(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best dog beds & furniture

tl;dr: Adopt the kitty and sorry for the wall of text.

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YES! Big kitties need love too! Especially kitties who have special needs! Kittens get adopted super quick but it can take so long for adult cats. Thank you SO MUCH for considering adopting a big mini panther! I may primarily foster kittens, but adult cats are where my heart is. We had a big mini panther (that was my old account, recently changed names so made this one) who was the mama to 5 beautiful tabby kittens, and she's still in the shelter. Giving her up was the hardest and my heart aches every time I check the adoption page and see she's still there.

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You seem to know what kitty you want but you're on the fence about it, so let me help you lean one way or the other. Hopefully to adopt the little big boy because the fact that you have one picked out already means you're 95% ready. You're just being responsible and making sure you would be the best person for this special cat and I SO appreciate it!

• DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD! Your big mini panther's life in your home will absolutely be better than at the shelter unless you're gone A LOT. Shelters are stressful places for animals and sick animals come and go. I seriously can not stress that even if you're not the world's most perfect pet parent, you will be far better than a shelter.
  
• The fact that you're even considering that you might not be a good pet parent means you'll be a great pet parent. Who are the best parents you know? The ones that go OMG BAYBEEEEZ and get pregnant and don't do any research? Or the ones that go "I really want kids, but I might not be up to the task. Let me take time, research, and consider if this is a good choice." You're thinking it through, so if you decide to take him home I know you'll be great. I know this because not taking him home is an option that you're considering because you're thinking of what is best for a cat that isn't even yours yet.
  
• However, kitties cost money. This is ESPECIALLY true if you have a special needs kitty. Do his legs just look a little funny and he walks like a goof? He won't be much more expensive than any other cat. You may want to consider buying some pet stairs to make things easier, but other than some minor one time accessibility things it might not be anything. Will kitty require surgery, frequent vet visits, or other long term ongoing costs? That's definitely something to account for. With the fosters, I've scoured all over for the best cheap stuff. I like to get rid of all things like scratchers and non-plastic toys between litters so nothing can get passed between litters so you can bet I know a lot of cost effective things to buy! I'd be THRILLED to share them with you if it would mean getting a cat out of the shelter.
  
• The care for kitties is also a concern with special needs cats. If your silly legged big mini panther won't be able to say get in and out of the litter because of his legs, are you willing to go the extra mile to make sure that he has an easy time and if an accident happens are you willing to deal with it more frequently than another kitty? It sounds like he just has silly legs so it's not something to even think about, but think worst case.
  
• That being said, cats are super easy to care for, especially adult cats. I would actually be way more "well... think about these things" if you were getting a kitten. They are just as much as a pain in the ass as they are cute and they require SO much work. Worth it but chances are I'm not adopting a kitten again even though I foster them as a "job". Adult cats though do their own thing. They can handle you being gone for most of the day because they will sleep for most of time you're gone, and as long as you can play with them a bit, give them food, and cuddle them when you get home, you both will be fine.
  
• One very big consideration though is your schedule and any potential medications. Typically medications need to be given once a day so you can just pick whatever time works best for you, but some kitties (think diabetes) need medicine multiple times a day. Can you get home to give them medications or get someone else to? If yes, bring the baby home. If no, do something else such assssss:
  
  • Pay for the adoption fee for someone else to bring him home. It's a really easy, low effort way to help him get into a home faster. It doesn't prevent a good person from adopting him if you're concerned about the "If they want a free cat, they probably won't take good care of him"
    
  • Some shelters will let you sponsor an animal to pay for their medical care. You can make sure he's living a good life without bringing him home. My shelter is basically the local animal control so they don't ask for sponsorship, but this a shelter we've adopted from who does. Ask yours for what you can do!
    
  • Try fostering adult cats yourself. When animals sit in cages all day every day, it's hard on their mental and physical health. Giving them a break is an amazing thing! It can also let you know if you're ready for a cat and how you would do with them without making the 20 year (based on age ofc) commitment. Tell your shelter you're thinking of adopting but don't know if you're ready, and ask if they would let you foster to see if you would be up to the task. A lot of people try fostering and foster fail on their first batch because it's so hard to return them since you get so attached.
    
  • I wrote something here about what you can do to help animals. So if right now isn't the best time, you can still help!
    
