Oh My Dog! - obsessed with dogs

2020 Fall Reading Guide for Pet Lovers

10•20•20

Ah, fall reading!

While I love reading in all seasons, of course, there’s something magical about fall reading. For one thing, fall brings us lots of new books! But, even better than a new book? Pairing that new book with a fireside snuggle session with your furry friends, a cup of tea or glass of wine, and lots of blankets. Throw in a jar candle flickering on the mantle, and you have my actual, literal definition of peace.

So, on that note, welcome to this year’s fall reading guide for pet lovers!

A dog lounges on a bed with a book propped in front of his nose. The text overlay says: The Pet Lover's Guide to Fall Reading.

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None of the books below are deep, introspective studies of animal welfare or how we live and work with our animal friends. Honestly, this isn’t the year for deep introspection in our casual reading time, imo. There’s a place for thoughtful reading, but 2020 isn’t that place.

Things are already miles deep in the world, so let’s focus instead on fun, joy, and cute, shall we?

Before we crack open the spines of this year’s recommendations, please be sure to read all the way to the bottom! You’ll have a chance to enter to win each of the books featured here.

Dog Mom: A Love Story

by Isabel Serna

The cover of Dog Mom features a woman holding her puppy surrounded by dog gear like toys, a bed, and decor.

They don’t get any cuter or more charming than this. Illustrator and Designer Isabel Serna brings the love we have for our dogs to life in the pages of this sweet little gift book. Perfect for a coffee table or a quiet evening to yourself, it’s whimsical and full of love (oh! and a sticker sheet in the back!) that you won’t want to put it down.

BTW, I know we’re a bit ahead of schedule, but if you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for the dog mom in your life, I think this is it.

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Pounce! A How to Speak Cat Training Guide

by Tracey West and Gary Weitzman, DVM

The cover of Pounce! shows a grey kitten jumping in the air to pounce on a colorful toy mouse.

Violet is obsessed with this book! The big, bright, colorful photography makes it a must-have for any cat lover, but the information–covering everything from addressing anxiety to teaching your cat to walk on a leash to trick training to basic behavior and much, much more–makes it priceless. Since it’s geared toward children, the instructions are clear, simple, and clean. No room for confusion when teaching a little one to train a cat! That also makes it the perfect title for any new cat owner, kid or grownup.

Next up: Violet wants to teach Newt and Ripley to jump through a hoop, one of the fun and achievable tricks outlined in the book!

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

The Joy of Dog Training

by Kyra Sundance

We’ve featured Kyra Sundance’s training books a couple times in the past, and I’m excited to share her new–and so vibrant!–training book.

I love her books because she presents the material in easy-to-follow steps. The photos are clear and bright and show step-by-step guidance. In this book, she includes useful information about how dogs think and work, broken down into an interactive program that helps you and your dog have fun and bond.

I love this book because of the emphasis on joy–the cornerstone of loving dogs–and the epigraph:

We aim not to suppress behavior and teach subservience, but rather to have a joyful relationship with a confident and happy dog who is motivated to do the right thing rather than fearful of making a mistake.
Kyra Sundance

Can I get an amen? 🙂

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend

by Lili Chin

The cover of Doggie Language features illustrations of three dogs, a Boston, a hound, and a terrier.

You need this book. The end. That’s all this review has to say. You need it.

Seriously.

Okay, okay, I’ll expand, but I promise you need this. I’ll admit that I’m a BIG Lili Chin fangirl. Is it weird to fangirl a dog behavior illustrator? Regardless, her work is smart, thoughtful, careful, and adorable. She furthers our understanding of dog behavior through relatable images and clearly-drawn examples. These “dog body language images,” as she calls her work in the intro, are as invaluable as they are adorable. Flip through this several times, and I promise you’ll learn so much about your dog. I’m going to keep this on hand to refresh because it’s just that good.

I say again: You need this book! You also should check out her website, which also happily includes lots of free downloads!

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Dog Mom Wall Planner

Because we WILL need a calendar again! So it might as well be a super cute one!

Created by the same illustrator from the Dog Mom book above, this hanging wall calendar features darling drawings of woman’s best friend. It has plenty of space to track appointments on notes on each month, and it comes with a full sheet of stickers that are both functional (grooming appointment reminders, vet visit reminders, etc.) and adorable (“I woof you!”).

