Lifestyle & Recipes

Snuffle mats are a fun and interactive way to engage your dog’s senses. Designed to mimic the natural foraging behavior of dogs, a snuffle mat encourages sniffing, problem-solving and slow feeding, providing mental stimulation while supporting digestion.

A dash of dish soap. A little warm water. Slosh it around, dry it off and repeat once every… however many months? If that’s your typical routine for cleaning your dog’s food and water bowls, you’re likely in the majority.

The history of dogs is rife with twists and turns, from what they ate to their interactions with humans. And while some of the finer points of domestication date so far back into unrecorded history that researchers are relegated to educated guesswork, the history of breeds is well written, documented and oftentimes even photographed.

We know dogs as sweet, sometimes oaf-like and all-times loveable creatures born to teach us the value of slowing down, doing nothing and sleeping for as much as 14 hours per day. But it wasn’t always like this. That bloodhound? That beagle? Even that pomeranian? Hundreds and thousands of years ago, all were bred with a purpose. And that purpose wasn’t necessarily curling up at the balls of your feet, dozing off until it’s walk time.

For as long as we’ve had dogs, we’ve had dog food. Relations weren’t always sunshine and gumdrops between us and our best friends. Trot your way back in history 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, and you’ll find yourself in a tooth-and-claw battle for food, for raiment and for territory between our great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents and their great-great-great-great-great-great grandwolves.

If you’re here reading this, seeking out information for first time puppy owners, you’re probably a good first time puppy owner. There’s an endless trove of puppy care out there — some of it worth heeding, some of it worth chucking. But in our book, anyone seeking out what’s best for their puppy is, in all likelihood, a great pet parent.

Alongside potty training, crate training is often a necessary order of business in order to accustom your puppy to periodic alone time. Whether it’s work or play, pet parents have their reasons for leaving the house, and our 8-step guide to crate training can help puppies develop a sense of independence for those times you simply can’t supervise.

Filling your home with houseplants is a great way to purify the air, add natural beauty, and create a more zen living space. But there’s nothing less zen than finding your dog with a toxic plant leaf in his mouth. If you have a curious canine companion, here are some dog-safe houseplants that will beautify your home without endangering your pup.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that some 6 to 8 million animals wind up in shelters and rescue centers each year on average, but less than half of them will be adopted. The exception to the rule was 2020, when pet adoptions rose by 15% during the coronavirus pandemic.

So while you’re busy learning how to change a diaper, allow us to resolve at least one of those concerns for you as a belated baby shower gift: Introducing your dog to your baby.