Hynda Update + My New Puppy Must-Haves

Sometimes our home looks suspiciously devoid of puppy paraphernalia, so people always ask where I keep Hynda's stuff!  The secret?  She lives in the office (where I pretty much live, lol).

Well, since she's more house broken these days (we're at one or two accidents a month - so much better than three a day!), she's free to roam with Szuka for much of the day, but her crate, pen, and food live in the office so she has a safe, quiet space to eat and nap away from Szuka, (who I feed in the laundry room).  But they both love to play in the living and dining room, where I keep dog beds and a basket of toys.  

I wanted to share a little update on how we've all be adjusting, some progress Hynda has made, and also share some of the stuff that made getting a new puppy so much easier!

Two Dog Crates: Wire and Travel

This time around, I actually bought TWO turquoise dog crates: a plastic travel crate and a wire crate for home.  I prefer the wire crate for home because it seems like it allows more air flow but the metal can rattle in the truck - which really bothered Szuka when she was a pup - so Hynda is way more spoiled with two crates.  This is similar to what we have - if not identical - but I wish we'd seen this two-door crate first, just for a little more flexibility.  Actually, if I had the money I would have gone with this crate because it looks like a gorgeous piece of furniture!  

We originally kept her wire crate in the dining room because it's a central space in the house, but she was so distracted by Szuka that she never slept during the day!  So we moved her into the office because Szuka rarely goes in there so it helped them both get some space.  We crate trained Hynda early on because I read that it plays to a dog's instinct to find safety in a den, plus it helps the bladder grow stronger to be in a place a puppy doesn't want to soil.  Szuka NEVER took to her crate but we quickly learned she is such a good girl (hardly any accidents!) and by the time we moved from our townhouse to the lakehouse, she was already sleeping loose and these days she's allowed anywhere in the house, even when she's alone.  She never gets into anything, unless I've left a Kleenex lying around because she just loves shredding those.

But Hynda gets into SO much trouble, so we knew we'd need to get her used to a crate.

In truth, because we were on holidays for a good chunk of time when she was a wee little puppy, she spent a lot of time with us in the yard or getting one-on-one supervision, but we did put her in the crate for naps (and overnight), or if she was starting to really bug Szuka.  Happily she's adjusted to it pretty well and sometimes even seeks out her crate for a little solo nap, which is such a good sign.  It helped that we made it a happy place, where she got treats and praise - and peace. 

Puppy Play Pen:

I also bought a pen to give her some extra room when I need her confined for her safety (like when I'm cleaning or can't watch her).  She is very content in the pen, especially if I give her a treat to gnaw on.  It was a really good purchase because it keeps her safe and contained, but with more room to play than the crate.  The crate is attached to the pen so she has a safe space to sleep and nap.  It definitely takes up a huuuuuuge chunk of my office floor space though, so I look forward to a time she can be trusted to be loose in the house like Szuka - hopefully that happens someday.  Hopefully...

Crate Cover:

My Mom and I started to make a cute crate cover and then Hynda chewed it before we could finish, so now I use a blanket but I still plan on making a crate cover because it really helps her settle.  Crate covers also help disguise some of the uglier dog crates out there - not that my pretty aqua crate needs covering!  I am so crazy about the fabric on this one - I almost bought the matching dog bed.

Clip On Food and Water Bowls:

Because the office is her little place, I also keep her food and water in here (safe from Szuka, who inhales her kibble any chance she gets - but because she can't fit into the pen, is foiled!).  I bought these handy bowls because they clip onto her pen or crate, so it keeps her from bumping them and spilling water and kibble all over the hardwood floors.  The stainless bowls just lift out for easy washing and re-filling.  I've been lucky that I can just leave food out for her, like with Szuka, and she grazes throughout the day.  I love dogs who can feed themselves!  Plus keeping her food in here creates a positive association with this space.  Although she eats whenever, I take the bowls away two hours before bedtime, which really helps her sleep through the night without needing a potty break.

