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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Checklist
What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Is Lost: The First Hour and First Day
A lost pet checklist for the first hour and the first day: where lost dogs and hiding indoor cats usually go, who to call, what to put on a poster, how to search at night, how to get a scared pet home safely and how to keep it from happening again.
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Checklist
What to Bring to the Dog Park (and What to Leave at Home)
A dog park checklist for the first visit and every one after: what goes on your dog and in your bag, what to leave at home, how to scout a park and use the double gate, the signs it's time to go, and a quick cleanup for paws and car seats before the drive home.
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Checklist
Vacation Rental With a Dog: Yard, House Rules and Checkout Cleanup
A checklist for a rental house or cabin with your dog: what to ask about the fence, how to walk the yard and dog-proof the rooms on arrival, house rules that protect the furniture, daily paw and hair habits, and the checkout cleanup that heads off extra fees.
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Checklist
Traveling With a Senior Dog in the Car: A Checklist for Easier Rides
A car-trip checklist for an older dog: what to ask your veterinarian before a long drive, how to help a stiff dog in and out without a jump, a padded, secured spot in the back seat, hot and cold cars, more frequent stops, and the medications and records to keep in the cabin.
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Checklist
Taking Your Dog to the Beach: Checklist for Sand, Salt Water and Heat
A beach-day checklist for dog owners: the rules to check before you go, water so your dog doesn't drink the ocean, hot sand and heat, waves and rip currents, and a fresh-water rinse before a covered ride home.
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Checklist
Staying With Family or Friends With a Dog: A Houseguest Checklist
A houseguest checklist for a few days at your parents’ or friends’ home with your dog: the questions to ask first, what to pack, meeting a resident dog or cat, a hazard check, a quiet room and routine, and the cleanup before you leave.
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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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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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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.
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Checklist
Pet Emergency Kit Checklist: What Your Dog or Cat Needs to Evacuate
Everything your dog or cat needs to evacuate with you: records and ID, two weeks of food, water and medicine, a carrier or harness per pet, sanitation and first aid, plus where pets can stay and when to refresh the kit.
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Checklist
Multi-Cat Household Setup: How Many Litter Boxes, Bowls and Beds
Two cats need three litter boxes, and the same one-per-cat-plus-one rule covers feeding stations, water bowls, scratchers and resting spots. See where each one goes, how to tell bonded cats from rivals, the quiet signs a home is too crowded, and a walk-through checklist.
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Checklist
Moving With a Dog: Weeks Before, Moving Day and Settling In
A checklist for moving to a new home with a dog, in the order you’ll need it: ID and records weeks ahead, a steady routine while you pack, a safe plan for moving day and the drive, house and yard checks on arrival, and the first weeks of walks and time alone.
