Just a photo of Owen and his classic head tilt

It will never get old for me. <love>

oh my dog's! Favourite Dog Beds

If owning ten dog beds makes a person an expert on dog beds, then I'm an expert. At the very least, I can say for certain that I'm obsessed with dog beds. I know what my dogs will like and I know what my regular guests like. Here's my top four:

Off the top, I can tell you that if you care about design, Bowsers makes some of the most stylish beds. It gets better though; they're washable, extremely durable and made in Canada. And most dogs find them comfortable. While not the most affordable option, in the long run I think they're the best investment.

Concerned about the environment? West Paw beds are eco friendly; made in the USA from recycled plastic pop bottles. With the exception of the "nap" series, the covers are removable and washable. Over time they do start to look a bit tired, but in general, they're quite durable. What I really love about West Paw, is that once the bed looses it's shape (and some of the comfort), you can order new inserts. It's much more economical and enviro-friendly than buying an entire new bed. My dogs love the "tuckered out" and "eco drop" beds.

I think the most comfortable dog bed I've owned so far is the Ortho Bolster by K&H. It's not pretty but my dogs and our guests love it, and around here, that comes first. It's made with orthopaedic foam, the cover is removable and washable and I just can't get over how durable it is.

Personally I would never spend more than thirty dollars on a cushioned bed that doesn't have a removable cover. Even if the entire bed is washable, it can throw your washing machine off kilter. I also like to protect my inserts against urine, drool and general dog odour. When I get a new bed, I unzip it and sandwich pee pads edge-to-edge between the insert and cover. If you wish, you can use tiny safety pins to keep them in place. Pee pads are highly absorbent and you can get them at all pet stores and most dollar stores. When I wash the covers, I replace the pads. You may not feel the need to do this, but since the dog traffic at my house is relatively high and can include the odd elderly, slightly incontinent pooch, it makes good sense.

Recently I purchased a Cooling Bed because when Joey gets warm, he sprawls out on the hardwood and I worry about his mature joints. This bed is pretty cool (haha), as it works strictly by magic, not electricity. You simply add the recommended amount of water, cap it and lay it on the floor. For days he didn't use it, so I made it more inviting by placing a thin sheet over it. And voila! I would recommend this bed for any dog who runs hot, or lives in a non air conditioned home.

Dr. Matt Rosenberg

When Millie was just 2 years old, she developed a herniated a disc in her spine which required surgery. It was a terrible ordeal for her, and I never want to see her go through it again.

Very late one night, about 4 years after the surgery, we could see she was experiencing mobility issues in her neck and back spasms that were actually visible. I began texting with my friends who have dogs with back problems and one of them said "call Leo." I'd heard many times over the years that there was a Chiropractor, Dr. Leo Rosenberg, who could work wonders for dogs with joint and back problems. In fact, I had been told that he helped many dogs avoid surgery - surgery that had been vet-recommended. That night we left a message at Pets in Motion, got a call the next morning and saw Dr. Leo in the afternoon. Millie drooled all the way home from her appointment and looked so pitiful. However, that evening, she was back to her old self - with full mobility and playing with Joey.

A week later en route to our follow-up appointment, I found out that we would be seeing Leo's son, Dr. Matt. I was irrationally nervous - I had never even heard of  Dr. Matt. Dr. Leo was the name I'd heard over and over for the past 8 years. What if Matt wasn't as good? When I saw him, I thought "but he's just a kid!" Then we went into the treatment room, and as soon as he put his hands on my dog, all my reservations went away. It was clear he loved dogs, and our dog loved him. He was gentle, funny and professional. From then on, it never mattered to us who was treating Millie.

On Tuesday, when I heard the news of Matt's passing, I was shocked and saddened. My first thought was "but he's just a kid!" The animal world has lost a true healer and I'll never forget what he did for my dogs and so many others. As the news spreads, I realized that I'm even more connected to the Rosenbergs than I knew before. Matt will forever be remembered.

"If the love that surrounds you can heal, I tell you, we're doing pretty well." - Dr. Leo

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There are also a lot more shots of our crew on Facebook, Twitter and website gallery.

Joey, Otis, Ringo & Millie

at David Balfour Park