Magnolia on her bed

The problem with most dog beds is that they look like, well, dog beds. They’re basically round (or square) pillows that squash down into wafers after a few month’s use—or, worse, get chewed to pieces in the course of a few days. And their style choices: if you’re not a fan herringbone, tweed, or tartan, you’re out of luck. Enter San Francisco pet company P.L.A.Y (Pet Lifestyle And You). Started in 2010, their beds are functional, durable, and, dare we say it, stylish—more than two-dozen beds come in a plethora of colors and patterns, including denim, bamboo, and the company’s artists collection. They’re also eco-friendly, because the filling is constructed from a high-loft (and soft) polyfiber that is made from recycled plastic water bottles.
And dogs love them, if my one-year-old yellow lab  is any indication. Before getting P.L.A.Y’s bed, she’d been subverting me at night by crawling into bed after I’d fallen asleep. She was sneaky about it, too, quickly retreating to the floor when I woke up in the morning. Not exactly the Wildrose way. Now, after getting the bed (and a little extra cajoling from me) she sleeps the entire night on her new bed. (From $95, petplay.com)

P.L.A.Y.'s denim lounge bed

I got my eye on you, Cooper

Here’s simple yet stylish slip lead from Avery. It’s braided leather and of the style and short length that’s perfect for quick walks where you don’t want your dog straying too far. Note, if your dog doesn’t have a good heel or is prone to pulling out, you’ll know it as soon as you slap this lead on. $30.

The Big Shrimpy Original

Dogs don’t need much help when it comes to sleeping. They’re amazingly proficient at it. If there’s a couple square feet of soft turf somewhere out there, they’re probably already snoozing on it. But I’ve noticed something about the Big Shrimpy Original dog bed my two dogs have been snoozing on for the past year or so. They’re addicted to it. I’ve had a few other beds floating around the house, and there’s no shortage of space on the carpet and backyard. Yet every time I pull the three-inch thick Big Shrimpy bed out from under mine, both dogs practically jump over me to stake out their spot on it.

I can’t say my dogs prefer one kind of soft bed over another. They seem to like a pile of my dirty laundry quite a bit. But I think the Big Shrimpy beds are some of the best on the market. First, the entire bed is machine-washable and dryable. That’s a key point most people don’t consider when buying a bed at the pet store. The cover is made of really tough faux suede—after a year of use, there’s no sign of wear (and my dogs aren’t easy on it) and different covers can be bought separately, so you don’t have to throw out the entire bed if it does ever wear out. The bed is water resistant and odor resistant—key if your dogs sleep in your bedroom. And it slips easily under your bed, so you’re not always tripping over it on the floor. The best part: Big Shrimpy uses SmartFill insulation, which is not just recycled, but comes straight from other manufacturers’ waste streams, so it doesn’t take any more energy to produce (unlike, say, recycled plastic bottles). The company has a cool sustainability philosophy. And the bed looks good, almost like a fitness mat. It says, “I love my dog. But not so much that it’s creepy.”

If you’re putting enough thought into buying a dog bed that you read this entire review, stop studying and just check out Big Shrimpy.

—JUSTIN NYBERG

Oh no, Danger, don't get up. Can I bring you anything?

Among dog-friendly hotels, the Little Nell, in downtown Aspen next to the Gondola terminal, is king. Danger and Cooper were greeted with dog beds in their room and dog bowls full of treats and toys wheeled up on a cart. While we biked the trails and roads around town, the doggies were treated to walks by the excellent staff. The list of dog amenities includes:

• Personalized brass identification tags
• Food and water bowls
• Dog beds
• Pet menu selections
• Dog walking and sitting on request
• Recommended groomers
• Petiquette, a handbook of guidelines for pet and pet owners
• Recommended pet-friendly hiking trails
• Epicurean treats