Sturdy Basket:

In a recent post about how I keep the house clean with two pups, you saw the basket I used to store toys in the living room, but I also keep some toys in here to keep her occupied.

An online Canadian boutique (Sparroh) sent me this felted wool basket and I love it for Hynda's toys because it's soft and indestructible - but it looks chic in my office!  Sometimes Hynda even climbs inside for a cozy nap (it's technically a cat cave - and this teal one has been added recently to the shop).

She will chew on it occasionally, but she can never do any damage, which gives me piece of mind because I worry about her teething on woven baskets and ingesting random pieces. 

Harness:

I never bought a harness for Szuka because I read that bigger dogs can just gain more pulling strength with one.  Instead, we opted for a gentle leader and dog training classes.  For Hynda though, a harness has worked perfectly while we teach her to walk beside us.  I really wanted a turquoise leather leash but am so happy I got a nylon one instead because she has definitely peed on it a few times so "washable" is now my favorite word.

Identical Dog Beds:

Oh goodness, I have spent a lot of money on dog beds!



Szuka had a favorite, which Hynda immediately commandeered so I bought Hynda her own which Szuka then wanted so I bought Szuka the exact same one but larger, and now both of them beg to get up on the sofa.  PUPPIES you are driving me bonkers.  When the two of them lie in their respective, identical-save-for-the-size, turquoise dog beds, my heart grows three sizes - I love these Jax and Bones beds because the covers come off and they're easily washed/dried. 

P.S. I bought a bed a bit too big for Hynda because I noticed she enjoy a larger bed for playing on - she still uses Szuka's sometimes!  I also bought one for her crate and inside her travel crate, so I should really be buying stock in dog beds.  Oh and one of Szuka's old beds is on the floor of her pen for some added softness.  We currently have seven dog beds in the house!  Plus we have one in the truck and one in the garage for when we're chilling outside.  Oh and I'm saving this pretty polka dot one "for good," lol - no idea why or what that actually means.

Puppy Kong:

One of the first things I bought Hynda was a mini Kong - I have a larger Kong plus a Kong tire for Szuka and she loves them - especially when they're stuffed with peanut butter!  I bought a few smaller toys for Hynda but she loves Szuka-sized toys anyway so now I buy them identical toys so they don't fight over them.  They are especially obsessed with leather toys, which kind of grosses me out because I'm reminded that I let two little wild animals, who want to rip into skin, into my house.  Unnervingly, I bought Hynda this snuggle buddy toy and she immediately flipped it over and tried to tear out its beating heart...

Freeze Dried Liver:

I need a high value treat to help train Hynda and one thing both pups go nuts for is freeze dried liver, which I like because it doesn't have any weird ingredients.  But I try to make sure I break it into tiny pieces for Hynda so I don't exceed the recommended dosage in a day.  It definitely helped with the potty training - which was slow going - and now she only has an accident every now and then.   We still need to sign up for obedience school but I wanted to wait until she had her shots and was spayed (which just happened last week - poor thing!).

Szuka and Hynda still rough house ALL of the time and I think Szuka is still majorly jealous but Hynda is super attached to Szuka.  She pesters her and does annoying things like nip at her ankles, but she also cuddles up to her.  Szuka won't tolerate that, though, so Hynda gets sneaky and waits until she's asleep before cuddling up to Szuka's tail or foot.  It's a bit sad, actually, but I'm hoping they grow closer.  I think when Hynda calms down a bit  (hopefully obedience classes will help), Szuka will relax.  In the meantime, I am trying to make Szuka feel special and loved. 

Handling these two has definitely kept me busy, so I am glad I spent on some purchases that made life easier - especially that puppy play pen!  

Here are all of those links again, in one handy spot: dog crate | travel dog crate | puppy play pen | felted wool basket | clip-on bowls | crate cover | turquoise dog bed | dog harness | canvas leash | KONG toys | freeze dried liver |

My Tips + Tricks for Keeping My House Clean with Two Dogs

Sponsored Post: This post was sponsored by the Libman Company, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.  

