Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
It’s your first “gotcha day,” girly, and I’m honestly not sure where the year has gone. Or, actually, I think it passed in an absolute blur because you did not for one second slow down, stop, rest, chill, or relax. Not once. (Until last week but more on that in a minute!) You have kept …
Be warned, dear reader: This is a bout of introspection that veers toward naval gazing. All December long, I felt the pull toward drafting all the year-end content: 2025 in review, top post recaps, 2026 goal setting, and so on. I wasn’t pulled because I wanted to write any of that–I didn’t and still don’t–but …
Oh, lovely Penny. Has it been two years already? Well, almost. You came to us the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, two days before John went in for his shoulder surgery. We worried it wasn’t the right time. Turns out it was the perfect time. We were grieving Cooper, who we had only …
A long-time internet friend (Hi, Kerri!) introduced me to Our Companions Animal Sanctuary in Ashford, CT, much earlier this year. Immediately, the message resonated with me. From their mission: “Our Companions mission is to advocate for animals in need by engaging compassionate people to help provide innovative community programs. It is our promise to always …
AKA: What radicalized you, animal welfare edition? I’m about to step in it, but… I understand we live under the rule of capitalism, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. This year, for the first time since 2019, I attended events again: Global Pet Expo and The Pet Summit in the spring and …
Today is the day!! It’s been five years in the making, and I am so relieved, exhausted, excited, and terrified! All at once! (: A handful of folks got to read “Advanced Reader Copies” via NetGalley, so I wanted to share some of their thoughts about FOR THE LOVE OF DOG. But, first, a synopsis: …
Hello, friends! I have some really fun posts coming up, including: But, today, I have a favor to ask of you, and I have a little menu of three free and extremely helpful asks below. Why? Well, I started writing FOR THE LOVE OF DOG during the pandemic. It took a couple years of chipping …
I love this silly girl so very much. Penny’s been with us for about a year and a half now. She’s fully settled into life and the routine. She’s healthy. She’s an absolute delight of a dog–with a handful of quirks that make her uniquely Penny. Looking back to when she came home to us …
July is National Lost Pet Prevention month. Data indicates that more pets are lost in July than any other month. In part, it’s because of catastrophes… er, celebrations… like the Fourth, but also people are spending more time outside with their pets, traveling with their pets, and creating more opportunities for their pets to become …
Two weeks of rest. Two weeks of rest. Two weeks of rest. Two weeks of rest. There’s no way to say it to make it sound any better. Or easier. But, that was the verdict after a series of trips to the vet, X-rays, and a whole host of–as it turns out, unrelated–additional test, like …
It’s called FOR THE LOVE OF DOG, and it’s all about dogs, of course. (Fun, free stuff ahead, but some details first!) Specifically, it’s about how dogs evolved to become our best friends–it combines the science of canine evolution with dog behavior studies and personal stories of me and my dogs, Emmett, Lucas, and Cooper. …
When it comes to dog training, it’s easy to over-complicate things. You might feel like you need big chunks of time, all the tools, and a prepared training plan just to get started–but the truth is, real progress usually comes from small, steady habits. Today, I’m sharing a few simple dog training habits that have …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
I forget how to do this part. I forget how to move forward without a dog under my feet. I forget how to plan a day without accounting for letting him in, letting him out, filling his bowl, refilling his water, walking, cuddling, brushing, all the things. Our beloved Cooper passed away peacefully at home …
