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Introducing The Zero-Waste Pet (and a freebie Pet-Safe Cleaning Guide)

03•20•18

Several years ago, I spent time defining my mission, my vision, and my values–for life and for this space. One of my top goals in every category is to live an environmentally-responsible life. I’m certainly not perfect, and I don’t think perfection is ever a realistic goal. That’s why I aim for eco-consciousness: making decisions purposefully with my impact on the environment in mind.

All this includes the pets, too, of course.

As I started researching the zero-waste movement, I quickly realized a couple big things: First, there are a lot of incredible people out there teaching incredible lessons on how to live a more environmentally-responsible life, and I’ve gleaned so much information from YouTube and Instagram zero-waste pros. Second, it’s sort of a judgmental community. Not everyone, of course, but in many places around the web, as you research zero-waste, there’s this feeling like if you can’t do it all, be perfect, keep all your waste for a year in a mason jar, go vegan, upcycle everything, etc. etc. than you’re just not good enough.

I absolutely do not agree with that.

I truly believe every little bit counts. As I researched, I implemented lots of easy changes: I stopped asking for a straw at restaurants, I purchased coconut oil in glass jars instead of plastic, I figured out how to DIY my own cleaning products (for way cheaper, btw, than store-bought… see the end of the post on how to get your hands on some recipes and cleaning hacks…), and so on.

Every little bit counts.

But, as I started to implement small changes for me and the herd, I realized there was a big gap in available info for pet people who are interested in more sustainable pet care. So, I started taking notes and then I realized… I have enough notes for a whole lot of blog posts! And not only that… I have enough notes for a whole ebook!

Earlier this year I teased a project I was working on and, well, it’s here!

I’ve created an ebook called The Zero-Waste Pet, and it’s full of useful, practical info along with a lot of nonjudgmental advice on how to cut down your pet’s “carbon pawprint.”

Introducing The Zero-Waste Pet

It’s in the editing stages now, and I plan to launch it officially on Earth Day, April 22.

Leading up to the launch, I’m going to host a 7-day email challenge with one actionable tip per day, culminating with the book launch (and a discount code, obvs, for everyone who’s completed the challenge)!

I’m also creating a ton of freebies to go with the book, like a checklist with daily reminders, DIYs, and a corresponding resource page that’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted to know about eco-friendly pet products, along with my preferred resources.

This project has been a long time in the making, and I seriously can’t wait to release it!

Between now and then–it’s about a month away–I’m wondering a few things from you guys:

  • What would be most helpful to you to learn about zero waste and pets?
  • Are there any upcycles, DIYs, or recipes you’ve been looking for but just can’t find?
  • Do you have any tips or tricks on how you’ve made your pet care more sustainable?

I’d love to learn from you and be able to answer your questions in the comments!

If you’re interested, sign up here to secure your spot in the 7-day challenge and to be the first to know when the book is officially up for sale! Freebie Alert: For signing up, you’ll also get a 9-page ebooklet of pet-safe cleaning tips, tricks, and recipes in your inbox! 

6 Comments
Filed Under: Eco, OMD! Tagged With: eco-friendly, The Zero-Waste Pet

What Makes BlogPaws Special: My Conference Story

03•14•18

In just over a month, I’ll hop on a plane, fly to Kansas City, and attend the tenth anniversary BlogPaws conference.

It’s my ninth conference… I missed 2013 because it fell right after I’d finished a year of chemo, and I just couldn’t. And here’s the thing: Way back then, in 2013, long before I contracted for BlogPaws and long before I joined the staff, long before I had many readers here, and long before I had a handle on most facets of blogging, people noticed I wasn’t there.

To a wallflower like me, that’s a big deal.

This community sees me.

Lovely ladies of BlogPaws

I took a look at past BlogPaws-related posts, and I found my recap of that very first conference in 2010. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, my three core takeaways from that first event are the same as they are heading into this tenth conference: community, authenticity, and advocacy.

Also interestingly, and also not surprisingly, those are three of my own core values.

Part of the BlogPaws team in Florida

Last week, the BlogPaws team traveled to Florida to visit Chewy.com’s HQ. ICYMI: Chewy acquired BlogPaws, and they wanted us to head down and see their operations prior to the April conference. While there, they set us up in their film studio so we could each record our thoughts about our BlogPaws experience. Again, not surprisingly, the first thing that popped out of my mouth: community.