Plus, picking up a 2021 calendar right now sure feels like an epic act of hope, doesn’t it? #onward

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Your chance to read them all!

Thanks to the generosity of each publisher, YOU have a chance to win a copy of the books and calendar featured here. I strongly recommend pairing each with a pile of cozy blankets, a crackling fire, and a cup of your favorite beverage with your pet perched happily on your lap because hashtag FALL, y’all! 🙂

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Sometimes it takes a sec for the widget to load, or if you’re reading via email or feed, you might have to click below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Things You Should Know About Shelter Dogs

10•06•20

October is “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month!

Shelter dogs, of course, make wonderful pets, friends, companions, and family members. Unfortunately, there are quite a few misconceptions about shelter dogs.

Let’s dispel some of those myths together and get more dogs into homes this month!

A puppy sleeping on a cot in an animal shelter. The text reads: 10 facts about shelter dogs for adopt-a-dog month.

There are a LOT of dogs needing homes. Almost 7 million dogs and cats wind up in shelters each year. That number is an estimate since there isn’t a single organization tabulating shelter data, but of that approximation, slightly more than half are dogs. Lots do get adopted, but something like 670k+ are euthanized each year.
There are lots of puppies needing homes! Oftentimes, when I hear people say they want a puppy and shelters don’t have puppies, my first thought is, “Have you ever even BEEN in a shelter?!?!” There are often puppies, lots of accidental litters, dogs who deliver puppies in the shelter, and so on. If you don’t see them, it might just mean they’re in foster. Shelters have puppies, and those puppies all need families!
History doesn’t mean everything. Why a dog was relinquished or the situation the dog came from might be known. And it might not. Ultimately, the shelter staff can tell you what they’ve observed and learned about each dog while in their care, and those traits and characteristics matter more than any fuzzy, foggy, or unknown historical info.
Shelter dogs are perfectly trainable, as trainable as any other dog out there! Here’s something crazy to think about: Most dogs these days are bred for appearance. If you’re looking for a smarty pants or a dog who can be trained to work with you, you’re just as likely to find a match at your nearest shelter as you are a breeder. Obviously, if you’re looking for a purposefully-bred dog, like you need a dog to herd your flock of sheep, that’s a whole other conversation. I’m talking family pet dogs here. But a lot of people worry that they won’t be able to train a shelter dog, especially if the dog is older. The great news: That’s simply not true! Any dog, just like any person, can learn! And, bonus: You might even find yourself an dog who is already house trained. Lucas learned house training almost perfectly in the shelter and never had an accident after we adopted him, and Emmett was pretty darn close to perfect with his house training–and he was already three-ish years old!
Your adopted dog has a unique personality. Instead of thinking of your dog as “a shelter dog” or as “a rescue dog,” think of your dog as your dog. His or her own unique self. Getting to know your dog’s unique personality–and honoring it–is the most important thing you can do. However, it’s super important to remember that, while your dog has his or her own unique self…
… sometimes it takes a while for that personality to shine! There’s this super-simplistic 3-3-3 model for adopting a dog. It basically goes like this: The first three days a dog comes home, you’ll likely see a lot of stress behavior because the dog has no idea what just happened. Be extra patient during this time. The first three weeks, your new dog should feel a little settled it, at least as far as knowing the routine and the expectations. At this point, you’ll start to notice his true personality start to poke through. By three months, your dog should feel secure in your family and his place in it. At three months, your dog knows he’s home. Once you get to that point, that personality will start to shine! Here’s a great post that goes into detail along with tips.
Shelter dogs are NOT: dirty, flea-bitten, mangy, aggressive, or sick. Of course, some dogs can arrive at the shelter with some of those. Lucas had terrible mange, for instance. But shelter dogs as a rule aren’t unwell, problematic dogs. It’s a common misconception that prevents a lot of people from even stepping foot inside a shelter.
Shelter dogs ARE: wonderful pups who just need a chance. Sure, some will need extra TLC in terms of medical care or training, but how is that any different from any of us? They all deserve love and affection, and they all deserve a chance to be part of a family.
An older dog might just be the most perfect pet there is. Ready for a hot take? I don’t love puppies. There. I said it. Puppies drive me crazy. I don’t mind a puppy foster, but I’m pretty sure we’d never adopt a puppy again. Older dogs, that’s where it’s at! In my heart, someday when the girls are older, we want to take in a hospice foster, but even if you’re not looking for a senior–which I totally understand–I’m talking about three, four, five, six year old dogs who often get overlooked in the search for a puppy. These dogs have a little life under their belt. They’re never going to teethe again. They’re often more patient. They often have a deeper well of calm than any puppy is capable of. Lots of people avoid shelter dogs, assuming they’re all “too old,” but what if an older dog is the perfect dog?
You and your shelter dog can create a deep, lasting, lifelong bond. Your relationship with your dog can become one of the most meaningful of your life, if you just give your pup the chance.

