#dogs – Pet Momma

Agility Diaries: One Week to Go!

One week from today, Stanley and I will most likely have finished at least one run of our very first agility trial. I cannot believe it is only a week away. Yikes!

I also cannot believe I signed up for a fourth run. At first, I entered three games and no Standard agility, but then I realized that a Level 1 Standard course should be a very reasonable challenge for us. In class, we are usually working on much harder courses—often Level 5—so adding the excitement, stress, and energy of competition to a Level 1 course feels like something we can attempt.

Of course, we will see if Stan agrees!

Four runs may end up being a little much, but I can always scratch one if he seems tired or overwhelmed. I could also use one of the runs as practice time: get into the ring, work together, and make it a positive experience without putting too much pressure on either of us. We will see how the schedule goes and how we are both feeling.

We had class again last night, but the weather did not cooperate, so we were indoors. It was not Stanley’s best night. He has not been indoors in a while, and I think all the new smells, close quarters, and dogs hanging around near the course were very distracting for him.

His first run was pretty awful, honestly. But after that, he started to figure it out and listened much better. That is what matters. The new start-line routine—simply putting him down and going—is still working fairly well. I would still love to eventually have a reliable start-line stay, but with competition only a week away, I think it is more important to use what is working now. We can keep refining the stay after the trial.

Today there is no class, and it is absolutely beautiful outside. I am hoping to make time this afternoon to set up a small course in the yard and do a little practice. I keep the jumps very low so we can work on focus and discipline without putting unnecessary strain on his little body.

Tomorrow should be a fun adventure. A little roadtrip, and we are going to watch some of our friends compete, which will be great experience for me—and good exposure for Stanley—without asking him to do much physical work. On Sunday, I am hoping to find time for some simple obedience practice.

Then next week, we only have class on Wednesday. Maybe I can get out to the outdoor course for a little practice Thursday evening. Some walks and obedience practice on the off days.

And then Friday… yikes!

Stanley and I are definitely not going into this trial expecting perfection. My goal is to have fun, keep him feeling confident, and hopefully finish at least one run together. Everything else will be a bonus. This first trial is about learning what competition feels like and celebrating how far my little guy has already come.

Much better alternative to the Pupsicle — and way cheaper

We started with the blue Pupsicle and while my dog Stanley loved what was inside, I couldn’t stand the toy itself. I could never get it open, even after trying the coconut-oil trick people recommend online — no luck. Eventually I gave the whole thing away, freezer tray included, and picked up this orange toy instead.

Big improvement. It’s noticeably harder but much easier to open than the Pupsicle. I haven’t tried it with frozen treats yet, but I did put a shelf stable Pupsicle type treat in it and it worked out great. I need to make some frozen treats to try.

I’ve been using bigger chunks of dried liver (the hole is a bit large for regular kibble, so stick to bigger pieces). It comes with two freeze compartments so you can make your own frozen treats too; I plan to use baby food mixed with kibble, peanut butter,

Sassy, Classy, and BadAssy!

That’s how I’m attacking this upcoming year! Thanks to Skye for the motivation.

I’ve added a bunch of stuff to my eBay listings, there are over a 100 listings now including handmade jewelry, crystal bracelets, and still lots of books. I’m hoping to add some pet products at some point, but still experimenting and learning how it all works.

Cats

The cats are doing well. I am always grateful for the everyday joy that comes with sharing life with them.

Bean’s fur is growing back quickly—possibly a little too quickly for my liking! I am hoping he makes it through the winter without needing another shave, but for now, it is nice to see his coat filling back in.

Puck is, of course, still Puck: sweet, lovable, cuddly, and always ready to make himself comfortable nearby. Some things never change, and that is one of the best things about him.

One thing I need to improve on is brushing their teeth more regularly. It is easy to let little routines slide when everyone seems happy and healthy, but dental care is important too. So that is my reminder to myself: make tooth-brushing a more consistent part of our cat-care routine. If I need motivation, remember the cost of a vet dental cleaning!

Hector

Hector is her usual cranky self. Yesterday, while I was on a Zoom call, she was screaming, whistling, chirping, and banging toys in the background. Thankfully, I do not think anyone else on the call could hear her!

First Agility Trial!

Stanley and I have been working hard, and I officially signed us up for our very first agility trial. I am so excited! My only real goal is to show up and experience what a real trial is like. If we actually finish a class, that will be a wonderful bonus.

It is a three-day trial, and on the first day we are doing three game classes: Jumpers, Colors, and Full House. We are entering the easiest level in each class, and little Stan only has to jump 8 inches.

