Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
No, really. It is! Last night, John told me about these dogs he’d seen on a Facebook page of a pit bull rescue a bit north of us. He’s been stalking the page (hi, Deb!) for weeks now. I had just finished scooping the litter boxes, and I said, “What if a new dog doesn’t …
Yesterday you turned eight. Eight. years. old. In my heart, you’re still this little bean: Which, I’m sure, is why I baby you and call you my little baby and kiss your little snoot and snuggle you all the time because, truly, you are still that tiny fuzz-muffin to me. But, here you are, eight …
If I had to guess, I’d suppose that I spend more time Googling dog-related topics than the average person. And it’s not just Google either: My YouTube and Instagram histories are full of all kinds of dog-related searches. I love it, of course, because as this site proclaims, I am obsessed with dogs. But, I gotta …
I don’t know about you guys, but I adore TED talks. They are my go-to YouTube binge on Friday nights (because I’m so cool). There are so many amazing talks, and I love to watch a wide variety–lately I’ve been watching a ton of child development, and I spent a whole night of watching TED …
OK, here’s the thing: {{dusting off my soapbox… it’s been a while since I’ve climbed up here…}} A few years ago, I devoured content around zero-waste living. I took notes. Ordered bamboo toilet paper. Subscribed to YouTubers and Instagrammers. Joined a few Facebook groups. Through all of that, I felt equally inspired and intimidated. There’s …
Last week I shared a little Pet Blogging 101 primer, which covered 5 things I wish I had known way back before I started this blog. In that post, I mentioned a part two was coming… and this one builds off of part one with a little caveat. Instead of 5 things I wish I …
About 10 years ago I had an idea for a blog. I dove in (on Blogger), started creating posts, figured out how to add images, jazzed up my copy, and… waited… I had three readers in total: my husband, my MIL, and my coworker who was also launching a blog at the same time. Over …
When a dog dies, the physical space a dog filled while living–the bed by the fireplace, the worn circle of carpet under your desk, the harness on the hook by the door–becomes an echo. When a dog dies, some people say, “You’ll get another,” or “He was a good dog.” Other people, my people, send …
What is spring doing where you are? Spring in Indiana has been… interesting… Monday, three inches of snow. Tuesday, 60-degree weather with severe thunderstorms and some hail thrown in for good measure. Today, Wednesday, flurries. Go home, spring. You’re drunk. Poor Cooper has been stuck in the house more than usual lately, in part because …
Cooper is a good dog. Cooper is a smart dog. He knows all sorts of things, from the basic obedience cues like sit and stay and down to more complex cues like shutting cabinet doors and performing tricks. Based on what he knows at this point, anything else I teach him is just for fun. Games. …
ISO a puppy. ISO a calm puppy. ISO a laid-back-ish puppy. ISO a puppy who doesn’t chase cats. ISO a calm, laid-back, yet confident puppy who tolerates cats, quirky middle-aged dogs who are neurotic about many things but still love to skitter, and kids. No, not kids. Babies. No, not babies. Toddlers. Of the pit-bull-like-persuasion …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
This post is inspired by Modern Mrs. Darcy’s linkup. If you love books, you need to read her blog! It’s like having a conversation over coffee with a friend who happens to be a librarian. Winter. It’s getting old, you guys. But, today’s the halfway point, so the end–and sunshine–is in sight! Each winter requires …
I’m not someone who believes that everything happens for a reason. We can debate that over a glass of wine sometime, but I truly think the world is full of chance and randomness. I do, however, believe that there is a purpose to every single thing that happens. In most cases, that purpose is to …
You guys, we’re going nuts. Seriously stir crazy. The temps haven’t climbed above 0 (that’s F!) more than a few times in a few weeks. I’m an introverted homebody, but even I’m ready to get out. It’s hard to go anywhere with the baby when it’s this cold, and Cooper… well, Cooper hates being cold… but …
Before I dive into this annual adventure, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts, and thank you for sharing your pets with me in this space. After my last post, your generosity and kindness reminded me why I love this community so much. And, as promised, I’m back …
Way back when I wrote my very first post, I had big ideas: weekly series, recurring features, guest bloggers, and so on. But my main goal was to chronicle life with Emmett and Lucas. We had recently moved from DC to Indiana. We were dealing with Lucas’ reactivity and finding outlets for Emmett’s energy. We …
Let’s talk about crazy dogs, shall we? You guys know me, so you know I say “crazy” with tremendous love in my heart. I’m talking about dogs like Cooper: high-energy dogs, smart dogs, creative dogs who come up with their owns methods of entertainment when they’re under-exercised or under-stimulated… Cooper runs. A lot. He does …
Last night, Violet thumped her legs in her crib on and off all night long. She wasn’t awake–at least, not until 4 am–but she spent the entire night lifting her chubby little legs and slamming them down. In her sleep. All night. See, she’s still sleeping in the little crib in our room. SIDS-prevention recommendations …
Last night, Violet thumped her legs in her crib on and off all night long. She wasn’t awake–at least, not until 4 am–but she spent the entire night lifting her chubby little legs and slamming them down. In her sleep. All night. See, she’s still sleeping in the little crib in our room. SIDS-prevention recommendations …
Yesterday, Coop, you turned seven. How that’s possible… I still can’t wrap my mind around it… But, it’s true, and here we are. Today, you are a seven-year-old pup. “Middle aged.” I say “middle aged” in quotes because you, my dear Cooper, did not get the #adulting memo. Or, maybe it’s that you’re taking the …