What other myths about shelter dogs have YOU heard? I’d love to know what else we can tackle together, so please leave your thoughts in the comments!

Read more about pet adoption with these 3 posts:

Choosing a Pet: Is adoption right for my family?

How Not to Adopt a Pet: Removing barriers to pet adoption

What’s the real cost of owning a pet (something to think about before bringing a dog home AND it includes a free budget download)

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Who do you trust for pet advice online?

09•21•20

Hello, friends!

I’m coming to you today with a question. Or, more accurately, I’m coming to you today with a request for a discussion.

Let me explain…

A dog sleeping on a bed while a woman works on a laptop behind him. The text overlay reads: Who do you trust for pet advice?

I spend a ton of time researching things about dogs, answering questions about dogs, sharing information and memes about dogs, talking to my vet about my dog, following dogs on Instagram… you get the point. My life is largely about dogs.

And if I’m being totally honest with you, right now, I’m so grateful for blogs.

Why?

I feel so. very. done. with social media.

I’m not alone in this, I know. I suspect many of you feel the same way. BTW, I’m not even talking about politics. Just plain old social media. There’s something about the distance that screens give to some people that somehow makes them feel free to be mean, negative, and critical. So few people are open to learning because–gasp.–what you learn might actually change what you think or know about a particular topic. It’s disheartening and demoralizing.

I strive to post positive or uplifting content, even when I’m writing about difficult topics. That’s the best I can do right now, other than step away from most social media.

Blogs, though? I’m totally rekindling my love for all things blog as social media loses its luster.

Blogging puts trust in people with real-life experience.

Every week, I receive an email or DM from someone whose dog was recently diagnosed with tremors. It’s not a common condition, so there’s not a lost of first-hand experience out there. I’m grateful people find my posts and Cooper’s story so we can connect over this shared, bizarre condition.

Likewise, when I’ve faced training difficulties or health issues, especially with the cats, I’ve turned to blogs to gather real-life experience. Information from your vet is vital, of course, but actual experiences are invaluable.

For a while there, I turned to Facebook or Instagram because I felt like I had less time and there’s easier-to-digest info there.

However.

There’s so much inflammatory crap and misinformation. Blogs may take a little more time–searching for the right one, for instance, and digesting long, well-thought-out posts just takes longer than reading an Instagram caption–but the trade-off is completely worth it.

Who do you trust for pet advice online?

I’ve been monitoring my habits lately with one goal: Stop mindless scrolling! And here’s what I’ve discovered…

When I have a specific question about Coop or the cats, I first type the query into Google. I’ll look for a peer-reviewed study or a website with a reputation for sharing knowledgeable, fact-based content. Then, I’ll search for blogs about the topic to see what real people have really done for their real pets. On rare occasions, I’ll search Instagram or YouTube. Never, ever, ever do I search Facebook anymore.

I’m curious: Where do you turn when you’re trying to find pet advice online? Do you go to social? Blogs? Veterinary publications? Message boards? Forums? Somewhere else altogether?

How do you decide who to trust only for pet advice? I’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments. I’m genuinely curious how you are using the internet to learn more about how to live better with our pets, and I’d really appreciate any insights–even if you disagree with me! I love learning from you!

Also, if you want to learn more about blogging, obviously I have to recommend the book I co-wrote with Carol Bryant, Pet Blogging for Love and Money. It’s chock full of advice for working and learning online!

AND! If you want to learn more about pet health and you’re seeing this early in the week, it’s not too late to sign up for the FREE Pet Health Secrets Summit. I’m presenting on Monday, but all the presentations are live and free for 48 hours. Click here to sign up.

Click HERE to get the super sweet free playbook that accompanies the summit, whether you attend or not!

Dear Cooper

08•03•20

My puppy, my heart.