Jumpers is a set course made up of jumps and tunnels. We will need to complete the course within a certain amount of time—hopefully without going off course, refusing obstacles, or knocking down jumps.

Colors has two courses set up in the arena at the same time. We get to choose which course to complete, which gives us the opportunity to find the one that works best for us.

Full House sounds like it will be especially fun. There will be a variety of obstacles set up around the arena, but no assigned course. Each obstacle is worth a different number of points, and we will need to earn a set point total within the allotted time. A jump might be worth one point, while an A-frame or weave poles could be worth five points. A tunnel or tire jump may be worth three points. We can choose the order in which we do the obstacles, so if Stan decides a tunnel sounds more appealing than a jump, that is completely fine—as long as we meet the requirements!

I have also signed us up for another Jumpers class on the third day. I am thinking it might be good to give Stanley a day of rest and then return to the trial atmosphere while it is still fresh in his little mind. Of course, I can always skip the Sunday class if he seems like he needs a break.

Back to agility class tonight! We will be doing lots of practicing over the next few weeks as we get ready for our first competition.

How’s your summer going? What are you doing to keep your pets busy and engaged? Let me know!

Exciting News!

It’s time to declutter! I’ve been going through my house and selling off a bunch of books and other items. It all started a couple of months ago when I had to pay for two cat dentals in less than two months. Needed some extra cash, and selling off a bunch of stuff I wasn’t using seemed like a good ideaand, I discovered that I’m enjoying reselling!

Finding items, photographing, listing, packaging and mailing. It’s been fun, so I’m going to keep doing it!

I’m mentioning it here because the name of my business is now PetMomma’s Picks! You can find me on ebay.

Right now there is a huge variety of books out there, Stephen King, horse books, and just novels. Feel free to take a look!

Sales are going to help fund my pet expenses and new obsession with Agility, and I’m donating part of my sales to my local animal shelter 😉 Hoping to add more pet related products as time goes on. What would you like to see me selling?

Saying Goodbye, a Sick Pup, and a Tricky Cat: Never a Dull Moment

Happy 4th of July!

A little sad news to start today’s post: I lost my bearded dragon last week. She’d been slowing down for months, pickier about food, sleeping more, and less active, and I knew she was getting up there in age. I got her about eight years ago when she was already around five. I’ll miss her watching me work and tapping on the glass whenever she wanted to come out.

Stanley picked up kennel cough while boarding during my daughter’s wedding, so he had to sit out our 4th of July trip. He’s doing fine now, and thankfully a friend stayed at the house to take care of him and the rest of the pets, I think she enjoyed the relaxing weekend. His quarantine ends this week, so we’re excited to get back to agility after missing two classes.

Hector seems happy the foster bird went back to the shelter, though I’ll admit I loved watching the two of them interact.

The cats are doing okay. Bean’s haircut is growing in nicely. My son’s cat’s urinary issues have flared up again: he’s peed on a new bed and the couch several times despite closed doors and a tarp. It’s rough since he’s such a sweet cat, but we may need to try anxiety medication. For now it’s back on the calming prescription food.

Never a dull moment!

Little Things Count

Stanley has been keeping me busy lately with agility classes, tricks, manners, and plenty of walks. Last week was the final class of this agility session, and we celebrated with agility games. The basic rules were simple and a little chaotic: race around the obstacles any way you want within a set time, but hit certain required obstacles along the way for points.

Some weeks, I can’t even take Stan off leash because the smells on the course and the other dogs around the room are just too much for his little brain. Other times, he locks in with me and we have a great run. Last week was one of those great nights. I was a little overwhelmed trying to plan a path that would both rack up points and play to his strengths, but Stanley absolutely rose to the occasion. He stayed with me, followed my cues, and even ran the weave poles. Tunnel, A‑frame, jumps, tire jump – he did it all, off leash and focused. I was so proud of him, and I really feel like all the focus training we’ve been doing is finally starting to pay off.

As thrilled as I am about his big “game night” success, I’m realizing how much the tiny, everyday moments matter just as much. The other day I came home, let him out of his crate, did the usual potty break, and then hit a wall. I just didn’t feel great and really needed a nap. Of course, as soon as I lay down, Stanley decided it was playtime. He bounced on the bed, nipped at my hands, and dug at the blankets while I silently begged the universe for twenty minutes of quiet.

I gave him a gentle pat and told him I needed to rest. A minute later, he hopped off the bed. I figured he’d found something else to get into, but instead he came back carrying a chew toy. He settled in next to me, happily chewed for a few minutes, and then curled up against me and fell asleep. Self‑soothing, respecting my need for a break, and still taking care of his own.

