Dog beds today come in all sizes, colors, shapes, materials and to suit any canine and any decor. If that’s not enough you can even have canine beds custom made. But does Your Canine Need a Bed? If you get your pooch used to sleeping in one spot he’s less likely to sleep on the floor or other hard surfaces which can cause arthritis and calluses in later years.
What to Consider Before Buying a Dog Bed
Does your pooch shed or have any other disorder that will cause the bed to need constant cleaning? Does your dog curl up in a ball? Have you ever considered you dog’s specific needs for comfortable rest? Asking these questions will help you hone in on the ideal dog bed.
Some Of The Benefits
Beds with sides are great for dogs that like to hang their head over the edge. For older dogs, or dogs with problems, thick orthopedic mattresses filled with medical-grade foam or even a boxspring are ideal. Some even come heated but if not you can buy a heating pad. Some pads are warmed in the microwave and some plug in. The type you choose will depend on where the bed will go and how long the pad needs to stay heated. The Indoor/Outdoor Bed is tough, water repellent and can be used inside or out. So the type of dog bed you choose depends on your pooch and its preferences.
Dog Bed Features
It is important for an older dog to have a comfortable rest area. Beds such as the Snuggle Ball Bed, Bagel Bed and Cozy Cave provide warmth and comfort for your dog, especially in the winter months. Sleeping on a cold hard floor can cause chronic pain and additional discomfort. They even make orthopedic hound beds now to help address this issue. Make sure the bed is big enough for your hound.
Most are stuffed with polyfill, often have cedar chips to repel odors and their covers are removable and machine washable. If you have a little pooch a small round pillow-type bed may be the best. It will let your pet burrow and nest. They come in a variety of styles, materials and colors and most can be thrown straight into the washing machine. A dog that sleeps in a tight curled up position might prefer a round bed with sides.
Think of the bed as an investment, a number of high quality beds will last the lifetime of your dog, and so will their benefits! A strenuous day can mean an evening of discomfort with a pulled muscle or painful joints so a good night’s sleep is essential for your dog to wake rested and ready for a new day.
Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-beds-are-they-useful-or-useless-123134.html
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
useful and useless things to buy before baby is born ?
hiya i am going to be a mum in march 09 and i am so excited and i would just like some answers from real people and was is worth buying before your baby is born and what is a waste of money ?
up to know i have bought nursery furniture, cot bedding, pushchair travel system and thats it.
what would say was a good buy and bad buys ?
also i havnt bought anything to take to hospital yet so any ideas lol i am new to all this!!!
please give details in as much detail as possible.
Thank you very much everyone.
xxxxx
It depends on your friends and family – me, and most people I know got so much stuff from friends and family that we didn't need to buy much. You'll know better after the baby's born – no rush. And I didn't bring anything to the hospital. I had my husband bring me a change of clothing the next day when it was time to go home. That's all I needed. You really don't need anything at the hospital.
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you really need a bunch of deoderizing bags to put the diapers in everywhere you go…they help a lot!…you dont really need to take any baby things to the hospital, they have it all provided…CONGRATULATIONS!
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Of course, the necessities–clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets, etc. But those microwavable steam sanitizers are great! Just a little water in the bottom and pop em in the microwave for about 6 minutes. Just make sure that you don't throw in anything that will melt (teethers or toys!)
Honestly, I thought that a carrier would be handy, so I bought it for my sis-in-law. They haven't hardly used it though!
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get a swing! you will really appreciate it once the baby is here. it is the only way I got a few minutes to have a cup of coffee in the morning. babies usually love them. when they grow out of that and start wanting to be upright, get an exersaucer. anything that will keep them entertained and happy for a little while is a big help.
congrats and enjoy the baby, my baby is 7, the time goes so fast!
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this website is great
http://www.mylicon.com/nursery/index.jhtml
^^ it tells you all the basic things you need to have before bringing your baby home :]
i also recommend getting a swing! it helps calm my babies down & get them to nap :]!!!
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We have a 5 month old daughter. The only things we bought before the baby was born was some cloths, newbie cloth diapers, and bottles. We're still buying things as we need then now, whenever whatever they may be. It is not for a finance reason, but you know that stuff takes up alot of space in your house, so why get it ahead of time. Oh yeah, we got two diaper bags before she was born, one small one, and one big. Hope you have a safe pregnancy, and a healthy baby. we are trying again , now for a boy, we have three girls so far.
