Guides
Plain, practical guides to the everyday jobs of living with a dog or cat, from measuring for a harness to lifting hair out of the carpet. For anything about your pet's health, ask your veterinarian.
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Comparison
Should You Shave Your Dog in Summer? What to Do by Coat Type
A shaved double coat doesn’t cool a dog and can grow back patchy. See which coats can take a summer trim, when a shave-down is the right call, a hot-weather brush-out routine, what to do if your dog is already shaved, and how lion cuts work for cats.
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Checklist
How to Senior-Proof Your Home for an Older Dog: A Checklist
A room-by-room checklist for an older dog: runners on slick floors, short nails and trimmed paw fur for grip, steps, a ramp or a gate instead of jumps, the bed and water on the main floor, night lights to the door, and the changes to raise with your veterinarian.
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Guide
Should You Get a Second Cat? How to Tell if Yours Would Welcome One
A second cat can be good company or a daily source of stress. Learn what lonely behavior often means, what makes a cat likelier to accept a newcomer, which pairings tend to work, what one more cat takes in space, money and time, and what to try first.
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Guide
RV Travel With a Cat: Carrier, Litter Box and Escape Routes
Make an RV a safe home for your cat: where the carrier rides on driving days, where the litter box goes, how to close off slide-outs, screen doors and windows, what to do if the power fails, and an arrival routine for every new site.
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Guide
Bringing Home a Rescue Dog: Decompression and the First Weeks
Just adopted a dog who hides, skips meals or paces at night? Learn what decompression means and how long it can take, how to set up a quiet retreat and a predictable day, which stress signs to watch and when to call a trainer or veterinarian.
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Checklist
Renting a Car With a Dog: Pet Policy, Seat Covers and a Clean Return
A checklist for a rental car and a dog: where to find the real pet policy and what to ask, a cover and tether for a car you haven’t seen, photos at pickup, brushing and paw habits on the road, and a half-hour clean for hair, sand and smell before you hand back the keys.
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Comparison
Raised vs Floor Dog Bowls: Which Is Better for Your Dog?
A bowl on the floor suits most dogs. See why owners buy elevated feeders, what the AKC and Merck say about raised bowls and bloat, which dogs a veterinarian may still suggest one for, how to check height and stability, and the bloat signs that need a vet now.
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Guide
Puppy Enrichment Ideas: Sniffing, Licking, Chewing and Brain Games
Short, puppy-sized jobs for the nose, mouth and brain: which food puzzles suit a young puppy, sniffing games for small spaces, chewing and carrying, new surfaces to explore, a setup for work hours and a sample day built around naps.
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Guide
Puppy Teething Timeline: Ages, Signs and Safe Things to Chew
Baby teeth arrive by about 6 weeks, start falling out at around 12 to 16 weeks and give way to 42 adult teeth by about six months. Here is what each stage looks like at home, what is safe to chew, what to keep away and how to spot a baby tooth that won’t let go.
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How-to
How to Protect Leather Car Seats From Your Dog
Claws, grit and wet coats are what mark leather seats. Fit a waterproof cover that stays put, keep nails short and smooth, clean paws at the car door, tether your dog so they lie down on turns, and wipe the leather the right way after muddy rides.
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How-to
How to Protect Hardwood Floors From Dog Scratches and Spills
Long nails, grit on paws and skidding on smooth turns cause most dog marks on wood. Here is how to fix each one, keep water bowls and accidents off the finish, and tell a scuff you can touch up from damage that needs a flooring pro.
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Checklist
How to Protect an Apartment From Pet Damage: A Renter’s Checklist
A renter’s checklist for living with a dog or cat: photos and lease questions at move-in, prevention for carpet, doors, floors and odor while you live there, and a room-by-room deep clean before you hand back the keys.
