Poor Stanley gave me quite the scare this week. He woke me up at 5am with a persistent cough, and it didn’t let up throughout the day. Even though he was eating and still had moments of playfulness, he seemed a bit more lethargic than usual — and it was heartbreaking to see him try to play, only to start coughing mid-pounce.
I brought him to the vet that afternoon. Thankfully, his lungs sounded clear, he had no fever, and everything else checked out fine. The vet suspected his throat might just be irritated — maybe from something he inhaled or chewed on — and sent us home with Sucralfate to help soothe the inflammation.
But today, the cough is still lingering.
So we’re starting him on antibiotics, just in case there’s a low-grade infection hiding under the surface. Fingers crossed this clears things up quickly. I hate seeing him so uncomfortable — especially when all he wants to do is have a little fun.
Here’s hoping for restful nights and a quiet, happy pup very soon. 💛
Life’s been busy as usual around here, and Stanley is definitely not a fan of the shift in seasons. The cooler weather has him frustrated and confused—he wants to go outside and soak up the sun, only to discover it’s cold. So he asks to go out… then immediately back in… then out again. All. Day. Long.
Potty Progress Despite the weather struggles, Stanley has been doing great with potty training! We’ve had a couple of poops on the potty pad in his crate, but they weren’t surprises—they happened on days when our schedule was off and I only had time for a quick walk before leaving him alone. Overall? No random accidents in the house. I’ll take it as a win!
Dog Fitness Class: Wrapping Up Stanley is finishing up his dog fitness class this week. It’s been fine—not amazing, but helpful. He’s learned how to:
Step onto a platform with front feet Shift to just back feet Back up over the platform Sit, lie down, spin both ways, and pivot with his front feet on the board Not groundbreaking, but a solid foundation!
Post Agility Class Exhaustion!
Puppy Agility: A New Favorite
Now for the exciting part—we started puppy agility, and Stanley LOVES it. He was brave with the tunnels from day one, and he’s completely obsessed with the jumps. The class just started but runs for several more weeks, and I’m really excited to see how he grows with it.We even have agility jumps and weave poles set up at home now! I’m hoping indoor agility sessions will help burn off some of that endless puppy energy this winter when walks are short and the backyard is freezing.
Cat Update: Martin’s Doing Great In other happy news, my son’s cat Martin seems to be over the hump with his urinary issues—knock on wood! Since my son added a second litter box, Martin has been consistently using it without problems. They had three boxes for a while, but the two cats were just using two of them anyway, so scaling back to two has worked well. I’m so relieved for my son—and for Martin!
Hector’s Vet Check & Diet Update Our sweet African Grey, Hector, had her regular vet check-up last week, and I’m thrilled to report she’s doing great! She loves the vet and is such a good girl for him. She even made me laugh out loud in the car—when I put her in, she said, “We go where?” She’s never strung those words together before!
At the vet’s office, she asked “What?!” at exactly the right moment, and we all cracked up. Her weight is steady, and overall health is great. Because she’s now 32 years old, the vet wants to continue seeing her every six months to monitor her closely—birds are prey animals and often hide illness, so frequent check-ups help us stay proactive. The vet is keeping her on her “special” diet: Low-carb, aside from her Zupreem Fruit Blend pellets Limited nuts Mostly vegetables, including: Dried veggie mixes from Texas Naturals and Avian Naturals Mixed with frozen veggies, baby food, and canned pumpkin,(favorite!)
It’s a little extra effort, but worth it to keep her feeling her best. Both Texas Naturals and Avian Naturals have great dried veggie mixes to add some variety to Hector’s diet while still keeping food prep really simple.
The Dragon Update: Craving Variety Our bearded dragon has been doing well overall. The other day, I caught her trying to eat a GIANT Dubia roach that was crawling in her tank. It was way too big, so I’ve ordered her a fresh batch of smaller feeders. Lately, she’s only been eating mealworms and some veggies, so I wanted to spice up her options. I’ve got Hornworms, Dubia roaches, and Calci-worms (black soldier fly larvae) on the way. Fingers crossed that a little variety gets her excited about mealtime again!