• If this is your first cat, I wrote up a quick thing here about bringing them home. I was thinking about it for a while and basically wrote it super quick when a friend from the /r/aww discord was about to bring home his first cat, so it's not written very well nor does it have a lot of the things I recommend buying. But like I said in the cost section, I have a TON of very cheap things that are really good that I would love to recommend.

What an adorable pooper!

1. I would wait at along as you are comfortable with, whether that be 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes. Try to encourage her to sniff around by kicking at the grass or the rocks, shuffling your feet, etc. If she doesn't pee, bring her back inside and put her in her crate for 5-10 minutes, then take her out and try again. Repeat until pee happens, initiate party.
   
   
2. That's really strange that the smell clings to her like that! Other than grooming wipes and brushing, I'm a bit stumped. Is there anywhere else you could take her to potty?
   
   
3. My understanding is that puppies around that age should be gaining about 2 lbs a week (someone correct me if I'm wrong). If she isn't overweight, you could keep upping her food, but usually the feeding amounts on the bag are pretty accurate. You could ask your vet what the caloric intake is supposed to be for her breed at that age and double check that against your kibble's feeding instructions?
   
   
4. I totally understand wanting her to nap near you, but it's kind of great that she loves her crate so much! That is some well done crate training and sounds totally normal to me. I'm guessing as she gets more confident and comfortable in your house she will probably venture out. Do you have a second bed or mat for her, other than her crate? Have you taught any "place" commands, like "crate" or "on your mat"? I think that would be the easiest way to start encouraging her to sleep elsewhere. Put a mat in the living room and start teaching "on your mat". Reward her when she goes to the mat independently as well. Make it a happy rewarding place and I'm sure she will want to chill out there. I would get an elevated bed or a thick cushy foam bed so the boundaries of her "place" are very clear and it's easier to train her to recognize them.
   
   
5. Normal. Puppies are often garbage cuddlers. They aren't good companions, they're just moody landsharks. We have a Standard Poodle who didn't cuddle or enjoy pets at all until he was around 6 months old, at which point he suddenly decided I AM NOW A CUDDLE BUG HELLO PET ME. I have been promoted from food provider to nap surface. Just give her time and I'm sure she will come around.
   
   
6. I would encourage her to come back to your side. Sitting and waiting is a great start, the fact that she doesn't just pull endlessly means she is getting the basics. I would make paying attention to your body language a rewarding game for her. Brenda Aloff (I think) has an exercise called the "back away" that is good for this. While she's walking nicely, randomly stop and plant your feet and just wait for her to turn her head like "wat". As soon as she does, click and hold a treat down at your side where she can see it. Don't hold it out for her; make sure she comes all the way back to you before she gets it. You can do this while she is stopped sniffing something too, just start backing away until you're at the end of the leash and wait for her to check for you. Eventually she should start returning to you without waiting for the click/treat offer.
   
   
7. If she persists in jumping, I would get her out of the kitchen while you're prepping food. This would be another great opportunity to use a "place" command or just ask her to "down" a little ways away and chuck treats to her every now and then, depending on how good her down duration is. I think there are wax bars you can get to cover up scratches in wood?? Something waxy.
   
   
8. 18 hours of sleep! Maybe 20! She needs it! Don't feel guilty. Throw a peanut butter kong in or something if you want to feel a bit nicer.
   
   
9. Why not just "stand"?
   
   
10. I don't know much about double-coated dogs, since I've always had poodles, but you can start getting her used to the groomer's and grooming stuff in general right now. Take her to the groomer's for a quick happy visit, where they gently brush her and give her some treats for 15-30 minutes. At home, bring out the brush a lot and reward her while you touch her with it. Put her in the empty bathtub and treat her while she's in there. Show her the running faucet and get her used to standing in water. You don't have to do full baths, just get her used to the components.
    
    
11. Yes. Take as many classes as you can afford and have time for. The socialization and extra level of difficulty are invaluable. Search for positive reinforcement training classes in your area, check the reviews on google, call to talk to the trainers, go from there.
    
    
12. Probably don't lay down too much where she has access to your face. Even adult dogs might step on you or lick your hair. When you do, ask her to lie down somewhere where she can't reach your face and reward for duration. Give her a toy to focus on if needed. Work on impulse control exercises with her so she can learn to listen in moments where she is excited or wants something.
    