That tiny moment felt just as big as his perfect off‑leash agility run. It’s easy to celebrate the flashy stuff – the tunnels, the weave poles, the game nights – but the little choices he’s starting to make on his own are what really show me how far he’s come. I love this little dog so much, and I’m trying to remember that in training and in life, the little things really do count!

Bean also had a big day recently with a dental cleaning, and I’m so relieved that all went well. The vet did end up removing one tooth; the root was pretty badly damaged, so they think he must have injured it at some point and that it was probably causing him pain. He got injections of antibiotics and pain medication while he was there, which meant no meds for me to juggle at home – such a gift. He came home a little sleepy but comfortable, and I’m grateful we caught the problem and that he should be feeling so much better now. Hoping for a break from large vet bills for a bit!

Bean’s tooth for the curious:

Stanley’s Agility Joy (And a Few Training Bumps)

Stanley and I have been trying a little bit of everything lately: manners and obedience, some scent work, and now agility. Agility is, by far, the clear favorite. He lights up as soon as we pull into the parking lot, and even though he’s still distracted and wiggly, we can now get through a small course off leash.

We technically finished this round of classes last night. There is one more class on the schedule, but we’ll have to miss it because I’ll be traveling. I’m already counting the days until we can start again at the end of April.

What Stanley Loves (And Doesn’t) On Course
Stanley has strong opinions about obstacles. Tunnels are pure joy — he charges through them with his tail up like he’s on a mission. The balance board? Not his favorite, but he’ll tolerate it if there are good cookies involved.

Last night, for the first time, he decided he really did not like the A‑frame. He slipped a couple of times on the way down, and I’m pretty sure his slightly-long claws aren’t helping with traction. He has a vet appointment on Monday, so I’ll make sure we get those nails trimmed and then reintroduce the A‑frame slowly, with lots of encouragement.

The Zoomies Heard ’Round the Ring
The best moment from class last night might be one I wish I had on video. We were practicing having the dogs stay while handlers moved ahead to start the course. Stanley’s version of this was… creative.

He tried so hard to stay with me, and after a few attempts, he just couldn’t contain himself. He got the zoomies, took off, and started sprinting the perimeter of the room. He greeted every dog, did a few jumps, dove into the tunnel, and then did more jumps on his own. He was absolutely thrilled with himself.

Everyone in class was laughing, and of course he soaked up the attention. It was one of those moments where training and pure joy collide, and even though it wasn’t what we were supposed to be doing, it reminded me why I love this sport with him.

In the meantime, we’ll be focusing on some basic manners before the next session starts: staying, waiting, and learning that sometimes we watch quietly instead of doing all the things all at once!

Big Plans: A Local Agility Club
To keep the momentum going, I’ve applied to join a local agility club, and I’m super excited about it. My current instructor is on the board and says it’s a great group of people. They get together at different locations to practice and even go to competitions together.

I love the idea of being around more like‑minded dog people and having a community that understands why we get so excited about tunnels and weave poles. I’m really looking forward to meeting new friends — for both me and Stanley.

Real Life At Home: Crates, Poops, and Other Pets
Outside of class, Stanley is still very much a work in progress. The good news is that he almost never has accidents in the house anymore. The not‑so‑good news is that he still sometimes poops in his crate. It’s become one of those habits I’m not sure I’ll ever completely break, but we’re not giving up yet. Maybe once the weather gets less frigid?

I’m also really looking forward to some warm weather and being able to work with him outside. A little sunshine, more space, and fewer winter distractions will be good for both of us.

The rest of the crew is doing well. Hector is her cranky old self, happily destroying new toys and methodically deconstructing any cardboard box that dares to enter the house. Lizard had a lovely soak in the sink today, and the cats were very entertained watching the whole process.

So that’s where we are right now: a small dog who thinks tunnels are the best thing ever, a human trying to remember that progress is never a straight line, and a house full of pets keeping life interesting while we wait for spring.

The Day AI Solved Stanley’s Picky Eating Problem 🐶 – I Hope!

I knew AI had quietly become useful in my daily life — but I didn’t expect it to help me crack Stanley’s food drama.

Since we got him at the end of March, I’ve tried everything. All the fancy fresh foods:

If it was fresh, expensive, and highly recommended, I probably ordered it.

Eventually, I landed on Happy Howl, a shelf-stable wet food with better ingredients than typical canned food. Stanley ate it happily for a couple of months. Feeling confident, I bought a full case.

And within days of that case arriving, Stanley decided he was done.

We paused. We retried. Nothing. I’ll likely donate the rest to a local shelter.

Out of desperation, I grabbed Fresh Pet at the grocery store. Stanley loved it — but the quality isn’t great, and after a couple of weeks he was shockingly gassy. Not ideal.