I’m a bit early on this birthday letter to you. A few weeks early, actually, but only because I have the time right now, in this moment, and I may not again in time for your birthday. I’m taking advantage of this gap to honor this big day.

And, boy, is it a big one.

A 10-year-old pit bull mix with his tongue hanging out after a fun hike in the woods

Dear Cooper, later this month, you turn 10.

Ten.

TEN!!!!!

I can’t wrap my mind around this for a couple reasons. How did a decade fly by so quickly? How are you getting old when you’re just a tiny puppy? How can ten years happen in a blink?

Recently, Astrid’s physical therapist met you in person, and she said something like, “What a sweet old guy!”

It floored me because, one, you’re not old (YOU ARE NOT OLD, you hear me?!) and, two, a stranger called you sweet! It just goes to show, Coop, that you are finally growing up. I mean that honestly, too, because you have been a permanent puppy, full of crazy energy and a playful spirit, for the past decade.

Until this year, you showed no signs of ever maturing–and I say that with all the love in my heart. But this year, for this past year, you’ve started to slow your roll. You still have a ton of energy, but instead of running eight miles, you’re good with two. Instead of playing with toys from sunup to sundown, you mix in a couple naps.

You’re calmer, too, about things that used to rile you up and require a ton of management on our part. The therapist, for instance. You were just like, “Oh, hey, lady. You seem cool.” You also kept your cool when a neighbor stopped us to chit chat on our run the other day. Like, you just stood there while she talked. You didn’t bark or jump or tuck your tail. You just waited.

Another thing: the vacuum. You don’t attack it anymore. Ever. Sometimes you even leave the room. On your own. Without gates or treats or calming medicine. You just… leave.

It’s all so very mature of you and so very unexpected, and I am so proud. And also a little sad. But mostly proud.

There’s no other way to put this, Coop, but over the last decade you’ve put us through some serious shit. Health and behavior problems around every turn. Some small, some huge, some dramatic. All eventually solved(ish) with the help of amazing trainers, vets, vet techs, specialists, pet sitters, friends, and family–all willing to give you everything they could to help solve your biggest problems.

Every consultation, every vet visit, every training session, every dollar spent, every everything was worth it a million times over and more. And you’ve paid it back in some of the most miraculous ways.

The one I want to focus on for this big tenth birthday is your role as Big Brother to Violet and Astrid.

An eight-month-old baby girl with hearing aids pats her 10-year-old dog.

Who could’ve guessed how much you love babies?

Certainly not me, yet here we are.

Cooper, you have free run of the whole house. You can pretty much come and go as you please. Yet you consistently choose to be wherever the girls are. You place yourself squarely in their presence, knowing full well you’re likely to be tripped on (Violet) or squealed at (Astrid). You could move. You don’t. It’s lovely.

Violet considers you her brother (and the cats our pets, so it’s a big distinction) and tries to share everything she eats with you. In the past three years, you’ve chewed up a grand total of two kids’ toys and both were essentially dog toys–soft, plastic, squeakers. Newt chews up more of their toys than you ever have (that’s a story for another day but one that warrants telling…)

When the baby cries, you come and stare at me until I fix it.

When Violet plays outside, you go with her.

You follow them around the house, participate in their activities, snuggle them on the floor or couch. You keep close watch over those girls, making sure they’re safe… and you come tattle to me when I need to intervene.

When they go down for the night, you crawl under the covers with me and zonk out, knowing your duties for the day are done and will start again bright and early.

Beyond your responsibilities as the Child Minder, you still have tons of energy. You run two miles most days. You play tug every day. You want me to chase you with a squeaky toy at least a dozen times every afternoon. You are the most fun-loving puppy to ever grace this earth, I think. As long as that fun is within your approved, sanctioned, preferred set of guidelines… to which we all carefully adhere. 🙂 Otherwise, you bark at us.

It’s hard to put in words how beloved you are, Coop. You’re part of every single thing we do as a family, from playing toys with the girls to hiking in the woods to our daily runs to our cabin camping trips. You’re an integral part of all of it. You are so thoroughly loved by all of us.

There’s not much more to say than that: you are loved and you are beloved.

You bring comfort, joy, and steadfastness to this family.

To paraphrase Edith Wharton, you are the heartbeat at the feet of this family.

Happy birthday, my sweet Cooper. May this next year be filled with nothing but things that make you happy… and it looks like that may be the case as this quarantine continues on and on and on, and the only thing you want is to be together. And my god are we lucky for that.