    

Let her into your room! She'll be much happier with more space. I highly recommend having a cat tree or two in your place. Give her a box to hide in. Or even try one of these out!

KOJIMA Shark Round House Puppy Bed with Pet Bed Mat, Small to Medium (Gray, Small) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HRXQ90I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dcINybCJMQWEE

Don't prevent her from hiding, but do challenge her once in a while to be comfortable in different rooms and open spaces.

Try the toy distraction on your 2 year old cat. That's what I meant. If she's showing aggression, it's one of the best ways to distract her from the cat who's more shy.

Make sure the new cat isn't doing anything to provoke your 2 year old cat. If she is, that behavior will need to be adjusted before the 2 year old cat can be comfortable with her.

100% agree on the tuna. If you'd like to learn about cat nutrition, I highly recommend http://www.thecatsite.com for its active forums and articles on feline nutrition (they can also give great input on behaviors)

Here are two nutrition articles to get you started:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-choose-the-right-food-for-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grain-free-cat-food-what-does-it-mean

You'll find that grain free high protein wet/raw foods are best for your babies as unlike people and even dogs, cats are obligate carnivores. (Here is some of that science: https://www.waltham.com/document/nutrition/cat/dog/differences-between-cat-and-dog/284/ )
My recommendation is making a small trip to an independent pet food store (not petco, petsmart, or even pet supplies plus) Take a look on yelp for good ones in your area. (Just search for pet food stores) If there are none, try Chewy.com. They sell all sorts of pet foods (you can filter by grain free) The forums on thecatsite are very good in terms of discussion of different commercial and home-made food options. (As you might be able to tell, I've done a lot of my own research!)

But yes. You are correct. Plain tuna does not contain the amount of Taurine (that's just one or the major ones) cats need to thrive. Fish generally is something you should stray from due to high mercury content and addictiveness. (Dry food is also very addictive and contributes most to obesity, digestive issues, UTIs, urinary crystals, and more)

And good! Yes, be creative in your ways to distract her! If she's not enjoying her favorite toy, try a new one. (Cats love Da'Bird and similar long (~3 ft) fishing pole type toys. ) Check out these links.


GoCat Da Bird Rod and Feather Cat Toys, Assorted Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wzINybW7DMFV9

Cats really jump for these types of long fishing pole toys that use feathers or other fur like parts. I do recommend always having a handy supply of strong duct tape to fix minor issues and strengthen the parts of well-used toys. (I had to tightly reinforce the end of the rod that connects to the string so the end piece holding the string wouldn't come off)


Petmate Jackson Galaxy Cat Crawl Solid Tunnel, Green/Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3GWKHS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UDINyb34HXAEW

Great space for stalking and hiding during play


Nature In Hand Cat Play House with Catnip and Scratcher (Cat Scratching House) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AJAHOC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DFINybC4C5TWA

Triple function hide, stealth play, and cardboard scratcher. I have one that my cat loves! You can sometimes find seasonal looking ones on clearance at local pet stores (I have a gingerbread xmas themed one that I got on clearance for half the price on amazon) Cardboard scratchers, to me, are a must. Whether it's something like this or just by itself.



Nano Robotic Cat Toy (White/Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWU17KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kyINyb5FX7DB2

This one is great if you have hard wood or tile floors. Otherwise, pass.


The idea here is to give them more enrichment, hide space, and ways to play.

That said, having more vertical space is also a really good idea.

You know how cat trees (especially the 6 ft ones) are like 200 dollars at pet stores?
Check this out:

Go Pet Club Cat Tree, 50W x 26L x 72H, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WGGWQA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_awINybGSAA2EB


BestPet CT-9073 Cat Tree Scratcher Play House Condo Furniture Toy, 73-Inch, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NOL7OQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-wINybKYYYCDX

You can find more on amazon. Groupon or eBay are also good sources. Your cats will be more comfortable if they can observe their territory from a high place rather than hiding behind a toilet. I really do think it would help give them more confidence. You could even install cat shelves on your walls if you want to. But a cat tree(or two!) goes a long way!

Give them their own favorite places to occupy so that they are better able to share their space.

