Messy Dog Life
& Dog-Friendly Days Out

Real-life dog advice for muddy paws, chewed slippers and plans gone sideways, plus verified places where dogs are genuinely welcome inside.

Puppy Life

The honest guide to bringing home a puppy, from first-night nerves and toilet-training puddles to tiny teeth, tangled leads and the moments that make it all worthwhile. Practical advice for surviving puppy life without pretending it is ever tidy.

A dog mid-stride across a field, confidently ignoring a person calling after her in the background

Puppy to Adolescent: This Too Shall Pass

Your dog aced recall at six months and is now pretending you don't exist. Welcome to dog adolescence — the phase nobody warns you about clearly enough. It's real, it's maddening, and it ends.

Puppy Life

TDFM

5 days ago5 min read

Tiny pale apricot toy poodle sitting in a mixing bowl on kitchen scales, looking alert

Feeding Your Puppy (and Avoiding a Vet-Scale Shaming Incident)

From choosing the right puppy food to the mortifying moment Jazz was paraded to the vet's scales, honest feeding advice grounded in 25 years and five very different dogs.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 22, 20256 min read

A fluffy puppy sitting beside a dining table leg with chew marks on the corner, looking entirely pleased with itself

Puppy Teething and Biting: How to Survive the Landshark Phase

The landshark phase is real, temporary and survivable. Here's what actually works for teething puppies — from frozen yogurt bites to protecting your furniture — learned across several dogs.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 21, 20256 min read

Small curly-eared dog sitting alert in a secured car seat, ears lifted, looking towards the window

Car Travel With a New Puppy: Building Good Habits From the Start

Getting a puppy used to the car takes a little thought, but the effort pays off for years. Here's what actually helps — from first introductions to keeping dogs safe and comfortable on every journey.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 20, 20258 min read

Three dogs of different sizes sharing a calm domestic space, one resting in a plastic bed with a blanket, the other watching from a short distance

Other Dogs in the Home: What I've Learned From Four Dogs and a Lot of Careful Introductions

No two introductions went the same way in our household. From Ellie's two-month cold shoulder to Pepsi falling for Boodle immediately, here's what twenty years of multi-dog life actually taught me.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 17, 20259 min read

A young child gently brushing a fluffy dog at home, both calm and relaxed

Encouraging the Kids to Play Their Part in Puppy Care: A Family Affair

Children can play a real part in puppy care — if the tasks match their age and an adult stays responsible. Here's how it works in a household that's been navigating dogs and children together since 1999.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 16, 20258 min read

A small puppy sitting on garden grass looking up expectantly, with an open back door in the background

Toilet Training Your Puppy: A Positive and Patient Approach

Toilet training takes patience, consistency and the honest acceptance that every puppy moves at their own pace. Real experience across five dogs — including Boo, a natural, and Mouse, still getting there at eleven months.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 14, 20256 min read

A small puppy exploring a calm living room on their first day home, with an adult sitting quietly on the floor nearby

Puppy's First Day Home: Settling In – A Gentle Introduction to Your New Life Together

The best first day with a new puppy is usually a quiet one. Practical, reward-based advice from someone who has welcomed five dogs — covering arrival, introductions, safe spaces and the first night.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 13, 20257 min read

Person crouching at floor level next to a small puppy, surveying a domestic room from puppy height

How to Prepare Your Home for a New Puppy: What You Need Before Day One

The Instagram posts don't show the hour on your hands and knees moving things you forgot you owned. Honest, practical puppy preparation from someone who's done it five times over.

Puppy Life

TDFM

Oct 11, 20256 min read

Messy Dog Life & Dog-Friendly Days Out

Puppy Life

Puppy to Adolescent: This Too Shall Pass

Feeding Your Puppy (and Avoiding a Vet-Scale Shaming Incident)

Puppy Teething and Biting: How to Survive the Landshark Phase

Car Travel With a New Puppy: Building Good Habits From the Start

Other Dogs in the Home: What I've Learned From Four Dogs and a Lot of Careful Introductions

Encouraging the Kids to Play Their Part in Puppy Care: A Family Affair

Toilet Training Your Puppy: A Positive and Patient Approach

Puppy's First Day Home: Settling In – A Gentle Introduction to Your New Life Together

How to Prepare Your Home for a New Puppy: What You Need Before Day One

Messy Dog Life
& Dog-Friendly Days Out