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
Do Calming Dog Beds Work? What a Raised Rim Can and Can’t Do
An honest look at “calming” donut and bolster beds: what the raised rim, deep fill and soft plush actually do, which dogs sleep better in one, which are better off on a flat bed or a cooling mat, and the signs that point to your veterinarian rather than a new bed.
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How-to
How to Dispose of Dog Poop in an Apartment With No Yard
What to do with dog poop when there’s no yard: picking up by the entrance, carrying a sealed bag through the lobby, trash room and chute rules, an indoor pail that doesn’t smell, when flushing is allowed, and balcony pads and grass patches.
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Comparison
Cooling Mat vs Elevated Dog Bed: Which Keeps a Dog Cooler?
A gel cooling mat gives a warm dog a cool surface indoors, in a crate or in the car; a raised mesh cot keeps them off hot ground outside and lets air move underneath. Compare the two side by side, see where each works, and learn what neither can do in a heat wave.
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How-to
How to Clean Up a Dog After Swimming in a Lake, Pool or the Ocean
A fresh-water rinse after every swim, step by step, plus what the ocean, a lake and a pool each leave in the coat, how to dry ears, skin folds and a dense double coat, and the signs after a swim that need a veterinarian.
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Checklist
Christmas Dog Safety Checklist: Tree, Gifts, Food and Guests
A dog-proof Christmas in one checklist: anchoring the tree and covering its water, ornaments, tinsel and cords, food gifts and batteries under the tree, toxic sweets and plants, guests’ bags and the front door, a calm plan for the day and what to do if your dog eats something.
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Guide
Cats and Kids: Teaching Gentle Hands and Giving Your Cat an Escape
House rules for a family with a cat: how children should approach, stroke and pick up a cat, toys instead of hands, the child-free room and high escape routes your cat needs, the signs it wants to be left alone, supervision by age and first aid after a scratch or bite.
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Checklist
Cat Sitter Checklist: Preparing Your Cat, Home and Sitter for a Trip
What to settle before a cat sitter takes over: how many visits to book, a meet-and-greet and trial visit, a one-page care sheet, vet consent and emergency contacts, supplies with spare days, a litter routine a sitter can keep, and the days you leave and come home.
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Guide
Can Dogs and Cats Share Water Bowls, Beds and Brushes?
A healthy dog and cat can share a water bowl, beds, cooling mats and grooming tools if you clean them between pets; food, the litter box and small toys stay separate. Here's the item-by-item guide, plus when to stop sharing and the dog flea products that can poison cats.
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Comparison
Should a Cat Wear a Collar or a Harness? ID, Outings and Safety
A collar and a harness do different jobs for a cat: a snap-open collar carries an ID tag, and a harness is the only safe place to clip a leash. Compare their safety rules and fit, see why a registered microchip is the ID every cat needs, and find out whether an indoor-only cat needs either.
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Guide
Can a Dog Wear a Harness All the Time? When to Take It Off
A harness is for walks, training and car rides, not for lounging or sleeping. See why straps left on rub, mat the coat and snag in crates, what stays on at home and overnight, the exceptions for travel days and newly adopted dogs, and a one-minute skin check.
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Guide
Can Big and Small Dogs Live Together? Play Rules and Separate Spaces
Big and small dogs can share a home if you plan for the size gap. How to judge the match, set play rules and time-outs, give the small dog a place to escape, keep toys, meals and beds apart, walk both dogs and know when to call a trainer.
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Guide
Can a Dog Ride in the Front Seat? What to Do Without a Back Seat
The back seat is the better place for a dog whenever your vehicle has one. Here’s why the passenger airbag matters, what to look for in your owner’s manual, and how to set up the front seat in a two-seater or a regular-cab pickup.
