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Dogs Life at Home New Pets

Did the Breeder Call Your Pup a “Pet”? It’s Not an Insult

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Reading Time: 2 minutes People sometimes feel slighted when they learn that their pup from a responsible breeder is considered “pet” versus “show quality.” No need to feel slighted! Good breeders love all their puppies and give each one the best of care. Here’s what to know about the similarities and differences between pet pups and conformation contenders. Same […]

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Cats Dogs New Pets Other Shelters & Fostering

The Pandemic Is Reshaping the Future of Animal Shelters and You Could Be Part of It

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Reading Time: 4 minutes When the coronavirus pandemic led to California’s stay-at-home order in March, Los Angeles resident Morgan Saunders was living by herself in an apartment. She started working from home, and her family lives across the country on the East Coast. Feeling isolated and wanting to help during the crisis in some way, she decided to foster […]

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New Pets Other

Chinchilla Challenge: Are They Right for You?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes Confession: I once bought a pet completely on impulse. I knew that wasn’t how you were supposed to do it, but I just handed over the money and took him home. That’s how irresistibly cute chinchillas are. I’d owned rodents before, so I knew some of the basics, but I quickly discovered that a chinchilla […]

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Dogs New Pets Shelters & Fostering

The Best Puppy for You: How to Make the Choice

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Choosing a puppy is a momentous decision. Here’s what to consider. My friend Andrew wants a huge dog, a Newfoundland or perhaps a Mastiff.  His wife, Jane, wants a dog she can pick up and cuddle, one who will be easy to walk and undemanding. For some people, there are German Shepherds or Border Collies, […]

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Cats Life at Home New Pets

A Mouse Has Only 30 Calories, and Other Things You Didn’t Know About Caring for Cats

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Even if you’ve shared your life with cats for years or decades, their ways can be mysterious. Cat lover and veterinarian Dr. Liz Bales shares some secrets to understanding how cats think and why they do the things they do. A mouse has only thirty calories. That is a meal for a cat. This translates […]

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Activities & Enrichment Cats New Pets Shelters & Fostering

Kitten Caboodle: Play Dates Are Fun and Educational

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Nothing is sweeter than an 8-week-old kitten. Those tiny paw pads, curious eyes, and that wiggly body practicing “big cat” pounces. Adorbs, right? Adding a kitten to your family is easy in this charming, playful, and easy-care stage. Alas, within a few months, cute kittens become adolescents, with the potential for behavioral issues caused by […]

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Dogs New Pets

A Wish List for Puppies

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Reading Time: 3 minutes When I was a little girl, we’d open the door in the morning and let the dog out. When he got hungry, he’d come home, hoping it was dinner time. In between, he played with his dog friends, hunted for crabs in the lagoons the jetties made on the beach, napped on someone’s porch or […]

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Dogs Life at Home New Pets Shelters & Fostering

Bringing a New Dog Home: Successful Adoption Habits

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Reading Time: 3 minutes You have an adorable new puppy or just adopted a sweetheart of a dog from a shelter or rescue group. You can’t wait to spoil him or her rotten, right? Loving on a new pup is mandatory, sure, but it’s also important to provide him with a structured environment from day one. Setting clear expectations […]

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Dogs Life at Home New Pets Training & Grooming

How to Raise a Fear Free Puppy

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Reading Time: 3 minutes You waited until the time was right to adopt, or you waited for a special litter to be born and ready to come home with you.  You want your puppy to be loving and funny, but also confident, able to go anywhere you want to take him with no problems at all.  But what do […]

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Cats Life at Home New Pets

New to Cats? Litter Box Basics for Beginners

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Reading Time: 4 minutes Cats are great! They are independent but affectionate, playful but restful, and they don’t need to go outside to eliminate—one of the biggest positives for people who appreciate our feline overlords. Sometimes, though, cats stop peeing or pooping inside the litter box. In worst-case scenarios when this occurs, they are relinquished to shelters or re-homed. […]