Blog

  • The blurry line in love of balls

    It feels like there are a lot of rules we’ve internalised as dog owners and sometimes it’s good to question them. For example, I have mixed feelings about Grace’s love of balls. On the one hand, I hear a voice in my head telling me I’m supposed to remove things that a dog feels strongly Read more

  • Every little helps when it comes to self-control

    Every little helps when it comes to self-control

    I recently met a lot of dogs of the same breed as Grace, and many of them reminded me of a younger version of her – a much more impatient one! So I wrote something for our breed’s Facebook group and thought I’d share it here too in case it’s useful for someone. Learning that they Read more

  • The existential worry of living with and loving dogs

    The existential worry of living with and loving dogs

    These are pictures taken of Nell a month before she first got sick – she looks like she is in great shape and health, or at least I had thought I had every reason to assume she was. The Saturday before her vet appointment on a Wednesday she’d done an energetic 2h walk including lots Read more

  • For the love of rabbit balls

    For the love of rabbit balls

    “Find someone who looks at you like Grace looks at a rabbit ball.” I wish I’d discovered the joys of game dummies and balls years ago – they are one of the best things I’ve ever bought for my dogs. The idea might seem a bit disgusting but… the look on the dog’s face makes Read more

  • Quick notes on THAT study about genetics and personality

    Quick notes on THAT study about genetics and personality

    In the days since the study hit the popular press, I’ve found myself writing the same things over and over in various social media discussions. While I really want to write about this properly, I know myself well enough to admit I may never get around to the meticulously crafted long-form post… So, considering that, Read more

  • Talking with dogs

    Talking with dogs

    Lots of people are currently excited about the buzzers that allow dogs to “speak”. I tried them a year ago but couldn’t persuade my dogs to use them because they already had effective ways to communicate about their most typical needs or desires. Also, the buzzers are great but you have to take them everywhere Read more