How old is the puppy?

First of all, crate training issues like whining and biting the crate are absolutely to be expected. Whining and crying for 30 minutes is actually REALLY good. When I first got my puppy, she would scream as long as she was in the crate. For HOURS. She would never settle down.

With regular crate training , the crate will no longer be a place of confinement and frustration but a calming, safe place to call his own. But this takes time. Often more than 2 weeks.

As for the bed issue, don't force it. Dogs are just like people, they have their own preferences. If he likes sleeping on the kitchen floors, let him! It might not make sense to you, but if it's what he wants, it's not hurting anything so give him his space. However, it's possible it's too hot for him. My dog and cat are both very snuggly and love to sleep on soft surfaces, like beds, or cuddle with me normally. But if the apartment is too hot, both of them will go lie down on a hard floor like the kitchen or bathroom tile to cool off. So consider finding a cooling cushion for him (something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Aolvo-Cooling-Dogs-Extra-Large/dp/B07CZB9DRM) and put it in the living room. He might prefer that. If that doesn't change his preference, then just allow him to nap in the kitchen if that's what he likes. For whatever reason he might just find that more comfortable.


Concerning potty training, if he's only 10 weeks old (assuming you got him at 8 weeks) it's not surprising that he's having issues. Again, these are absolutely to be expected with a puppy. Nothing is instantaneous. But it sounds like you're giving him *way* too much freedom. A puppy should ALWAYS be in a completely controlled environment until he is fully potty trained and fully able to be trusted not to destroy/chew on inappropriate things.

If he's not in his crate (only crate him 2-4 hours a day at this young age, increase it with time), he should always be under your direct supervision. For instance, you might want to keep him in a puppy play pen, or better yet, leash him to you (get a carabiner and clip his leash to your belt loop if you have one) so that he's never more than 4 feet away from you as you move from room to room. Less optimal, but also acceptable, would be using babygates to confine him to one room (perhaps the living room as it seems that's where you and your partner spend the most time) so that you can see him at all times. As soon as he starts indicating he's going to use the toilet (walking around, sniffing, or lowering himself to squat) say a quick "nope nope nope" (in a firm, urgent voice, but not angry or loud), grab him, and run-carry him outside to let him complete the tinkle. Then throw a HUGE party when he pees outside. Shower him with his favourite treats and just be super ecstatic, play with him, dance around with him. He unlocks the BEST version of you when he pees outside.


In terms of just trying to help him settle in--definitely look into getting some chew toys that he really, really loves. My puppy was INCREDIBLY high energy and was not a settler, either. But I got Himayalan yak cheese chews for her. At first she didn't know what to do with it, but when she figured out how fun they were to gnaw on, she was addicted. Now, if I want her to settle (for example, when she's going in her crate, or when I need to do something and keep her occupied) I give her one of those chews and she'll lie down happily and hold the end between her paws and gnaw on the other end for an hour or two. It's her favourite relaxing hobby.

We don't live in Colorado (yet, we actually just started to apply for jobs out there and hope to move to the Denver-area later this year. We've already mapped out the drive and done some brainstorming about where we'll stay on the road since from where we live (Pittsburgh), it's about a 24 hour drive, so let me know if you need any help on the research we've done on that), but do camp (in OH, PA, and MD), hike, and road trip with our 1.5 year old Golden Retriever pretty frequently when the weather is warm. I'll discuss what we have for our dog's set ups.

Road Trips

• Car Harness (we use the Ruffwear Loadup) to help keep him safe in the car and to keep him in the backseat
  
• Car Seat Cover to protect your car
  
• Cleanup Supplies just in case your dog gets sick (my policy if that if you have them, you probably won't need them. But that one time you don't have them is when you'll probably need them). We keep a bottle of Nature's Miracle and paper towels in the trunk.
  
• Something to carry your dog's kibble in. We use the Ruffwear Kibble Kaddie
  
• Travel Dog Bowls. We really like these Doggie Bento Bowls for travel, since they're sturdy and the top one is keeps water in without leaking.
  
• Treats
  
• Crate for the hotel room/wherever you'll be staying on the road if your dog is crate trained.
  
• Leash and poop bags for when you take your dog out to potty at various rest stops, etc.
  
