​Enter a fashion conscious pet product company called Pet Hup Hup, who has made a 1960s style Ball Chair for dogs. I couldn’t wait to get one for my poodle, Jasmine. Ordering something like this, modeled after a true piece of art, sight unseen, often brings with it some anxiety mixed with the usual anticipation. I really wanted it to be great. 

In 1963, Finnish furniture designer, Eero Aarnio, changed space age mod design with the now iconic Ball Chair. I have one—white high gloss shell with custom gray/silver interior. It’s gorgeous. It’s so cozy, I’ve fallen asleep in it. But what does my dog sleep in? A frumpy bolster bed. In every room, the same fleece lined, frumpy bolster bed. Does that sound familiar?

​It arrived in a thick, non-nonsense cardboard box inside in a wooden crate. When was the last time you saw a dog bed that arrived in a wooden crate? Obviously, Pet Hup Hup cares about their products arriving safely.
 
Unboxing is easy—you just need a hammer to pry up the nails in the wood and then scissors for the box. Inside, the round part of the bed is packaged separately from the base. Simply sit the top onto the base and you’re done setting it up. Takes two seconds. 

 
My first impression: this bed is gorgeous. It’s as sturdy as the original, with a stunning white high gloss finish and either a red (or blue, if you choose) interior.

​It’s as beautiful as the original too. Because it’s for dogs, it’s more oval-shaped so that they can lay down comfortably. I can’t see a difference between the quality in my human sized ball chair and the dog-sized Pet Hup Hup bed. The bed might be better, actually. 

The entire interior is padded, like the original ball chair, with thick, soft, upholstery-quality wool. There is a cushion made of the same material that sits at the bottom of the bed. The cushion has a zipper, so you can easily remove the foam padding and wash it (I'd probably hand wash it or wash on delicate).
 
The den-like bed should be a draw for any dog that will fit into it. Jasmine is a miniature poodle who should weigh about eighteen pounds, but weighs more like twenty-two. She didn’t automatically jump into the bed—I only allow her onto one piece of furniture, so I’m guessing that she thought she wasn’t allowed on it.
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​I encouraged Jasmine to get inside. It took a little coaxing. At first, she didn’t quite know what to do, since she’s at the large end of the size range for the bed and she was trying to stand up inside of it. Then I told her to lay down. Once she did, I think the light bulb went on in her curly head and she realized that this piece of furniture was for her. Now, she loves it. It’s her bed of choice, and I have to say that she looks absolutely adorable in it. Dogs feel comfortable in a den-like atmosphere, so this bed actually appeals to a dog’s nature. 

​The bed doesn’t wobble at all, which had concerned me. It’s heavy-ish, so it doesn’t move when Jasmine jumps into it, and it has felt on the bottom, so it won’t scratch my wood floor. It’s pretty much perfect. Is it weird to love a dog bed so much? It simply looks amazing in my living room. So much better than Jasmine’s old, frumpy bolster bed! 

In my opinion, this bed is good for dogs from three to twenty (or so) pounds. I’m sure cats will adore this bed too. ​

​I once had a veterinarian tell me that if I brushed my Poodle’s teeth every day I’d save a lot of money and heartache when she got older. Good doggie dental habits help to prevent disease.

Do I brush my dog's teeth? Yes. About twice a month. I probably should be doing it twice a day. Why don’t I do it? The same reason I don’t bathe her as often as I should—she doesn’t like it. I know, I know . . . don’t judge.

​When I first saw Orapup years ago I was amazed that no one had come up with this genius concept sooner. Tongue brushes for humans had been around for a while when this product came to market. Of course, it makes sense that a similar product for dogs would have the same breath freshening effect. In fact, the makers of Orapup also make the Orabrush, so they are experts in bad breath solutions, both human and canine.
 
You know how you wake up in the morning and your mouth tastes terrible and your breath leaves a little something to be desired? This is because bacteria have had an opportunity to thrive during the night when you weren’t eating, drinking, or producing much saliva. This issue is compounded for dogs because they don’t brush their own teeth and or eat as often as we do. Poor feeding habits can also lead to dental issues. Periodontal disease is a big culprit for bad breath. 

​Enter Orapup. Not only does the Orapup brush clean the bacteria from your dog’s tongue, the Lickies product that is used to entice your dog to lick the brush contains anti-plaque and bad breath fighting enzymes. Neither is a replacement for brushing your dog’s teeth, but the Orapup will go a long way toward helping keep your dog’s mouth clean and breath fresh. If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth you should do something for his dental health. Orapup is easier. And it’s fun.  
 
The wide brush has silicone bristles and a comfortable plastic handle. Your dog only licks the silicone part of the brush. The bristles are squishy and soft. There are four slightly raised “tongue scrapers” that do most of the work to remove the bacteria from your dog’s tongue. They also help to keep the Lickies goo channeled within the brush so it doesn’t drip all over the floor.

​After allowing your dog to lick the Orapup brush for a minute or so, rinse it with warm water and allow it to dry. You can also put it on the top rack in the dishwasher to disinfect it thoroughly.
 
For some dogs, the beef/bacon and chicken Lickies goo might be too sweet to offer every day. I imagine that there are alternative enticements that you could put on the Orapup if you don’t want to use the Lickies all the time or between shipments if you run out. Maybe gravy or broth. I tried organic unsweetened peanut butter as an experiment and it worked fine.

The body of the Torus water bowl from HeyRex is a hollow reservoir that holds your dog's drinking water and also serves to weigh the bowl down to prevent it from sliding and tipping. This design, along with the rounded shape, makes it difficult for a dog to pick the bowl up and move it as well. 

There's a removable knob on top that opens into the bowl so you can fill it with water. The knob also has two options. You can turn it one way to lock the water inside while you move the bowl or for traveling, and turn it the other way to release the water for your pet to drink. 

The water entry site features a place to insert a small, replaceable carbon filter, which is a nice addition to the product. These filters last one month. I use filtered water to fill the bowl, so I haven't replaced the filter, but I do appreciate its usefulness.