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 Put On a Dog Harness: Overhead, Step-In and No-Pull
Open the buckles, find the neck loop, then follow the routine for your style: overhead, step-in or a no-pull harness that clips to your dog's collar. Plus calm ways to harness a dog who bounces or ducks, fixes for when it won't go on right, and how to take it off.
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How-to
How to Introduce a Puppy to an Older Dog: First Meeting to First Month
A leashed first meeting on neutral ground, then gates, pens and short visits at home. How to keep meals, toys and rest separate, what normal growling from an older dog looks like, and when to separate the dogs and call for help.
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How-to
How to Introduce a Puppy to a Cat: Safe Zones and Leashed Meetings
A staged plan for bringing a puppy into a home with a resident cat: a dog-free zone and high perches for the cat, scent swaps, first sightings through a gate, short leashed meetings, the body language that means slow down, and how to keep the puppy out of the litter box and cat food.
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How-to
How to Install a Dog Car Hammock So It Stays Put
Fit a back-seat dog hammock so it stays put: prep the seat, clip the rear then the front headrest straps, tension them evenly, bring the buckles through the seat-belt openings for a tether, use the zipper for a passenger and fix sagging, sliding and gaps.
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How-to
How to Hold a Dog Leash: Grip, Slack and Which Side Your Dog Walks On
Hold the handle in a thumb lock, fold spare leash into your palm instead of wrapping it and keep a loose J of slack. Plus how to brace for a lunge, pick a side, handle a front-clip harness and practice the grip in the hallway.
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How-to
How to Groom a Yorkie at Home: Brushing, Baths, Nails and Trims
A Yorkie’s silky coat keeps growing and knots close to the skin. This routine covers a misted brush-out with a comb check, baths every week or two, eye, ear and teeth care, nails every two weeks, and which trims to do at home or leave to your groomer.
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How-to
How to Groom a Senior Cat: Gentle Brushing, Mats and Nails
When an older cat stops grooming, the fur on the lower back turns greasy and starts to mat. Here's why it happens, why a vet check comes first, and a gentle routine for thin skin, mats along the spine, thick overgrown claws and a clean back end.
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How-to
How to Groom a Senior Dog at Home: Brushing, Nails and Lump Checks
Many older dogs tire of standing, and shorter walks wear their nails down less. Here is how to set up a comfortable spot, brush gently by coat type, keep nails short, clean up between baths, check for lumps as you go and know when a groomer or veterinarian should take over.
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How-to
How to Groom a Labrador Retriever: Sheds, Swims, Ears and Paws
A Lab’s short double coat needs a weekly brush, daily combing through the two big sheds, and a fresh-water rinse after every swim. Here is the routine, plus drying a dense coat, checking dropped ears, nails every few weeks and trimming the hair between the pads.
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How-to
How to Groom a Goldendoodle at Home: Brushing, Mats and Trims
Curly and wavy doodle coats shed little and mat close to the skin, so brushing has to reach the roots. Here is the section-by-section routine, the spots that mat first, face, ear and foot care, bathing and drying, nails, and how often to book the groomer.
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How-to
How to Groom a Golden Retriever at Home: Brushing, Baths and Nails
A Golden’s double coat and feathering need at least a weekly brush, a daily one in a heavy shed, and a full brush-out before every bath. Here is the routine zone by zone, how to rinse and dry to the skin, nails, ears and paws, and which trims to leave to a groomer.
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How-to
How to Get Pet Hair Off Clothes and Keep It Off
Lift loose dog or cat hair with a roller or a damp rubber glove, tumble hairy clothes on air-only for about 10 minutes before the wash, then wash smaller loads apart from pet bedding. Plus cleaning the lint trap and drum, the mistakes that bring hair back, and habits that keep it off.
