There's no doubt that we form very special bonds with our pets and especially with our dogs.
In many cultures dogs are respected and loved as family members.
It's only natural, then, that when the time comes we want to honor our beloved companion's memory with a fitting memorial.
In the past it used to be possible to bury animal remains in a pet cemetery.
But due to space limitations and legal liabilities this is no longer possible.
By in large, most pet remains are cremated after death.
The question then becomes how to properly honor your pet.
There are a variety of ways to do so.
One of the most popular is to memorialize your beloved dog with an urn.
Until recently there were few choices available for urns for dogs.
Most of them were cheap ceramic imitations of human urns.
Now, however, there are many kinds of urns out there that you can choose from.
The major kinds of urns are:

1. Biodegradable urns - these urns can be buried and will break down over time.
   They are often made of wood.
   One disadvantage of this type of urn is that it tends not to be too attractive.
   You should probably only purchase one if you absolutely know that you want to bury your dog's ashes.
   
2. Picture urns - these are boxes, most often made from wood, that can hold a picture of your pet on the outside edge.
   
3. Ceramic urns - in classic an modern styles, these urns are similar to urns used for our human family and friends.
   Often they are mass produced and cheaply made, so be careful when you choose one.
   
4. Handmade urns - over the past 5 years or so more artists have started creating one of a kind urns for dogs that give you an entirely unique way to remember your friend.
   Some of them even allow for engraving your pet's name on the urn.
   

I hope that you can see that you indeed to have many choices when it comes to memorializing your departed friend.
One place to check to find quality is with your veterinarian or with the pet crematorium.