Regarding the giant Dubia in her tank… her tank is bioactive, meaning it is full of insects, isopods, springtails, meal worms, and yes some Dubia that have escaped the food dish. The insects basically live unseen, but they keep the soil healthy, the plants thriving, and the tank clean. Old veggies that the dragon doesn’t want feed the insects, it’s a great, thriving little ecosystem.
That’s the latest from our little zoo—cool weather, agility gear, chatty parrots, picky dragons, and one very confused sun-loving puppy. 🐾🦜🦎
We’ve been focusing hard on training, and Stanley is thriving. We just started an Intro to Dog Fitness class designed to set us up for agility work. Puppy agility starts in a few weeks, and I can’t wait! So far, we’re working on:
Paws up on a step (front and back)
Sit and stand transitions
Keeping up with his ever-growing trick list: sit, down, spin, paw, crawl, up, over, leave it, touch… you name it, he wants to learn it.
He’s a busy boy, and he loves using his brain.
Boarding Win I’m so happy to have found a boarding kennel that Stanley loves. The staff is wonderful, and the best part? He’s excited to go there — tail wagging, jumping out of the car, ready to see his friends. They offered a training package while he was boarded, so Stanley had four mini sessions during his stay. Not only did they reinforce what he knows, but they also introduced a new trick: “legs” (walking through mine). Pretty cool, right?
House Training: Progress (and Rainy Day Struggles) House training is still a work in progress. Most days he’s doing great, but rainy days are tough. Today, he peed outside like a champ, but I had to leave for errands and knew a crate accident was coming — and sure enough. At least he used his potty pad. Later he tried something new: standing outside his crate and peeing into it. Ugh. Definitely a reminder to get him out right away after errands. Lesson learned on my part!
New Toys for a Rainy Day Since bad weather makes for stir-crazy puppies, we stopped at the pet store. I picked up worms for the dragon, but of course Stanley scored too: A Pupsicle toy A couple of twisty bully chews A slow feeder puzzle mat for his kibble
Anything to keep that busy little brain working! I’ll share reviews of these toys once we’ve had a chance to really try them out.
Bean decided to check out the Stanley pen!
Meanwhile, the Cats…
The cats are doing well, though Bean keeps me busy with his grooming struggles. He mats so easily, and I’ve been cutting them out as I find them. I’ve thought about shaving him, but I don’t think I could manage that myself — and professional cat grooming is pricey! On top of that, one of my Catlink litter boxes is acting up. It doesn’t seem to want to run automatically anymore, so I’m planning to try another calibration and reset to see if that helps. Not exactly fun, but hopefully fixable.
👉 Overall, it may have been a quiet summer, but Stanley has kept life interesting. Between training, playtime, and the occasional potty mishap, he’s growing into such a fun, smart little dog. Can’t wait to see how he does when agility starts!
It’s been a full week in the Pet Momma household, and I have lots to share—starting with Stanley’s latest vet visit.
Stanley’s First Boat Ride
Stanley Had His Puppy Teeth Removed
Despite all the chewing and tug games, Stanley wasn’t losing his puppy teeth on his own. After talking with the vet, we decided it was best to have them removed. He had four baby teeth pulled yesterday, and I was honestly a wreck dropping him off. The drive didn’t help—an accident had the vet’s road completely blocked, and I nearly turned around to reschedule. Just as I was giving up, traffic cleared, and we made it.
The procedure went smoothly, and the vet staff was amazing. They even told me the vet was walking around post-op with Stanley wrapped in a blanket—yes, I melted. He was groggy last night but bounced back this morning like nothing happened. Keeping him quiet? Not even remotely happening.
Small hiccup today: I accidentally gave him a second dose of his pain medication (meant to be once daily). It was near his food, and I wasn’t thinking. I looked it up and it seems he’ll be fine, but I’m watching him closely just in case.
