Naughty or Nice? The Dog Lover

The Dog Lover: a breed of our own. We adore our pups like they are our own flesh and blood, and we treasure those who understand this affection.  Which is why you can forever be on your Dog Lover's nice list if you choose a gift that is more for their furry companions than it is for them.

I had always planned to include the Dog Lover on the Naughty or Nice List, but a recent incident made me bump this segment up.  My friend Mallory, and her lovely pup Minnie, had a scare this week and Minnie needed emergency surgery.  She is doing much better now, but a scare like this can really rock a person to the core.  Having a sick puppy is an emotional roller coaster. You cannot understand what they need, but you can see their physical pain and combined with your pain, the overwhelming sense of worry is difficult to handle.  Mallory is the best mom in the world to Minnie, and I love that I have a friend who understands how much we love our dogs.  If you have a dog, take a moment RIGHT NOW (or when you get home) to give them an extra hug or kiss (even if that means you come home to a pile of chewed up socks).

1.

These custom dog beds come in HUNDREDS of patterns and prints, making your pup feel right at home in your home. No matter your style, preppy, vintage, urban, artsy, there is a print that will work for you. The beds come in multiple sizes and range in price depending on the final selected style (start at $35): visit the Etsy shop here for more information: Personalized Dog Beds

2.

I am obsessed with this toy! The "mustache" is attached to a durable rubber ball that your pup will look hilarious playing with (get the camera ready).  It is a great combination when a dog's toy is equally as entertaining to their human. Cute and comical always works! $12.95, Humanga Stache Dog Toy

3.

Hands down, the best treats ever.  The are made with 100% fruits and vegetables, smell delicious (flavors like Cranberry, Pumpkin & Banana, and Apple Mix), and are low in calories. Your dog will adore them and you will feel great about giving them a healthy snack to munch on. $5.95 and Fruitables are found here: Fruitable Pet Treats

4.

How perfect are these? Affectionately calling them "Pup Art". Custom dog prints that can capture your Dog Lover's pup and their unique sense of style all in one shot. $55 for one print, find more information on their Etsy shop here: Custom Dog Prints

5.

Tuffy toys are the most durable in the business. Ranging in shapes, characters, and sizes, they are built to last even the most destructive of dogs.  My Barley Bear is a chewer, to the extreme, and these are the only toys that survive a few days in our house. Every Dog Lover would appreciate one of these (ranging from $12-25): Tuffy Toys

Happy shopping!

Dog Days: Roo McGoo, the Super Pup

Roo is a super hero.  My super hero. And today, he is Barley's, too.

This morning Roo did what he does best.  My Roo is a very special dog.  He is the most loyal animal of all time.  He would much rather be by our sides then out exploring.  He hates the dark (won't even step off the deck at night), and he is protective of what he loves.  He isn't perfect, nobody (or animal) is, but he comes damn close.

So this morning before I left for work, I let Roo and Barley out in the back yard, which is completely fenced in, to run around before I left. Not even 15 seconds later I heard an extreme, high pitched yelp coming from the back.  The bark was so distressed that I immediately knew something was wrong and my stomach sank as I rushed to the back door.

When I opened the door I saw Roo still yelping on the deck and looking towards the fence that connects the back yard to the street. Somehow the fence was open and Barley was gone.

I started screaming Barley's name, as Roo continued to bark, and the two of us ran to the front yard where Barley was doing her slinky walk (her low walk/crawl she does when she knows she has done something wrong). But she was completely fine and close to home, and thanks to Roo, had not had the time to go exploring our new neighborhood (or worse).

I often forget that Barley is still a baby.  She is not even two and can often be the complete opposite of Roo: LOVES adventures, enjoys her freedom, and always wants to see things for herself. This is where they balance each other out.  Almost like a relationship. And today Roo knew immediately when his sister needed him, and was smart enough to know that he needed me to find her.

These two never stop surprising me. And I am so glad they have each other.

Much puppy love <3.

Dog Days: The 3 Best Friends

Many of you who know me, know that my all time favorite happy place is with my dogs, Roo and Barley.  While J isn't writing this post, I am positive he would say the same. The pups aren't just my pups, they are my #1.  It has always bugged me when people complain about seeing dogs on Facebook or other social media sites.  Well this isn't my Facebook, and for the record, I personally love seeing people interact with their pets.

I wanted to create a section of the blog that recaps my best friends and their lives. Because, hopefully there are other people reading this who can A. relate B. would do anything for their "pet" or C. can appreciate the relationships we form with those who have very little to say at all.

It is hard to explain what exactly these two mean to me, but through these posts and pictures, I hope to capture just how much I rely on these dogs of mine.  I rely on them for that feeling of comfort/safety, for that sense of home, and for their lack of judgement.  They never question, never judge, and never don't trust. They are 100% loyal to us, and we are 100% loyal to them.  It is a beautiful friendship, and our precious family.

So today, my friend Brooke and I took Roo and Barley, and her puppy Piper, to play at the park. Such a bittersweet moment for me, because today was amazing for all of us, and I will miss them more than I can say when we move (more on that to come). We all had a wonderful time running around and meeting new friends.

For me, I loved seeing Barley and Roo take Piper under their wing.  Piper copied their every move, and it was literally like they had been play mates for years. Barley looked at Piper like she was her little sister, which is funny because that is the same way I look at Brooke.

I know that I can't expect to meet new Brookes and Pipers in Michigan, because friends like this don't pop up in every city that you live in.  But I can hope that we are lucky enough to meet someone and some dog a quarter as great as these two. Now no more on moving tonight because it's a little sad for me to think about, so on to the pictures!

Just my niece Piper and my main squeeze, Roo

Puppies at Play

Brother/Sister Mayhem

Our New Friends

Model Puppy

Smiling Friends

New Friends in all Shapes & Sizes

Beautiful Afternoon

Running Roo Bear

"I think I like you"

Baby Bear

The Dog Days will continue to capture these adventures.

More updates on 7 & 7 to come this week:

• Fall Dressing
• The 7's are back
• New beauty updates

Have a great week all!