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Your pet pooch does so much for your family that appreciation should not only be shown by how they are fed or taken care of but also where they rest, and this is where dog beds come in. Beds for dogs come in many shapes, sizes and forms, some being more exotic than others. For those who are buying for the first time, finding the perfect bed for your dog can be quite challenging, if not, daunting. With thousands of selections available in the market, how will you know that what you're looking at is the right one? Need help? The tips below may be of some assistance.

First off, you'll want to determine the size of the bed. This is easily determined by measuring your dog in both length and height will do. But what if your pet is still in its growing stages? Well, you can choose a slightly bigger bed, but take note that you may still end up buying a new one if he is able to outgrow it. Don't choose an adult sized bed for a pup as he may only feel uncomfortable with it.

Secondly, and if possible, you'll want a bed that you can reuse over and over again. Make sure that if the bed itself is not washable, the covers can at least be removed for cleaning. This will ensure that your dog stays clean and feeling fresh all the time, not to mention that it can make the bed look so much more inviting to sleep in for your dog.

Third, consider the essential accessories. For colder seasons, get an accompanying blanket to go along with the bed. What's even better is that for as long as you are willing to spend the time searching, you'll actually be able to find dog beds that already include a blanket with the deal. Whether you buy them individually or as a pair, blankets are essential accessories that you should take into account so make sure you spend some time checking them out.

Last but not the least; buy beds that will suit your dog. If your pooch is not really particular with whatever design you get then this won't be an issue. There are instances however where your pet will tend to set its preferences over a particular design or style which is why you may want to bring him along when shopping for dog beds. This will ensure that he's going to be happy and comfortable with what you'll be getting for him.

The topic of this article might have you wondering. First, let me be clear: Dogs are not children. However - many of the same teaching principles when working with children apply when you are playing with or teaching (not 'training'), your dog. Drawing from interviews I've had with master dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, and informed by my own experiences teaching children as an elementary school teacher for ten years, I will be sharing ways that teaching and playing games with your dog is very similar to working with children.

In the last two articles, I discussed how working with children and dogs is similar in the following four ways:

1. The environment in which a child learns greatly impacts how and what a child is able to learn. Similarly, the environment in which a dog learns greatly impacts how and what a dog is able to learn.
2. Children learn best with a person they trust and whom they have bonded with. Similarly, dogs learn best with a person they trust and whom they have bonded with.
3. One of the most effective and enjoyable ways that children learn is through playing with toys and by playing games....and....One of the most effective and enjoyable ways that dogs learn is through playing with toys and by playing games.
4. Children love and need meaningful, purposeful, problem-solving challenges. Similarly, dogs love and need meaningful, purposeful, problem-solving challenges.

In this article, I will discuss two more ways in which working with children and dogs is similar:

5. Children fully engage in learning challenges that offer multi-sensory learning experiences (see, hear, smell, touch, and taste)...and...Dogs fully engage in learning challenges that offer multi-sensory learning experiences.

Again - the similarities do seem obvious. Think about the difference between asking children to practice their spelling words by printing out each word five times on a piece of paper, or alternatively, giving the child a silver pie tin (visually stimulating) with some dry pudding in it (smelling) and working with a partner to practice spelling each word (hearing), and then licking their finger each time they get a word spelled correctly (tasting). How you present a task tells me everything about how much the children are going to love (or not love) learning. In the same way, the more we can involve all of a dog's senses in a positive way - particularly smell and hearing because these senses are superiorly developed for dogs - the more successful the teaching is going to be.

Dog trainers differ in their opinions regarding using food as rewards when working with dogs. However, in a dog's natural environment, food is the ultimate reward to work for. A dog's sense of smell is so highly developed that you would likely be very surprised to discover what your dog is capable of when using his or her nose! One dog trainer who is well known for his positive methods in working with dogs is Dr. Ian Dunbar. Dr. Dunbar is an internationally recognized veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer, and is the founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Dr. Dunbar has authored numerous books and DVDs about puppy/dog behavior and training, including Dog Behavior, How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks and the SIRIUS Puppy Training video. For more information, please visit his website at: http://www.dogstardaily.com/

6. Scaffolding learning allows children opportunities for numerous small successes and increased confidence. Similarly, scaffolding learning allows dogs opportunities for numerous small successes and increased confidence.