Stanley Discovers Cheese
We don’t usually feed Stanley human food, but I’ve made an exception for American cheese—it turns out, he loves it. And more importantly, it’s the perfect vehicle for sneaking in pills. He took his pain med wrapped in cheese with zero fuss. Victory.
We got Box #5 of 6 from Bark Box, and it came with a great mix:
A slice of pizza 🍕
A crinkly purple octopus 🐙 (adorable!)
A long snake 🐍
Two extras I ordered: tomatoes on the vine and onion rings
Stanley loved most of it, especially the octopus. But I’m disappointed in the onion rings—unlike what I expected, it’s a single toy with three attached rings in a container. I thought they’d be individual tossable rings, which would’ve been way more fun and better sized for Stan.
Lake Day Success!
Last weekend, Stanley had his first visit to the lake with family, and he did great! He met four other dogs, ranging in size from his own tiny self up to 75 pounds. He also met lots of new people, including a toddler and two young girls. He was off-leash but stayed close, friendly, and curious.
He even had his first little swim—got gently dunked in the water and paddled safely back to shore. The only mishap? He got a paw caught in one of the stairs while climbing out of the lake and panicked. Luckily, he trusted me to help him out, and we avoided full-on meltdown. He slept like a rock on the ride home.
Not quite where Stanley is supposed to go!
Other Pet Updates
Hector (our African Grey) has been extra sweet and chatty lately. I think she’s craving attention with our summer routines all over the place.
I was briefly worried about our bearded dragon—she’d been sluggish and not eating much, but today she perked up and ate well. Hoping that continues.
Trying a New Pet Sitter
I’m heading out of town next week and will be using a new pet sitter. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly. She seems great, and she knows how to reach me if anything comes up.
Between Stanley’s dental drama, toy testing, first swim, and managing a multi-pet household, it’s been a very Pet Momma summer. 🐾
I’m traveling this week, and Stanley is staying with my daughter. I always worry he might be a little high-maintenance, but it sounds like she’s enjoying the extra snuggles. When I first got Stanley, I promised myself I wouldn’t baby him and that I’d stay committed to training. I’ve stuck with some of that… but let’s be honest — I’ve definitely babied him too.
He’s a smart little guy, but I really need to get tougher about not letting him get away with things — especially this habit he has of pooping in his crate instead of outside. I have no idea why that’s still happening, but it’s something I need to figure out.
He Loves Being Outside and Doesn’t Mind the HeatStanley Recently Spent the Night at a Kennel and Hid in the Corner of the Outside Pen so he Wouldn’t have to go Inside.
On the health front, Stanley’s Giardia seems to be clearing up, which is a relief. Just before I left town, I got a message from the vet saying they’d like to test another stool sample, so I’ll take care of that once I’m back. I know Giardia can be really stubborn, and I’m hoping that the second round of meds we just finished has finally done the trick.
With summer being so unpredictable, our routine’s been all over the place. I’d really like to get us back into a training class this fall. The structure is good for both of us and helps keep us consistent. On a lighter note, Stanley’s new Bark Box is on the way! I’ll be sure to share an update once it arrives. Last month’s box ended up being a bigger hit than I expected — especially the “Orange Soda” toy, which he ignored at first but eventually warmed up to. The cheeseburger was the clear favorite, but honestly, he’s gotten good at playing with all of them.
This week I’m in Philadelphia and was hoping to visit the zoo, but with this heat wave, I might have to save it for another trip. Walking around in 95° humidity doesn’t sound like much fun for me or the animals.
Puck and Bean decided to Pose for a Photo. Both are Doing Well!
Manners Class: ✔️ Potty Training: 😬 Stanley wrapped up his “Manners” class like a champ — but the diploma hasn’t magically stopped the occasional surprise poop on the living room floor. Some mornings, we do the “in and out” dance over and over, only for him to sneak away and do his business where he definitely shouldn’t. It’s a good thing he’s so snuggly and cute.
Definitely not a cat…..
