April 2025 – Pet Momma

Stanley’s Spring Update: Snuggles, Hikes, and BarkBoxes

One New Trader Joe’s Mini Tote – and one Stanley!

🐾 Puppy Love Is Real
What can I say about Stanley? I love him SO much! I just want to spend all my time with him — and honestly, I kind of do. He’s doing so well. Potty training isn’t perfect, but I’m really happy with his progress. He consistently uses his indoor potty pads, and now that the weather is warming up, he’s starting to get more comfortable going outside too.

Nighttime outdoor potty trips are still a work in progress, but we’re easing into it little by little.

🌅 Our Daily Routine
Stanley’s settled nicely into a routine. Mornings start with a trip outside. He does his business and sniffs around, and when he’s done, he runs to the stairs to head back in — which brings me to the next point…

He’ll go up the stairs, no problem. But going down? Absolutely not. We’re still working on that one.

I’ve started using a button to teach him to tell me when he wants to go out. So far, I’m the only one using it — but hey, progress is progress!

🐱 Cats, Crates, and Chaos (Mostly at Dinner)
Stanley is slowly learning to coexist with the cats. He still barks at them, but if I say “leave it,” he’ll stop and come to me — a big win!

Dinner time, though? That’s another story. He gets very stressed around the cats when food is involved and turns into six pounds of snapping, growling teeth. Right now, he goes in his crate while we eat dinner. During lunch, he’s calmer and usually just barks a bit, so he stays out then. Still working on it.

🐕 Walks, Work, and Weekend Adventures
He spends most of the morning in my lap while I work, then we take a mid-day walk around the yard or neighborhood — or both, depending on the day. If work gets busy, we keep it short and go out again later.

Stanley’s still on three meals a day and staying on the slim side, so keeping him well-fed is a priority.

Tired out after his first Food Truck Trip!

This weekend, we had some fun firsts:

On Saturday, we took him to a local food truck pod for lunch. He was a little unsure of his surroundings but did great — no barking, and he even napped on the bench while we ate.
On Sunday, he went on his first hike with us. It was a short trail (about 1.5 miles), and I expected to carry him. Nope! He walked the whole way — even jumped over a big log like a pro.
He’s not totally sure about other dogs yet, but he’s learning.

🎾 Evenings and Sleepy Snuggles
After dinner, we usually play fetch in the living room until he tires out. Then it’s snuggles on the couch until bedtime. He’s still sleeping in a crate at night, and that’s going smoothly, so I’m sticking with it for now.

📚 Training and Playgroups Coming Up
In just over a week, Stanley starts his basic manners class, and he’ll also be attending a small dog playgroup. May is shaping up to be a busy (and exciting!) month for him!

🍽️ Food Update: The Final Choice
I’ve tested a few food brands with him, and here’s the verdict:

Sundays and Pet’s Table (air-dried): Total pass. Not interested. He does like the fresh/frozen Pet’s Table food, but it’s expensive, and I don’t want the hassle of frozen food.

Spot and Tango (UnKibble): He’ll snack on it occasionally but doesn’t love it.

Happy Howl: The clear winner! It’s shelf-stable, human-grade, easy to serve, and he devours it. No freezing, no fuss, and way more economical than some of the other fresh options. Another bonus is that their customer service has been outstanding!

📦 Surprise Incoming: BarkBox!
Don’t tell Stanley, but I caved and ordered him a BarkBox subscription. He loves plush toys and theirs are just too cute. Our first box (plus a few “extras” — oops) is already on the way. I’ll report back on how he likes it!

💛 Feeling Grateful
I’m honestly over the stress of the puppy stage. Stanley is fitting right into our lives and routine. He’s everything I hoped for in a little dog — sweet, playful, snuggly, adventurous. I’m so thankful this tiny guy is part of our family.

Have you been through the puppy stage recently? Got tips for managing food aggression or teaching stair confidence? I’d love to hear what worked for you — drop your thoughts in the comments!

Fresh Food Win for Stanley

As much as I want to stick with a shelf-stable food, I have to admit — Stanley really likes the fresh food from The Pets Table, even though it comes frozen. And honestly? It’s kind of adorable.

The packaging is great. The box arrived with a matching food storage container and measuring scoop, plus clear feeding guidelines and product info. Everything feels thoughtfully put together and made a great first impression.

