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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Guide
Enrichment for Dogs on Crate Rest: Quiet Jobs Within the Vet’s Rules
Strict rest after surgery or an injury is hard on an active dog. Here are quiet jobs that fit the usual vet rules, from lick mats and slow meals to scent games within reach of the bed, lying-down tricks and gentle toy time if allowed, plus the signs that mean it's time to call the vet.
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Comparison
Driving vs Flying With a Dog or Cat: How to Decide for a Long Trip
Moving across the country or visiting family far away? Compare the car, the airplane cabin and the cargo hold on size limits, stress, heat and breed rules, paperwork and cost, then see which route suits your dog or cat.
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How-to
Dog Won’t Pee on a Leash? How to Teach Leash Potty Breaks
Some dogs hold it through every walk, then go in the yard or back inside. Why it happens, when to call your veterinarian, and a step-by-step plan: one quiet spot, a slack leash, a potty cue and a reward on the spot.
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Comparison
Dog Water Bottle vs Collapsible Bowl: Which Works Better on Walks?
A bottle with a built-in bowl suits one-handed city walks and quick stops; a collapsible bowl and your own bottle suit big dogs, two dogs and long, hot days. Compare the three formats side by side, see which fits each outing, and learn how to keep each one clean.
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Guide
Dog Walking Games: Sniff Breaks, Find-It and Loose-Leash Play
Bored of the same loop? Give part of every walk to your dog's nose, then add one game: find-it with a tossed treat, connect the dots, chase me or a curb wait. Plus low bench tricks, new routes and how to match games to puppies, seniors and the weather.
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Comparison
Dog Car Seat Cover vs a Blanket or Towel: When a Cover Is Worth It
A towel or old blanket works for a dry, calm dog on short rides. See where it falls short for wet, muddy or heavy-shedding dogs, what a waterproof hammock or front seat cover adds, how to wash each one, and three checks that tell you whether your towel is enough.
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Guide
Dog Walking Etiquette: Sidewalk Manners, Greetings and Clean-Up
The unwritten rules of neighborhood dog walks: how short to hold the leash when people pass, keeping off lawns and gardens, picking up every time, asking before greetings, making room on narrow paths and changing the walk on a bad day.
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How-to
Dog Scared of the Vacuum? A Step-by-Step Plan, Plus Quieter Cleaning
A step-by-step plan for a dog who hides from, barks at or chases the vacuum: start with it off and far away, pair the sound with food and build up slowly. Plus where your dog goes while you clean, robot vacuums, when to get help and quieter ways to keep hair down.
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How-to
Dog Refuses to Walk? Why Dogs Stop on Walks and What to Try
When an adult dog plants their feet, the reason is usually pain, fear, the weather, tiredness or gear that rubs. See when to call your veterinarian, how to check the harness, why some dogs stop only on the way home, and a step-by-step way to get moving again.
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How-to
How to Stop a Dog Jumping Out of the Car When the Door Opens
A dog who launches out of the car the moment a door opens has usually learned that the open door means go. Here's how to make the leap impossible today with a tether and a leash-first routine, teach a car-door wait step by step, and handle hatchbacks, small dogs in boosters and a dog who gets loose.
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Comparison
Back Seat or Cargo Area: Where Should Your Dog Ride in an SUV?
The back seat is the simpler setup for a dog in an SUV; the cargo area needs a strapped-down crate or a fitted barrier first. Compare the two spots, plus third rows, folded seats and captain's chairs, heat at the back, getting in and out, and measuring for a hammock.
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Guide
Should Your Dog Ride With Their Head Out the Car Window?
Riding with their head out the window exposes your dog's eyes to flying debris and makes a fall or jump possible. Why dogs love it, how far to open the window, how to set a tether so your dog can't reach the gap, and how to give a window-lover a proper sniff instead.
