By July, the sidewalk does most of the deciding. Here's the calm, unfussy way I keep Sunda's paws happy through a Chicago summer — the seven-second test, the two-minute pre-walk habit, and the after-walk reset that heads off the sore, cracked stretch most paws hit mid-season.

Summer shifts your pet's skin in small, easy-to-miss ways. Here's the soft, weekly rhythm we use with Sunda — what to look for, when to bathe, and the simple habits that quietly prevent the itchy stretch most pets hit in July.