I was worried the frozen format might be a hassle, but it’s actually been easier to use than I expected. I just move one of the frozen packs to the fridge overnight, and by morning, it’s ready to scoop and serve. I’ve been adding a little warm water before serving to make sure Stanley stays hydrated, and he absolutely devours it.

It’s definitely a bit pricier than some of the other options I’ve tried — like Happy Howl, Sundays, and Top Shelf Dog — but if Stanley keeps eating it this enthusiastically, it might be worth the splurge. They do also have the air-dried food which we have, but Stanley hasn’t tried it yet. I’ll update when he has.

That said, the main drawback of frozen food for me is travel. It’s harder to hand off to a sitter or bring on trips compared to shelf-stable options.

Not everything has been a win. Sundays air-dried food is turning out to not be Stanley’s favorite. Even when I leave it out for free-choice snacking, he just doesn’t touch it. On the other hand, he does like Spot and Tango’s UnKibble, but I still find myself leaning toward wet or fresh food options.

We haven’t received our Top Shelf Dog shipment yet, but I’m hopeful. Right now, the decision may come down to Happy Howl vs. Top Shelf Dog. Both are economical, healthy, shelf-stable, and — most importantly — Stanley likes Happy Howl, and I’m guessing Top Shelf Dog will be similar.

What are you feeding your dog right now? Any favorite brands or food types that work well for picky eaters or small dogs? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Spreading Joy, One Puppy Snuggle at a Time

Lately, I’ve been thinking about training Stanley to be a service dog — or maybe a therapy dog. I didn’t plan on it when I adopted him, but the more we go out together, the more it feels like the right path.

Everywhere we go, Stanley brings smiles.

At the chiropractor’s office, I met a man who recently lost his dog. He was quiet at first, but as he pet Stanley and we talked about rescues, his whole demeanor softened. Sharing Stanley with him felt incredibly meaningful.
At a local store, one woman nearly cried as she got the chance to snuggle him — something about his tiny body and calm nature just got to her.
At town hall, he became an instant celebrity. The women behind the counter lit up, eager to share stories of their own dogs.

Stanley may be small, but the joy he brings is huge.

I love seeing the way people connect with him. It’s more than just “he’s cute” — there’s something healing about the way he climbs into a lap or presses into someone’s chest with total trust. It reminds people of their own pets, their memories, and their capacity to love.

That’s why I’m seriously considering training him to be a certified therapy dog. I want to visit nursing homes, hospitals, anywhere he can bring comfort. If there’s a way to do that, we’re going to figure it out.

He’s brought so much love into my life already — I’d love to help him share that with others.

Would you be interested in following Stanley’s journey if I start training him to become a therapy or service dog? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with therapy animals!

Stanley’s First Week: Milestones, Mishaps & Meals

It’s hard to believe Stanley has only been here a week. He’s already had a bunch of firsts:

First trip up the stairs
First walk down the street
First time finding his potty pad on his own
First bath
First time playing with toys

He’s doing really well overall, and I keep having to remind myself of how new this all is — especially when I feel frustrated.

Potty Progress & Outdoor Adventures (or lack thereof)

Stanley still wants nothing to do with the outside world, and honestly, I don’t blame him. It’s been cold, rainy, and this morning we even had snow flurries. He still has occasional accidents indoors, but he did make it to his potty pad all by himself today, which feels like a win.

He’s starting to learn our daily routine:

Wake up
Potty pad
Breakfast
Play and training time
Morning nap in my lap while I work

If I’m sitting, he wants to be on me. I’m sure that’ll get old at some point, but for now, I love it.

We’re still doing three meals a day, with more play, training, and at least one trip outside — even though he’s not a fan yet. Long term, I definitely want him going outside to potty; I don’t plan on keeping pads in the house forever.

Feeding Stanley: Finding the Right Fit

Right now, I’m transitioning him to Happy Howl, a shelf-stable, human-grade wet food. It’s moist like canned food but easier to store and serve. I love that it’s pre-portioned with measurement markings on the box — and it even came with a big metal serving spoon, which is oddly charming.

I’ve also tried:

Sundays: Jerky-like texture. Stanley likes it as a treat but doesn’t eat it in larger amounts.
Spot & Tango: Their “UnKibble” is air-dried. I gave him a couple of pieces to sample and he devoured them. Definitely something to explore further.

