cover is machine washable
- Made with 3 inches of orthopedic foam
- Great shock absorption
- Pillow-like wings on the side of the bed allow it to fit into the cargo space of virtually any SUV
- Guaranteed by the company to retain at least 90% of it's original shape for at least 10 years, or your money back
CONS:
- Reasonably priced for the quality and orthopedic foam technology, but too expensive to fit into every dog owner's budget
- Small strings come off zipper area for the first few washings, but they aren't attached to the bed and don't do any damage to the product
Now it’s your turn to review the Backseat Barker SUV Dog Bed
Does your dog lounge on Backseat Barker while riding in your vehicle? Do you have a senior dog or a pooch suffering from hip and joint issues who benefits from traveling on a Backseat Barker? I'd love to hear your honest opinion. Feel free to share your personal review of the Backseat Barker in the comments below, or leave us a review along with a photo or video of your pup on our Facebook page.
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