HELOISE She made a pet bed for her large dog

Dear Heloise: My large dog kept jumping up on my couch to sleep. I thought of getting him a petbed but found them to be quite expensive, so I decided to make one myself. I had an old twin-size waffle-type foam pad, the kind that goes over a mattress. All I did was fold it in half (top to bottom) and cover it with a sheet large enough to fold under it. The sheet removes easily for laundering. Brutus sleeps on it all the time. Josie S., Via E-mail
Those foam mattress pads are very inexpensive -- especially twin sizes -- and can make a nice dog or cat bed. If you sew, you can make a large pillowslip from a sheet to put the foam in so it fits snugly. Heloise
Dear Readers: Ida and Len Gricus of Cleveland, Tenn., sent a photo titled "Just a-Swinging." It shows their five little AKC Shih Tzus -- the mom, Sue-Sue, and her four babies -- sitting on a covered swing.
Visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see these five adorable dogs. Heloise
Dear Readers: Rabbits are soft and cuddly and can make wonderful pets if you take care of them correctly. They are known to chew on just about anything in a house, including electrical wires, which can cause serious injury or death. It is important for them to exercise, but if it is done in the house, they must be supervised.
You can get "bunny info" from the House Rabbit Society on its Web site, www.rabbit.org, which is very interesting and informative for people thinking about getting a rabbit as well as for those who already own them.
One interesting note: If you are thinking about getting a couple of rabbits, it's best to get two babies. Some male adult rabbits, when put together, might not get along. Females do get along better than males, but might fight when first put together. Naturally, a male and a female are probably one of the easiest, but unless you want a bunch of babies hopping around, it's best not to keep them together. You know what they say about rabbits multiplying!
Also, did you know that rabbits can be litter-box trained? Another plus for having rabbits as pets is that they are wonderful for people who are allergic to cats or dogs. Go to the Web site -- you'll enjoy it. Heloise
FYI: Does your dog have to stay overnight at a veterinarian or kennel? To make your pet more comfortable and secure, take its favorite blanket or pillow. Just the familiar scent will do wonders in relieving anxiety, so your pet should stay calm until you pick it up. Heloise
Dear Readers: Taking photos of your pets can be fun, but it's also important to have a current photo in case one of them wanders away. Pets can be frightened during storms and might dash out the door, so having a recent photo can help locate them if they get lost. Heloise
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate