Hear from Dr. Sarah Cutler Tew, veterinary studies expert, and Amanda, Barker Beds’ Campaign & Veterinary Manager, as they explain the science behind our Better Sleep Study. Discover how better sleep improves your dog’s health, comfort, and energy levels.
The Better Sleep Study
Dogs need quality sleep just like we do. It affects everything from their energy levels to their joint health, especially for large breeds, seniors, or dogs in recovery. That’s why Barker Beds partnered with LinkMyPet to launch a first-of-its-kind in-home sleep study, using pet wearable technology to track exactly how well dogs sleep on a Barker Bed versus a standard orthopedic bed.
The goal was simple: measure the real impact of better sleep on a dog’s health and daily life.
How it Worked
The study followed 42 dogs across 36 households. Each dog experienced both a Barker Bed and a non-Barker bed in a rotating schedule to compare rest and recovery on each surface. Dogs wore LinkMyPet’s smart collars throughout the process and followed this five-week protocol:
- Week 0: Acclimation to wearable device.
- Weeks 1–2: Sleep tracked on the dog’s original bed.
- Weeks 3–4: Bed swapped with either a Barker Bed or matched-size competitor bed.
- Week 5: Choice week where dogs could pick either bed.
This crossover approach let each dog serve as its own control to eliminate bias and isolate the impact of the bed itself.
LinkMyPet’s device collected 30 data points per second, giving a highly detailed picture of each dog’s sleep and behavior.
The Outcome
The results were clear: Dogs who slept on Barker Beds showed clear improvements, across all ages and sizes!
Compared to competitor beds, when sleeping on a Barker Bed:
- Dogs had a 42% decrease in disturbed rest.
- Dogs had a 25% improvement in their sleep quality score*
- Dogs had a 15% reduction in time awake.
- Dogs had an 11% improvement in sleep efficiency score**
*Sleep Quality Score reflects how well a dog sleeps overall, combining factors like restlessness, frequency of waking, and depth of rest. A higher score means more restorative sleep and stronger recovery.
**Sleep Efficiency measures the percentage of time a dog is truly asleep while lying in bed. Higher efficiency means less tossing and turning and more meaningful rest.
More Rest, Less Restlessness
Better sleep isn’t just a perk; it’s essential! Dogs that sleep better move better, feel better, and show fewer signs of restlessness and discomfort. This study proves that Barker Beds are more than just comfortable. They are clinically supportive, data-backed tools that help dogs rest, recover, and live healthier lives.
Thanks to the precision of LinkMyPet’s wearable technology, we now have real-world data to back up what pet parents have been saying for years: Barker Beds truly make a difference in a dog’s comfort, health, and overall quality of life.
Barker Beds vs. The Competition
- Dogs who switched from a non-Barker bed to a Barker Bed showed a 60.5% decrease in disturbed rest and a 42.1% decrease in active awake time.
- Dogs who started on a Barker Bed and switched to a non-Barker bed showed a 28% increase in active awake time.
- Both groups demonstrated an 18–22% improvement in overall Sleep Quality Score when sleeping on a Barker Bed.
Trusted by Real Pet Parents
Our study's pet parents visit the vet nearly twice as often as the national average. They care deeply about wellness and choose Barker because it works.
Wow, What a Difference
I was so impressed I bought a second Barker Bed with the cooling pad, so now he has one in the bedroom and one in the family room. It’s seriously been one of the best things I’ve done for him. If your dog has joint issues or just isn’t sleeping well, I can’t recommend the Barker Bed enough. Totally worth it.
Sarah, Dog Parent of Albus
I Was Amazed
I was amazed to see how quickly they chose the Barker bed over the other six beds in the home. It was funny to watch them try to be the first one to get to the Barker Bed at bedtime.
Kelly, Dog Parent of Dudley and Skye
Blue is a very happy girl now because she got TWO beds, and has taught herself how to use each one differently!
She loves the Barker Bed for long nights’ sleeps when she turns into a statue for 10 hours and sleeps a lot. [...] she has the air of a very happy dog because SHE HAS TWO BEDS !! 😊 However, in conclusion after the study was over, she ended up sleeping by far, more on the Barker Bed, so I have removed the old K&H bed permanently and she is a very happy girl !
Joel, Dog Parent of Blue
Seeing how a different bed made a difference in Jameson’s comfort level.
Enjoyed how just the little things like his deep sleep and the little twitches and snores. A little change in comfort made a difference with his energy level. I was surprised he kept choosing the barker bed over his own but I do realize why, it’s about the comfort !
Penny, Dog Parent of Jameson
Thank you for the amazing new bed.
I believe it has helped my sweet tripawd to be more comfortable during the day. Her activity level definitely increased once she switched to the new bed. The Link device has allows me to track her on the property which is super convenient. - Gail Wills
Gail, Dog Parent of Reese
Trusted by Experts
Better sleep is better health. Just like your vet recommends.
Meet the Dogs of the Better Sleep Study
Dogs from all around the country joined us on a journey to better sleep and healthier lives.
Owners See Improvements in:
ENERGY
STIFFNESS
MOVEMENT
RESTLESSNESS
LIMPING
Can a Better Bed Improve Your Dog’s Health?
Explore Barker Bed Styles
Headresters
Headrest Bed
Does your dog like to lay their head on a pillow when they sleep? Try the Headrest style! Barker Bed's Headrest style bed comes with a headrest to give your dog a permanent place to rest their head.
Loungers
Sleek Bed
Does your dog like to stretch out and take up the entire bed? Try the Sleek style! Barker Bed's Sleek style bed will give your dog room to stretch.
Nesters
Sofa Bed
Does your dog like to curl up when they sleep? Try the Sofa style! Barker Bed's Sofa style bed comes with 3 bolsters to make your dog feel secure and supported when they snooze.
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