Sit. Stay. Read.
obsessed with dogs
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 …
Quick note: This post originally appeared on my Substack a month ago. If you like this type of thoughtful inquiry into an animal welfare topic, plus some other personal updates I don’t share here, sign up for my emails! Plus, when you do, you’ll gain access to a subscribers-only folder that includes a full-length ebook …
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: …
I bet you remember learning about the five senses in school: touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell. But did you know that there are three other “hidden” or “invisible” senses that we have–and our dogs have them, too? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. What are the three hidden senses in dogs? …
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 …
While it’s still hotter than the sun right now–at least here in central Indiana–all my attention has turned toward fall. Once the kids go back to school, everything starts to feel like a change. This year is wildly different for me because now I have two kids in school the whole entire day. What am …
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. …
Penny’s PR is a 40-minute mile. Walks with Penny aren’t for exercise. Well, not for the physical kind, anyway. Walks with Penny are contemplative and meandering, full of starts and stops. She appreciates every blade of grass, every leaf, every fallen twig. She pauses to sniff deeply. Often, she doubles back to re-sniff something she …
Stretch your pet food budget and enrich your dog’s mealtime by mixing in (dog-safe, obviously) foods from your fridge, freezer, pantry, and garden! I get it: Everything is becoming more expensive, and pet food is projected to experience a big ole hike pretty soon. In our home, we’re striving to expand our veggie garden and …
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 …
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 …