I'm a little bit of a neat freak.  My sanity and the cleanliness of my home are intricately interwoven:  I need a clean, tidy space to feel calm and relaxed and, when I'm stressed, I clean.  I don't actually like cleaning though, so I'm always looking for ways to make cleaning easier.

Meanwhile, I'm convinced that my two pups conspire to make it more difficult! 

I love where I live, but sometimes having Lake Superior in our backyard makes life messier.  Our lawn sort of flows right into the lake with a rocky shore that's been submerged (thanks to super high water levels), but there's one spot where we access the lake that's sandy and that little niche just beckons Hynda and Szuka, who often run down there for a drink of water, end up getting soaked, and then try to get back into the house sopping wet.  Living in the country, my two girls also love romping through the woods and tackling each other in the gravel driveway, just mushing as much dirt and muck into their (lake dampened) paws as possible.  Szuka is a lady, but Hynda will also roll in anything gross she finds: fox poop, bear poop, deer poop, goose poop... She's had many impromptu lake baths this summer!

But look at those sweet faces!  We spend as much time outside as possible because they love living on Lake Superior as much as Hubby and I do.

I can't blame the dogs solely for any lakeside mess though, because even Hubs and I will go for a swim or stand up paddle boarding, and then run inside for a snack, dripping water and sand in the kitchen.  Fall cleaning seems to be the worse because we all track in gross damp leaves on top of everything else.  But lake life is chill and I've had to learn to relax a little with the cleaning.  A little.

I still run a pretty tight ship.

To mitigate the mess the puppies make, I have some tricks and tips to share (and I'd love to read about yours in the comments).

Create a Drying Station:

I have trained both pups to head straight into the laundry room (which is right by the front door) the minute we set foot inside, whether they're muddy or not.  They know this routine so it prevents anyone from running through the house tracking muddy pawprints everywhere.  It's also where we keep Szuka's food and water in her DIY raised feeder.

Train Pups to Wipe Their Feet

Once inside the laundry room, we wipe paws with an old towel - whether they need it or not.  Getting both pups used to having their paws handled and dried every time we come inside has made this infinitely easier.  We're still working on Hynda so throughout the day I'll just gently rub her paws and give her a treat to associate paw handling with positive vibes, but Szuka knows the routine and actually even knows what "left paw" and "right paw" mean - it's adorable.  Plus we taught her to "stand," so we can reach those back legs and dry her tummy if she's tried to escape by swimming.  On days they're SOAKED, they chill in here with a treat until their furry bodies are dry enough.

Block off Areas

I have a cute pen for Hynda to play in when I can't watch her because she's still young and potty training.  It's connected to her crate so she can have a nap but we don't close the door to the crate until we go to bed at night.  During the days she has this little space to romp and play (and nap stretched out) when I'm occupied, but we go outside for lots of playtime and then she's free for tons of supervised indoor playtime too.  But even when I let her loose in the house, I use the living room ottoman to keep her out of there (or in there at night if we're watching a movie and want to keep an eye on her while she plays).  I also close the bedroom doors during playtime.  Confining her helps prevent potty training accidents and also keeps the house cleaner.   

Designate a Spot for Everything

Our dogs have a lot of stuff!  Toys, ear cleaner, medications, nail clippers, food, treats, life jackets, spare collars - you name it.  I store food, toys, towels, etc., in the laundry room and things like medications, bum wipes, and ear cleaner in the the adjacent half bath because that's where I use it. There's a special hook for leashes and I try to have a spot for everything so their stuff doesn't pile up.

I love storage bins for toys so they can reach them and I can scoop them up and put away all of the toys quickly at night. 



Invest in a Good Quality Mop

I don't really vacuum much anymore but I sweep daily because despite my best paw wiping efforts, they still manage to bring in a little sand and gravel.

While a quick sweep does the trick, I also like to wash floors regularly because these girls drool and leave nose prints all over the hardwood.  I can't stand seeing those smudges!