I just ordered another shelf-stable option called Top Shelf Dog. Heads up that their website seems to work much better in Chrome than Safari. For Stanley’s size, it should cost about $17.50 per week, compared to $21.25 for Happy Howl, so it’s a bit more economical. We’ll see how he likes it.
I’m also still waiting on my first shipment from The Pets Table, which offers both fresh and air-dried options.

Stanley’s turning out to be a bit of a picky eater, so I think wet food will likely be the best long-term option. I’ll probably add a high-quality dry food he can eat free-choice. Right now, I’m leaving out the bland prescription dry food I got before I adopted him. He’s not excited about it, but maybe he’ll nibble.

Happy Howl seems to be out of stock on their dry food right now, but I’d definitely consider trying it if we stick with their wet food.

The Ideal Setup?

In a perfect world, I’d love to find one company that offers both a shelf-stable “fresh” wet food and a quality dry option. If Stanley continues to like Happy Howl, I might pair that or Top Shelf Dog, with Sundays or Spot & Tango as a secondary option. Another route could be using Happy Howl/Top Shelf Dog for his main meals and supplementing with a premium dry food I can grab as needed, without relying on a subscription.

Ollie does offer both fresh and dry foods, which is appealing — but I’m not thrilled about dealing with frozen meals.

I signed up for a free puppy pack from Kinship. It has some coupons, samples, and info all in a cute box.

I plan to donate most of it to the local shelter, and I’m going to pick up the free bag of Iams puppy food. Not sure if I’ll keep it as extra for Stanley or just donate it to the shelter as well.

If you’ve been through the puppy stage or have a picky eater at home, I’d love to hear what worked for you — drop your tips, food recs, or just tell me your favorite first-week puppy memory in the comments!

Dog Food Overload: Where Do You Even Start?

Dog food. How do you pick? There are so many options out there—canned, dry, fresh, frozen, air-dried, shelf-stable… and honestly, I had no clue how to decide.

My vet did recommend going with one of the fresher food options, especially since Stanley is so tiny. He said that for a small dog, the cost of high-quality food is a lot more manageable, and the nutritional quality is usually better.

So, in the spirit of this blog, I’ve ordered four different sample packs to test out.

1. Sundays for Dogs

This one looks like jerky—very minimal prep, human-grade ingredients, and totally shelf-stable. I love the convenience. For a Stanley-sized dog, this food would cost about $18.75 per week.

2. Spot & Tango (UnKibble)

I added this one after seeing it pop up on a few “top food” lists. It’s a dry but minimally processed food they call “UnKibble.” I ordered their Turkey and Sweet Potato recipe.
Price: $16.50 per week—the most affordable of the four.

3. The Pet’s Table

This brand offers both fresh food and air-dried options. I ordered a combo pack with:

Chicken Casserole with Green Beans (fresh)
Chicken & Sweet Potato, and Salmon & Whitefish with Pumpkin (air-dried)

They also throw in a free bag of chicken bite treats with every order as long as you stay subscribed.
Cost: $21.70/week, with slight discounts if you buy 8 weeks at a time or tweak the fresh/dry mix.

4. Happy Howl

I love the idea behind this one—it’s fresh food that stays shelf-stable until opened, so only one box at a time needs to go in the fridge. I ordered their variety pack with:

Grandma’s Beef Stew
Tasty Turkey Feast
Lamb Delight

This one comes in at $21.25/week for Stanley. Price may shift a bit based on the flavors I choose long-term.

The Plan (and the Problem)

Now that I’ve ordered all four, I need to create a smart plan to test them—without upsetting Stanley’s little tummy. Switching foods too fast is never a good idea, so we’ll go slow.

What am I looking for?

High-quality ingredients
Convenience
Something Stanley is excited to eat
And all else being equal? I’ll go with the more affordable option.

I’d also love to try Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog down the line, but these four stood out first. I originally planned to test just three—but Spot & Tango’s ingredients, price, and single protein per flavor really appealed to me.

What He’s Eating Now

Right now, Stanley is on Dr. Harvey’s, a mix-you-add-your-own-protein-to food that worked wonderfully for Cali. It was a great option for her kidney issues—customizable, tasty, and way better than the expensive prescription foods she refused to eat.