Have you ever have a teacher who didn't care if you understood what was covered last lesson before moving on to today's content, or a teacher who spoke using such elevated language that you could barely make out what they were talking about? Imagine what it must feel like for dogs, who, as Dr. Ian Dunbar reminds us, do not speak nor have the capacity to speak English. Every minute of a dog's life, he is trying to learn a second language - an incredibly difficult task!

When you are playing games with your dog, it is important to remember that you will need to start at a very basic level, and then gradually increase the challenge (or "scaffold" learning) for your dog as he or she enjoys many small successes, and, as a result, the increased confidence to tackle more advanced challenges. Beginning at an advanced level may result in your dog not being interested in the game or challenge because they can't see a way that they can be successful and so may view it as not being worth their effort! Therefore, whenever you are giving your dog a challenge, it is important to pay careful attention to what your dog seems to find easy and what he or she finds difficult. This will vary with every dog and within every breed because, like humans, dogs have distinct and individual doggy personalities. The more games I play with my own dogs, the more I learn about Tango and Sparky's very distinct and clear preferences and talents - and they often surprise me!

Toys such as Kongs (sold at most pet supply stores such as Petco), can be wonderful TOOLS to design intellectual and physical challenges for dogs that begin at a basic level and then become increasingly difficult as your dog develops his or her skills over time. Throughout the My Doggy Genius series, I will offer you numerous different ideas for intellectual challenges you can do with your dog, beginning with the basics, and then increasing the difficulty over time so that your dog can increase his self-confidence and so you can strengthen your bond with your furry little friend!

Although of course dogs are not children with fur, some of the underlying principles are similar when working with both children and with dogs. As I have written previously, six key aspects that are similar when working with children and with dogs include:

1. The environment in which a dog learns greatly influences how and what a dog is able to learn.

2. Dogs learn best when they are with a person whom they trust and have bonded with.

3. Learning is a lot more fun when games are involved!

4. Dogs fully engage in meaningful, purposeful problem-solving challenges.

5. Dogs fully engage in learning challenges that involve multi-sensory learning experiences.

6. Scaffolding learning provides dogs with opportunities for many small successes and increased confidence.

In this final article, I will discuss perhaps what I would perceive to be the most important way in which working with children and dogs is similar:

7. Working closely with children requires kindness and patience. In the same way, working closely with dogs requires kindness and patience.

I know that at times it is difficult to be patient with your dog, especially when Fido has just ripped up your sofa or a brand new pair of your shoes. However, my experiences working with children in elementary school have taught me a lot about how I should also interact with my dogs.

In every interaction I have with children whom I teach in the classroom, I always imagine that his or her parent is standing directly behind them, and for me, this serves as a reminder of the respect and love with which children should be treated. Every child's parent wants the best for their baby, because this child is the most important being in the world to them. Teaching children with respect means remembering at every moment that you are blessed to spend your days with another person's most precious gift. I think we need to remember this regardless of whether or not that child learns the lesson you are doing your best to teach the first time, or the fifteenth time. We do not give up on children, we are patient, and we try again, because they deserve every chance to be successful. They're just little, and they're just trying to figure out how to be successful and how to be accepted and loved in this world.

Much like children, dogs are vulnerable. They are smaller than us. We likely have more power and strength than they do, especially when they are young. Perhaps even more importantly, our dogs did not ask to be with us; we have asked them to be part of our human world. In so doing, we have accepted a responsibility to lace every interaction with them with kindness and with patience to help them to learn the ways of this strange human world that they been brought into. When your dog doesn't understand at first what you trying to teach them, whether it be new or a simple trick, please be patient. Be gentle. Whatever you are trying to teach your dog, only work with him for about 5-10 minutes, and end the session in a positive and joyful way, letting your dog know how proud you are of him for trying, and that he is loved and wanted. When they still don't get it after the tenth or fifteenth try, ask for help from a professional dog trainer, but please, do not lose your patience. Believe it or not, your dog is not going to the bathroom in your house (or whatever he or she is doing that is driving you insane) just to spite you - dogs don't have that capability - that's a human quality. They likely just haven't figured it out yet, and it is our responsibility to exercise kindness and patience until they do.