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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

You know those annoying parents who just won’t shut up about their kids? Their profile pictures are of their kids, they’re always showing you photos and videos of their kids, and they assume that everyone is as interested and excited about their kids’ daily lives as they are. Ugh, they are just the worst. And I am one of them…but my kids happen to be two Chihuahuas named Ned and Fred.

• aka Neddy & Freddy
• aka The Boyz
• aka Nederick and Frederick
• aka Helpless Ned and Broken Fred

I can finally appreciate how parents feel stressed and worried whenever they are away from their children, and can almost understand why Mr & Mrs Brady ditched their honeymoon because they missed the kids (I can almost understand, I’m not a complete psychopath).

How My Love (Obsession?) With Chihuahuas Began

When Potato (Tate), the amazing little rescue dog, joined our family in 2021, he changed our lives and introduced us to the quirky world of Chihuahuas. Sadly, Tate’s time with us was short, and he passed away in the Christmas of 2022, leaving behind a hole in my heart far greater than his physical size.

In my grief, I found a tiny (and I do mean tiny) glimmer of joy called Ned. Weighing just over one pound, this tiny creature transformed our home with his antics, affection, and helplessness. He endeared himself to anyone he met and immediately took over Tate’s role as Kodah, the Malinois x Shepherd’s, boss and playmate.

Once we’d gone through the period of crate training him overnight – something I recommend all puppy owners implement, as it ensures your little one learns to settle on their own, understands that the world doesn’t end when we leave them, and makes toilet training much easier – he migrated to our bed where he nestles against my chest all night.

Not long after Ned joined us, we learned that his cousin was in need of a home, so one chi quickly became two. Poor Kodah never knew what hit him!

Ned & Fred – Eating, Sleeping, or Up To Something

When Ned and Fred are together, adorable chaos is not far away. These boys sleep hard, eat big, and play, yip, wrestle, and chase like they are being driven by a nuclear power plant. What they lack in physical size, they more than make up for with their individual quirks, enormous personalities, and inexhaustible affection.

When they’re not burrowing under blankets in search of the perfect snooze spot, or begging for food in the kitchen, they are trying their best to create mischief and mayhem, but luckily for us, everything they do is on a very small scale.

Chihuahuas Are Small

Did you know?

Chihuahuas are small, and Ned is particularly tiny. That means everything about them (apart from the noise they can make!) is also small.

• Space requirements – small
• Food bills – small
• Insurance premiums – small
• Capacity for damage – small
• Poops – small
• Shedding level – small
• Exercise requirements – small

Even when they have accidents indoors (which, unfortunately, is one thing these tiny beasts are renowned for), it’s hard to stay mad at such a tiny nugget. What can be problematic, however, is when you find yourself in need of a good enzymatic cleaner to deal with the accumulation of tiny indoor pees that have gone unnoticed. And yet, I can never stay mad at their little faces!

Chihuahuas Are Needy

Ask anyone who has known me for more than ten years and they will tell you that I am a cat person; one that loves dogs but will always have cats. Of course, now I have five of each – living the dream!

One of the things I’ve always liked about cats is that they are low maintenance when compared to dogs. They don’t need to be let out to the toilet, they don’t need to be walked every day, and they don’t jump up and get in your face when they want attention.

But the independent nature of cats can sometimes make you feel surplus to requirement. A Chihuahua, on the other hand, always seems to be in need of help! Being picked up and carried around is not just welcomed, it is often demanded, and you know that they would not fare too well without you.

Constantly Entertained, Loved, and Needed

Not a day goes by when I don’t find myself losing time just gazing at a sleeping Ned and Fred, or laughing as they run amok. Not a day goes by when I don’t feel loved and needed by them. And not a day goes by that I don’t feel incredibly grateful that Tate needed a home, and showed me what I had been missing. No matter where I go or what I do in the future, I know that I will do it with a Chihuahua by my side.

What about you? Is there a pet that has changed your life like Potato, Ned & Fred have changed mine? Let me know in the comments section below.

Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Meagan and her dynamic duo of dachshunds, Draper and Rue.

My life with two miniature dachshunds, Draper & Rue, is like living in a whimsical sitcom where the episodes revolve around unexpected twists, dramatic entrances, and, of course, an endless supply of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to share your home with two adorable, pint-sized tornadoes of fur and personality, buckle up—it’s a wild ride!

Draper: The Golden Boy

Draper, our golden boy, who we lovingly refer to as Draper Daniel, is the mastermind behind our daily adventures. Our first-born son, with a long, luxurious blonde coat, he is an instant attention grabber and conversation starter in any room we walk into. Draper is not as daring or as alpha as one might assume based on his looks. More often than not, he actually lets his little sister rule the house and boss him around, stealing all of his toys, treats, and half of his cuddles. Our little cowardly lion, Draper, is scared of most loud noises, our printer, rain, the bathtub, and our human baby. He is also the king of the couch, where he will perch looking so majestic you’d think he was a lion in the Serengeti rather than a wiener dog.

Rue: The Sassy Diva

Then there’s Rue, our pocket-sized, sassy diva with a heart of gold and an insatiable curiosity. She’s a whopping 6.5-pound classic black and tan with an attitude that could rival a reality TV star. Rue has a knack for getting into trouble and then looking utterly innocent, as if she was saying  “Who, me?” Whether it’s stealing a sock, burrowing into a blanket, getting stuck under the couch while looking for a ball, instigating a wrestling match with Draper, or claiming the sunniest spot on the rug, she manages to do it all with an air of unapologetic charm. She’s quiet and sweet most of the time, but when the mood strikes (or an Amazon package gets delivered), you can hear her from a mile away!

Life With the Dachshund Duo

Together, they form an adorable dynamic duo, like Batman and Robin—if Batman was scared of thunder and Robin had a habit of stealing the spotlight. Their daily antics range from orchestrating elaborate schemes to snag a cracker from their human sibling to fierce wrestling matches that would make a WWE event look tame. Watching them is like attending a live-action version of a cartoon—one moment, they’re quietly plotting their next move, and the next, they’re tumbling into a pile of pillows like a pair of furry acrobats.

With two miniature dachshunds, each day is filled with kisses, barking, the occasional headshake, and a whole lot of love. They’ve taught me that the secret to happiness lies in a sprinkle of chaos, a mountain of snuggles, and a hefty dose of humor. So, step right into our wonderfully whimsical world with Draper and Rue. We’re excited to take you along on all of our adventures!

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela.

When I went to the island of Kefalonia in Greece in 2022 to do a TNR (Trap Neuter Release) programme, little did I know that I would be coming home with another dog. Having had one dog at the time, and that’s Lava who is a handful, to say the least, I had no plans of getting another dog. But it seems like there was another plan set in motion, which I was fully unaware of. Some may call it fate.

How Hela Was Found

It was just another day at the field clinic. While we were waiting for stray and feral cats and owned dogs to be brought in for neutering, one of the local volunteers came back with an unexpected story. She was walking in a nearby village when she came across a very skinny and clearly abandoned dog tied to a tree. The dog had no food or water and was skin and bone. I couldn’t believe this was still happening in modern-day Greece. We talked about what to do, as all the volunteers have many pets they took in over the years, and there was an overcrowded local shelter. Despite not having an immediate solution for where to take the dog or who could adopt it, we decided to go back for her, as we just couldn’t leave her in those conditions.

Logistics of Dog Rescue

We picked her up in the afternoon on the same day. There were no people around who showed any interest in this poor pooch and no one claimed her. She had no identification tags or microchips. I do wonder sometimes whether her owner died and she got forgotten. Or maybe, because she had skin lesions and clear signs of malnutrition, her “owner” couldn’t care for her, or chose not to. We will never know. As soon as I got her on a lead, she happily pulled and got into the car with no fear. As if she was relieved to leave.

For the next few days, we kept the dog with us in the field clinic, discussing what we should do next. I started to realize that this dog would not have a much better chance at life if she ended up in a local shelter, from where it’s unlikely she will get adopted, being an adult dog with underlying health issues. We confirmed her malnutrition, at least partly, and her skin lesions were due to a disease called Leishmania, commonly encountered in the Mediterranean countries. As the dog lived outside, and had no treatment against parasites, she was exposed to sandflies, a vector for this parasitic disease. It’s treatable but unfortunately not curable, but luckily, many dogs will still live a long and happy life.

And, that’s when I made a decision to give this dog a home. There was no other option really, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, knowing she would stay behind.

Hela, the Meaning Behind the Name

For a little while, I thought about the name for her, and I didn’t have many ideas. I didn’t know her that well, so I couldn’t picture a name that would suit her best. Still, although she didn’t have a very nice time in Greece, I wanted a name that draws origins from mythology, and one to show strength and perseverance.

The name “Hela” came to mind. Though it’s not from Greek mythology, it suddenly felt right. It was a name given to the Goddess of Death, and although it sounds morbid when you put it this way, it’s also a name that radiates strength and power. And this dog has been through hell and came out the other side, stronger and happier.

Finally, A “Smile” on Her Face

Dogs use their body language to tell us how they’re feeling. Sometimes, their faces can appear as if they’re smiling, although in many cases, this is us anthropomorphising our dogs’s expressions. Looking back at Hela’s pictures from Greece when we first found her and drove her to the local vet, and now, when she’s living with my other dog and a cat, both of whom she loves, going on adventures, learning how to swim, how to trust me, and realizing she found a place to call her home, there is a clear difference.

It may not be a smile, but there is a clear spark in her eyes, a significant change in her body language, that radiates happiness, curiosity, and excitement. There is even, at times, an expression on her face that comes as close to a smile as possible.

