Category: writing

animals, dog, Dogs, Humor, Keeping it 100, Musings, Personal, Pets, writing2 Comments

Katniss and Andy’s most not-excellent mini adventure

Andy

At the exact moment I realized I had forgotten to lock the side gate, I looked out the window and saw Katniss’ black-tipped tail pointed to the December sky on high alert—in the neighbor’s yard. I had been coughing all day, as I’m sick—during vacation time, no less—and realized that sick or not, I was going to have to go outside and chase Katniss down. During traffic. With children coming home from school. While Katniss refused to listen. As delivery drivers frequented neighboring homes. Awesome. It was my own stupid fault, though, as I was the one who forgot to … Continue reading Katniss and Andy’s most not-excellent mini adventure

animals, dog, Dogs, Humor, Keeping it 100, Musings, Personal, Pets, writingLeave a comment

Ask My Vet: What items are most harmful to pets, especially during the holidays?

Andy

Ask My Vet is a series based on questions I have—and maybe you do, too—about dogs. Katniss’ veterinarian, Dr. Katharine Kennedy of Arbor Animal Clinic here in Austin, provides answers and expertise as a part of this series. Question: What items are most harmful to pets, especially during the holidays? Dr. K: Chocolate season—it’s the time from Halloween to Valentine’s Day full of the sounds of panicked pet owners calling vet clinics about their dogs that ate chocolate. This year has been pretty uneventful in terms of holiday toxicities thus far, but the season is young! I find myself wondering … Continue reading Ask My Vet: What items are most harmful to pets, especially during the holidays?

animals, Dogs, Humor, Keeping it 100, Musings, Personal, Pets, writing3 Comments

My wife: The woman behind the guy behind the blog about the dog

Andy

It’s been said that behind every successful man is an encouraging woman—or something to that effect. There’s lots of sayings. For our purposes, dear reader, I think it could be argued that behind me, this blog and its star—my 42-pound German shepherd mix, Katniss—as well as my current life in general, there is one woman who helps make it all happen: my wife. I’ve referred to her countless times in my posts, and today she is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her 21st birthday. My wife—and Katniss’ mommy—is even more organized than President Obama’s daily schedule likely is, can multitask … Continue reading My wife: The woman behind the guy behind the blog about the dog

animals, austin, Dogs, Humor, Keeping it 100, Musings, Personal, Pets, writing1 Comment

A jog with my dog makes me feel husky

Andy

When I was 20, my dad and I, along with much of the rest of the Boy Scout troop I was part of, went to Alaska to visit an assistant scoutmaster* who had invited us—it’s not like the few dozen or so of us were showing up unannounced. We went during the summer, so it was sunny outside nearly 24 hours a day, which is a little unnerving at midnight. Nonetheless it was a fun, unforgettable trip. While we were there we got to see a whole farm full of sled dogs who participated in races like the Iditarod and … Continue reading A jog with my dog makes me feel husky

Adoption, austin, Dogs, Humor, Keeping it 100, Musings, Personal, Pets, Texas, writingLeave a comment

Happiness is a (not too) warm puppy: Dogs already have fur coats, so why give them clothes?

Andy

Katniss, my beloved four-legged pseudo-child, has it pretty good at our house. She’s spoiled worse than a Kardashian¹: Katniss sleeps on our bed, gets to play outside for hours at a time if she wants, is loved more than most people I know, gets endless cuddle opportunities with my wife and me, and pretty much is allowed to do whatever she wants as long as she doesn’t go potty in the house or destroy things. And we wonder why she’s so ornery. In short, I don’t feel bad for Katniss. She has better living conditions than probably most of the … Continue reading Happiness is a (not too) warm puppy: Dogs already have fur coats, so why give them clothes?