Carousel - Playful
Recent Hooks/Content
Recent Data Samples
Carousel - Thoughtful
Recent Hooks/Content
Recent Data Samples
Instagram Caption Copy
"Routine" Breakdown
I’ve had extra time on my hands lately to reflect on things. Ultimately, I decided these small moves will be great for my dog and I in the long run:
1. 🦌 Sticking to a strict novel protein diet: A novel protein is one that your dog hasn’t encountered before - think alligator or venison. After finding Maisie to be intolerant to chicken and wheat, as well as potentially beef, I criticize ingredients like crazy!
2. 🥩 Handfeeding: Being both a Golden Retriever and Airedale, Mae is prone to bloat. While she doesn’t gulp down her food (surprisingly enough), it’s time to cut down on the risk.
3. 🧽 Wiping down after every adventure: I have very severe allergies. Very. Severe. 😭 Not to mention, it’s only fair to her to have all that outside junk off of her. We live in Los Angeles!!
4. 🦷 Brushing her teeth more often: Maisie really isn’t the chewer she used to be, all those years ago when she was 1.5 and not 3. 😉 🐕
5. 🛌 Washing her bedding more often: She doesn’t have too many blankies or cozies, but Maisie’s linens should be washed just as often as mine (and with gentle soaps).
6. 📪 Reading more peemail: It’s been talked about a lot more recently, but seriously - sniffing on a walk is a HUGE connection to the rest of the world for your dog!! I’ve gotten so much better about letting her sniff as long as she needs, and we sit out on the stoop a lot so she can be exposed to more with each passing day. 🩷
What are you working on with your pup? What do you think most pet owners (including yourself) should do more of?
Brief & Self Reflective
I have lots of tough days. Navigating them isn’t easy - and while Maisie is a wonderful cheerleader and smile maker, I have to make sure I have the energy to accommodate for her needs. Even on my worst days, I find ways to be there for her and enrich her life.
What are some of your bad day hacks?
Honest & Open
Maisie isn’t perfect.
No dog is - and we shouldn’t expect them to be. Sometimes I think about dog ownership before social media. Sure, in 2006 there were various blogs and other resources to check out for training or diet advice, and of course library books and television, but dog ownership has changed drastically with social media.
It’s a lot easier to see posts that romanticize dogs, hiding away their natural faults out of embarrassment or something else. Reminding myself that Maisie, nor any other dog, will ever be perfect, helps substantially. I’m only human, too - I have my good dog parent days and my not so good days.
Maisie is reactive. She has separation anxiety. She wants 90% of humans to let her lick their hand off, and a random 10% to never exist near her again.
Maisie isn’t perfect, but she’s learning every day. 🩷
Empowering
I have to remind myself of these a lot - it can be really tough looking at IG and seeing a million cute, cool, or otherwise handy dog accessories, or dog lifestyles that even you are jealous of.
But you have to sit back and look at the big picture - are my dog’s needs met? What can I reasonably do to improve their needs without spending outside of my means?
Most enrichment is FREE! Your dog’s color vision is limited - they don’t feel any type of way about having every color of chew.
That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with going above and beyond, whether it’s perfecting your dogs aesthetics or handmaking all their food - but remember, if you can’t do all of that, that’s perfectly ok! Making sure your dog is safe, healthy, and happy should be the biggest priority.
