Spoiler alert! It's me! I think I'm the best dog sitter to watch your Dachshund in Seattle. Back in college, I started a dog sitting and dog walking walking business. Although I no longer walk dogs, I do still occasionally invite Dachshunds to stay in my home while their owners are on vacation or out of town. I choose to specialize in Dachshunds because: I absolutely love the breed. I don't … [Read more...]

I love, love, love and appreciate all of our fans on social media. Facebook is where we found all of our passionate Dachshund friends. Instagram is where I've found a community of people who like to hike, camp, and adventure with their dogs. I also love Instagram there are so many great photographers posting pictures there and it's pushed me to be a better one myself. Check out my tips … [Read more...]

I’ve been in denial for a long time and it could prevent me from hiking with my dog. The first step is admitting you have a problem. I have plantar fasciitis. Two summers ago I made a terrible mistake. It was early in the hiking season and I was itching to get out. I finally had some time and motivation so I packed up everything, including my favorite hiking boots, and headed to a new-to-us … [Read more...]

Trying to get the dog pee smell out of your carpet is a frustrating task that comes with being a dog owner. Over the years, I’ve had to deal with dog pee from a dog learning potty training, a dog with separation anxiety, guest dogs we were sitting that were confused about where to go potty, and now a senior dog with incontinence issues. Although I’ve found many ways to deal with a senior dog … [Read more...]

Fall is definitely in the air. I can just tell that things have changed. The evenings are crisp again; today was the first day since summer started that I had to turn up the heat in the house a little; and I had to wear socks in the house to keep my toes warm! *gasp* I love the sunshine. I used to really dislike fall because it was a sign that colder and wetter weather was coming to Seattle, … [Read more...]

Ok, I know that what I see on social media isn't always "reality" but some accounts are downright inspirational. There are some dogs, and people, that seem like they are always having a grand adventure. I daydream about going the places where their photos are taken and it motivates me to plan another adventure with Chester and Gretel. It seems like the lives of some pups I follow are non-stop … [Read more...]

In case you're new to the blog, or haven't had the chance to catch up, Gretel suffered a back injury and was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD). When it happened, it was during a period when we were training for a 5k (it was jumping off the couch that injured her though). Of course, our training immediately stopped but the reality is that she should never run with me again. I … [Read more...]

I have learned that some people don't see me as a typical dog owner. I've done some embarrassing things in the name of adventure and what I see to be responsible dog ownership. I've made some mistakes (most of them involving dog poop). I go above and beyond so that my small dogs can enjoy hiking trails just as much as the big dogs. I'm hyper-vigilant about their care and am pretty sure some would … [Read more...]

Gretel and I recently had the privilege of attending the Nestlé Purina Better with Pets Summit in New York City. This Summit is where they bring together some of the greatest minds to discuss how pets make our lives better and how we can improve the lives of our pets. I was a bit nervous about visiting a big, busy city I'd never been to with a small dog. We were going to have to walk many … [Read more...]

We used to think Zuke's was the shit. Zuke's Performance Nutrition made high-quality dog treats that Chester and Gretel LOVED. Then, in late 2013, Zuke's was acquired by Nestlé Purina PetCare. UPDATE: The acquisition by Nestle-Purina occurred in late 2013. In February 2018, it was announced that Zuke's will merge with another natural pet food company owned by Purina - Merrick Pet Care, an … [Read more...]

Finally! The 15 day forecast is showing me the weather through Monday, September 28th. Why is that important? Because I have been WAITING to see what the weather was going to be like over the weekend that Gretel and I will be going on our solo backpacking trip. I knew when we were going for sure but I didn't know where. That was weather dependent. Our trip will be four days and three nights. … [Read more...]

Yesterday I called attention to an article written by Jon Katz regarding is opinion about how we care for animals in society today. His is not a blog I am familiar with but it appears that this man lives on some kind of farm. Last week, his dog ate a small onion from the garden and he wrote about it. The author said, "I could not count the number of warnings, alarms, grisly tales and … [Read more...]

I occasionally get sneering looks from strangers while hiking on the trail with Chester and Gretel. Why? Because they see a small dog with short legs and think it's cruel for me to "force" them to hike. If Chester and Gretel hated hiking, I would not bring them with me. I find myself frequently assuring people that they totally love it. They are always eager to hit the trails and are, more … [Read more...]

The next few months are going to be big for "us". I admit that some of the excitement won't include Chester and Gretel, but it will be affecting them. In 12 days, I leave to spend 4 days in Las Vegas at Superzoo, one of the biggest pet-product retail shoes in the country. I went two years ago and it was pretty awesome. Those who attend Superzoo get the first peek at some of the newest products … [Read more...]

I wasn't a runner. Then life forced me to be. Then I liked it. Then I couldn't. Now I might be a runner again. I wasn't much into sports. I grew up training to become a ballerina and, after I stopped, I wasn't into taking on any kind of sport in high school. One day I decided that I wanted to become a wildland firefighter. I was drawn to the danger, excitement and the forced camping all … [Read more...]

It's trips like this where you learn the best lessons. The first backpacking trip of the year never goes smoothly. It doesn't matter how many lists of equipment you made, or how much you try and remember what happened last year, some of the important memories fade and things get forgotten. Our first backpacking trip of the season with the dogs was last weekend. We hiked past one of our … [Read more...]

It's been award-winning year for us (if you count by calendar year anyway). In September of 2014, this blog was nominated for Best Active Living Blog in the Petties. It's a voter-based award and you all blew me away by voting me to the top even though I never really asked (that meant SO much by the way!). Last month I found out that I was chosen from 1,000 nominations to be the finalist in … [Read more...]

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Here are some last-minute gift ideas for the dog-loving Mom, or Dog Mom, in your life. 1) Dachshund Tote Bag - This cute little doxie is full of love. This heavy-weight canvas bag measures 15" x 18" x 6" and is machine washable. It's perfect for groceries or a jaunt to the pet store. $17.99 from CafePress. 2) Dachshund T-Shirt - This fun, 100% cotton jersey … [Read more...]

I remember seeing Cheryl Strayed speak about the release of her book Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail at the Seattle REI a couple of years ago. Cheryl and her book are in the limelight again due to the release of the move Wild, based on her book. Cheryl found herself alone on the Pacific Crest Trail - inexperienced and desperate to reclaim her life after the loss of her Mom … [Read more...]

Last month I took part in a survey of influential pet bloggers about where they shop for holiday gifts for their pets and how much they spend. I usually spend between $100 - $200 on Chester and Gretel for Christmas and try to shot at local, independent pet stores. I often find the most high quality, and unique gifts there and it makes me feel good to support small businesses. I was really … [Read more...]