I am not exaggerating when I say that some of my very best friends have come through my connection to BlogPaws, and some of the most exciting opportunities and engaging professional relationships have emerged from the organization. I’ve laughed and learned and hugged and cried and patted piles of dogs, cats, rats, a capybara, and a mini-pig.

Eight years and 10 conferences is, sadly, a lifetime for many pets, and we’ve mourned the loss of each other’s dear animals and have said goodbye to some of our friends and colleagues. We’ve celebrated pet adoptions, marriages, babies, job changes, books being published, and we’ve helped each other over life’s big and little hurdles. At last year’s conference, my dear, cherished friends and colleagues threw me the biggest baby shower I could imagine to celebrate our adoption of Violet. She spent the first year of her life cuddling the stuffed dogs and cats, wearing the adorable outfits, and enjoying the piles of books that our beautiful friends showered us with.

Our BlogPaws baby shower for Violet

We get each other.

Our hearts love the same, no matter if it’s a bearded dragon, a dog, a horse, a cat, a ferret, etc. at the end of that leash.

We see each other. We see each other’s joy and we see each other’s pain.

I’m honored to be part of the BlogPaws community, and I can’t wait to see everyone and meet all the new folks next month.

If you’re on the fence, or if you haven’t been before, or if you haven’t been in years, you really do need to join us. This tenth anniversary conference is one not to miss. It’s an incredible learning opportunity for anyone online, as well as a major love fest for pets and the people who love them. Learn more and see you there!

In the meantime, if you want to dig super deep into learning how to be an authentic blogger, check out my ebook, Authentic Blogging. It contains everything you need to harness your authentic voice and grow your audience by leaps and bounds!

The BlogPaws Team

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Filed Under: OMD! Tagged With: blogpaws

Violet, Cooper, and some new #squadgoals

03•02•18

I remember tucking puppy Cooper into my sweater because he’d get cold and start squeaking. He weighed six pounds. That’s how much Ripley weighs now.

Cooper used to curl up against my stomach while I worked. He’d nestle his tiny face under my arm, I’d scoot in my desk chair, and type away while he dozed like a little kangaroo.

If he thought he could fit, he’d try the same today.

I remember waking up at all hours of the night because puppy Cooper needed to go out or had already had an accident.

I remember falling asleep while listening for the tiniest signs from the crate next to my bed. Poor puppy Cooper. That first year of his life spent in a cone, itching himself to pieces, and ill a lot of the time. And, yet, he played with his brothers, tore up the house playing solo, played in the yard and the kiddie pool, walked and ran and did all the puppy things, despite it all.

We nailed down his health issues, have him on the right food and the right medication, we manage his supplements well, and now he’s squarely a healthy “grown up” at 7. But he does the same today: runs and jumps and plays, skitters, tears up the house (though that’s more metaphorical than literal these days)… and then he cuddles in bed with me and the kitties when it’s time to settle, thankfully without all the overnight waking.

I remember thinking puppy Cooper can learn anything!

He stretched my training abilities to the limit back then because he learned everything immediately. What took Lucas a couple days and Emmett (sweet Emmett) a few weeks to learn, Cooper mastered in a session. He picked up a ton of stuff–some manners, household routines–from watching his brothers. It turned me into a lazy trainer with him because I took it for granted that he’d just figure stuff out.

Now? He picks and chooses. I know this is a controversial topic in the dog training world: Can a dog truly be obstinate? In other words, can a dog know the command, know what you want exactly, but choose to do something differently? Most argue that, well, the dog doesn’t really know the command that well. This is a complex discussion I’m distilling for simplicity, but here’s what I know about Cooper:

He listens with perfect, crystal-clear hearing. He executes with varying degrees of creativity. And if you say in a mock-horrified tone, “Cooper! I’m shocked!” or something similar to express disbelief, he will gaze up into your face, spend a second figuring out if you’re serious or not, and if you can pull off the serious expression, he quickly does the thing exactly as you asked him to do in the first place.

Drives me nuts. (But at the same time I love and adore him for it!)