Happy tenth, Coop! And to another 10!

I love you, my little heartbeat.

May all beings everywhere be happy and free

06•22•20

Hello, friends.

I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing, how you’re holding up.

How are your pets?

Because nothing makes sense right now, you might live somewhere that’s pretending to be back to “normal” or you might live somewhere still under quarantine.

Maybe protests wind past your front door or sit-ins fill your town square.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re well.

I hope your pets are well, too. I keep reading stories about pets suffering from the stress of all this–sudden schedule changes, and then more sudden schedule changes, an intensity of emotion and anxiety among their humans, and so on.

Here’s where I’m struggling:

(OK, TBH, this is one place I’m struggling. Two tiny children for several months without breaks? Plus John being home all the time. Plus trying to squeeze in work. Plus the heavy emotional burden of all that’s happening in the world. Plus blah blah blah. Your story is likely the same. I’m just really, really tired.)

I’m struggling to reconcile my belief in the absolute good of humanity, my faith that people are inherently good but sometimes do less-than-good things out of fear… I’m struggling to reconcile that against what is actually happening in the world.

I’ve spent more than a decade working in the animal world, which means I’ve seen over and over again the horrors that can happen to animals at the hands of people. But, I’ve also seen over and over again the strength and kindness and generosity of strangers the world over who band together to save animals of all stripes, sometimes with their bare hands and sometimes with their wallets, and sometimes with their social channels. Always, those actions restore my faith in humanity.

And yet, here we are.

I find myself questioning that previously-unshakable belief because I’m seeing some of those very same people–the people who contort themselves to find transport for a dog they’ve never clapped eyes on; the people who empty their bank accounts and fill their homes, their time, and their lives with rescuing and fostering; the people who share their social channels to help shelters and adoptable animals–the very same people who seem so filled with love and compassion pouring anger and hate onto other animal welfare organizations, dog trainers, retailers.

The comments: “Get back to dog training.” “Well, I’m not buying my cat’s food from YOU anymore.” “You just lost a follower.” “You just lost a donor.” “Stay in your lane.”

Stay in your lane.

The implication: I am only comfortable with you speaking about this one single topic. I don’t want to know who you are as a person or the depths of your heart. I just want the information I need from you and nothing else. Anything else? Keep quiet.

That’s not been sitting well with me, and it’s the single reason why I haven’t been able to post anything here in a long while. I have stuff to share. I have posts about dogs and cats and kids. Dog training. Animal behavior. Health and wellness. Pet products. I’ll return to this content soon. But first.

None of it feels right or authentic to me or to this space at this moment.

My lane is compassion. For all beings. Kindness (even when it’s really freaking hard). Love.

I think often of this Sanskrit mantra: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

I’m not perfect, not even close, but I try to get within spitting distance most of the time. So, please be clear, in case there was ever any doubt:

In this space, we believe Black lives matter, that all beings deserve to be happy and free, that our actions–no matter how big or how small–impact others every single day. We wear face masks when we shop. We support BIPOC-owned business. We teach our girls that the world is a better place because of its diversity.

It amazes me that anyone could possibly take issue with any of that.

In the animal community, it shocks me. This world is built on caring for and having compassion for others. Heck, we ALL fight with everything we’ve got for breeds that are discriminated against.

Yet, I’ve seen some of the angriest, ugliest comments on some of the welfare organizations’ social profiles and on the threads of famous dog trainers and veterinarians. How can that be?

I can’t begin to guess, but what I can do is welcome you, welcome your pets, welcome your families and your friends into this space where kindness and compassion rule.

So, what’s next?

Well, I know that I’m digging into my commitment to anti-racism. I’m reading and listening to Black voices, something I’ve always striven to do but am doubling down. (Three books I purchased: I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown, Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, and Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson.)

I’m also deep into researching the role animal welfare plays in systemic racism, why POC aren’t included or represented in the animal welfare industry, which is dominated by white women. It’s a lot to unpack, so bear with me if it’s a while before you see a post.

Finally, I’m adding every single one of these Black voices in the pet industry to my reading and following lists.

As for this website, we will continue to hold space for healthy, friendly, open debate about all kinds of topics, but we will not debate how our fellow humans deserve to be treated. Our bottom line, and I’ll reiterate:

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash