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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How-to
How to Keep a Dog Cool Without AC in a Heat Wave
Without air conditioning, a heat wave comes down to one well-chosen room: shaded windows, moving air, water in several places, frozen food for the hottest hours and a damp towel underneath. Here's how to set it up, when it stops being enough and which heat-stress signs need a vet.
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How-to
How to Keep a Dog Cool in the Car, and Why a Parked Car Is Never Safe
A summer drive with a dog starts with one rule: never leave them in a parked car, even briefly. Then pre-cool the car, shade the rear windows, get cold air to the back seat, plan shaded water stops and know the overheating signs that mean pulling over and calling a vet.
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How-to
How to Keep a Cat Cool in Summer: Cool Spots, Water and Heat Signs
A hot-day plan for indoor cats: why panting is a red flag, heatstroke first aid, blinds and safe airflow, extra water, a cool floor or gel mat, brushing instead of shaving, play at the cool ends of the day, and leaving your cat home in the heat.
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How-to
How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Cat: A Step-by-Step Plan
A staged plan for adding a cat to a home that already has one, from a transition room and scent swaps to sightings and short supervised meetings, with how long each stage takes, the body language to watch and what to do if it goes wrong.
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How-to
How to Wash a Dog Harness, Collar and Leash by Hand or Machine
Check the care label, then hand wash nylon webbing in warm, mildly soapy water or machine wash it in a mesh bag if the label allows. Plus leather and retractable leashes, drying without heat, smells that won’t wash out and when to replace the gear.
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How-to
How to Walk Two Dogs at Once Without Tangles or Pulling
Two dogs, two leashes and no knots: train each dog alone first, give each one a usual side, walk at the slower dog’s pace, untangle crossed leashes safely and know what to do when one dog pulls or reacts.
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How-to
How to Use a Slicker Brush Without Scratching the Skin
A slicker scratches when it is gripped hard and pressed in. Here’s how to hold one, test your pressure on your own forearm, brush in sections down to the skin, ease out a small tangle, handle thin-skinned spots and cats, and spot brush burn early.
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How-to
How to Use a De-Shedding Tool on a Dog or Cat Without Overdoing It
Use a de-shedding tool on a dry, detangled double coat, in light strokes with the grain, on the body only. Here’s how to pick a size, run a session step by step, which areas to skip, how often to de-shed, the signs you’re overdoing it and how to use one on a cat.
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How-to
How to Trim Puppy Nails: When to Start and a Gentle First Session
Start with a week of paw handling, then take just the tips, one or two nails at a time. When to start, a weekly rhythm, clippers or a grinder for small nails, the trim step by step, dewclaws and dark nails, and what to do if you nick the quick.
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How-to
How to Stop a Puppy Biting: Toys, Calm Time-Outs and House Rules
Puppy biting is normal, but it shouldn’t be aimed at you. Here’s how to redirect teeth to tug and carry toys, end the game calmly when they land on skin, handle ankle and sleeve grabbing, set rules for kids and visitors, and tell when biting needs a trainer or veterinarian.
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How-to
Why Does My Dog Bite the Leash? How to Stop Grabbing and Tugging
Leash biting usually starts with excitement, boredom or frustration, and pulling back turns it into tug. Here is how to keep the leash out of the game, reward a quiet mouth, give your dog a toy to carry and plan tug for before or after the walk.
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How-to
How to Start Running With Your Dog: Readiness and a Walk-Run Plan
Get your veterinarian's okay, wait until a young dog has finished growing and teach a loose leash first. Then build from walks with one-minute jogs to a steady, easy run over several weeks, with warm-ups, cool-downs, water breaks and clear signs to slow down or stop.
