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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.
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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….

Stanley’s New Harness! – By Voyager – Reviewed

Product Review: Voyager Step-In Air Harness (Size Small)

I didn’t expect to go through multiple harnesses with a tiny pup like Stanley, but here we are — harness number three, and finally a winner!

We just upgraded to the Voyager Step-In Air Harness (Size Small), and I’m really impressed. Use their size chart. I found it very accurate. I was shocked to get a harness that fit first try!

Quick Backstory:

Harness #1: Total fail — Stanley could back out of it, which is super dangerous with a nervous, young dog.
Harness #2: Worked well for a while, but as Stanley grew and I had to lengthen the straps, it started sitting sideways on him because of where the buckles hit. It looked uncomfortable and didn’t feel secure.

Why I Love the Voyager Harness:

Step-In Design: So much easier than wrestling it over his head.
Cushioned, breathable mesh straps: Thick and soft — they don’t dig in, and they feel durable.
Secure fit: It sits nicely on his body and feels much more stable than our previous harnesses.
The harness Velcros on the top and then has a buckle over it, so very secure. Velcro can be adjusted snugly, so less chance of escape.

Color options: I went with teal (even though I wanted purple) because it was $3 cheaper — and it looks great on him! Pro tip: always check the price for each color when shopping on Amazon.

The Adjustment Period:

Stanley was super nervous the first time I put it on — ran into his crate and hid. So we took it slow: I’d only put it on when we were heading out, then remove it inside. After a day or so, I started leaving it on for short periods indoors. Now? He’s totally fine wearing it around the house. It’s a little bulky under his coat, but I’m planning to get him a warmer, better-fitting coat anyway.

💬 Final Verdict:
Highly recommend the Voyager Step-In Air Harness for small dogs. Just give your pup time to adjust if they’re sensitive to new gear like Stanley.

And if anyone has a favorite warm, water-resistant dog coat, drop me a recommendation — Stanley’s winter wardrobe needs an upgrade!

Poor Stanley!

Stanley’s Favorite New Spot – ON His Crate!

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. 💛

Cooler Weather, Agility Adventures, and a Healthy Flock

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!

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. 🐾🦜🦎

A Quiet Summer… With a Busy Pup

Training Adventures

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!

Stanley’s Dental Adventure, Bark Box #5, a Lake Day, and a Busy Pet Momma Summer

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 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.

Bark Box #5: Mostly Hits, One Miss

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. 🐾

Stanley vs. The Heartworm Pill

Spoiler: Stanley won this round.

The Monthly Struggle
This morning was Heartworm Pill Day — and if you think that sounds simple, you clearly don’t live with Stanley. He’s adorable, snuggly, and smart… and somehow also a pill-detecting genius.

Too Big to Swallow, Too Smart to Trick
The heartworm pill is a big chewable, which means I can’t just sneak it down his throat like a smaller tablet. So, I got creative:

First attempt: hide it in sliced turkey. Rejected.

Second attempt: cut it into quarters. Still no.

Third attempt: roll the pieces into American cheese balls. He unrolled them like a pro and left the medicine behind.

Desperation Tactics
Eventually, I had to crush the pill completely, mash the bits into tiny globs of cheese, and serve it on a plate like some sad little charcuterie board of trickery. That finally worked — I think he got all of it, but honestly, who knows with this guy?

Note to Self: Liquid Next Time
Next time I order meds, I’m definitely asking if there’s a liquid option. Or at least something smaller and easier to disguise. I want to make sure he gets every bit of his dose, and I’m not convinced a battle of wills every month is sustainable.

Other pets are all doing well. Bean the Maine Coon desperately needs a good grooming after my travels earlier this month. Hector is sassy as ever, and the Dragon is doing well although she has decided that meal worms and super worms are the only bugs she wants to eat anymore.

Stanley, Bark Boxes, and Summer Schedules

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 Heat

Stanley 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.