I was not happy with my old sponge mop though, so I was looking to upgrade and The Libman Company has a great line of convenient mops.  I don't enjoy dragging a bucket around, so I was super excited about switching to the Libman Freedom Mop, which has a handy bottle that dispenses the floor cleaning solution of my choice.  The microfiber pad is washable up to 100 times and refills are fairly inexpensive.  Because it sprays the surface, it allows me to really quickly run a mop around and give the floors a great wash in half the time.  Plus the floors dry much more quickly, which means the pups (and humans) can be let loose from wherever I've cordoned them off much quicker!

It has such a great swivel head which means I can reach under all of my furniture, something my old foam mop and bucket couldn't do.  There's a great line of Libman cleaning products, which you can easily find at Canadian Tire (where I bought mine) or The Home Depot.  Also - and this is really important to me - these products have been made in North America since 1896.  I try my best to buy as many products made in Canada or the States as possible, and this North American made product has the cutest family history too. 

Ditch the Rugs and Carpet

This is why I'm so enamored with mops: I don't have any rugs or carpets, other than a little mat by each door!  I know I'm weird because most people love rugs and could never give them up, but I am not a fan or rugs and carpet for various reasons and with two messy dogs, having hardwood, tile and linoleum floors has been crucial.  Szuka was easily house broken but Hynda had SO many accidents in the beginning - I shudder to think how pee-soaked any carpeting would have been!  I know carpets and rugs can be cleaned but with a puppy, honestly I personally just think naked wood floors are so much easier and I'm all about making cleaning easy.

Avoid Really Textured Furniture

This was a tough lesson.  I had successfully kept our mint Mingo chair and our velvet mid-century modern chair clean all these years so I naively thought we could handle tweed dining chairs.  Szuka isn't allowed on the furniture, although she'll come cuddle when we're on the sofa, resting her head on our laps and rubbing her dirty beard on the seat cushion.  When we're really weak, she's allowed up on the ottoman but because our sofas have been leather, they've been easy to clean.  She rubs against the blue tweed chairs, though, rubbing her fur deep into the fibers and although I lint roller my heart out, there's a faint light swatch of rubbed fabric, thanks to her loving all over the tweed.   I think the fabric has also been sort of buffed there, because of this weird rubbing she does.

It's difficult to see, I think, but I notice it every day.  They look dirty even when they're not, so I think this tweed was a mistake - I'll admit it!  It always had a matte texture and probably wasn't super high quality so I think if I get chairs again I'd switch back to something like leather or a fabric with more sheen that isn't so textured and grippy.  

Find a Cheap DIY Pet Washing Station

We used to bathe Szuka in the tub but after the bathroom was renovated, I didn't want her nails scratching the new bathtub so we sought out a cheap place to wash her.  A pet store in town offers $10 DIY washes at their incredibly handy pet washing station and it's totally worth it because, given her size, we probably use that much in soap alone.  One day I'd like to renovate the laundry room and add a DIY pet washing station but when we can't get to town, a lake bath does the trick in the summer and a "snow bath" works for winter. 

Those are my tips for keeping the house clean even with two messy pups and a sandy lake in my backyard.  I'd love to hear your tips!  And if you've been eyeing up my new Libman Freedom Mop, or curious about what other products they have, take a peek here.  I am honestly so impressed with the Freedom Mop I chose because it's just SO much easier to clean up those nose prints and rogue bits of sand - plus it does a way better job by reaching under all of my furniture. 

P.S. The great gams in these photos belong to my lovely Mom, who I asked to help me snap some photos for this post.  

She came over wearing the CUTEST leggings, designed by a local clothing designer who has a shop downtown, so I asked Mom to model my new mop for me because her leggings matched my decor so well.  But I, uh, "needed a bunch of different angles" so she ended up mopping the entire living and dining room while I pretended to take photos, lol.  She's the one who realize this mop fits under even my low TV stand and sofa.  I have the sweetest Mom.          