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

Before there was Kodah, Ned & Fred, there was Remus, the Irish Wolfhound. And what Remus lacked in brains, he made up for in sweetness and size. He was a dopey, lolloping giant who never seemed to understand why he couldn’t sit on our laps, or why everyone was always yelling at him to stop blocking the TV.

His 3-foot-long tail had the strength and diameter of the steel cables on a suspension bridge, and he would wag that thing like a whip, leaving bruises on legs, dents in door frames (seriously), and cars overturned in its wake (I might be exaggerating on that last one).

Unfortunately for everyone involved, Remus also had a sensitive stomach.

You can probably imagine how much food a 160 lb dog consumes in a day. Now imagine how much it cost to feed our lovable behemoth on a premium, hypoallergenic diet. Add on the obscene price of his pet insurance, and you have one very expensive dog. But I suppose if we averaged his expenses over his weight, he probably cost as much per pound as one of the Chihuahuas – it’s all about perspective. And besides, he was worth every penny…most of the time.

Then there was the night that I would have accepted five bucks for him. Heck, I’d have paid you five bucks to take him. The night that will forever be known as “Code Brown In The Bedroom.”

Code Brown In The Bedroom

It started out as a pleasant, uneventful evening. We’d taken the dogs for a run in the woods, and then my husband and I went out for a meal at our favorite Italian restaurant. He had the spaghetti gamberoni, I had the vegetable calzone. As we drove home, the taste of raspberry panna cotta and limoncello on our lips, we had no idea of the horror that lurked behind our front door.

The first thing to hit us was the smell. All thoughts of the epicureal delights of the evening were forgotten, and in their place was a horribly familiar olfactory presence. We both worked in a veterinary practice, we had a dog with a dodgy stomach, and we knew what had happened. And yet, there was still a tiny part of me that hoped it was just gas. That tiny glimmer of hope was dashed when I spotted a murky brown puddle in the middle of the kitchen.

“Phew” I said, “At least it’s on a hard floor.”

Little did I know that this was just the tip of the fecal iceberg.

My nose twitched as I ventured further into the house, as the smell was getting worse, not better. Our two Labradors, Poppy and Bailey, were huddled together on the sofa, tails wagging and eyes full of worry. As I entered the bedroom I saw two things that were out of place. The first was another steaming pile of manure on the carpet, and the second was Remus, curled up on our bed; he never sleeps on our bed.

As he lifted his massive head, his huge tail gave a hesitant twitch, and that’s when I saw it. The rest of the iceberg. But of course, it wasn’t really an iceberg. It was an enormous puddle of diarrhea that had seemingly poured from our gargantuan dog’s rectum like a river bursting through floodgates.

Let that sink in for a moment. Sink in like the liters of watery feces that were soaking into my bed.

Containing The Toxic Spill

I would love to tell you that my first thought was Remus’s wellbeing – our poor boy having endured such a torrent of fluid exiting his body. I would love to say that I rushed to his side to make sure he was okay, not dehydrated or in pain, but no. My first thought was that I just wanted to light a match and walk away.

My second thought was about how I could get Remus off the bed without further spreading the brown flood that was slowly soaking through my favorite quilt cover. Remus had the sort of cheerful disposition that meant a look in his direction or the use of his name would start his tail wagging, a tail that was now partially coated in something that looked like, but wasn’t thick, brown mud.

“Oh s**t” came my husband’s apt assessment of the situation.

We carefully coaxed Remus off the bed, me holding the end of his tail as my husband slowly led him toward the nearest exit. We would sic the garden hose onto him later.

(Remus was fine, by the way. No dehydration; just flatulence and embarrassment.)

Pulling on some rubber gloves, I carefully folded the edges of the quilt and sheets up to contain the worst of the deluge while husband dealt with the fecal landmines on the floor. There was no saving the bedclothes. The mattress, however, would be another story.

As I stared at the wet, brown stain in the middle of our bed, tears began rolling down my cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” asked my husband, ever sympathetic.

“Why aren’t you?” I cried, pointing angrily at the mattress that we had purchased only two months prior. “I’m pretty sure this will void our 100-day free trial.”

Operation Cleanup

It was now 10:30 pm, and my husband placed a desperate call to our local supermarket, which hired out wet-vac machines, and blessedly stayed open until 11. Unfortunately, their only machine was being repaired.

So we set to work: soak, spray, sponge, repeat.

After two hours, the stain was looking slightly more beige than brown, but the smell lingered on.

We slept in the spare room that night (and for several nights after), while Remus, having been bathed and given something to settle his gut, slept in the laundry room.

The next morning I hit the shops to restock our supply of bleach, laundry detergent, fabric deodorizers, and everything else we had used up the previous night, while my husband went to sort out a wet-vac. As the bored woman at the checkout scanned my ludicrous supply of cleaning products, I felt compelled to tell her what had happened.

She stopped mid-scan, looked me in the eye, and placed a hand on my arm.

“I am so sorry.” She spoke with such genuine sympathy, and I can tell you, I have never felt more heard and validated, before or since, than in that moment.

Do You Have A Dog With A Dodgy Tummy?

If you have a dog with a sensitive gut, don’t wait to have an epic diarrhea story ruin your year. Talk to your vet and start the process of diagnosing the problem. It might be a medical issue or a food sensitivity that can be managed with medication or diet change.

Even dogs with well-controlled gastrointestinal issues can have the occasional flare-up, so it’s worth having a few things on hand to help you through a code brown emergency:

• Medication – talk to your vet about keeping an emergency supply of anti-diarrhea medication at home.
• Bland diet – depending on what triggers your dog, it’s worth keeping some frozen chicken or fish in the freezer that you can boil to give your dog some bland meals.
• Get a mattress protector – although Remus is sadly no longer with us, I always keep a waterproof mattress protector on our beds, just in case!
• Invest in a wet-vac – this has been one of the best things we’ve bought to keep our house clean with a lot of pets.
• Cleaning supplies – keep some gloves in the cupboard, and make sure you have a quality cleaner for hard surfaces, fabric, and carpet, that neutralizes pet odors.

If you have a doggy diarrhea story that rivals mine, I’d love to hear it! Perhaps we could start a support group…

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela.

It all started one cold winter day at the end of 2020. I was in the UK working in a clinic, and secretly wishing for a dog, as I lost my old girl to cancer a few months before. I have never been “dogless” before. Dogs have been a part of my life since I remember, each and every one of them special in their own way. But I didn’t think my wish would come true so soon, and that it would be everything except what I desired. Let’s just say, my life has never again been the same since Lava knocked on our doors.

One Cold Winter Morning

There I was, resting after a night shift in Orpington, United Kingdom when I got a message notification on my phone from my mum. There was a picture of the most adorable little puppy, sitting on my brother’s working shoes, back home on our cattle farm in Croatia.

I was puzzled! Did they buy a puppy? But we have 4 farm dogs already. We have never bought any dogs in our life, all have found their way inside our home through friends or were picked up as strays. And this was no different. The little pup, soon to be named Lava, showed up at their doorstep, without an explanation. Our farm is in a quiet rural area, and the closest village is at least 5 miles away, too far for such a young pup to walk. We presumed someone must have dumped her, or she was a stray dog’s puppy.

A Character From Day One

On her first day on the farm, as described by my mum and brother, the puppy set out some ground rules. Because, of course, she set out to be the boss. She stole food from each of the bigger dogs’ bowls, and when I say bigger, I mean much bigger. Each was around 110 lbs, while the puppy was barely 10 lbs. She growled and grimaced at them, and they all must have figured, this little one was crazy, better let her have it her way.

Soon enough, she ruled the roost. Despite her size, she was a very determined puppy and no one wanted to stand in her way. She learned how to growl and bark quite early on, curling her lips up and developing this certain kind of unimpressed facial expression that she still has years later.

Meaning Behind the Name

During her first few weeks on our farm, while we discussed what to do with her since she was clearly abandoned, we also couldn’t help but start thinking about dog names. It was a tricky one indeed. Finally, my brother had an idea. Lava! Because “lav” means lion in our language, and lava, as in a hot melting rock erupting from volcanoes, red in color, similar to the puppy’s fur. It suddenly started to make a lot of sense. She was as fierce and strong as a lioness and as temperamental, unpredictable, and persistent as the melting lava rocks.

And so she became Lava. The “worst” dog we ever had. Don’t get me wrong, we do love her a lot, but she is one of those dogs who try to break you. And I mean this literally. Not even two years later, I was wearing a cast on my wrist, and let’s just say, Lava was involved in this incident. But that’s a story for another time.

Puppy Eyes You Can’t Resist

Since then, Lava became the dog we talked about most, not just among family and close friends, but also co-workers, as everyone knew about her and asked how the little menace was doing. There was always some sort of unexpected adventure with her. But we couldn’t deny her beauty. With that regal facial expression, showing a touch of annoyance and ignorance, big brown eyes, and brown-red fur, she attracted attention everywhere we went. She was soon known among all the neighbors, whether they had dogs or not. And around five months of age, she met her best doggie friend Goku, with whom she spent many hours playing.

All in all, it took me quite some time to open up my heart to her and let her in, as she was not exactly an easy puppy and always did the very opposite you asked of her. But now, almost four years later, I can’t imagine my life without her.

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

Making sure an athletic and energetic dog gets enough exercise can be tricky, particularly if you’re not naturally athletic or energetic yourself…and I am not. Luckily for people like me, dog toy creators came up with a genius little invention that revolutionized the game of fetch, allowing you to exercise your dog at the flick of your wrist: the ball thrower.

