The Lovi Journal
Little guides for a lovelier life together: what a puzzle toy does for a busy mind, how to choose a bed, a feeder or a harness, and the finds we think are worth a closer look. Written to be useful whether or not you buy anything.
What Size Hamster Cage? Floor Space, Bedding Depth and Wheels
Choose a hamster home by its unbroken floor area, not its height. The PDSA suggests at least 100 x 50 cm of floor for any hamster, with deep bedding and a wheel sized to the species.
Automatic Cat Feeders: Timed, Wi-Fi, Wet Food and Microchip
Choose an automatic cat feeder by the food you serve and how many cats share it: timed hoppers for kibble, rotating ice-pack trays for wet food, microchip feeders for multi-cat homes.
Dog Car Seats Compared: Boosters, Hammocks, Crates, Harnesses
Small dogs ride well in a booster with a harness, big dogs on a hammock or extender with a harness, and anxious travelers in a crate. Keep every dog in the back seat.
How to Choose a Cat Tree: Height, Stability, Sisal and Wood
Choose a cat tree by your cat's size first: a wide, heavy base, thick sisal posts and platforms your cat can lie flat on. Then match height and footprint to your room.
Dog Advent Calendars: Treat, Toy and Make-Your-Own Options
A dog advent calendar hides one small treat, chew or toy behind each of 12 or 24 doors. Choose by your dog's size and chewing style, or fill a pocket calendar yourself.
Dog Nail Grinder vs Clippers: Which Is Easier at Home
Clippers are faster and silent; a nail grinder is slower but takes off thin layers and leaves a smooth, rounded tip. The easier one is the tool your dog accepts, and many homes use both.
The Benebone Story: How Real Flavor Shaped a Tough Dog Chew
Benebone began in New Jersey in 2012, when Peter Toolan and his father, Jim, set out to make a tough nylon chew with real food flavor, curved so dogs can hold it in their paws.
Setting Up a Betta Fish Tank: Heater, Filter, Plants, Hides
A betta needs a covered tank with room to swim, a small heater and thermometer, a gentle filter, water conditioner, soft plants and a smooth hide. Set it up and let it run before your fish comes home.
Retractable Leash Myths and Facts: When One Makes Sense
Retractable leashes are not bad in themselves. They are a specialist tool: fine in open, quiet space for a dog that already walks politely, and a poor fit for sidewalks, crowds and training.
Bird Toy Glossary: Shreddables, Foragers, Perches and Swings
Parrots need toys to shred, foragers that hide a treat, small foot toys, perches of mixed widths and textures, and a swing or ladder. Here is what every bird toy term means.
How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage: Space, Hideouts and Hay
Give guinea pigs a long, flat floor, a fleece liner or deep unscented bedding, one hideout each plus a spare, a hay rack that stays full and a water bottle at nose height.
Christmas Gifts for Dogs: Toys, Stockings and Cozy Extras
The best Christmas gifts for dogs match how your dog plays: a stocking of mixed toys, a rope or plush toy, a hard chew, a sniffing game or a soft blanket. Here is how to choose each one.
Sisal vs Cardboard Cat Scratchers: Texture, Mess, Placement
Sisal is stiff, tidy and long-lasting; cardboard is softer, crumblier and easy to renew. Choose by how your cat scratches, upright or flat, and place it where they already scratch.
What Size Dog Crate Do I Need? Measure, Choose and Set Up
Measure your dog from nose to tail base and from floor to head top while sitting, add a few inches, then pick the crate whose length and height clear both numbers.
The Ruffwear Story: From a Collapsible Dog Bowl to Trail Gear
Ruffwear began in 1992 with a collapsible dog bowl Patrick Kruse made after a mountain bike ride. The company launched in 1994, moved to Bend, Oregon in 1998 and grew into boots, harnesses, jackets and life jackets.
New Puppy Checklist: First-Week Essentials, Room by Room
Before day one, set up a crate with a divider, a puppy-proofed play zone, a feeding spot, a potty station with an enzyme cleaner, and a collar with an ID tag by the door.
Dog Stairs, Ramps, Bowls and Beds for a Senior-Friendly Home
The best dog stairs for older dogs match your bed or couch height and have deep, grippy treads. Then add a car ramp, a stair gate, raised bowls and a low-entry bed.
What Makes a Dog Bed Orthopedic? Foam Types Explained
A dog bed is orthopedic when a solid, dense foam base spreads your dog's weight so hips and shoulders never press through to the floor. Here is how memory, gel, egg crate and shredded foam differ.
An Indoor Cat Play Routine: Wands, Tunnels, Perches, Puzzles
The best enrichment toys for indoor cats work as a daily routine: a wand to chase, a tunnel to ambush from, a window perch to watch and a puzzle to find food in.
Dog Puzzle Toys by Level: From First Puzzle to Expert Games
Start most dogs on a Level 1 puzzle with one move per treat, then step up only when they solve it quickly and calmly. Here is what each level asks and which toys fit.
How to Choose a Cat Water Fountain: Material, Pump and Size
Choose a cat water fountain by material (stainless steel, ceramic, plastic or glass), by how the pump is powered and by a size that fits your pets. Then let your cat pick the flow.
Snuffle Mat vs Lick Mat: How Each One Keeps a Dog Busy
A snuffle mat hides dry kibble in fabric so your dog hunts with its nose; a lick mat holds soft food in a textured pad so your dog licks it out slowly. Pick by the food and the moment.
The KONG Dog Toy Story: Fritz, a VW Bus Part and 50 Years
KONG dates its work to 1976, and its story starts with a German Shepherd named Fritz and a rubber axle stop from a VW bus. Here is how that became the KONG Classic, and how to choose and fill one today.
Front Clip vs Back Clip: Choosing a No Pull Dog Harness
For a dog that pulls, clip the leash to a front ring on the chest: it turns each lunge back toward you. Back clips suit relaxed walkers, and a dual-clip harness gives you both.