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Don't waste your money on the baby bathtubs. They don't fit in them very long and the sink works just as well.
Must haves: swing, bouncy seat, boppy pillow, plenty of bottles, and lots of diapers (both newborn and size 1).
Make sure you have an infant seat before you go to the hospital because they won't let the baby leave if you don't have one. Get yourself some loose fitting clothes, 2-3 good bras, and some slippers to walk around the hospital in.
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30 weeks with #2
Best thing that I invested in was:
1. Plastic dishwasher safe carton that held bottle nipples and pacifiers.
2. Baby Einstein videos and music- ANY classical music (my 5 year old still falls asleep to classical music and has learned sign language from those videos)
3. Portable plastic divided container to hold pre-measured amounts of powdered formula. (So you don't have to tote around the entire container)
4. A really CUTE diaper bag that doubles as a purse.
Congrats and good luck!
Also, great things to buy….
*Bloppy pillow
*Pampers Swaddlers Diapers (they fit much better!)
*Maternity breast feeding bras with SNAPS (Velcro doesn't hold very well)
*Baby's First calendar
*Plaster to make hand and footprints
*Rocking chair
*CD of ocean waves, heart beating- very relaxing for the baby
*Pre-packaged Gerber meals for toddlers (Great for on the go)
Stupid things to buy…
*Those water spouts that you put over the faucet. (You might as well buy the shower head that is a wand)
*Diaper bathing suits (they absorb just as much water as a regular diaper)
*Diaper Gene
*Crib mobiles
*Hand mittens to keep the baby from scratching themselves (they are just flung off, like everything else)
*Name brand clothing, especially shoes! (They won't fit in a few weeks)
*Baby bottle/food warmer
*Baby food in general (Mash up or put in blender what you are making for dinner- unless you are aware of an allergic reaction to foods)
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Don't overstock on newborn diapers. Not many people realize that the baby grows out of newborn diapers quick, and then your stuck with a bunch of diapers your baby can't wear. If you want to stock up on diapers, get size 1 and 2 more than newborn. Only buy the newborn as you need them. Good Luck
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if you live in u.k then i strongly advise the website below i bought alot of things of here for my freind and it is so usefull and cheap
congrats and good luck
http://www.kiddicare.com
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for hospital bag -
nappies
cotton wool
shawl
baby vest x 3
baby allin ones x3
coat for baby going home
car seat
nursing pads
large pads
knickers
night gown
PJ's
change for phone
maybe a book
clothes for going home
toothbrush toothpaste
hair brush
makeup
my good buys were the rocking chairs and dummy's lol i dont my worse buy was them baby Monitors i never used them as the baby was always with me and by the time they went to bed i could hear them anyway xx good luck and congrats xx
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useless-
changing table (i used my twice)
wipe warmer
diaper genie
small burp clothes (receiving blankets work much better)
formula mixers
expensive baby shoes (they usually lose one)
bottle sterilizers (i had one…used it about as much as i used the changing table)
good buys…
bouncy seat
bassinet
swing
small diaper bag
front carrier or sling
baby proofing products (toilet latch, electrical outlet covers, etc)
what to take to the hospital…
clothes for you to go home in
a nightgown
a robe
house shoes
outfit for baby
something to pass time (crossword book, magazines, etc)
car seat
blanket
phone numbers for birth announcements
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My top tip would be a bouncy chair, which allows you to actually put the little thing down for a minute to do basic things like go to the toilet! We got a vibrating one from Mamas and Papas which my daughter loved and would fall asleep in, but you can get much cheaper ones which do the job and they are not them that long anyway.
http://www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/search/?query=bouncy+chair&category=All
Good luck
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useless-
a baby bath tub (sink works SO much better – we used the baby bath twice)
good buys…
diaper bag
lots of socks (my baby kicks the covers off and his feet get cold so fast)
bibs (lots of 'em)
a swing
Mylicon (Gas medicine)
bottles
finger nail clippers (we have one with a little light on it that REALLY helps)
receiving blanket
A baby monitor (I wouldn't have been able to have him in his crib without it!)
a boppy
what to take to the hospital…
clothes for you to go home in
I wouldn't bring a nightgown (a nurse told me to just wear what they give you because… why mess up your own clothes?)
a robe
slippers
outfit for baby
car seat
cell phone charger
camera and/or camcorder
chapstick
shampoo/conditioner/soap
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Useless- baby bath just buy a bath seat that fits into your bath
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