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Easy Homemade Cheese + Oat Dog Treat Recipe

As I type this, Hynda is barking furiously at my feet and Szuka is breathing heavily at my elbow.  I've been eating the dog treats I baked for them all day, and they can smell the cheese and oats on my breath.  In my defense, all foods I prepare must go through quality control.

;)

I'm a huge fan of making homemade dog treats because not only do I get to ensure quality ingredients, I also get to use up stuff from the fridge!  A couple of years ago I confessed that I liked making Szuka "kitchen sink" cookies, using up delicious leftovers like pureed pumpkin, bacon grease and shredded carrots.  Anytime I had some yummy leftovers from our meals, I set it aside for Szuka and made a random batch of cookies, adding wet and dry ingredients until it was knead-able.

I am a HUGE fan of made up meals and baked goods for humans too.  I struggle to follow a recipe without adding some of my own flair.  One night Hubby and I had the munchies and we were so desperate for cookies.  I caved and started whipping up some but I had such an odd assortment of dry goods so I just kept mixing and adding and, in the end, made some kind of delicious carrot cake meets oatmeal cookie muffin top-type thing, sweetened with maple syrup.  They were INSANELY delicious (we all know the muffin top is the best part of a muffin).  Anyway, weeks later Hubby asked for "muffin top cookies" and I had NO idea how I had made them!!

So I've been trying to write down these made up recipes in case something turns out so tasty I want to recreate it.  I'm sure Szuka will appreciate this too, because there have definitely been some homemade dog treat versions she's loved more than others, but no two batches are alike.

Here's my first official dog biscuit recipe: a simple cheese and oat treat - typed up and everything.  It's easy, tasty (trust me) - and the perfect base for adding other flavors and ingredients (here are some great ideas for flavor combinations).

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup broth 
• 3 eggs (beaten)

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats:

After measuring out the ingredients, I mix together the oats and flour and then just toss in the cheese, broth, and eggs, mixing with my hands until I can form the dough into a ball.

(If it's a little dry, you add a bit more water or broth and if it's too wet, add a scoop more of flour or oats).

Knead on a floured board and then roll out.  These are very durable cookies and I have baked itty bitties with giant ones together - they're not delicate like a human cookie and they won't burn easily at all, so don't stress about the thickness, just adjust to your pup's preference.  Dog themed cookie cutters are a must so everyone know who these are for!  (Although that did little deter me from eaten half a dozen of these).  This sweet set is from Wayfair (they have such a great pet section).   

  
Bake these at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes for the smaller size and 20-25 minutes for the larger cookies.  I liked to use parchment paper or a silicon mat.

These cheese and oat dog biscuits are (intentionally) a little more bland than a human cookie, but actually still quite satisfying, especially if you've recently fallen off the low-carb wagon and feeling snacky.  I literally topped these with a slice of cheese and some salami with a side of cherry tomatoes.  The dogs sat there staring at me, like "what the heck?"

In my defense, they eat my food all the time.  It's not fair.

Can we just talk for a minute about Szuka's self control?

Seriously, look at this!

Hynda, on the other hand, LOST her mind for these cookies - and I almost lost a finger in the process.  How are those tiny teeth so sharp?!  I tried to snap an adorable photo of her chowing down on these cheesy treats but every photo was a blur.  Once she'd gobbled five cookies while I tried to snap the perfect pic, I managed to get this clear shot.  Does that look like a contented pup with a full belly, or what?

Have you baked anything yummy for your pups recently?

This post was sponsored by Wayfair but all thoughts, opinions, and puppies are my own. 

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Say Hello to Hynda!

We welcomed her at the end of June, but I've been too busy chasing this little bunny around to share a post about her.  Meet Hynda, Szuka's new buddy!