• Toys for when you get to your destination/your nightly lodging
  
• A bag to put everything in. We just use a folding duffle we've had lying around the house for a while.
  
• Collar with vaccination tags, as well as a tag with your home address (if it's a short trip) or the address of where you will be staying (if it's a longer trip)
  
• Doggie First Aid Kit (include items such as disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide (can be used to clean wounds or induce vomiting), vet wrap, gauze pads, activated charcoal, tick key, thermometer, ace wrap, scissors, tweezers, styptic powder, etc.)
  
  Camping
  
  
• Tie-out stake and tie-out line for the campsite. It's extremely useful not having to hold your dog's leash constantly while you're setting up camp, starting fires, collecting wood, etc.
  
• Something for your dog to sleep on (optional). We use the Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag and the Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Pad (we got both for over half off at L.L. Bean). Summit usually ends up ditching the sleeping bag and trying to climb into ours and cuddle though. The sleeping pad is really nice to have since we can easily move it to near the fire so he has a nice place to lay.
  
• Toys you don't mind getting dirty. We especially like light up and glow in the dark toys for at night around the campsite since we can actually find them once it starts to get dark.
  
• Food and some way to store it (we generally use the Ruffwear Kibble Kaddie for this too and store it in either the car or a bear box when it's not being used).
  
• Travel Bowls. For camping we tend to use the Ruffwear Quencher Cinch for food.
  
• Water and bowl (we use a Nalgene Bottle with a [Pupwerks PupCup](http://www.pupwerks.com/shop/the-original-pupcup, which when not in use, fits snugly on the bottom of the water bottle)).
  
• Treats
  
• Leash and poop bags
  
• Doggie First Aid Kit
  
• Light-up Dog Necklace to make your dog easier to see at night
  
  Hiking
  
  
• Harness/backpack. Summit has the Ruffwear Palisades Pack for hiking, but so far has only used the removable harness from it and not the pack (we didn't want him carrying the pack last summer while he was still growing and can't wait to try this summer).
  
  
• Leash and poop bags. We really like the Chaco Dog Leash since it has a buckle to allow us to clip him to different places, and you can adjust the leash to clip it around yourself to walk hands-free if needed.
  
  
• Longline or Flexi-leash (controversial, we personally hate flexi-leashes EXCEPT if we're hiking in an area where there are not many people/dogs nearby. I would not recommend it unless your dog has excellent recall in addition to the flexi). This allows your dog to wander a little farther away from you and sniff and explore on his own a little bit.
  
• Water and bowl (we use the Nalgene with the Pupwerks PupCup again for hiking)
  
• Treats
  
• Doggie First Aid Kit, especially if it's a longer or overnight hike
  
  Additionally, for camping, I'd strongly recommend doing some camping training in your home before taking your dog camping for real. We set our tent up in our living room and slept in it at home a couple of times with our dog just to let him get a feel for what things would be like before we went outside camping for the first time. Lots of treats were involved to show him that being calm in the tent was a good thing. Also start small. The first time we took our dog camping was at a campsite in Ohio about 20 minutes from our parents' house. We made sure it was just one night and that we had an easy-out in case Summit wasn't ready and started to freak out or disrupt the other people camping. Everything went perfectly but if Summit hadn't been having a good time, we could have quickly packed up and left and slept at either of our parents' houses where he would have felt more comfortable.
  
  In terms of hiking, also start small. Start with shorter, easier hikes that take maybe 30-60 minutes. Then work up to longer, steeper, more challenging hikes.
  
  Finally, for road tripping, especially in places that you don't know as well, I strongly recommend taking a look at bringfido.com and dogfriendly.com. These websites will allow you to easily look up different dog-friendly establishments (such as restaurants, hotels, parks, activities, etc.) in the areas that you are traveling.
  

Variety is the spice of life- she'll enjoy having 2 or 3 toys each day that are constantly being switched out more than she'll enjoy having 20 toys in the permanent collection.

Similar to the treat-dispensing idea, you can hide little treats in her pen for her to sniff and find during the day. Put them in as many semi-obscure places as you can find so that she doesn't find them all in the first 10 minutes. It doesn't need to be anything high in fat and calories; even fingernail-sized nibbles of deli meat or a couple pieces of her kibble will work. If you want to make it easier for her at first, you can add a few drops of BBQ sauce or steak sauce to enhance the scent. This will appeal to the BC intelligence and the JRT nose.