Small Wins (and Nighttime Poop Hunts) Last night, though, he ran to the door to go out during playtime. Huge win! He did his business like a pro. The only challenge? Trying to locate dog poop in the dark — basically a blindfolded Easter egg hunt, minus the chocolate.
Gut Check: Literally I’ve noticed it sometimes takes him a while to go, and his poop has been runny (fun stuff). After two rounds of Giardia treatment, I think his tummy’s still recovering. I started him on a probiotic to help get things back in balance. Early signs are promising!
Getting spoiled with breakfast outdoors in the beautiful weatherPuck wondering why Stanley is so crazy!
Retail Therapy and Teething Troubles We skipped the dog park because of rain and hit the pet store instead. Stanley proudly picked out some new chew toys. He’s still holding onto some stubborn baby teeth, so I’m hoping all the chewing helps those little guys move along before he turns into a land shark.
Dealership Dog Star Stanley tagged along to the car dealership this morning. He handled loud garage noises, traffic, and new people like a pro — minus one overly enthusiastic nip. Still, it was a great outing, and I was proud of how well he adjusted to the chaos.
Sleepy Boy
New Trick: Crawl! We’re working on a new trick: “crawl.” It’s as ridiculous and adorable as it sounds. Stanley seems to love trick training — and I’m hoping to get him into an agility class this fall if I can find one that fits our schedule.
BarkBox BBQ Bonanza Stanley’s latest BarkBox was a big hit! This month’s BBQ theme came packed with adorable summer toys — but his absolute favorite is the burger. It’s crinkly, squeaky, and checks all his favorite boxes.
The popsicles are super cute too, and he’s been having fun with those.
The orange soda? I thought it was adorable, but Stanley apparently disagrees — that one’s been left untouched in the toy pile. Maybe he’s more of a water guy.
Rain, Rain, Go Away… Of course, more rain is in the forecast, and Stanley isn’t thrilled. He acts like wet grass is an act of betrayal. Here’s hoping we can keep the house training on track despite soggy paws and puppy drama.
If anyone has any small dog housebreaking tips, please share! What’s your dog’s favorite toy?
We got Stanley’s DNA test results back! I was convinced he had some Italian Greyhound in him, but nope—unless it’s hidden somewhere in the “Supermutt” category. The great news is that nothing stood out as a red flag in the health portion of the results. Always a relief!
Unfortunately, Stanley is back on medication for Giardia. Apparently, the first round didn’t completely wipe it out. He’s now on a twice-daily pill and a dewormer. He’s not thrilled, but I’ve learned it’s much easier to just give him the pill directly than try to hide it in food. He’s catching on, though—smart little guy. I’ve been a bit lazy about training lately and need to get back into the habit. Stanley had his last playgroup of the session this week. Honestly, I’m not too sad to be switching groups. The dogs in his current group didn’t match his energy level. He worked hard trying to get someone to play, but it was a struggle. Fingers crossed the new group next week has more playful pups!
I was out for several hours last night and didn’t want to leave Stanley alone, so I asked a neighbor to check in. I wasn’t sure how it would go since he can be shy, but they said it only took about 15 minutes for him to warm up. After that, he was all cuddles and playtime. They even stayed for about an hour. Lucky pup! Housebreaking is going really well! The weather has been beautiful, and Stanley has been loving it—sometimes a little too much. Getting him to actually do his business outside instead of just sprawling in the sun can be a challenge! He’s starting to bark at the door when he wants to go out, which is great progress. I picked up some bells to hang on the door, but he finds them terrifying at the moment. Hopefully, he gets over that and learns to ring them soon.
Stanley is still really pick about treats. Trader Joes are actually his favorites! he likes the freeze dried Just Chicken, and the dried salmon skin. The dried fish skin is kinda gross. It is very flaky, and it stinks, but he loves it. I save it for training class and outdoor training. We’ve been good about not letting him have human food, except for Pup Cups. Stan and I love to visit Starbucks and get a Pup cup and a coffee!
