New Study Confirms Dogs Sleep Better and Live Better on Barker Beds

Barker Beds, a leader in orthopedic dog bedding, in partnership with Link, the pet wellness technology pioneer, has released compelling results from its Better Sleep Study. The findings confirm that their high-quality orthopedic beds significantly improve sleep, energy and overall wellness in dogs of all ages and sizes.

The in-home study followed 42 dogs across 36 households through five weeks, using Link’s advanced wearable technology and PetNet AI platform to track sleep metrics in real-life environments. Dogs sleeping on Barker Beds showed a 26 percent improvement in overall Sleep Quality Scores, a 42 percent reduction in disturbed rest and measurable gains in sleep efficiency, energy and next-day mobility.

“This study confirms what we have long suspected, Barker Beds truly lead to better days for dogs,” said Louisa Marvin, Marketing Director of Jolly Pets and Barker Beds. “Now we have the data to prove it.”

Built on the foundation of Barker Beds’ prior clinical research with the University of Pennsylvania, the Better Sleep Study explored the role of bedding in canine rest across diverse in-home conditions. The results consistently demonstrated that orthopedic sleep support delivers measurable health benefits.

Key Findings

• During a choice phase, 88 percent of participating dogs chose the Barker Bed over the competitor bed
• Dogs older than six years old fell asleep twice as fast and experienced 32 percent less restlessness overnight
• Younger dogs gained 14 percent more deep rest and increased total sleep time by 13 percent
• Large breed dogs weighing more than 70 pounds improved sleep efficiency and total rest by more than 11 percent

“These results elevate orthopedic bedding from a luxury to a critical part of a dog’s wellness plan,” said Donny Lamey, CEO of Link. “Our ability to quantify better sleep through wearable data gives pet owners and veterinarians the tools to make smarter decisions.”

Pet owners also reported noticeable improvements. Dogs who slept on Barker Beds showed fewer signs of stiffness, less overnight movement and more morning enthusiasm compared to nights spent on other bedding.

“Veterinarians can now confidently recommend orthopedic bedding as part of multimodal wellness strategies,” said Dr. Sarah Cutler Tew, the study’s lead advisor and expert in animal biomechanics. “This is especially important for aging or mobility-challenged dogs.”

The Better Sleep Study demonstrates that the combination of innovative design and real-time health tracking can offer powerful insights into canine wellness. By prioritizing quality sleep, Barker Beds and Link are setting a new standard for how pet care begins—right where a dog lays its head.

For a full overview of the study, click here.

For access to anonymized study data, contact:

Amanda Friemann
Campaign and Veterinary Manager, Barker Beds
afriemann@jollypets.com

Jodi Torline
Director of Product, Link
jodi.torline@linkmypet.com