Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
There’s a lot we all disagree on these days, but I think the one thing everyone can agree on is this: The economy is weird right now. I don’t know anyone who isn’t stressed about the rising cost of food or concerned about the disruptions to manufacturing. Or the million other new things to be …
Last week, during her school’s spring break, Violet and I visited my parents. We also took a Legoland detour, which was amazing, but anyway. At one point during our trip, after John had called to say that Stola shredded his pillow, my mom laughed. “It is so funny,” she chuckled, “to watch you with a …
Ripley hates Stola. Like, really hates her. To be fair, she hated Penny when Penny was new, too. But this is a whole different level. Antagonistic and kind of aggressive. So, today, I’m examining why it’s so different and sharing what we’re going to do about it. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying …
One month ago, we picked up this pretty pittie. Stola Malarkey Marton. If this tells you anything about life with a 7-month-old puppy: I’ve been trying to write this post since Monday. It is now Thursday Friday one week later, and it’s still not finished! She is seriously cute. She looks like she’s always worried …
Does yours? I’m over winter. This feeling usually hits me around the second week of February each year so I guess I’m ahead of schedule. I sure hope spring is, too. (Yes, yes, the dang groundhog, but is he ever right?) Over it. Because I spent the morning dreaming of nicer weather and lots of …
I’m always hesitant to write about food or nutrition because the internet has some STRONG ideas about these topics, but when it comes to rotational feeding for dogs, we’ve had enormous success for many years. And, a recent question on Facebook (thanks, Kerri!) reminded me that our experience might be helpful to someone else. So, …
ICYMI on Instagram, we have some news: This is Stola. She’s a 7-month-old pitty who came from the Fort Wayne Pit Bull Coalition and joined our family about a week ago. How did this all come about? Well, it started when Penny fully discovered her playful side. For nine or 10 months, she was still …
Last week, I posed the question: Should I get a second dog? I suggested five questions to ask yourself before making a final decision. This week, I’m going to assume your answer is YES and explore how to choose a second dog for your family–because you want to make sure you find the right match! …
Are you a single-dog household but you’re thinking you might want to get a second dog? We are! Here are five questions you should consider before adopting a second dog. I’ll include our answers under each tip, in case it’s helpful to see a real-life example. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This …
One year ago today, you came home and changed our lives with your gentle presence. You brought with you scars–literally and metaphorically–and a soft, steady demeanor much appreciated in our household. It’s funny how I’ve forgotten certain details, like the scabs that dotted your face and ears. I’d forgotten that it looked like you’d only …
One of the nicest people I’ve met through this community is Rebecca Pepin, news anchor by day and founder of Fetching Apparel on the side. We had the chance to feature Rebecca and Fetching Apparel in the holiday gift guide several years ago, and now I’m honored to have this opportunity to share an incredible …
Welcome to the holiday season, friends! I hope it’s neither too hurried nor too harried for you this year. This holiday season, I’m focused on two areas for gift giving: gifts that are meaningful and gifts that are consumable. Why? I’m committed to having less stuff. Less clutter. Fewer items to clean and organize. That …
I thought about Lucas last night. I’m not sure what triggered it, but–seemingly suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere–my fingers ached to dig into the thick, fluffy fur around his neck. And, oh, it hit hard when I realized I couldn’t quite remember how it felt anymore. “Grief changes shape, but it never ends. […] People …
Whether you are considering adopting a disabled dog, or you already love a dog with a disability, this post is for you! In this post, I’m going to share different types of disabilities you might find in an adoptable dog, plus a list of 10 ways to prepare for and care for a disabled dog. …
When something startles or scares you, what’s your instinct? Do you flee as fast as your legs will carry you? Do you swing a punch before you can think twice? Or do you scream? These are all instinctive behaviors–and we all have different instinctive responses based on a variety of things like the environment, our …
Did you know October is officially Black Cat Awareness Month? “Mom, did you know some people think black cats bring bad luck?” Violet, age 7, asked me. “I did know that!” “Isn’t that crazy? Newt isn’t bad luck!” As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you’ve been around for a while, you’re …
September is Deaf Awareness Month (in human land, not canine world), and it’s got me thinking about some of our recent experiences with both a Deaf human and dog. I’m sharing a couple here and on Instagram, but a little background info first: My human 4-year-old, Astrid, is hard-of-hearing. Deafness is a spectrum; it’s not …
Here’s what you need–and what you definitely do NOT need–to train your dog with positive reinforcement! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. An important note before we get started: I do not recommend aversive tools. Ever. Inflicting pain is never required for learning. Period. End of story. I’ve had people argue in …
Friday night, after the girls were down, I climbed under my weighted blanket with a glass of wine, Dogland (so, so good, btw), and Penny, who promptly fell asleep on my arm. She twitched a little as she snoozed, and when John walked through the bedroom on his way to the closet, she lifted her …
Have you ever wondered if your dog is judging you? Maybe you look over and your pup has one little eyebrow quirked up. (Lucas did that ALL the time!) Or maybe you feel like you and your dog are really attuned to one another’s behavior, so certainly your dog notices when you mess up? On …
With the summer solstice a few days behind us, it’s officially time to pack up those pool bags with a pile of summer reads! And, lucky you, I have a bunch of recommendations for all kinds of readers. (: From the dozens of books I’ve finished recently, a few animal-themed books rose to the top …
Without sacrificing cleanliness, style, or function. Recently, I chatted with a woman about my job writing about dogs, cats, and the pet industry. She said she loved animals, cats in particular, just not in her house. Why? Well, she said, she can’t stand the sight of carpet-covered cat trees and she refuses to live in …
Have you heard of the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a new dog? It’s a set of guidelines for transitioning a new dog into your home. Don’t let the words “rule” or “guidelines” trick you into thinking this is a hard-and-fast situation. Rather, I like to think of it more as a framework or mindset to …
It seems like an innocent enough question: Should I crate train my dog? Or is there another option? Well, do a deep dive into social media, and you’ll discover a lot of HOT opinions on this topic. But, you know me, so you know we’re going to tackle this logically and compassionately. Or, if this …
