Trust
How we research
We write each guide from veterinary, scientific, and maker sources that we cite on the page, and as of October 2026 we haven’t done any hands-on product testing.
Who runs this site
Friendly Earth Pet is run by Shawn, who reviews every article before it’s published. We are not veterinarians, and we don’t use made-up author names, stock headshots, or borrowed credentials. When a page relies on a veterinarian’s or researcher’s view, we name that person and link to where they said it.
What we do
- Start with the question readers actually ask. For example, “how often should chew toys be replaced?” rather than “top 10 toys.”
- Read primary and expert sources. We lean on veterinary sources (VCA Animal Hospitals, AAHA, the ASPCA, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, board-certified veterinary specialists), peer-reviewed studies, standards bodies (ASTM, GOTS), and government or extension services (USDA, universities).
- Read the maker’s own words. Product pages, care instructions, guarantee terms, and take-back programs — quoted as the maker’s claim, not as independent proof.
- Cite on the page. Factual and safety claims link to the source we read, with an access date where it matters. If sources disagree, we show both.
- Answer first, then explain. A short answer at the top, then the detail and the limits.
- Update in public. When a source changes or we find a mistake, we revise the page and change its “updated” date.
What we have not done (yet)
- No hands-on testing so far. We have not chew-tested, lab-tested, or long-term-tested the products we discuss. You will not find “we tried 40 toys” or invented dogs on this site.
- No invented stats or quotes. Every number comes from a source we link to. If no good number exists — like an average lifespan for a nylon chew — we say so.
- No veterinary advice. Safety pages summarize published vet guidance. Your own vet knows your dog; call them about swallowed objects, broken teeth, or skin problems.
If we start hands-on testing
If we test products ourselves in the future, those sections will be clearly labeled as hands-on testing. They will say what we did, for how long, with how many dogs, and what we could not measure. Research-only pages will stay labeled as research-only.
Photos
Photos are illustrative stock images from Pexels, credited on each page. They are not photos of our own testing or of the specific products discussed.
Money
Affiliate links, when live, are labeled and never change a ranking. Read the affiliate disclosure and how we judge products.
Example
Our chew toy safety guide shows the method: short answers up top, each tied to VCA, AAHA, ASPCA, ACVS, or maker guidance, with a full source list at the bottom.