The rest of the pets are doing great. Our dragon finally finished shedding. Hector has been loving the sounds of birds through the open windows, and the cats are slowly adjusting to life with Stanley. Puck and Stanley even play sometimes—well, Puck whacks Stanley on the head, and Stanley thinks it’s the best game ever. He gets all excited and zooms around like a maniac. It’s actually pretty adorable.
🎓 Training Class… Kinda? We’re in the middle of our “teen manners” training class, and honestly… not loving it. I signed up hoping to work on practical basics like:
Down Off Leave it Stay Leash walking
Instead, the class is mostly about understanding the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence in dogs and how to redirect their energy. That’s helpful in theory, and I do see how some of it applies to Stanley, but it’s not what I was really hoping for. That said, I’m sticking with it and focusing on the parts that matter most for us.
⬇️ The Elusive “Down” My biggest struggle? Teaching “down.” Stanley just doesn’t lie down naturally unless he’s in a lap or curled up in his crate. Luring him with a treat doesn’t work well because he’s so small — he just stretches his head down and grabs it without dropping his body.
Definitely a work in progress, and I might check in with our trainer again to see if she has other strategies. For now, we’re just doing what we can.
🐶 Playgroup, Visitors, and… Marking?
We’ve got another series of small dog playgroup scheduled next month, and while I’m holding off on signing up for another class until fall, I’m toying with the idea of agility — I think Stanley would love it once we nail down the basics.
Last weekend, Stanley came with me to visit my dad and his two Portuguese Water Dogs. Despite the size difference, Stanley played really well, especially with the one-year-old pup. I was so proud of him!
Less exciting? He peed on a couple of dog beds and a chair while we were there. I’m guessing it was marking behavior triggered by the other dogs. Definitely something we need to work on before our next house guest moment.
He also spent a few hours at my daughter’s apartment recently when I went out for the evening. He played hard, had a blast, and eventually crashed in their laps for a nap. He did have one small accident — he peed on a towel that was on the floor — but my daughter took the blame for that one. She realized afterward that he’d been sniffing around and probably thought the towel was a potty pad. All things considered, not too bad!
🚪 A Potty Training Breakthrough! Big news: Stanley has started going to the door and barking to go out! It feels like a huge leap forward.
This morning’s routine looked like this:
Out first thing → Pee ✅ Breakfast → Done Then? He barked at the door, ran out, and pooped right away. We’re finally finding our rhythm at home, and he seems to be really settling into the routine.
🐕 Big Wins (and BarkBox Joy) Stanley continues to be obsessed with fetch and BarkBox toys — I think we’ve officially found our favorites. He’s still enjoying the Ollie food, but honestly, the frozen format is more trouble than it’s worth. The food container and scoop were nice, but I won’t keep it going.
His Embark DNA test is currently being processed, and I’m so excited to get those results back. I can’t wait to learn more about our mystery mutt!
🏡 Trusting Him Off-Leash (A Little) Another HUGE step: I’ve started letting Stanley off-leash in our yard. So far, he runs around, does his business, and then comes straight back to the door. I don’t fully trust him yet — if something scared him, I’m afraid he’d bolt — but we’re making steady progress. Baby steps!
💬 Got Tips? We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so much to learn. If anyone has tips for teaching “down” to a tiny dog — or managing marking in new places — I’d love to hear them. Drop a comment and let’s share the wisdom! And if you have a treat that your dog LOVES, let me know. Stanley is super picky about his treats.
🐾 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!
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!
Life’s been busy as usual around here, and Stanley is definitely not a fan of the shift in seasons. The cooler weather has him frustrated and confused—he wants to go outside and soak up the sun, only to discover it’s cold. So he asks to go out… then immediately back in… then out again. All. Day. Long.
He’s a busy boy, and he loves using his brain.
BarkBox BBQ Bonanza
The popsicles are super cute too, and he’s been having fun with those.
The orange soda? I thought it was adorable, but Stanley apparently disagrees — that one’s been left untouched in the toy pile. Maybe he’s more of a water guy.