Even those completely devoid of ball pitching skills can get incredible height, speed, and distance when using one of these bad boys, and I certainly made use of them over the years. Poppy and Bailey would be beside themselves with excitement at the site of the thrower, paying attention to nothing else while it was around. They would chase that ball for hours if I let them, but 30 minutes was usually my limit.

And I deeply regret it.

Although these ball throwers seem like an easy way to get your dog running and chasing and letting off steam, they are also killing their joints.

The Problem With Ball Throwers

The obvious appeal of the ball thrower is that you can easily satisfy your dog’s need to exercise and chase without the need for any real power or precision of your own. Plus, there’s the added benefit of not having to handle a muddly, sandy, slobbery ball either!

But when that thrower flings the ball 50 yards across the beach or over the field, your dog launches after it, often with little to no warm-up, at speeds of 30-50mph. At those speeds, dogs can’t easily track the ball’s trajectory and inevitably end their chase in a joint-jarring sliding stop, roll, twist, or skid. And they might do this five, ten, or twenty times in a row, depending on the patience and commitment of the thrower.

While this level of exercise may be beneficial to your dog’s cardiovascular health and fitness, the repetitive strain on their joints is a fast track to arthritis.

Is There A Better Alternative?

What are the alternatives, you ask? Fortunately, I’m not suggesting that we all need to work on our throwing arm, and we don’t want to end up ruining our joints either! What we need is a compromise between keeping the game of fetch fun and energy burning for your dog, without putting their joints under such incredible strain, and there are a few ways we can achieve this.

The aim is to reduce the speed and/or distance covered by the ball so your dog can keep track of it in the air as they run, allowing them to better position themselves to catch the ball without sliding to a stop. We can achieve this in a number of ways:

1. Be the ball thrower

If you’re up to it, throwing the ball without the aid of a tool will limit the speed and distance the ball can go (unless you’re a skilled pitcher, in which case, reign it in and stop showing off!). Hate handling a slobbery, dirty ball? Me too! But this can be easily fixed by bringing along a gardening glove.

2. Control the ball thrower

If you don’t want to relinquish the ball thrower just yet, you can try to ease back on the velocity of your throws, though I find this a bit difficult to do, and usually end up hurling the ball straight at the ground!

3. Use an alternative ball-throwing device

Remember these? These ball toss scoops are a perfect, hands-free alternative to the dog ball thrower, as they allow you to get better distance than you would with just your arm, and you can scoop up the ball without touching it – win-win! The other bonus with these little scoops is that you’re not restricted to one ball size, which is great because it means I can use Kodah’s favorite ball!

4. Use a slinger ball

This type of toy can make flinging a ball easier than throwing it by hand, but be aware that your dog might want to engage in a game of tug-o-war at the end.

5. Leave and retrieve

Perfect for hounds and other scent-driven dogs, and also for older dogs with mobility issues, the ‘leave and retrieve’ technique keeps your dog moderately active and engaging their retrieving skills, without putting excessive strain on their joints. It simply involves dropping the ball along your walk and telling your dog to leave it. Once you’ve gone 20 yards or so, give them the go-ahead to go back for the ball. Because they know where it is, and it’s not on the move, there’s no need for them to slide, twist, or jump to retrieve it. Plus, this doesn’t need to be a ball, you can use their favorite toy! Just make sure it’s something they have had for long enough that they know how it smells.

6. The non-ball ball

The main problem with a ball thrower is the speed of the ball in the air and on the ground, but we can reduce this by using a less aerodynamic toy. You can try using a soft toy with your old ball thrower, or check out something a bit different, like these toy launchers from Flingerz. They come in a range of options, including a bee, pig, skunk, rabbit, duck, and frog! The only annoying thing is that you can’t buy the toy and sticks separately, so if you want a few options, or if your dog destroys the toy (like mine inevitably do) you have to buy the whole thing.

What About Ball Launchers?

If we’re talking about the hand-held ball canons, these are a potential option, but it will depend on the velocity they are capable of. Some are adjustable, so you may be able to find a setting that isn’t too harsh on your dog’s joints.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the automatic ball launchers. I think they encourage obsessive/compulsive behaviors in dogs, and they also remove one of the most important components of a dog’s play and exercise regime: you.

Lessons Learned

Unfortunately, I can’t go back and stop myself from using the ball thrower with Poppy and Bailey, and can only console myself with the knowledge that

1. I didn’t realize the damage I was doing
2. They had an absolute blast at the time!

What I can do is make sure that I’m doing everything I can to take care of their joints now, and use the lessons I have learned to take better care of the next generation. And as you can see, Kodah is more than happy with the selection of ball thrower alternatives!

It was 2015 when we welcomed our cat, Blue, into our home to join forces with our doting 5-year-old chihuahua Beau. It was then that we thought our little furry family was complete. Beau and Blue—one boy and one girl. They were the perfect pair to balance out my fiance and me. It was giving symmetry and balance.

Subi was an unexpected addition to our clan and presented herself as the puzzle piece we didn’t know was missing until she was right in front of our eyes. More specifically, my eyes. She wasn’t exactly available for adoption when I realized she was more than just a fur-buddy. Our home was softer and calmer in her presence and watching her slowly emerge from her shell was magical. A deep bond was developing, and I felt I had to act on it.

First Impressions

My first encounter with Subi was through a pet-sitting gig. A few years ago, my home transformed into an animal oasis during the weekends. Friday evening through Sunday afternoon I often watched my friend’s pets while they worked, went on holidays, or spent the evening out. Even our casual visitors were encouraged to bring their pets each time they stopped in. Although I only catered to cats and dogs, back then I probably would have taken any animal in. I was a crazy pet lady. Briefly considered sugar gliders, but that’s a story for another time. My home was truly the Wild West, but instead of cattlemen with firearms, it was four-legged scoundrels with collars.

Subi wasn’t as social as the other pets and trust from her wasn’t easily earned. Despite still being quite young, her life journey was turbulent and stability was inconsistent. Subi endured a few home changes, survived an aggressive dog attack, and was wary of humans since she had yet to find one willing to fully invest in her. Behind her timid demeanor was this little eager beaver with happy feet when given extra attention. The warmest of souls with a big heart. I had to know that puppy, and there was only one way to get my foot in the door.

Money (A.K.A Food) Talks

A shared love for chicken and veggies (or anything really) is the catalyst that brought us together. A bite for me, a bite for her. All it took was a little back and forth and bam. I became the snack gal, and she knew who to stick by. I am not endorsing feeding your dog table scraps by any means. However, Subi was very food motivated, and it gave me the in I needed to become a trusted pal. So, I stand by what I did. Don’t judge.

As our time together was fleeting one fateful Sunday afternoon, it was then that I decided to ask if she could stay. Not another day or night but forever. I knew it would only be a matter of time before she was back at my place for another bout of sitting and figured what she needed in this moment was someone to fight for her.

Three Is Company

So, there we were: a new and improved family of five. Beau and Subi became the best of friends. We often referred to them as my shadow gang. It was a never-ending game of follow-the-leader, me at the front of the pack, even if I was making a quick trip to the bathroom or swapping my spot at the kitchen table for the couch. Beau was the best big brother to Subi. He showed her the ropes and taught her how to be confident and comfortable in her fur. Showed the importance of barking at everything and how fun it was to be a dog.

Subi and Blue had trouble forming a concrete bond in the beginning, but now that Beau has passed, they find comfort in each other’s presence. Not besties. Not enemies. They’ve evolved into a different type of shadow gang. Subi and Blue seem to be tethered to me throughout the day, sleeping at my desk or waiting at the door for backyard adventures.

Life’s A Journey

Subi is one of the kindest Chihuahuas I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and I’m so happy to call her a part of our family. The progress she’s made with other animals and humans is inspiring. She’s still a bit skittish and will probably always be driven by food, but she’s content, and I love that for her.

Are you a proud owner of a rescue? If so, we’d love to hear your adoption story!

A 10-year-old retired military hero dog, Dasty, was recently reunited with his former handler, U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Fletcher, after being apart for two years.

Sergeant Fletcher of the U.S. Army was paired with three exceptional dogs during his seven-year career, but his bond with his third dog Dasty, a Dutch Shepherd, was unique. As they navigated deployments, advanced training, and life at home, their partnership stood as a testament to the power of trust and teamwork and only grew stronger with time.

Sgt. Fletcher and Dasty were inseparable during their four years of service together, which included a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan, where they slept together in a small tent in an active combat zone. During their service, they also participated in multiple Secret Service missions, traveling the world together, and providing security for Presidents Trump and Biden.

The two were separated when Sgt. Fletcher left the Army in 2022. After learning that Dasty was retiring due to age, Sgt. Fletcher reached out to American Humane, a D.C. nonprofit organization, for assistance in bringing Dasty to his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The two were reunited on October 12, 2024, as Sgt. Fletcher and his wife Johanna have adopted him so he is now officially part of the Fletcher family.

A Sergeant and His K-9 Partner

Michael Fletcher enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2015, a career path driven by his passion for serving his country and a deep love for animals. As a K-9 handler, he worked closely with highly trained military working dogs, whose missions included explosives detection and patrol. His final and most significant partner was Dasty the Dutch Shepherd, known for his skill, intelligence, and keen sense of loyalty.

The Early Days

Dasty’s military career began in 2016, and though he was initially paired with another handler, Michael became Dasty’s true partner in 2018. At the time, Michael was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and he and Dasty underwent an essential bonding period before they fully clicked as a team.