At the same time, I was free-feeding Science Diet Small & Mini Sensitive Stomach and Science Diet Oral Care, thinking that if he didn’t want the fancy stuff, he could eat dry food.

Enter AI (and a Reality Check)

Frustrated, I laid the whole situation out for ChatGPT. Its advice was simple and honestly relieving:

Stop trying so hard.

No more juggling fresh foods. No more expensive, high-maintenance meals. Switch to a high-quality dry food and stick with it.

The recommendation was Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate. I had never heard of this brand, but I’ll research.

I was skeptical — it’s “just kibble” — but the nutrition checked out. So I ordered it.

It arrived yesterday. I gave Stanley a few pieces.

He inhaled them.

This morning, I offered a small mix of what he’d been eating (including a little Fresh Pet) plus the new food. Stanley ate all of the Fresh Pet and all of the N&D.

🎉 Woot.

The New Plan

No more free-feeding
Two meals a day
Slow transition off everything else
Eventually: just the N&D

This is what you get, buddy. Like it or not.

Opinion: Sometimes picky eating isn’t about the food — it’s about too many options. Simpler really can be better.

Where I’m Buying Food Now

I’ve always ordered pet food from Amazon using Subscribe & Save — easy and automatic. But I couldn’t find this specific food there, so I ordered from Chewy.

After doing a quick comparison, Chewy turned out to be cheaper for some pet items, but not all. I’ll keep buying cat food from Amazon, but I’ve moved Stanley’s new food — and a few other items — to Chewy.

I’ve also been using ChatGPT to help build a dental care plan for the cats (especially Puck post-dental) and for Stanley. More on that soon.

If you’ve lived with a picky eater, I’d love to hear what finally worked for you.

Pet Updates: Progress, Experiments, and Winter Energy

It’s been a stretch of small updates, experiments, and learning curves — the kind of weeks that don’t feel dramatic, but definitely add up.

Stanley: Chews, Snow, and Big Feelings 🐶
I’m still on the hunt for safe, long-lasting chews for Stanley. The coffee wood “bone” is… fine. He likes it, but it does create small fragments, so it’s strictly a supervised-only chew. The pig ear was a bigger success — it didn’t last forever, but it lasted a few days, which feels like a win. I’ve heard good things about olive wood, so that may be next.

No idea what happened to this bone – disappeared very quickly!

Stanley is also not a fan of snow, but he’s learning to sprint outside, do his business, and come right back in. He will still choose to poop in his crate if he gets the chance, but the good news is that he’s not having accidents in the house.

Rubber mat in the snow has definitely been helpful

I do still have a BarkPotty set up in the garage. At the moment, Stanley’s approach is to sniff it carefully… then sit on it. He clearly doesn’t understand the potty part yet, but we’ll see if that changes with time.

Missing agility last week because of the snow left him a bit stir-crazy, so I’m exploring options like small dog playdates with the right dog and owner. It might be a little unconventional, but it could be great if I find the right match.

Puck: A Dental and a Whole New Cat 🐱
Puck had his dental and did great — though he ended up needing five teeth removed. The anesthesia hit him hard the first night, but by the next day he was back to normal… maybe even better than before. He’s been purring, snuggling, and clearly more comfortable, which makes me think those teeth may have been bothering him for quite a while. I’m just grateful he’s feeling good now.

Catlink Update: Two Boxes, Two Happy Cats 🐱
The open-top Catlink litter box experiment continues at my son’s house. It took a couple of weeks, but his cats are finally using it consistently.
Interestingly, one cat prefers the closed automatic box, while the other uses the open-top version, so he now has two automatic boxes and two happy cats. The open box isn’t self-cleaning as well as hoped yet, so he’s experimenting with different litters and adjusting the cleaning delay to give clumps more time to dry. If anyone has any ideas to help the cleaning process, let me know.

Hector & The Dragon: Very On Brand 🦜🦎
Hector is thriving — happily destroying boxes and whistling away. I showed her the snow from the warmth of inside, and she was completely unimpressed. I’ve also started toweling her for snuggles, and I think she actually enjoys it. Getting her more comfortable with handling feels like a good goal.

The dragon is doing well too and has been in and out of brumation, which is unusual for some dragons but very typical for her. She’ll disappear for a few days, then reappear, and repeat that cycle all winter.

Sitters, Boarding, and Trust 🏡

I’m also on the hunt for a new house/pet sitter — someone to check on the cats, Hector, and the dragon when we travel. I really like the woman I’ve used before, but she’s expensive, and I’m wondering if there’s someone else I’d feel just as good about at a lower cost. I reached out to a couple of recommendations today, and one of them may also offer in-home dog boarding, which I’m exploring as another option.

