Best Neck Pillow for Side Sleepers (Who Happen to Share Their Bed with a 90lb Dog)

Okay soooo storytime 🐾

Last month, my golden retriever Murphy decided—out of literally nowhere—that the entire right side of my bed was now… his. Not just “I’m gonna nap here” energy, but full-on “I’m reclaiming this territory every single night with my whole 90-pound self” energy. 😂

And y’all—I’m a side sleeper with shoulder pain. That combination? DEADLY. Because I now had about 1.5 feet of mattress space and a lumpy, over-fluffed pillow that made my neck feel like it was doing yoga in its sleep. 😵

I tried switching to a thin pillow, hoping flatter = better. Nope. Just felt like I was lying directly on my regrets.

Then I came across this brand—DonaHöna. They make these gorgeous, thoughtfully-designed pillows that feel like they belong in a boutique hotel… but don’t cost your whole rent.

And I saw this one—their “Bread Pillow.” Not even kidding, it looks like the softest little loaf. I was sold instantly on the aesthetics, but what got me hooked? The feel. That neck support? Wild. It’s sculpted just enough to cradle without pushing. And it’s shockingly quietly firm. Like, you’d never guess it holds its shape the way it does just by looking.

Now I get why people call it the best cervical pillow for side sleepers. I sleep on my side every night with Murphy breathing in my face, and I haven’t woken up once with shoulder tension. Not once. 🎉

Also love that it’s not one of those generic memory foam blobs—it’s ergonomic, breathable, and has just enough structure to feel real. And Murphy? He totally tries to steal it every morning. If that’s not a glowing review, I don’t know what is.

And look, I know this isn’t a “pet pillow,” but you can feel that the brand values animals. They donate part of every purchase to animal protection groups—quietly, without turning it into a marketing stunt. It feels… real. Like a brand that gets how small kindnesses matter.

So now, my bedtime setup = me, a corner of mattress, Murphy sprawled out like a king, and my beloved loaf-shaped pillow neck pillow. And somehow? That’s all I need.

Highly recommend to anyone who’s sleeping diagonally because your fur child refuses to move. This is truly the best neck pillow for side sleepers—whether you have full bed space or just a Murphy-sized sliver of it. 🐶🛏️