According to Michael, it took about three months for Dasty to warm up to him. Initially, their work was focused on supporting base operations and assisting the local police department, which lacked its own explosives detection dog. The pair’s hard work soon led them to more specialized training, including the prestigious Patrol Explosive Detection Dog – Enhanced (PEDD-E) course.

The Rigorous PEDD-E Training

The PEDD-E program, completed by Michael and Dasty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was a defining moment in their service. This advanced 60-day training course is designed to equip military K-9 teams with the skills needed to detect explosives and conduct patrol duties in high-risk environments. The course focuses on off-leash training, enabling dogs like Dasty to work at a distance from their handler — sometimes as far as a football field away — and still execute their duties with precision.

The training is intensive and is only taught three times per year with space for only 10 military working dog teams, but it creates highly effective teams that operate with a unique level of trust and independence. Graduating from PEDD-E is an honor, and one of the perks of the investment of time and resources is that these teams remain paired together even if their handler is relocated (unlike most military working dog teams, which often have to separate when handlers relocate—which is difficult for both handler and dog).

Deployment to Afghanistan: Trials and Triumphs

In 2019, Michael and Dasty were deployed to Logar Province, Afghanistan, a deployment marked by personal sacrifice and professional challenges. For Michael, it was a difficult time—his wife Johanna was pregnant with their first child back home. The separation was tough, but with Dasty, always by his side, he felt not only security but also a much-needed sense of comfort and companionship. The two shared a tent, each with their own twin-sized mattress, and spent all their time together. Caring for Dasty was Michael’s top priority—he would bring him human food from the dining hall on special occasions, and even bought him a pile of blankets from a local bazaar to keep him warm when the mountain temperatures would drop below freezing.

Their assignment at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dahlke was far from easy. The base was austere, with soldiers living in tents with no heat or air conditioning, enduring extreme weather without basic amenities like running water for weeks at a time. Despite the tough conditions, Dasty became an unofficial mascot of the base, raising morale and giving the troops a reason to smile in the face of adversity. Michael brought Dasty to all of the briefings and meetings so all of the soldiers had the opportunity to interact with him, and many soldiers would even come to hang out in Michael and Dasty’s tent to get a bit more reprieve and comfort.

In addition to their routine patrols, Michael and Dasty were tasked with the crucial and dangerous role of detecting explosives. Every day was a test of their skills and bond as they worked to keep their fellow service members safe. Dasty saved countless lives while serving in Afghanistan, by locating multiple IEDs and remaining steady and focused in combat, even when bullets were flying.

When asked about their bond, Michael shared the story about a mission on a hot summer day. They were running low on water bottles, so he offered Dasty the last bit of water he had and then drank the dregs himself (slobber and all). “That’s how much he meant to me out there. I knew that he needed it more than me because he was keeping everybody behind us safe.”

Michael describes their relationship as more than best friends because they truly had to rely on each other for survival. Johanna likes to tease that the two ‘more than best friends’ returned from Afghanistan with their first gray hairs—a testament to the stress they were under together while on duty.

“They [dogs] uplift your spirits when it’s the worst possible times in your life. They uplift everybody’s spirits around you,” Michael recalls.

Secret Service Missions

After their active service in Afghanistan, the two were relocated to Fort Myer (Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall) in Northern Virginia. The pair participated in multiple secret service missions protecting President Trump and President Biden in multiple states and countries.

Michael and Dasty also went on to help train other K-9 teams with the skills they learned at PEDD-E.

Their Time Apart

Michael and Dasty were separated in February 2022 when Michael left the Army to pursue a new career. He returned to school, earned a degree, and relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, with his family. Meanwhile, Dasty remained at Fort Myer, where he was paired with a new handler, someone who had served under Michael and whom he considers a friend. Since leaving the Army, Michael hadn’t seen Dasty in person, though he has stayed updated on his beloved canine partner through regular updates and occasional FaceTime calls.

When Michael learned that Dasty was retiring due to old age, he was excited but concerned about whether he could take time off from work to travel to Washington, D.C., to pick him up. Fortunately, his wife Johanna came across a TikTok video about the nonprofit organization American Humane and encouraged him to reach out.

The Fletcher family is thrilled that they were able to adopt Dasty and can’t wait to give him the peaceful, well-deserved retirement he has earned after his years of service. Michael believes having Dasty back at his side will help with his ongoing transition to civilian life, especially after the traumatic experiences they shared during their deployment in Afghanistan.

Facts About Military Working Dogs

• Military Working Dogs (MWDs) have quietly but diligently served the USA for over eight decades
• Dogs have faithfully served humans since early civilizations including ancient Egypt, but they didn’t have an official role in the military until 1942 with the creation of the Army K-9 Corps
• Today, K-9s are serving anywhere you find American troops, with over 1600 dogs in active service
• Experienced Department of Defense K-9 personnel are considered Non-commissioned Officers and are always ranked one level higher than their handlers. This ensures that the dogs are treated with the utmost care and respect.

Military Working Dog Retirement Processes & Challenges

Military working dogs (MWDs) and their handlers develop an unbreakable bond while serving their country. These dogs are not only loyal companions but also essential partners in some of the most dangerous missions. Unfortunately, when either the handler or the dog retires or is reassigned, they are often separated. This can be incredibly tough for both the dog and the handler, who have spent years protecting and relying on each other.

The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandates that handlers be given first rights of adoption when their military dogs retire, ensuring that these loyal partners can stay together after service. However, many military dogs have served under multiple handlers throughout their careers, and while every handler forms a deep bond with their K-9 counterpart, not all handlers are able to adopt their dogs, especially if they are still on active duty or stationed overseas.

The NDAA also stipulates that military dogs must retire on U.S. soil, but getting them there can be a challenge. When a military dog retires, it is not always easy for the military to track down their latest handler for adoption, let alone figure out how to transport the dog home. The process involves a significant amount of paperwork, headaches, and red tape, with the steep costs and logistical responsibilities often falling on the handler. This is where additional support is essential to ensure that these brave dogs are cared for in retirement, reunited with their handlers, and able to enjoy the lives they deserve after their service.

American Humane – How They Help

American Humane handles the complex process of transporting and assisting former handlers in adopting their K-9 counterparts when they retire. The organization covers the travel costs for transporting the dog and provides lifelong veterinary care for the retired K-9s.

Like human veterans, K-9 veterans often retire with medical conditions that require extensive—and expensive—veterinary care, but the government does not cover these costs. That’s why American Humane steps in to cover all medical bills for the working dogs they bring home, ensuring these K-9 veterans receive the comfortable and dignified retirement they deserve.

American Humane is the USA’s first and largest humane organization. Please note they are just known by two names – American Humane – and do not include ‘Society’ in their organization, that is a completely different organization.

They have a specific program for military dogs to help protect and recognize their heroic contributions to their country. The work includes bringing retired dogs home to reunite with their handlers, like in Michael and Dasty’s case, and providing veterinary care and financial support to ensure the dogs have the comfortable retirements they deserve.

How Can I Help?

If you’d like to support this cause, you can find out more about how to donate here.

Images provided by American Humane

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

Despite being the smallest dog in our house by a considerable margin, Ned is also the greediest. If I didn’t think he would make himself ill, I would love to find out just how much food he would eat if given free rein. I suspect it would be a lot. Not so long ago, I thought I was going to have to rush him into surgery when, to avoid losing the piece of steak he had just stolen, he swallowed the large chunk of meat whole. What followed was 5-10 minutes of regret. It was clear from his misery and discomfort that the steak was too big to make it all the way down the esophagus, so I knew that if it didn’t come back up soon we were going to have to go in after it.

Fortunately, Ned saved us the stress of surgery when he managed to reverse peristalsis and eject the too-large piece of meat. Which I had to quickly intercept before he tried to eat it again!

Despite his voracious appetite for virtually anything he can get his paws on, Ned has remained the same size and perfect body condition since he reached adulthood. At 12 months old, he weighed 1.8kg (3.96 lbs). Today, he weighs 1.82kg.

His (not so) little counterpart, Fred, has not been quite so fortunate. He is a larger-framed Chihuahua, so he was never going to be as light as Ned, and at 12 months old, Fred was weighing in at 2.8kg (6.1 lbs). Today, he is tipping the scales at 3.5kg (7.7 lbs).

It’s In The Genes

You might be thinking that comparing two different dogs is like comparing apples and oranges, but in this case, it’s more like comparing a Granny Smith with a Red Delicious, because Ned and Fred are actually cousins. They have different sires (fathers) and their mothers are sisters.

Ned is quite a lot smaller than both his parents, though he was not the smallest in his litter, while Fred is closer in size to his mother; we jokingly call him the teapot, because he’s ‘short and stout’. Given his larger frame, Fred’s ideal body weight is around 2.8 – 3.0kg, and I am certainly not trying to make excuses for him being a bit on the porky side, but the difference between these little lads certainly lends weight to the argument that genetics play a big role in metabolism and body condition.

Let’s look at the numbers:

	Fred	Ned
Weight:	3.5kg	1.8kg
Calorie requirements:	243 kcal	174 kcal
Meals:	156 kcal	156 kcal
Treats:	100 kcal	100 kcal
Sleep:	16 hours	16 hours
Exercise:	2-3 hours	2-3 hours

So while Fred is consuming around 13 kcal over his maintenance budget, Ned is taking at least 82 kcal more than he theoretically should need, and yet, his weight remains perfect.

It’s Not Fair!