Also, if it's really hot (85-90F+ or high humidity) I'd recommend getting a Cool Bed or something similar to put in a shaded area. I've had one for nearly 3 years and it has held up without a problem. It does stay amazingly cool and it's comfortable too.

My final suggestion is to teach her new tricks as often as you can. It obviously won't help keep her occupied during the day, but it will stimulate her when you are home at night. Get creative with finding things she can retrieve, seek out, stand on, etc along with the typical obedience stuff.

Good luck!

My cat has this tunnel toy, and he friggin' loves it. He's never played with a single toy so long! He hunts things through it, chases the little strings that collapse the tunnel, bats the stuffie... it's a cat's dream come true.

(And by the way, the sunny seats ARE amazing. My kitty sits on his literally all day for the past four years.)

On my wishlist for him is this shark bed! He likes exploring things and sitting in enclosed spaces (just like a normal cat) and I think he would like snoozing in a warm spot like that in the winter.

We ended up getting two of these in the 49"x35" flavour. He was skeptical of them at first but it was his very first doggy bed. Now we can't get him off them. He just follows us around the house from one bed to another. They're plenty big for a greyhound. Our ~70lb grey for scale. By starting my free amazon prime 30 day trial they were $63 CAD each and delivered in 2 days.

Best of luck in whatever you decide!

K&H Manufacturing Original Pet Cot. It is a great bed! He absolutely loves it. It is vented in the middle so he doesn't get too hot or cold, and it is super portable!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CHMG9DK/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got this for Tesla. I like it because it folds nicely, so it's also my mat for matwork. It works well ... I actually stole it last summer and threw it under my fitted sheet to cool me down lol.

172

This or a gift card would be just lovely. Thanks for the contest!

I got my 100lbs pupper his own doggy sleeping bag (unavailable, but you get the idea). He loves it! And it even comes with a little carry bag lol.

Just bought one of these because super fucking yolo.

For anyone that's interested, only small and medium sizes exist:

Small

Medium

Picture comparison of the 2 sizes

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013UVQCM/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1367720535&sr=8-5&pi=SL75

We got the large size, but I think the extra large would have been better, because its almost perfect for her, but she is only 8 months old.

I use one of these on my 40 breeder and it works great. The mesh is metal so I haven't any trouble with the heat from the lamp or my CHE. Easy enough the get in and out of the tank without having to remove the top.

Not really. It's "Pet stairs."

IMO, to be a ladder, there has to be large gaps between each step, and the the angle has to be set at greater than 45 degrees. If a normal, healthy human could use the steps comfortably without a handrail or grasping a rung/step while climbing, then it's stairs.

Source: None; that's just where I draw the line, I suppose. Actual definitions probably overlap at some point.

I got the biggest one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Sealy-Dog-Bed-Technology-Large/dp/B00G3D4TPU

Coconut likes it. one of her other beds is just the cushion from a papasan chair.

Whatever you get make sure it has a removable cover for easy cleaning.

I spoiled my lazy buns dog and got him an Extra Large Big Barker bed from Amazon. It was a bit on the expensive side, but so far it's been well worth it.

What sold me on the soft, 7" memory foam (not egg crate, either) bed was that its American made and has a 10 year warranty on any type of defects (if it goes flat, they replace it). It's tear resistant, but they kind of extort you into buying their $90 polyurethane under-cover that'll render it totally waterproof - although it is really high quality, seemingly hospital grade, odorless, and doesn't make any type of crinkling noises.

I was initially hesitant, but they've got thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon, I mean GLOWING. At the end of the day, I bought it and called it an investment - folks were saying how pleased they were to have had one of these beds for years and years, and the upfront cost paid for itself eventually in not having to constantly replace lower-quality beds.

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Barker-Pillow-Top-Orthopedic/dp/B009G9YBHY?th=1&psc=1

This spoiled darn dog has a nicer bed that I do :|

This is Leila, less than amused. She's not incredibly huge but she is big for a Border Collie! 65ish pounds now.

Excuse the stuff in the back, luggage from guests and such. Hence the air mattress to the left.

One of these would be useful for more training!