But for puppies, Dr. Harvey’s recommends adding protein, oil, plain yogurt, and cottage cheese—a little more involved than I’d like. It’s great food, but not the simplest option when there are other fresh choices that come ready to go.

Let’s Compare Together!

The samples should start arriving next week, and I’ll be blogging our journey as Stanley and I go through each one.

Do you feed your dog a fresh or air-dried food? I’d love to hear what you’re using and how it’s working for you. Drop your favorites (or fails!) in the comments—I’m always open to suggestions!

Meet Stanley!

“Henry” the rescue pup is officially settling into his forever home—now with his real name: Stanley! We had a long list of potential names before we brought him home, and Stanley wasn’t even on it. But after trying all our favorites and not finding the right fit, my husband suddenly said, “Stanley!”—and we all just knew. Somehow, it fits him perfectly.

First Vet Visit

Stanley had his first vet visit on Monday, and overall he got a great report. The vet was genuinely impressed with his personality—he couldn’t believe how sweet and calm this little guy is. While he’s definitely underweight, there were no signs of serious malnourishment. His heart, lungs, joints, and everything else looked great.

We did a fecal test and found out he has Coccidia and Giardia—not unexpected for a puppy in his situation. Thankfully, we caught both early, and he hasn’t shown any symptoms yet. I’ll be picking up meds for him today, and both parasites should clear up without much trouble.

Stanley, the Social Butterfly

I’ve had so much fun showing Stanley off. He came with me to get the car serviced and calmly sat in my lap the whole time. He’s already met one of my friends (and her cat) when we picked up a crate, and he even attended a three-hour jewelry-making class with me!

He was a hit—passed from lap to lap, giving out puppy kisses like candy. My teacher loved him and carried him around for half the class. When he wasn’t being doted on, he relaxed quietly in his carrier and chewed on his toy. Stanley clearly just wants to be near people. Even when I sit on the floor to play, he often brings his toy back to my lap to chew. He’s a total snugglebug.

Feeding & Food Plans

The vet recommended feeding him small, frequent meals, and Stanley seems very happy with that schedule. Right now, he’s eating a bland prescription food I started when he arrived, but I’m transitioning him to Dr. Harvey’s, which I still have from Cali. It’s great food—customizable and high-quality—but it does require adding cooked protein and mixing it yourself.

For a puppy who doesn’t need a specialized diet, that feels like more work than necessary. I’ve ordered a trial of The Pets Table, and I’m planning to review a few fresh food options in the coming months. Dr. Harvey’s has been great, but there are so many easier, excellent choices out there now.

Training Progress

I’m following Zac George’s positive reinforcement methods for early training and really liking the results so far. I’ve signed Stanley up for a small dog playgroup and a basic manners class, both starting next month. Until then, we’re building a solid foundation at home.

I’ve also found ChatGPT super helpful for quick, specific training tips—like how to discourage barking at the cats (work in progress!).

Stanley is eager to please but very picky about treats, which surprised me considering his background. He seems to like dehydrated meat the most, so I’ve stocked up. I’m trying to keep spending in check, but… puppies need a lot! He’s also getting a growing wardrobe of sweatshirts—he’s clearly still adjusting to the cold New England weather, and his underweight frame doesn’t help.

Dinner Table Drama

His first night home, he was desperately trying to jump onto the dinner table—absolutely obsessed with our food. For now, we’ve implemented a strict no table food policy, which may evolve later, but right now it’s necessary. The good news? He’s learning fast.

Just last night, I was able to sit on the couch with him in my lap, eating a snack while he slept. That’s huge progress in less than a week!

The Real Talk

I’m happy. I’m exhausted. I don’t regret getting this puppy—but I also knew better. I knew I didn’t want to start over with a puppy.

And yet… here I am.

The work is real. The fatigue is real. But the rewards? Absolutely worth it.

Let’s Hear Your Puppy Stories!

If you’ve brought home a puppy recently—or remember the chaos and cuteness from years ago—I’d love to hear your stories! What worked for you when it came to training, feeding, or just surviving those early days?

Also, if you’ve found a fresh dog food brand you love, especially one that’s puppy-appropriate and convenient, I’m all ears. Stanley and I are on the hunt for the right fit, and your recommendations could make a big difference.

Drop your stories, tips, and food recs in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!