Look, I’m not too embarrassed to say that I struggle with my weight. And when I say struggle, I mean that I struggle with the knowledge that the diet and exercise regime I’d prefer to maintain does not give me the figure I would like. I am aware that I could work harder and eat better, but I also get really frustrated by those around me who eat worse and exercise less, yet weigh far less than I do. It would seem that Ned is like one of those horribly annoying people who “can eat whatever they want and never gain weight.” Fred and I, on the other hand, have a bit more in common.

Although he sleeps and exercises as much as Ned, and arguably eats less, when you factor in the extra food that Ned invariably manages to beg, borrow, and steal, Fred should ideally lose around 20% of his body weight.

Fortunately, dogs aren’t too preoccupied with body image or fat-shaming, or at least, I don’t think they are. I don’t believe Fred stands beside Ned, comparing thigh gaps and mourning his lack of bikini-bod, but he will probably notice when his portion sizes are suddenly smaller than Ned’s.

The Struggle Is Real

Life, it annoyingly turns out, is not fair. Some of us need to work harder to stay fit, while others have been blessed with a more efficient metabolism. Seeing how genetics have given Ned and Fred markedly different metabolic rates doesn’t make my struggle with my own weight any easier, but it does go to show that some individuals do have to work harder than others to stay in shape. And that’s got to be worth a few sympathy points if nothing else!

Hey Dogsters! Today, we’re introducing our new Wednesday Dogs of Dogster, a rotating crew of hilarious dogs and their families. Scroll down for a quick introduction to Amanda & Subi, Kate & Gizmo, Meagan, Draper & Rue, and Nicole, Rosa & Machado. Check back here every Wednesday for the latest adventures of our Dogster crew!

Amanda & Subi

Hey y’all, I am Amanda, a Senior Content Manager here at Pangolia. And this is Subi, my quirky chi rescue with a personality as big as her appetite. A particularly wide bottom and a set of bowed legs have blessed her with a distinguished gait, waddling around like a miniature cowboy. Though she’s timid by nature and often found hiding in the safety of her bed or kennel, her obsession with snacks pushes her into brave new territories—like under the kid table during dinner time or at the window to ward off passer-byers with her intimidating bark.

Her life thus far has been a series of adventures and challenges fuelled by a love for food and a need to adapt to new environments every so often. Subi’s had her share of hardships and lived in a few different spots before settling into her forever home with us. Although she can be a bit skittish and shy to new faces – human and dog – the majority of the time, she’s a happy-go-lucky chihuahua whose love can be won over with a treat and a little patience.

We are so excited to bring you back to the beginning, share her journey, and tell you all the hilarious things she does. Her story is just beginning and I am super happy to invite you into Subi’s world, one tail at a time.

Kate & Gizmo

Hi, I’m Kate and I’m a Senior Content Manager at Dogster. A couple of years ago, I spotted my little man Gizmo on a local dog rescue website and immediately knew I had to meet him.

His name was Junior, and he had an air of slightly deranged joy in all of his pictures. He was fluffy, outgoing, and smiley, visibly straining toward the people in every picture.  His backstory was pretty mysterious – all they knew was that he’d come out of an overcrowded shelter in Texas. The rescue had tested him with kids, cats, and other dogs, and he passed with flying colors. Basically, he was perfect.

I adopted Gizmo (his new name suits him much better) with my best friend, so he has multiple families and feels at home in at least five different houses. He’s a sweet little velcro dog who loves to wiggle his way into everyone’s hearts. And although he was pretty nutty at first, he has settled into being the perfect coworker, napping on my lap while I type and popping into almost every Zoom meeting. He loves road trips, hiking, and napping in the softest spots available – ideally a Princess and the Pea-style pile of blankets and pillows.

Stay tuned to read about Gizmo’s debut in People Magazine, doggy DNA test results, yurt adventures, and more!

Meagan, Draper, and Rue

Hey there! I’m Meagan, a Senior Content Manager here at Dogster, and I’m here to give you a peek into my life as the proud fur mom of two long-haired miniature dachshunds. Meet Draper, named after the one and only Don Draper from Mad Men—because who wouldn’t want a dog with a sophisticated taste for whiskey and chain smoking? And then there’s our little troublemaker, Rue Bizou. The “Bizou” part is unofficial, but if you say it twice, it totally sounds like Scooby Doobie Doo, and honestly, that’s just too good to pass up.

Draper is our firstborn and my husband’s ultimate dream dog. I’ve never seen a man so giddy as the day we picked him up—like a kid in a candy store, except the store was closed due to a pandemic. Yep, Draper is a full-blown pandemic puppy: nervous around strangers, unsure about public spaces, and more attached to us than a toddler with a blankie. Life with one dependent was a breeze—easy-peasy, like a slow Sunday morning. We all had our roles down pat. But then, plot twist!

Fast forward to September 2023, and Rue decided to join the party just three short months before we welcomed our first human baby into the world. Because clearly, we thought, “Let’s add a puppy to the mix! What could possibly go wrong?” Spoiler alert: some days, it’s a blast; other days, it’s like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. But hey, who doesn’t love a little chaos?

With two miniature dachshunds ruling the roost, every day is a blend of laughter, love, and the occasional exasperation. They remind me that life is best lived with a bit of chaos, a lot of cuddles, and a whole heap of humor. So, welcome to our wonderfully wild world with Draper and Rue—where every moment is an adventure waiting to happen!

Nicole, Rosa & Machado

Hey everyone, I’m Nicole, the Director of Content Management at Dogster, and I’m excited to introduce you to two of the real bosses around here, Rosa and Machado (Mac/McCuddles). They are both rescues, so we aren’t 100% sure about their breeds, but we believe Rosa is a New Zealand Huntaway and Mac is a Lab x Mastiff. Rosa has battled anxiety (she has a pretty disheartening origin story before we found her) but she is a true measure of bravery. I am always in awe of how strong she is and everything she has overcome. And we call Mac our ‘drag to trash surfer boy’ because we don’t know much about where he came from, but we know he forgot it all the second he got here. He’s a big friendly giant. They are both super derpy and adorable and a bit cheeky. The perfect pups.

I’m a Canadian expat living in New Zealand with these two monkeys and my Kiwi husband and our two-year-old daughter. Every four weeks we will be sharing stories with you about rural life and all of the wild antics these rescue pups get up to, and all the joy they bring into our lives. I can’t wait to share more about them with you all!

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

Until I had a dog with food allergies, I admit that I underestimated how difficult it was to watch your dog struggling to get comfortable, how challenging it was to work out that their food was the problem, and how incredibly frustrating it is to find a good dog food that is completely free from chicken or beef.

I know what you’re thinking – there’s loads of other dog food flavors out there: lamb, turkey, duck, rabbit…the list goes on. But have you ever had a really close look at the ingredients list on a bag of dog food? If you haven’t, I would strongly recommend doing so. For starters, you might be surprised by what sort of ingredients your dog is actually consuming, but you might also be surprised to see how often they sneak in a bit of chicken.

Kodah’s Food Allergy

Like many dogs that suffer with food allergies, Kodah’s clinical signs started appearing when he was about two-and-a-half years old. Initially he was just a bit itchy all over, then he would be chewing at his legs and feet, and eventually he was traumatizing his ears with his frantic scratching – I had to quickly rustle up a homemade collar to stop him damaging them! Of course, I had to rule out the usual suspects of what could be making him itch, but I eventually worked out that we were dealing with a food allergy.

It then took several months of feeding novel protein diets and then re-challenging Kodah with different ingredients to find out what was triggering his itchy reaction, but eventually we narrowed it down to chicken, beef, eggs, grain, turkey, and potato. He was also somewhat sensitive to other poultry, like turkey and duck. Yep, that didn’t leave us with a whole lot to work with!

If it was just Kodah, I would opt for a fresh food or home prepared diet with minimal ingredients, so I know exactly what he’s having. The trouble is, I have five doggy mouths to feed, and my life would be a whole lot easier if they can all eat at least some of the same food. Down the rabbit hole of comparing brands and ingredients, doing cost analysis per meal and per bag, and if that wasn’t challenging enough, I then had to go through every ingredients list with a fine tooth comb to make sure there wasn’t any sneaky chicken.

The Struggle of Sneaky Ingredients

Many of the brands that I would categorize as being premium food, with high quality ingredients, left me frustrated when I studied the back of the pack and found that their ‘Wild Boar and Sweet Potato’ contained beef liver, or ‘Ostrich and Pumpkin’ was topped up with a cheeky bit of chicken flavoring. Why???

Fortunately, one thing I didn’t have to worry about in my household was any picky eaters. With the exception of a few boring vegetables, I had yet to find anything that my dogs won’t eat, which is why I decided to take the advice of a fellow itchy-dog owner and try an insect protein food.

That’s right: Insect Protein Dog Food.

Saved By The Bugs

To look at, insect protein food looks like any other dry dog food, and smells like it too. Made up of one-third insect protein, one-third sweet potato, with the rest being wholesome things like spinach, chicory, beet pulp, parsley, turmeric, glucosamine and chondroitin, it looked great on paper, but was it going to work?

To my delight, the answer has been a resounding YES!

It’s not the cheapest food on the market, but surprisingly, it’s not horrendously expensive either, and seeing as we go through 10 lbs per week, that is a pretty important factor for us. The dogs are happy, Kodah isn’t itchy, and even their poops are looking great (as great as dog poop can look, anyway).

If you’re struggling to get control of an itchy dog, it’s worth talking to your vet about checking for a food allergy, and beware of the sneaky chicken! And if you’re running out of ideas of what to feed your itchy dog, you can always try insects!

