Photography credits

These photographs illustrate the subject of an article. They do not document a byline’s personal experience or imply affiliation with the people or organizations pictured.

• A walk with room to sniff

  A brown dog on a loose leash lowers its nose to sniff a patch of grass.

  Photo: Ka Ho Ng · Unsplash License

• A quieter doorway starts before the doorbell

  A black cocker spaniel rests on a pale sofa beside a walking harness.

  Photo: Peter Boccia · Unsplash License

• The mat is an invitation to rest

  A black greyhound rests on a sofa in a living room beside a fireplace.

  Photo: Annie Spratt · Unsplash License

• One brush stroke at a time

  A hand gently passes a grooming attachment over a long-haired dog's coat.

  Photo: Neakasa · Unsplash License

• A litter tray location audit, from the cat’s height

  A tabby cat sits on an indoor windowsill beside a small wooden giraffe.

  Photo: Jez Timms · Unsplash License

• Give a hiding cat a safe way out

  An orange cat peeks out from a sheltered space between stacked cushions.

  Photo: Eunkwang Choi · Unsplash License

• Put the scratcher where the cat already goes

  A cat stretches up a tall rope-covered scratching post in a bright room.

  Photo: Ihnatsi Yfull · Unsplash License

• One treat budget for the whole household

  Close-up of small pieces of dry pet food kibble.

  Photo: Rafael Rodrigues · Unsplash License

• Keep the pet-food bag inside the bin

  A black-and-white dog reaches toward a food bowl beside a bag of dry food.

  Photo: Chewy · Unsplash License

• The one-page note to take to a vet visit

  A dachshund sits on an examination table with a veterinary professional behind it.

  Photo: Alexander Mass · Unsplash License

• A harness fit check before the walk

  A husky wearing a harness walks on damp sand.

  Photo: Valeriia Miller · Unsplash License

• Choose a cat carrier you can leave out

  A white and tabby cat rests on top of a ventilated hard-sided carrier.

  Photo: RASHNI PARICHHA · Unsplash License

• Recall starts before you unclip the lead

  A dog practices on an outdoor training course with people nearby.

  Image: Man training dog on agility course with two women watching

  Photo: Jafetbyrne Photos · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Alone time is not a stopwatch challenge

  A dog resting on a covered sofa in a quiet living room.

  Image: a dog sleeping on a couch in a living room

  Photo: Alexandro Pasqualicchio · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• A child and a dog both need an exit

  An adult helps a young child walk along a woodland path while a dog walks a short distance away.

  Image: a man and a child playing with a dog in the woods

  Photo: Priscilla Du Preez · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Introduce two cats one door at a time

  Two cats occupying different parts of a furnished room.

  Image: Two cats in a room with toys and furniture

  Photo: Madeline Liu · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Play that lets a cat finish the hunt

  A long-haired cat reaches a paw toward a ribbon toy during supervised play.

  Image: a cat is playing with a toy on a couch

  Photo: Piotr Musioł · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Build a window perch with a way down

  A black-and-white cat sits on a broad windowsill beside a table.

  Image: A cat sits on a windowsill looking outside

  Photo: Khanh Do · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Separate cat resources without a bigger house

  An orange cat eats from its own bowl at an indoor feeding station.

  Image: Orange cat eating dry food from a bowl

  Photo: Javier Garcia Chavez · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• A pet-sitter handover that actually helps

  A person gently pets a relaxed dog resting on a bed.

  Image: A person petting a dog lying on a bed

  Photo: phoebe lynch · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Teach toothbrushing without a wrestling match

  A veterinary worker uses a toothbrush to clean a small dog's teeth.

  Image: Small Hairy Dog Getting Teeth Cleaned with a Brush

  Photo: Gustavo Fring · Pexels License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Build a pet emergency information folder

  A small terrier peeks out of a fabric pet carrier.

  Image: A small dog peeks out from a carrier

  Photo: Vanishing Point Images · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Choose a food puzzle your dog can actually solve

  A brown-and-white dog investigates the compartments of a food puzzle.

  Image: a brown and white dog eating out of a blue and red toy

  Photo: Ayla Verschueren · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• Water bowls before water fountains

  A tabby cat drinks from a water bowl on a floor mat indoors.

  Image: A cat drinking water from a bowl indoors

  Photo: Quan Jing · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.

• A sleeping place that fits the dog

  A gray dog sleeps in a soft bed beside a sofa.

  Image: A dog laying in a dog bed on the floor

  Photo: Olivier Leysen · Unsplash License · Resized for web display; displayed with responsive cropping.