I know you are just looking for outerwear suggestions, but since we got our pit one of these as his bed, he freakin' loves it. http://www.amazon.com/Snoozer-Luxury-Cozy-Camel-X-Large/dp/B0013UVQCM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1381274418&sr=8-4&keywords=cozy+cave

Do you have a little puppy bed for her? That one is cute. Or, you know, this one is a pineapple and this one is a strawberry!!! :D I'll come back after work with a picture of my baby when he was a few weeks old <3

Amazon! My mom got it for me and my cat loves it.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADHQNHE/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_khfltb1YSFAMN

30”x42”
Got it on Amazon

My boy is about 85lbs and it fits him well.

I highly recommend. Not bad for $60 really. I have spent just as much on the large pillow style beds.

When my lab started having major weakness issues in his hind legs and possible arthritis issues I bought him this $280 Bed. Best money I've ever spent hands down and yeah this was a big purchase for me. He went from being clearly uncomfortable and not being able to sleep through the night to passing out almost instantly and sleeping comfortably for 8+ hours. I genuinely believe it gave me another full year with him. I've blown a lot of money on medical/comfort stuff for both dogs and humans over the years that has turned out to be junk but this is definitely worth it for an older dog.

I have these stairs. I've had them for years and my dogs use them really well. I know it's not a ramp, but these stairs are not very steep.

You could also make your own. There were more I found when I googled make your own dog ramp. I know for me this would be difficult since I can't make things very well. But if you or someone you know is handy, this could be a good alternative to buying a dog ramp.

Our last sheltie, in her old and arthritic years, loved her cool-bed. It was a cushioned place to lay that didn't trap heat.

Source, in case you want to buy one.

I'd recommend the two pack, which for some reason is cheaper...

Sealy sells dog mattresses. They are quite nice.
https://www.amazon.com/Sealy-Dog-Bed-Technology-Large/dp/B00G3D4TPU

We got the Armarkat Pet Bed Mat https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BYQ092/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_zs4rxb1TGT5SE. 6 months and still in good shape

Looks different than the pic, a lot different: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eddc/?srp=1

Looks more like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Round-House-Puppy-Medium/dp/B00CSJAIO4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_3

They do make dog sleeping bags: http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Sports-Pet-Sleeping-Bag/dp/B008TWADL2

Assuming of course that your dog would use it.

edit: or even ones like these: http://noblecamper.com/products/boulderlite-noble-camper-ad02

For the dog to lie down in. Like this. https://www.amazon.com/Yosoo-Shark-Round-House-Medium/dp/B00CSJAIRG

I bought this on Amazon. It came from China, so it did take some time getting to me. Here's a link to the bed. I bought mine from seller SR-Six when it was cheaper, so hopefully the other vendors send a quality product as well!

The cat? I found him under a car in Koreatown. If you mean the shark bed, I got if off of Amazon. Here's a link!

i highly recommend these clips. when i was housing a couple of snakes in 55 gallon tanks, one pair of those clips kept the entire lid solidly in place. i still use them on my KSB's tank, but she has a hinged lid so i use four clips total, two for each half of the lid.

I got one from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Kingmys-Sponge-Strawberry-Cushion-Basket/dp/B00ADHQNHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382474032&sr=8-1&keywords=strawberry+pet+bed

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/YML-Pineapple-House-Small-Orange/dp/B00CLBHB2G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1EZ76SW534CPXQD9F9DE

[These are what I have] ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0192CJP0W?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf), but any cooling mat would work, really. They're a bit pricey, but my pups use them even in the winter. If I want my mally in a bed at all, one of these has to be on there. Even then it works for ~3 hours before it needs to recharge, so I have 2 of them for her to rotate off. In the summer when the a/c is on, I can put it over a floor vent and it will stay colder longer.

Edit: [my pups on their cooling mats] (https://imgur.com/a/iiVE8)

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00CSJAIO4/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1?pi=SL500_SS115&simLd=1

I got a similar one on Amazon.

Picture of Lily getting barfed out of a shark bed. Link

here is a non mobile US link

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CHMG9DK?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Here!

Here you go: KOJIMA Shark Bed

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

kojima, i bought it here: http://www.amazon.com/Colorfulhouse-Shark-Round-House-Medium/dp/B00CSJAIRG