Field Notes

Short writing about dogs and cats: the small mysteries, the records worth keeping, and the questions owners ask most.

These notes started as the things we kept meaning to write down about our own dogs, Frankie and Carra. Some are quick answers to questions owners ask. Some are guides to keeping a pet's records in order. Some will be their stories.

The sections below are the places we keep returning to.

Behavior

Why dogs do the small things they do. Body language, calming signals, the daily mysteries.

Puppy months

Month-by-month milestones from week 8 onward. What's normal, what's a phase, what's next.

Breeds

Breed-specific notes — temperament, energy, the things the breed clubs leave out.

At the vet

Practical prep for vet visits. Questions to ask, what to bring, what counts as normal recovery.

Stories

Notes from living with Frankie, an American Staffordshire Terrier, and Carra, a Boston Terrier.

App guides

Honest comparisons of pet journal, tracker, and medical-record apps. What to look for, what to skip, and which one fits your pet.

Cat care

Notes for cat people — keeping a cat journal, tracking feline health, and the small habits that tell you how your cat is doing.

Multiple pets

Keeping records straight in a multi-pet home — every dog and cat, shared care across the family, one timeline per pet.