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Bonn-O Team
Summer walks: test the road before you step out. Press the back of your hand on the pavement for about five seconds. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog's paws. In the hot months, walk early in the morning or after sunset, stay on grass or in the shade where you can, and carry water for both of you. Short-nosed dogs such as pugs and bulldogs feel the heat sooner, so keep their walks shorter.
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Bonn-O Team
Make the carrier a normal part of the home. Leave it open in a quiet corner for a week or two before the vet visit, with a soft towel inside and a treat now and then. A cat that already naps in the carrier travels far calmer than one who only sees it on vet days. In the car, cover the carrier with a light cloth so your cat feels hidden and safe.
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Diwali with a pet: get ready before the first cracker. Set up a quiet room with the windows and curtains closed, a familiar blanket and some soft music or the television on. Walk your dog in daylight, well before the fireworks begin, and keep cats indoors. Check that your pet's ID tag carries your current phone number. Frightened pets slip out through open doors and gates more often at this time of year.
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Questions to ask a groomer before the first visit. How do you handle a nervous dog? How long will it take, and can I wait or watch? Are the tools and tables cleaned between pets? Do you ever use sedation? A caring groomer works slowly, takes breaks and does not rush a scared dog. These questions are worth asking of any groomer, wherever you go.
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Cats and balconies. In a flat, a cat chasing a bird or an insect can go over a balcony edge or out of an open window in a second. Put up a strong safety net or mesh over balconies and window openings, with no gaps a cat can squeeze through, and check it for wear every few months. Give your cat a window perch with a view as well, so that the outdoors stays interesting and safe.
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Monsoon paw care. After every wet walk, rinse muddy paws and legs with clean lukewarm water, then dry them well, especially between the toes and under the belly. Damp fur is where itching and a sour smell start. Keep a towel by the door, and trim long hair between the pads so that it dries faster. If the skin looks red or sore, ask your vet before trying any cream.
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Reward the moment, not the minute after. A treat works best within two seconds of the good behaviour, so that your dog links the two. Keep training sessions to about five minutes, a few times a day, and stop while your dog is still happy. Use small, soft treats so that you can reward often, and take that amount out of the dinner bowl.
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Bonn-O Team
Brushing a long-haired cat. Cats such as Persians and Himalayans need a gentle brush most days, because mats form fast behind the ears, under the legs and at the base of the tail. Start with two or three minutes, use a wide-toothed comb first and a soft brush after, and end every session with a treat. Never pull at a mat. If one is tight against the skin, ask a groomer or your vet to help.
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Fresh water, every day. Wash the water bowl daily, not just top it up, because a slimy bowl puts pets off drinking. Steel or ceramic is easier to keep clean than plastic. In the hot months put out more than one bowl, and remember that some cats prefer a wide, shallow bowl or running water. Watch how much your pet drinks, and tell your vet about any big change.
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Bringing a dog and a cat together. Go slowly. Keep them in separate rooms at first and swap their blankets so that they learn each other's smell. Then allow short meetings, with the dog on a lead and the cat free to leave. Give each pet its own bowls, bed and a place to retreat; cats need a high spot the dog cannot reach. Praise calm behaviour with treats, and expect it to take weeks, not days.
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Get more from every vet visit. Bring the vaccination card, and a short note of what your dog eats, how much they drink and sleep, and anything that has changed. A photo or a short video of anything unusual helps more than a description. Write your questions down before you go, because a busy clinic is easy to leave with half of them forgotten.
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A dog home alone while you work. A tired dog settles better, so walk and play before you leave. Leave a chew toy or a food puzzle, a comfortable place to rest and some background sound such as the radio. Keep leaving and coming back calm and low-key, with no big goodbyes. If your dog is very upset every time you leave, talk to a trainer or your vet.
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Before the first longer stay away from home, try a short one. Leave your pet with the carer for a few hours, then for a night, and see how they cope. Write down the food, the feeding times, any medicine your vet has prescribed, the walking routine and what scares your pet, and pack something that smells like home. Ask the carer how they will send you updates.
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Litter tray basics. Keep one tray per cat, plus one extra, in a quiet spot away from the food and water. Scoop at least once a day, and wash the tray every week or two with plain soap and water; strong cleaners put cats off. A cat that suddenly stops using the tray is telling you something, so mention it to your vet.
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One calendar for the whole year. Put every vaccination, deworming, flea and tick treatment and grooming date into your phone calendar, with a reminder a week before. Ask your vet which dates are right for your pet's age, because they differ between puppies, kittens and adults. Set it up once, and a missed booster stops being something to worry about.
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