Hi, I’m Allison! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my three mixed-breed dogs from Thailand, Jelly, Lorraina, and Manic.

Does anyone else celebrate their dog’s birthday? I have seen people go all out with parties for their pooches: making dog-safe cakes, having them wear little birthday hats, doing photoshoots, etc. It looks like so much fun! Other people might like simplicity regarding canine birthday celebrations. Giving them a special treat, a brand new toy, and singing “Happy Birthday” fits the bill.

On Jelly’s birthday, I think about all our years together and tell her how thankful I am to have her with me.

Jelly’s Origin: A Big Mystery

September 9th is Jelly’s birthday. Well, whether that was the exact date of her birth remains in question. I just guessed her age when I got her. Just before Halloween, a colleague of mine adopted a small brown puppy from the animal clinic on the island. He told me four others were available—and Jelly was part of that litter.

Jelly and her siblings were found in the jungle, mother nowhere in sight. Volunteers gathered them up and brought them to the clinic for care. Sadly, it is not uncommon for mothers to leave their litters. Some fall ill, others get hit by motorbikes. Some just disappear.

Since my colleague’s puppy was so adorable, my husband and I went to see the rest of the litter. By the time we got there, one had already been adopted, leaving three left. We entered their enclosure, and two ran up to me, jumping, wagging their tails, and pulling on my shirt. At that moment, I considered getting TWO puppies. But my eyes found the other puppy sitting by herself in a dustpan. I went up to her and stuck out my hand. She lifted her fat paw and put it in mine.

And that was it. She chose me, and I took her home. We named her Jelly because the pads of her feet were soft like jelly candies. Of course, as she aged, her pads got rougher. A friend asked me if we would change her name as her pads got rougher. I think not.

Her First Night in Her New Home

We made her a bed from an old dresser drawer and a towel. We did not know what kind of toys to get for a puppy since dog toys were generally limited on the island (this was before ordering things online was easy). So, we bought her a baby sponge with a duck on it.

Despite me having her bed right next to ours on the floor, Jelly whined and tried to climb in with me. But she was too small to jump into our bed, so she dug her claws into the mattress and pulled herself up. Once on the bed, she climbed between me and my husband and fell into a deep sleep.

Fourteen years later, she still sleeps between us—that is until Manic started sleeping on the bed. Jelly, albeit somewhat reluctantly, would move to her bed on the floor. But during the day, I can find her in my office, sleeping in a small dog bed I put in there. She is my shadow.

Happy Birthday, Jelly. I Love You

Celebrating your dog’s birthday is both heartwarming and worrying—at least for me. My girl is 14 years old. For a medium-sized dog, that is a pretty good age! But she is healthy and happy. She gets good food, water, multivitamins for seniors, and exercise. And most of all, she is loved. She is loved so dearly. Dogs are not just our best friends for the time we have them; we are their best friends for their entire lives.

Happy birthday, Jelly. I love you.

Hi, I’m Savanna! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my spunky Chihuahua mix, Penny.

We’re all familiar with our dogs asking for some of the food we’re cooking or eating, no matter what it is. Sometimes we just can’t help but give in, so we give them a bite. I’m no different. Of course, it’s important to make sure that any food you give your dog is safe for them and given to them plain and free of seasonings, and there are many human foods that are safe for dogs to have in moderation as a little snack.

Unsurprisingly, Penny always wants a bite of our chicken or pork, but we don’t give in because it’s covered with seasonings and other things that might be bad for her. But if it’s something that’s good for dogs, sometimes I do give her a little bit when I’m finished with it. Surprisingly, Penny’s favorite human foods are fruits, but she does like some vegetables.

Here are some of Penny’s favorite human foods, including the one she seems to love the most and the one she absolutely hates. Please note that I have verified that all these foods are safe for dogs before I feed them to her.¹

Raspberries/Blackberries

Because of their unique and sometimes sour flavor if they’re not the right amount of ripeness, raspberries and blackberries seem like one of those fruits that people either love or they hate. But Penny absolutely loves them. We have to buy raspberries, but we have some blackberries growing wild in our yard that I’ll pick, and she always asks for one. So even though some humans don’t like the flavor of raspberries and blackberries, Penny doesn’t seem to mind!

Strawberries

We always have strawberries in our house, because my daughter loves them. Apparently, Penny loves them too. Sometimes she just licks them, but sometimes she takes a few bites out of them. She never eats a whole strawberry though, as I found out several times when I stepped on something wet and squishy. She loves to munch on the strawberry leaves too, but I usually take those away from her since they’re harder to chew and digest.

Blueberries

Penny also seems to like blueberries. Most of the time, anyway. She’s very picky about the texture of the blueberry, and she only likes the firm ones, not the squishy ones. The problem is that I usually just hold fruits in my hand and let her munch on them to make sure she doesn’t eat too much. But blueberries are so small that I can’t do that, and she has to take them out of my hand and eat them.

You know how dogs will put food on the floor after you give it to them and eat it that way? After Penny gets the blueberry out of my hand, she places it on the floor before she eats it, and it sort of rolls away a little bit when she drops it. So it’s funny to watch her have to chase the blueberry before she can eat it. But when she does eat it, it’s so cute to watch her chew it up.

Bananas

I know a lot of dogs like to eat bananas, but this is another one that Penny only eats if the texture is just right. She likes the bananas that are a little bit firmer rather than the softer ones. But if it’s the right texture, she would eat a whole banana if I would let her.

Zucchini/Pumpkin/Squash

Penny isn’t really as big on vegetables as she is fruit, but the vegetables she seems to love are zucchini, pumpkin, and squash. We made zucchini and squash noodles one night and she begged for the zucchini and squash more than she did the meat that we were cooking with them. I only gave her a small piece of zucchini and squash, but she absolutely loved it.

She also really likes pumpkin. She’s very much in the middle of things when we carve jack-o-lanterns at Halloween, helping us “clean up” some of the pumpkin innards. I should’ve known she would like zucchini and squash too, since they’re part of the same vegetable family as pumpkins.

Her Absolute Favorite… Peaches and Nectarines!

Peaches and nectarines are two of my favorite fruits, and apparently they’re Penny’s too. I have never seen a dog beg for food the way I’ve seen her beg for a bite of a nectarine or peach. We’ve all seen how excited our dogs get when we come home to them after being gone. That’s the way Penny acts when she sees me eating a peach or nectarine.

Her tail is wagging, eyes are wide, she’s jumping up and down — it’s hard to resist giving her a bite when she’s that excited. I usually just slice off a few small pieces for her and she gobbles them right up.

And the One Thing She Hates… Lettuce

What’s funny about Penny hating lettuce is that every time I made salad, she always wants a piece of lettuce. I always tell her, “You don’t like this, remember?” But she begs anyway. And every time I give her one, she always spits it right out and refuses to eat it. It’s like she either doesn’t realize what she’s asking for or forgets that she doesn’t like it. It doesn’t matter the type of lettuce either. She won’t eat any of it. That’s okay though, because even though it’s safe, it’s not very nutritious for her anyway.

Penny’s Favorite Foods: A Recap

Penny would at least try anything I give her, and I think it’s totally okay to give our dogs a bite of human food every once in a while, especially if it’s healthy for them like the fruits and vegetables she loves. But I never give her more than just a bite or two, and I never give her anything that is seasoned.

Although her favorite food is peaches and nectarines, I haven’t really found a dog-safe fruit that she doesn’t like. There are some she likes more than others, and it definitely depends on the texture. She doesn’t seem to like as many vegetables though, especially lettuce.

Just remember that when it comes to feeding your dog human food, it’s important to make sure that whatever you feed them is safe for them to eat!

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

You’re probably familiar with acupuncture for humans – the therapeutic application of ‘dry’ needles (ie. without an injectable substance) into specific locations on the body to help treat myriad conditions, including pain, anxiety, insomnia, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, and immune-mediated disease. For many years, acupuncture, along with most other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was disregarded by practitioners of modern medicine as eccentric, outdated, and ineffective.

Over the past few decades, this rather ‘snooty’ perspective has shifted, and we are starting to realize that, not only are many of these therapies effective, but they actually have a scientific basis.

Understanding Acupuncture

When Chinese emperor Huangdi wrote the text known as “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine” nearly 3000 years ago,¹ acupuncture points were set out along meridians, which relate to a number of areas of the body – 12 to be exact:

By placing needles in specific locations along these meridians, the body’s life force energy, also known as “Qi” (pronounced ‘chee’), could be stimulated or unblocked, providing relief to the corresponding organ. What we know now is that many of these meridians correlate to tissue differentiation during embryonic development, while Qi could be another way of describing nerve pathways, tissue planes, and energy transfer. With all that in mind, it became a little easier for devout scientists to appreciate how this ‘alternative’ therapy might actually work.

Hello Holistic Treatment

I’m a recent convert to holistic therapy, and welcome new ways to treat my patients and pets using a range of different modalities, including acupuncture.

After attending a course on veterinary acupuncture, I became obsessed with using this technique in practice. The majority of my acupuncture patients were receiving treatment for arthritis, but I also had several success stories using dry needling techniques to facilitate wound healing.

In some cases, we were able to reduce the dose of pain medication, while there were others that were suddenly moving more freely than they had in years. With two geriatric Labradors of my own, I am lucky to be able to use this treatment at home as well. Although she has lovely titanium hips, Baileys suffers from arthritis in multiple joints and is on anti-inflammatory medication and joint supplements. Since giving her an acupuncture treatment every few weeks, I have seen an improvement in her overall happiness and freedom of movement, all without needing to increase her medication.