For two years I have casually looked for another pup to add to the mix.  Because I have allergies, it really limits my selection to about five breeds.  Because Szuka is kind of iffy with other dogs, we were really worried about bringing home an adult rescue but I kept my eyes peeled anyway.  Around here, there are a lot of Labs, German Shepherds, and Husky mixes all looking for homes, but all of those breeds make me super sick.  I started looking at breed specific rescues across Canada and the US but was turned down because of distance.  Most shelters and rescues wanted people to adopt nearby so they could easily return the pup if need be.  I was kind of surprised at how difficult it was to find a pup to re-home, but I guess that's just the reality of living somewhere kind of far flung.  I almost rescued a feral Komondor but he was mixed with Great Pyrenees (a major allergy maker for me).  When I was in Ottawa I almost found the perfect pup who was desperate for her forever home, but I missed out when a great family scooped her up before I could.  I wish I didn't have allergies because there are a million dogs I would have taken home from our local dog rescues.  I still look every now and then, in case a dog I can handle allergy-wise pops up! 

 

Meanwhile, because I've been working more outside the home, Szuka sweetie has been a bit lonely so I started really seriously looking for another dog and finally started considering a puppy as opposed to a rescue.  At the dog park she always favors little dogs and when she meets other white dogs she seems to like them more.  She spends a lot of time looking in the mirror (it's kind of adorable) so I wonder, does she know she's a white fluff-ball?  My boss has four poodles and one of them is white and when Szuka met them, she and the white male poodle started at each other for SO long!

In the end, I found a great couple (registered breeders, no backyard shenanigans and no pet shops) who breed Bichon Frise.  I researched the breeds I don't have reactions to tirelessly and the Bichon seemed like a great fit because it's small but spunky so I figured it could hold its own rough housing with Szuka.  I also read that they don't need to be the dominant dog, which I thought might make for a smoother adjustment.

We brought her home at the end of June and things have been a bit bumpy.  Szuka HATED her at first but we tried to let her assert her dominance with this little gal (within reason).  Another reason I got a small puppy - and not a full grown feral Komondor - is because I figured that IF growing our four-legged family is impossible, it would be easier to re-home a smaller dog with friends and family as opposed to another massive beast like Szuka (who weighs in at 104 pounds these days).  In the back of my mind, I really worried about how Szuka would adapt but I really thought a buddy would ease her loneliness.

After only a couple of weeks, the girls seemed to be getting along a bit better.  But they still haven't really "clicked".  In between the fighting, they play and chase each other around and they do often lie on the floor together chewing or snacking.  They have cuddled a bit, but it's always Hynda who instigates and Szuka just tolerates.

We've been doing our part to make the pack whole but sometimes I wonder if Szuka wouldn't just be happier being alone again... I just wanted to make my working easier on her, but it's difficult because she's only ever known a reality when I work from home most days.

But maybe it's just an adjustment process because Hynda is waaay less chill as a puppy than Szuka was.  Hynda earned the nickname "Tuna Breath Face Biter" for good reason.  She's been a struggle to crate train and housebreak (good gravy I'm still struggling) and she is teething something fierce.  She's drawn blood from hands after a particular bad sneak attack and she also lunges for my nose and face leaving little tooth marks if I get too close. Szuka was so calm by comparison and had very few accidents indoors (I can count on one hand the number of inside whoopsies her entire life).  The three of us (Hubs, Szuka and I) are all pretty laid back so maybe this energetic nutty ball of energy will need to mellow out before we gel as a pack.  Although I'm also worried because my Mom has been caring for both pups when I'm working long hours and she's expressed some concern about not being able to handle both dogs.

Even though I love this little gal, sometimes I worry that I made a mistake but I'm hoping that over the summer with both Hubs and I taking some holidays, we can get everyone into a good routine.  On the bright size, Hynda is smart and after two days she already learned the command for "come" and she comes running immediately.  Szuka, on the other hand, looks over at me and sighs when I call her name, lol. 

I've never had a home with two dogs so I'm all ears for any tips, tricks or training references you suggest!  I've been reading a ton but I am always happy for more resources.  Soon we'll enroll Hynda in obedience but I'd like to get her fully vaccinated first.

They move in such a blur that I mostly just have cell phone snaps of them but I'm going to try to get some better quality pictures of them before Hynda loses her adorable puppy proportions.  Her waddle bum is the funniest!

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