Owing a dog comes with great responsibility, dogs are very similar to children, they need to be feed, bathed have their annual injections and ensure that they have a safe and happy environment to live in. When taking care of a dog whether the dog is a puppy middle aged or old aged dog there are some basics requirements that are needed. One of these requirements is the dogs bedding.

All dog beds may look the same but not all of them are. The age, size, health and the environment your dog lives in will play an important part in the type of dog bedding which you will choose.

When selecting dog bedding here are some tips on what to look for.

?What type of fabric ? One of the most popular fabrics in dog bedding is canvas as the material is soft and durable.

?Easy care ? Find a dog bed which has a removable cover so when it come time to washing the bed all you need to do is remove the cover and throw it in the wash. Another option is to select a latex bed. With a dog bed made from latex you can simply throw the whole bed in the wash not just the cover and they dry very quickly.

?If you have an older dog you may consider an orthopedic dog bed as they provide support and comfort. Some come with detachable heating so that your dog stays warm in winter and cool in summer

?For hot summer months you can select a cool dog bed. Cool dog beds are great as they can be filled with water and the internal structure will cool the water down. Cooling, by nature, has a therapeutic effect on a dog's health. It slows, relaxes and helps treat pain and swelling. This allows the pet to be more agile, limber and playful.

?If you are a person that travels and loves to take their dog with them then a thermo heated pet throw is the ideal thing to use as it offers your dog the comforts of home in your car. The rug has a 12 Volt soft and comfy coverlet is thermostatically control which includes a standard plug for use in a house or office as well as a car adapter for easy travel. You can use it unplugged in summer and plug it in to warm your dog in winter. It helps to reduce homesickness in traveling for your dog and keeps wind and drafts away.

There are three general rules of thumb when measuring up your dog for a bed.

Measure Your Pet Lying Down

1. Use the Weight of the Pet

2. When in doubt get the larger, not the smaller size

In general we believe that measuring your pet lying down as he is normally accustomed to lying, is the best way.

? Measure from nose or front legs, to back legs or rump; add 9" to 12."

Pick the size of the bed that will best fit those measurements, remembering that round bed measurements are in diameter (width across the circle).

? Using weight, with some judgment, use the following guidelines

o Small - pets up to 25 lbs

o Medium - pets up to 40 lbs

o Large - pets up to 85 lbs

o Extra Large - pets up to 140 lbs

o XX Large - pets up to 175 lbs

Dogs provide unconditional love to their owners so it is important that you give that love in return by providing a happy and healthy environment for your dog to live in.