Don’t Try This At Home!

Obviously, acupuncture isn’t something you can do at home on your own pets, but you can try some acupressure and massage.

As the name suggests, acupressure involves using targeted pressure over specific areas, such as those used for acupuncture, to achieve similar results without a needle. It is a technique that just about anyone can use to help relieve tension, provide pain relief, and soothe their pets at home.

Here are some helpful locations you can try on your dog:

There are few among us that don’t enjoy a soothing massage, and our dogs are no exception. The key to using massage on our pets is to apply wide pressure and avoid pushing fingers into tender muscles. Tennis balls can make a great tool for massaging the lumbar muscles, provided your dog doesn’t destroy or bury it!

Hi, I’m Savanna! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my spunky Chihuahua mix, Penny.

We’ve probably all heard of those human and dog look-alike contests, where other people and judges vote on which dog looks the most like their owners. I wouldn’t enter one of those contests with Penny, because honestly she and I don’t look anything like each other.

But after owning Penny for a few years now, I think there are some ways that Penny acts like me. I don’t know if my personality has rubbed off on her or if she’s just doing her own little thing and it’s coincidental that it’s similar to some of the things I do. We humans do like to try to humanize our pets after all. But it’s still fun to pretend that I have a best little dog buddy who likes the same things I do even if her motives are a little different than mine.

Here are some ways my dog and I are exactly alike in the things we do, but also the reality of the situation.

We Both Love the Beach

Penny and I both love going to the beach. We love getting out and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, relaxing on the soft sand, and having a little snack or drink. But neither of us really likes the ocean all that much.

But we don’t like the ocean. I love getting about ankle-deep in the ocean to look for shells that have washed up and taking pretty pictures of it. But I don’t like getting out in the ocean if the waves are rough or if I can’t see the bottom and what I’m stepping on. I love a nice, calm beach day with smooth waves and clear water, which rarely happens.

But Penny doesn’t like getting in the ocean because she doesn’t like water, and she’s not the best swimmer. I can’t really blame her there. The ocean can be quite intimidating for a small dog.

We’re Both Anxious

One reason Penny and I get along so well is because we’re both anxious creatures. Of course, I get anxious about rational human things, and sometimes things that are totally irrational if I’m being honest.

But Chihuahuas are just considered an anxious breed in general, so I think it’s just part of Penny’s temperament that she’s a little anxious. Also, I’d be a little anxious too if I was a small dog in a big house where even two of the kitties are bigger than me. Plus, dogs can pick up on our emotions, so me being anxious probably makes Penny even more anxious.

The good thing about both of us being anxious is that we can help soothe each other and offer emotional support.

We Both Love Going Places

Sometimes I like to just sit at home and not do anything. But I can get bored easily because I’m not a big TV watcher, and unless the book is really good, I can only read for so long before I need to take a break.

So, I like to get out of the house as much as possible, going for walks, going shopping, etc. Penny loves to go places too. She doesn’t care if we’re going to take her for a walk at the park or if we’re going to the vet. As soon as we tell her she’s coming with us, she jumps up in the car and is ready to go.

While I like going places because it keeps me from getting bored, I think Penny just likes spending as much time with us as possible.

We’re Both Introverted

Penny and I are both introverted when it comes to other members of our species. We both prefer only interacting with members of our household and close family. I don’t like to be around other people and large crowds make me nervous, so I’d rather just hang out with my family.

Penny doesn’t like to be around other dogs, even dogs that are the same size as her. She’ll give other dogs a little butt sniff in greeting, which I’d guess is like the human equivalent of smiling and waving at someone, but then she just goes about her way. There are only a select few family dogs that she’ll play with, but she mostly likes to interact with people she knows and cats.

I know sometimes we give off the vibe that we’re snobs, but really we’re just introverted.

We Both Love Nap Time

When I was little, I never understood why my parents took so many naps. Now that I’m an adult, I totally get it! Sometimes I just feel tired after a long day and have to lay down and rest for about an hour.

Penny plays for a little while in the morning, then naps all day while I work, which is good since I work from home and she’s not distracting me. Then she’ll wake up in the afternoon and play some more.

But what’s funny is that if I go lay down for a nap in the afternoon, it doesn’t matter what Penny’s doing. She will stop, get up on the bed with me, and take another nap. After we wake up an hour later, she’s up until bedtime. She’s very adamant about bedtime too. Once 10:30 hits, she’s urging us to go lay down and go to sleep.

We Both Like Gardening

Gardening is one of my favorite things to do. I love plants and flowers, and I love growing things because of all the bees and butterflies flowers bring. I’ll go outside multiple times a day to see if I have any new flowers blooming or see if there are any new pollinators on any of my plants.

Penny loves “gardening” in the sense that she likes walking through the flower beds sniffing flowers or tracking a chipmunk or neighborhood cat that has been walking through my flower beds. Sometimes she’ll help me dig if she sees me planting something new, but she never digs anything up or tries to munch on any of my plants.

Two Peas in a Pod

I could probably sit here all day and think of more ways that Penny and I are alike. But even though we like to do a lot of the same things and our personalities are similar, sometimes our motives for why we do the things we do are totally different. As much as I like to humanize Penny, she has her dog instincts and I have my human instincts. I’m just glad I have a little dog best friend that loves to spend time with me no matter what I’m doing.

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

It is something of a misplaced point of pride amongst many owners of elderly dogs about managing to keep their dogs off painkillers, as though this is some sort of great achievement. In reality, a 12-year-old Labrador that doesn’t need any pain relief is something of a rarity. In fact, the humble Labrador is amongst the most likely breeds to suffer from arthritis, and around 80% of all dogs over the age of 8 will be experiencing some form of arthritic discomfort or pain.¹

Why Are People Reluctant to Medicate Their Dogs?

I think that when it comes to medication, humans have gone through several stages:

The Honeymoon Phase

Medication is awesome! It makes everything better, and my doctor would never prescribe something that could make me sick, right?

The Side Effects Backlash

Okay, so it turns out that there may be some teensy weensy side effects to some of these amazing drugs, but what’s a little nausea, cirrhosis, fetal deformity, and death between friends?

Suspicious Minds

My doctor wants me to take this medication for my epilepsy, but I think they’re just trying to make a profit. I’m going to use this lemon juice tincture instead because that’s what everyone on TikTok is raving about.

Okay, so they might be some overly simplified and extreme interpretations of our current society’s views on medicine, but I’m sure you take my meaning. Although research is continually improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of medication, many people are still reluctant to take prescribed medication for fear of what other effects it may have. And this suspicion often extends to our pets, resulting in the idea that a life lived without the aid of medication is superior to one that has succumbed to the perils of pharmaceutical aid. Unfortunately, it is often our voiceless pets that suffer most from this aversion to medication.

“My Dog Isn’t In Pain”

My biggest pet hate (pun intended) is hearing words like this:

“My dog is a bit stiff in the morning, and limps after a walk, but he/she’s not in pain.”

What the owner often doesn’t realize is that they have just described classic signs of arthritic pain. It’s not until I am palpating and manipulating their beloved pet’s joints, sometimes eliciting a whimper or yelp, that they appreciate how well a dog can mask their pain. A wagging tail, willingness to follow us on a walk, and an enthusiastic appetite are not proof of a pain-free pooch, but of a dog that will push through their discomfort to please us. Dogs with arthritis rarely cry out, unless they move or land in a way that causes sudden significant pain, and this is usually the same for humans. The difference is that we can feel our pain, so we can address it with pain relief, hot and cold compresses, physiotherapy, and rest. What we don’t want is to wait for our dogs to be in so much pain that they are no longer able to hide it.

With the vast majority of dogs over 8 years suffering from some level of arthritis, it would be safer to assume that your elderly dog is experiencing some level of joint pain, until proven otherwise.

I wouldn’t suggest doing anything that I wouldn’t do. So with that in mind, I am going to share all the things that I have done (and would like to have done) to help keep Poppy and Bailey, our 11-year-old Labradors, as comfortable as possible into retirement.

Start as you mean to proceed

If you are choosing a puppy, be informed and educated about the breed, genetics, and parents of your pup to be. Not all issues can be avoided, but being prepared for what to expect can give you a head start.

Being Labradors, we were aware that both Poppy and Bailey could suffer with joint disease, particularly hip and elbow dysplasia. Frustratingly, despite coming from a line of good hips, Bailey had quite significant hip dysplasia, but having pet insurance in place from the day we brought her home meant that she was able to have total hip replacement surgery on both hips when she was 4-5 years old, ensuring a life of good mobility and comfort.

Be proactive

Although both our labs showed no signs of mobility issues (once Bailey had recovered from her surgery, that is!), we wanted to be proactive about their joint care, and we started them on joint support supplements when they were around 5 years old. I believe that this has delayed the onset of their inevitable arthritis by a year or two.

Swimming is a fantastic way for dogs to build muscle mass and stay fit, whilst protecting their joints. Poppy and Bailey absolutely love the water, so we try to get them to the beach a couple of times a week.

Make sure your dog is getting a proper physical exam at least once a year, including a proper assessment of their joints.

Keep ‘em Lean

Labradors are notoriously greedy dogs, and keeping weight off them can be a real challenge, one that we have not always succeeded in achieving. Poppy and Bailey are both quite small labs, and we always tried to keep their weight between 55 and 60 pounds (25-27kg), but there were times when that weight crept up to 70 lbs. A leaner weight puts less strain on the joints, and although I’m not exactly the best at keeping my own weight at an ideal figure, it is my responsibility as a pet owner to make sure my dogs stay within a healthy range.