None of this feels dramatic — just steady care, adjustments, and paying attention. That’s kind of how most good pet care looks.

I’d love to hear from you:

What are you doing to keep your pets active?
Have you found a safe, long-lasting dog chew you trust?
How do you find a kennel or pet sitter you truly feel good about?
Share your tips in the comments — I’m always learning.

A Scary Saturday Night (and a Very Good Outcome)

Saturday night was not how I planned to spend the weekend.

Earlier that morning, I gave Stanley his Sentinel heartworm pill — one that had originally been prescribed for our old dog, Cali. I had checked with our vet ahead of time and was told there was no reason to throw the medication away as long as it wasn’t expired and Stanley had reached the appropriate weight range. I believed he had.

At first, everything seemed fine. But by dinnertime, Stanley wouldn’t eat and was unusually quiet. A couple of hours later, when we got home after being out, it was clear something was very wrong.

He barely got up to greet us. I carried him upstairs and noticed he was wobbly, shaky, and clearly off balance. He was holding his ears strangely, staring at the couch but unable or unwilling to jump up. He wandered aimlessly, almost like he was drunk or disoriented, and still refused food.

My son and I did some quick research, and everything pointed to the same answer: vet immediately. Thankfully, I had just gotten pet insurance — and off to the emergency vet we went.

The ER Visit

Stanley was taken back right away. After an exam, we waited for about an hour while he sat wrapped in a blanket on my lap, unusually calm and quiet — too out of it to even be nervous.

When the vet came in, she told us his vitals were all normal. She asked detailed questions about what he might have gotten into, and the only unusual thing we could identify was the heartworm pill.

She walked us through our options:

Hospitalize him overnight with monitoring and bloodwork, or assume a medication reaction and treat him with subcutaneous fluids and an anti-nausea medication, then send him home if I was comfortable monitoring him.

Given that his vitals were stable and I could be with him all night, we chose treatment and brought him home. I didn’t want to leave him.

The Aftermath

Stanley slept curled up against me all night. I barely slept — waking up often to check on him — but he rested peacefully. The next morning, he was still quiet, but he did eat breakfast.

By Sunday night, he was acting like himself again: playful, alert, and eating normally.

I checked in with our regular vet and also contacted the heartworm medication manufacturer to report what happened. What makes this especially confusing is that the medication he reacted to did not contain the additional dewormer — that ingredient is actually in the medication he’s taken before without any issues. At this point, I’ve thrown out the remaining pills and won’t be using them again while we figure out the best path forward.

For now, I’m keeping a close eye on him and plan to take him to agility class tonight — with zero pressure. If he’s not feeling it, we’ll leave. Simple as that.

Stanley does seem to be a sensitive little guy; he’s had a moderate vaccine reaction in the past as well. I’m hopeful this was a one-time issue and that we were simply lucky. Planning to work with my vet to make sure we find a safe path forward.

Grateful for Pet Insurance

I’m really thankful for pet insurance in moments like this. I have a free plan through Nibbles, which I got when I signed up for their credit card, and it made the decision to go to the emergency vet feel a little less stressful.

Of course I would have taken Stanley no matter what, but removing the immediate financial pressure helped. I used the card to pay for the visit, and the next morning I received an email asking if I wanted to submit a claim — they automatically recognized the charge as a vet hospital. All I have to do is reply with the reason for the visit and they handle the rest.

I opted to include office visits in my coverage, so the cost should be covered or applied toward my deductible. I’m also reaching out to the heartworm medication manufacturer, since they sometimes reimburse expenses related to drug reactions.

Opinion: I’ve never used pet insurance before, but after seeing a friend go through spending a huge amount of money for leg surgery for her dog, I thought I would try it with Stanley. Pet insurance doesn’t change your decision to seek care — it just makes an already stressful situation easier to manage.

In Other (Much Lighter) News…

My son set up the new open-top litter box yesterday — the one I won from Catlink. It’s the Scooper Open-X. It looks like a great design! He wanted to try it first since he’s had ongoing litter box issues with Martin. I really like the look of it and I’m hopeful the open design will be appealing to Martin.

He said setup was very easy, and while it’s larger than a standard litter box, it doesn’t take up an unreasonable amount of space compared to other automatic options. I’ll share more once we see how Martin feels about it.
—

Sometimes pet ownership is routines and progress… and sometimes it’s terrifying curveballs. I’m incredibly grateful that Stanley seems to be okay — and that we listened to our instincts when something felt wrong. Have you had a scary moment with your pet? Share in the comments….