Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
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 …
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? You’re heading out to a restaurant to meet some friends. You’re on the phone with your mom talking over the plans and you accidentally say, “We’re going to grab dinner.” At the word “dinner,” your dog leaps to her feet and runs into the kitchen to await her …
My heart breaks each time Penny flinches. A raised arm to throw a ball, a leg lifted to tie a shoe, a reach over her head to give her a little pat. She flinches or cowers. Drops low to the ground and skitters away. It’s gotten better. “Better,” anyway, in the sense that she cowers …
When we adopted Penny from a rescue that focuses on dogs with the double merle gene, we knew very little about the condition ourselves. We were exploring the idea of adopting a deaf dog since we already use ASL in our home. Little did I know the connection between deafness and this genetic condition. As …
How’s Penny doing these days? So glad you asked! 😉 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here’s a rundown of her progress, along with a few adorable photos: The first week after she came home, Penny slept. We had to wake her up to eat and to go outside, and the couple …
Every night, after I put my kids to bed, I pour myself a glass of wine, crack open a novel, and climb under my weighted blanket. It’s my nightly settle-my-nervous-system routine, and it lulls me to sleep within an hour. Or two, depending on how good the book is. : ) Recently, Penny started crawling …
Meet Penny, this pretty girl: If we’re connected on Instagram, you’ve already briefly met this lovely lady. But, I’d like to formally introduce her and share her story with you! But, first, a truth: I did not expect to be introducing a dog to you today. In fact, I planned–and still do plan–to write two …