All this is coming full circle now that Violet is eating solid food. (I totally had a point!! It just took me this long to get to it!!)

He always went to his bed in the corner of the kitchen when we were eating, more as a matter of good manners than anything else.

Now? With his food allergies it’s becoming imperative that he parks his bum on that bed during meal times, but…

He waits until I go to the fridge to get something. He pops up out of his bed, gobbles all the tiny bits of food she drops, then dashes back to his bed before (he thinks) I notice.

Or, Violet snatches up a handful of something–yesterday it was peas–and leans all the way under the table to hand him pieces while giggling her face off. And dear Cooper pops up, goes under the table, and ever so gently takes the proffered peas out of her chubby little fingers.

I really, really, really don’t want him to have any of those flare-ups from all those years ago that kept us up at night, kept him in a cone all day every day, and–most importantly–kept him from enjoying life at top speed.

So, back to the drawing board.

Clearly the bed in the corner is no good because it’s a mere three feet from where Violet sits in her Bumbo graciously doling out food to the animals. (The other day I went to fill her sippy cup, and I turned back to see her hand feeding Newt fistfuls of tofu…)

Obviously we’re going to work with Violet on not feeding the animals. That’s of course part of the plan, but at this point in her development, training Cooper is the faster solution.

I’m torn, too, because part of me thinks… well, it’s just peas. She’s mobile and handsy and falls on him a million times a day no matter how closely I keep an eye on them, so if she feeds him maybe it’ll solidify his positive feelings towards her. But then I can’t change the rules on them both when she’s eating, say, chicken. It would feel so arbitrary to them. Neither Violet nor Cooper would understand.

I remember worrying in those first few months about Cooper with Violet. I remember hoping that he’d take to her (he did) and that he wouldn’t feel neglected or pushed aside (we’ve tried to keep everything the same for him). I remember worrying about him adjusting to all of it.

I couldn’t even fathom–nearly a year ago–that I’d be worrying about Violet feeding Cooper something that would send his body into a tailspin because I honestly couldn’t imagine her sitting in a chair feeding herself!! Just like way back when I tucked Cooper into my sweater to work each day I couldn’t imagine him being healthy and well and training for a half marathon with John.

I remember facing each of Cooper’s challenges along the way and thinking… when will we solve this one?

And we’ve solved them all (mostly…), so I know this will be solved, too.

In the meantime, what is your dinnertime routine with your pup? Do they go to a specific place? Do you all eat together on the couch? Any best practices that work for you and your family?

Violet and Cooper #BESTIES

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Filed Under: OMD! Tagged With: cooper, Violet

Here for you

02•16•18

Once again, we mourn the senseless slaughter of children. I’m certainly not writing to discuss the politics or policy of any of this. I’m writing to say I’m here for you, and–we are so lucky–so are our pets.

The thing is, this type of tragedy feels like a regular occurrence. It IS a regular occurrence. The heart, soul, and head can only take so much.

So, we pet lovers are blessed with furry comfort turn to our pets for comfort and support.

Violet reading to Cooper

I know many of you have children, lots of them school-age. Did you know: Simply patting a pet can lower your blood pressure and heart rate–and it’s not just dogs and cats. Even pets like rabbits and turtles relieve anxiety.

One of the best reads on this topic covers the Mood-Boosting Power of Dogs. I suggest a full read, but here’s a highlight:

“Dogs in particular can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for a dog can help children grow up more secure and active or provide valuable companionship for older adults. Perhaps most importantly, though, a dog can add real joy and unconditional love to your life.”

As you talk to your children and try (try… because we don’t even understand it…) to explain these things, it might help to park them on the sofa next to your beloved pet so they can tangibly benefit by petting as you talk. Or, if they feel frightened–and, honestly, who doesn’t?– your family pet can help them cope with the terror and heartbreak. Maybe even consider bending the rules and letting your pup or cat sleep in your kiddo’s room… whatever works.

I know this isn’t typical dog-blog fare, but nothing about now is typical.

I’m thinking of you, your families, and your pets. If you need anything, if you want some ideas or resources on how your pets can help your kids, if you need help finding a local positive trainer, or just want someone to say “I’m scared, too,” I’m here for you.

Hug your kids–with and without fur–extra tight.

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Filed Under: OMD!

