Toys & Play
A good play session has some effort in the middle and a calm finish. For dogs, start with indoor games for dogs for cold, dark or rainy days, and toys for dogs who destroy toys to match toys to how your dog chews.
For cats, how long to play with a cat sets out short daily sessions that end with a catch and a snack. No toy is indestructible, so supervise play and retire a toy once it splits or loses pieces. The toys mentioned are in dog and cat toys.
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Checklist
When to Throw Away a Dog Toy: The Checks That Prevent an Emergency
Toys do not wear out quietly like a bed or a leash; they fail by releasing a piece small enough to swallow. This is a thirty-second weekly inspection, the signs that mean retire it now, and what to do if your dog has already swallowed part of one.
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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
How to Set Up a Dog Playdate: Matching, Meeting and Reading Play
Plan a one-on-one dog playdate that goes well: choose a playmate who matches your dog's size, energy and play style, meet on fenced neutral ground after a side-by-side walk, put toys and food away, tell healthy play from trouble, and end before anyone is overtired.
