Pet Care Guides 🐾

DOGS: chocolate, xylitol (gum, peanut butter), grapes/raisins, onion/garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, cooked bones. CATS: lilies (kills in 48h), onion/garlic, chocolate, grapes, acetaminophen (Tylenol = lethal tiny amount). Keep Pet Poison Hotline number handy: 855-764-7661 ($).

Day 1: Quiet home, show crate (never force). Meals at same spot, same time. Day 2-3: Start crate training (short, positive). Day 4-5: First vet visit for shots review. Day 6-7: Short car rides, introduce 2-3 safe dogs. Keep experiences positive — fears form in weeks 8-16.

1 box per cat + 1 (so 2 cats = 3 boxes). Uncovered preferred (most cats hate covered). Unscented clumping litter. Scoop daily, full clean weekly. Placed in quiet low-traffic spots, NOT next to food. Wrong setup = peeing on carpet.

Friendly, patient, highly trainable. Great with kids. 50-80 lbs. Needs 1-2 hours exercise daily. Prone to obesity + hip dysplasia. Life expectancy 10-12 years. Gold/black/chocolate.

Dog den instinct. Crate should be: (1) just big enough to stand + turn + lie down (too big = they'll pee in it). (2) Covered 3 sides for den feel. (3) NEVER used for punishment. (4) Build up slowly: treats inside, door closed 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min. By week 4, most pups sleep in with door open.

Tail high + stiff wag = alert/aggressive. Tail low + loose wag = friendly. Tucked tail = scared. Yawning out of context = stressed (not tired). Lip-licking + turning away = needs space. Play bow (front down, rear up) = invitation to play. Learn these + prevent 90% of bite incidents.

Patient, gentle, intuitive. One of the best therapy/service dogs. 55-75 lbs. Needs grooming weekly. Prone to cancer + hip dysplasia. Life expectancy 10-12 years.

Up to 20 lbs. Gentle giant. Long silky fur. Dog-like personality (plays fetch, follows owner). Needs grooming twice weekly. Life expectancy 12-15 years.

Take out: after waking, after meals, after play, before bed. Every 2 hours first week. PRAISE lavishly when they go outside. Never punish accidents — they don't connect past action + punishment. Crate training speeds this up dramatically (dogs won't soil den).

Vet visits twice yearly (catch kidney/thyroid early). Joint supplements (glucosamine, omega-3). Ramps for couches/beds (no more jumping). Softer food. Warm, non-slip bedding. Annual blood panels. Quality-of-life checklist (HHHHHMM: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good than bad days).

Ranked #2 most intelligent breed. Hypoallergenic coat — low shedding, GREAT for allergy sufferers. Needs grooming every 6-8 weeks. 3 sizes: Standard (40-70lb), Miniature (10-15lb), Toy (4-6lb). Life expectancy 12-15 years.

Big floppy blue-eyed cat. Named "ragdoll" because they go limp and relaxed when picked up. Super docile. 10-20 lbs. Indoor-only (no hunting instinct). Life expectancy 12-17 years.

Core (every dog): DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parvo, parainfluenza), rabies. Puppy series: 3 shots at 6-8, 10-12, 14-16 weeks. Boosters: year 1, then every 3 years. Non-core (risk-based): lepto, Lyme, bordetella, flu. Discuss with vet.

Low (30-45 min/day): Frenchie, Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Pug, senior dogs. Medium (60-90 min): Lab, Golden, Cocker Spaniel. High (2+ hours): Border Collie, Husky, GSD, Aussie Shepherd. Extreme (3+ hours): working Kelpie, Belgian Malinois. Under-exercised dog = destructive dog.

Intelligent, loyal, protective. 60-90 lbs. Needs serious training + exercise (2+ hours daily). Prone to hip dysplasia. Life expectancy 9-13 years. Best for experienced owners.

Round face, plush coat, calm temperament. 7-17 lbs. Not a lap cat — affectionate but independent. Life 12-17 years. Blue/gray most iconic but many colors.

Dry kibble: cheapest, convenient, good brands (Purina Pro Plan, Hill's, Royal Canin) have quality research. Wet: hydrating, pricey, good as topper. Raw: Trendy, hard to balance, bacterial risk. Fresh (Farmer's Dog etc): expensive but great quality. Vet-approved brand = safer bet than trendy option.

Weeks 1-2: separate rooms, swap scents (swap blankets). Weeks 2-3: brief supervised visits behind barrier. Week 3+: short direct visits. Never force interaction. Dogs + cats: keep leash on dog for early meets. Some pairs never become friends — that's OK, they can coexist peacefully.

Old advice: 6 months. New research: large breeds (Labs, GSDs, Goldens) benefit from waiting 12-18 months for hormone-driven bone development, reducing cancer + joint issues. Small breeds: 6-9 months still fine. Consult your vet with breed-specific research.

Clear nails: cut 2mm before pink "quick" visible. Black nails: tiny slices until you see the "dark center dot". If you hit quick: pressure with styptic powder or cornstarch. Do 1-2 nails per session for fearful dogs. Grinder (Dremel) easier than clippers for many.

Ranked #1 most intelligent breed. Needs 2+ hours exercise + mental stimulation daily or goes neurotic. 30-55 lbs. Life 12-15 years. NOT a casual pet — only for active owners.

Vocal — talks to you constantly. Strong bonds with owner. Athletic. 6-14 lbs. Life 12-20 years. Traditional apple-head vs modern wedge-head styles.

Average premium: $40-60/mo dog, $25-35/mo cat = $480-720/year. Emergency surgery avg: $3-8K. Rule: if you'd pay $5K+ to save pet, insurance pays. If you'd euthanize vs pay $5K, save $500/year in a dedicated pet fund instead. Pre-existing conditions never covered — buy when pet is young + healthy.

Spirited, alert, cat-like cleanliness. 17-23 lbs. Strong hunting drive, hard to train recall, escape artist. Life expectancy 13-16 years. Famous "Shiba scream" when unhappy.

Compact, affectionate, low exercise needs. 20-28 lbs. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) — breathing issues, heat sensitivity, CANNOT fly in cargo. Expensive health care. Life expectancy 10-12 years.