Kindness, Pet Parenting, and the Perils of Pet Blogging

02•13•18

I get asked a lot of questions about starting a pet blog, and I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned over the (almost nine!!!) years. But, when I put all those questions together–excluding detail questions like which platform to use (WordPress) or what comment spam plugin to install (Akismet)–there are a few absolutes for pet bloggers.

  1. Absolutely anyone can–and should, if they so desire–start and run a blog. That part is simple and really super fun. However, not everyone can–or should–turn it into a business. That part is really freaking hard.
  2. The technical stuff and all the tips and tricks in the world are nowhere near as important as telling a good story. Learn to tell a story well, then add in tech stuff later if you want.
  3. You need thick skin.

It’s that third point that’s been on my mind lately, not just because of the you’re-a-bad-mom-and-going-to-hell-to-boot email or the comment that said I’m giving Cooper cancer and turning him into a pill-popping druggie by putting him on Apoquel AND heart worm prevention… It’s not just because of any one specific criticism about any one thing I do (or don’t do) that draws ire, but rather the general discourse in this space.

Kindness, Pet Parenting, and the Perils of Pet Blogging
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I honestly believe every space on the internet faces this same problem. It’s universal, I think, but I’m talking pet-specific because that’s where I live.

I just finished reading Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness. (It looks like the book is free if you have Audible or you could always do the free Audible trial. 🙂 )

It’s pretty good, and I definitely recommend it. In it she talks about how we’ve lost the ability to disagree with one another. People have their “side” on absolutely every issue–even, she points out, issues we know little to nothing about–and we dig in with incivility, judgement, and anger.

I don’t care if you feed your dog raw, home cooked, grocery kibble, premium kibble, or, like Cooper, The Honest Kitchen. I don’t care as long as you’re doing your best and doing what you think is best for your dog.

I don’t care if you choose to adopt your dog or purchase your pet from a responsible, reputable breeder. I choose adoption, but it’s not for everyone, and as long as you do your very best to vet the breeder, great.

It’s OK to disagree. It’s not OK to post aggressive, mean, judgmental comments on someone’s YouTube vid, blog, Facebook, etc. Discourse and discussion are fantastic–being exposed to new, different ideas is how we learn and grow. But being an asshole shuts down the conversation and prohibits any growth.

Of course, there are other decisions–like using a shock collar, for instance, or purchasing a dog at a pet store–that don’t need our anger and our judgment. Rather, they could use our compassionate sharing of the data, not the emotion.

Another one of Brené Brown’s lessons is: What is the most generous assumption that can be made about this person/situation?

In truth, among pet owners, the most generous assumption is always: That person is doing what she thinks is the very best for her pet.

We all know that someone’s best isn’t always good enough–think about the shock collar example–but attacking, name calling, and berating would never help that person make a better informed decision. Most likely, it would achieve the opposite. You know when someone attacks you for something and your instinct is not to change your ways but to dig in your heels?

Anyway, after the most recent “you’re killing your dog” comment, I thought to myself: Why can’t people just be kind?

Not necessarily nice, but kind. There’s a way to say the same thing but kindly. Like: Hey, I’ve always thought that type of medication could be harmful long-term, especially combined with this other med. Can you explain why you’ve made the choice to give both?

Or something. No one has to be fake-nice. No one has to say something they don’t believe to placate, but why can’t we bring the conversation back to pet care?

I see friends get slammed in the comments on Facebook pages, and it breaks my heart to think that kind, loving, lovely people are hurt by someone who doesn’t know them, who doesn’t know they bend over backwards to care for their pets.

So, I was thinking the direction of this post was going to be for newbie pet bloggers: If you want to write about your pets, develop that thick skin. Become rubber so it bounces right off.

But, instead, now that I’ve reached the end, how about this: Let’s all be kinder. Before you comment on anyone’s anything, ask yourself those kindergarten THINK questions! Is it: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind?

If not, reframe it or move on.

This is a crazy world we’re living in right now full of stressed-out, angry, dug-in people who really are trying to do their best.

Whether you’re a pet blogger, whether you want to start a pet blog, whether you’re a pet owner or an animal lover, the message applies:

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama

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Filed Under: OMD! Tagged With: blogging

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