Don’t withhold pain relief

There are so many options for managing canine arthritis; so many more than even five years ago. There are

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) which have steadily improved in terms of minimizing side effects eg. Galliprant, Previcox
• Disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) eg. Cartrophen
• Immunotherapy eg. Librela

Be open to holistic treatment

The aim of holistic therapy is to treat the whole body, not just the specific disease or injury. For a dog with arthritis, a holistic treatment plan might look like this:

• A portion-controlled diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, supplemented with glucosamine, chondroitin, and other anti-inflammatory ingredients
• An exercise plan that encourages enrichment, cardiovascular function, and muscle maintenance, without putting excessive strain on the joints. One of my biggest regrets is that we used to use a ball thrower, not realizing just how much damage these handy tools can result in.
• Hydrotherapy or swimming to provide low/no impact exercise that strengthens the muscles
• Acupuncture for pain relief, as well as stimulating nerve growth factor to aid in joint and muscle recovery
• Medication or immunotherapy to target the pain and inflammation of arthritis
• Providing non-slip surfaces in the home to help your dog get up more easily, and avoid slipping over

Be Proud Your Dog Is On Pain Relief

When your vet recommends starting your dog on pain relief, they’re not doing it to hit their selling targets, they’re doing it to help your pet. Yes, we should absolutely be careful about using medications, and we should educate ourselves about the potential side effects and alternatives to the ones our vet recommends, but we shouldn’t be cautious to the point of neglect.

To me, an owner who proudly states that their elderly dog requires no pain relief is one that, in most cases, has not recognized the more subtle signs of arthritic pain. If you are worried about the possible side effects medications may have, talk to your vet about what to expect and how you can minimize those effects. Incorporating alternative therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and joint supplements can go a long way to reducing the doses of medication. I would much rather be managing the possible side effects of my dog’s medication than risk them being in pain.

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

If you’re a dog person, you might think there’s no debate at all, but you should check out Part One: Why Cats Are Better Than Dogs so you can get the full story. Many pet owners, myself included, enjoy the companionship of cats and dogs, but there are very few that would consider themselves to feel equally attached to both species. There are aspects of feline cohabitation that ailurophiles find irresistible, and dog lovers find repellant, while many cat lovers cringe at the thought of the wet tongues, daily walks, and boisterous behavior that sometimes come with canine companions.

Sharing my home with five cats and five dogs puts me in an ideal position to assess the various pros and cons of life with both, and whether it’s possible to be both a cat and dog person. So let’s start by looking at the reasons why dogs are better than cats.

Dogs Are Better Than Cats Because…

• Theirs is the very definition and embodiment of unconditional love
• You will never feel lonely if you have a dog
• They get us outside, keep us active, and help us socialize
• They are (mostly) keen to please, obedient, and readily trained
• They will alert you to danger, and even protect you (from intruders, delivery drivers, that suspicious-looking tree branch…)
• They readily adapt to your lifestyle and schedule
• They can come with you on adventures
• They are always excited to see you, whether you’ve been gone 2 weeks or 2 minutes
• Puppies!
• They have eyes that stare into your soul
• Some dog breeds shed very little
• They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and temperaments

Although the list of things that make dogs amazing is long, it’s only fair to talk about some of the downsides to canine cohabitation, even if they may seem like trivial inconveniences to dog people:

• Some slobber very little, some slobber a lot, and some slobber on EVERYTHING
• They can be noisy, boisterous, and jump on people
• Toilet training can be a real challenge for some dogs
• Some dogs shed A LOT
• They cannot be left alone for long periods
• They need to be let out to the toilet and taken for walks
• They can engage in embarrassing activities like humping and bum-scooting, usually in front of guests
• Dogs that live outside or in kennels tend to be smelly
• Behavioral problems can be challenging and even dangerous
• They can cause conflict with neighbors if barking is an issue
• Bored and frustrated dogs have been known to destroy shoes, furniture, carpets, doors, and walls

Who Identifies As A Dog Person?

Without falling victim to the sweeping generalization, I happen to believe that there is much to be gleaned about a person’s personality by whether they fall into camp dog or cat. According to no scientific research, the classic dog person:

• is more extrovert than introvert
• is comfortable in large groups
• makes friends easily
• enjoys exploring new places
• gets bored easily
• is optimistic, and always looking ahead
• likes lots of space to spread out
• likes (and may even have) cats, but doesn’t really understand them
• prefers running, lifting weights, or an aerobics class to yoga or meditation
• loves dogs

Am I a Cat Person or a Dog Person?

In Part One of this Great Debate, I indicated that I leaned towards the feline persuasion, but there are certain factors that need to be factored in. Those factors are called Ned and Fred, and before them, Potato.

I always considered myself to be a cat person, loving their independent nature, feeling privileged by their attention, and preferring a pet that doesn’t require hours of exercise. Then I discovered Chihuahuas. I mean, obviously I was aware of the breed, I just hadn’t got to know one on a personal level, until Tate entered my life. Through him, I discovered a whole new level of devotion. To me, Chihuahuas are the embodiment of all the best parts of dogs – the constant love and companionship, loyalty, affection, and outgoing personalities, along with so many appealing feline traits – compact size, low exercise demands, and the ability to be litter trained. They are the ultimate cat person’s dog.

So am I a cat person or a dog person? It turns out, I’m a Chihuahua person!

Hi, I’m Allison! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my three mixed-breed dogs from Thailand, Jelly, Lorraina, and Manic.

Countless movies and books pair a child with a dog. And why not? Dogs offer children protection, help them learn about nature, and provide loyal companionship. Children offer dogs, well, maybe not the exact same thing. It really depends on the child.

The relationship between children and dogs can be incredibly warm, but it can also be limited to that of a human and their pet. So the question is, are dogs and children a match made in heaven?

Setting Up the Meet-N-Greet

A few weeks ago, my friend Beth visited my home with her son and daughter. Her son, Charlie, was 11, and her daughter, Isabel, was 9. Now, the kids had grown up with dogs. Beth had had a dog for a few years before their children were born, so the dog that the children were used to was a senior.  I had met the dog a few times before she went over the Rainbow Bridge. She was very sweet and not very active. This dog also did not have the emotional damage my dogs carry with them (I’m looking at you, Lorraina).

• Special note: Now, I am not a parent. I want to emphasize that. I never realized how much energy it takes to entertain two children all day. Shout out to parents all over the world.

But this made me concerned that they might get reactive if the kids get too rowdy around them. My dogs did not grow up around kids. They are used to living with middle-aged and senior people. We are delightfully boring, and we want to keep it that way.

Children, on the other hand, are full of energy and excitement. How was that going to work with meeting my dogs for the first time?

When Beth and her children came to the house, I gave them a quick rundown of the dogs. I told them they were a bit shy at first, and they may bark a little bit, but they’re not angry; they’re just curious. I also told the kids how to approach the dogs properly: Kneel down and stick out their hands. Let the dogs smell them before trying to pet them.

I also told the kids that Jelly and Lorraina don’t like being hugged or overly cuddled. I did not want to get into too many details about WHY Lorraina could not handle too much physical contact—especially on her stomach. I wanted to keep the instructions simple.

I also let them know that Manic sometimes gets a little bit jumpy. Manic often gets the zoomies, and when this happens, watch out. Even though he’s less than 50 pounds, he has easily knocked me over a few times. I would hate to have one of the children injured because my rambunctious dog tackled them.

Let the Play Date Begin!

Okay, with the gentle warnings laid out, I led the kids downstairs. Thankfully, my trio seemed to understand that these were children, far less scary than unknown adults.

The dogs sniffed the kids, and they approached them just as I asked them: kneeling down and letting the dogs sniff their hands. Lorraina licked the kids’ hands. Jelly sniffed them and then walked away. Manic remained fascinated with Charlie and Isabel.

After a few minutes of introductions, Charlie wanted to test Manic’s energy level. So, he would take a running leap and land on our bed, encouraging Manic to leap on the bed next to him. Manic would never miss an opportunity to cause chaos!

I rushed into the bedroom to make sure that Manic did not leap on top of Charlie and hurt him. However, both boys were having a great time. Surprisingly, Manic got tired of jumping on the bed—but not Charlie. He kept trying for a few more minutes to get Manic to get on the bed, but my dog was over it. He looked exhausted—clearly, his energy was unmatched when pitted against an 11-year-old boy. Jelly and Lorraina simply watched in horror at the antics.

We all went out for ice cream, giving the dogs some much-needed rest. When we came back, it was Isabel’s turn to bond with the dogs. Isabel interacted with the dogs much differently than her brother. She sat on the floor with Jelly and Lorraina, gently patting them on the head and telling them how sweet they were. It was all very calm.

Then she went to jump on the bed with Manic. However, Isabel curled up next to him instead of doing a constant back-and-forth of running and jumping. He flopped down next to her and rolled on his back, accepting belly rubs with much appreciation. And there, Manic stayed for almost ten minutes, getting doted on. He was in bliss. And so was Isabel.

Energy and Cuddling: The Perfect Balance

After the children left, the dogs had mixed emotions. Lorraina seemed a bit pleased they had gone. She likes people, but I think she leans more towards adults. Jelly is particularly possessive of me, so she was happy that she did not have my attention divided anymore.

Manic missed them—at least, this is what I thought. He had gotten the perfect combination of playful ruckus and devotion. I admit that I sometimes have a limit on the amount of bouncing back and forth I can do with Manic. I am glad that he got the best of everything with Charlie and Isabel.