1. Baking Gift Set
This is one of my favorite options, especially for new homeowners or anyone who loves to bake. Gift one of our Santa Paws Tea Towels or a Dog Lover Tea Towel, add this cute dog cookie cut-out and spatula, and find a baking mix for humans OR for dogs! It's an adorable way to curate seemingly simple items all together. All extras linked were found at Target and this entire gift set is under $25!
2. Coffee Mug + Fillers
Add some goodies into our Dog Mama Mug or any coffee mug of your choice to make a cute little gift for a friend. I threw in doggie treats, but you could add marshmallows, hot cocoa, candy canes, etc. The options are endless! (Individual hot cocoa packs and candy canes found at Target).
3. Mini Stocking for the Dog
Ok, how CUTE are these mini stockings?! I found them at my local Michael's craft store, however they are not listed online so be sure to check in person! This idea would make a sweet secret santa gift for a dog. Stuff the stocking with some treats, add one of our fun pet tags or ornaments and you're all set to go. Our happy hour toys also make great stocking stuffers for your pup.
I hope this post inspired you for the holiday shopping season. Gift giving doesn't have to be overwhelming and this is something that anyone can do! Questions? Leave us a comment, we'll be happy to answer!
Heather & Missy
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Meet Luna
Image courtesy of @ladyluna_wi
I was about a month old when I was found behind a gas station in Playa del Carmen, Mexico along with my seven siblings and our mom. Someone very kind alerted a local shelter and brought us in where we were all taken care of!
My mom was scrolling through social media when she glanced upon my picture. Instantly, an application was submitted and the wait to hear back had begun.
Coincidentally, she has relatives who have volunteered at this shelter in the past and were planning on visiting again when I was four months old!
I was approved to fly back with them to Minneapolis, where I was picked up and brought back to my forever home 🥰
Image courtesy of @ladyluna_wi
Interested in sharing your rescue story? Email us at hello@missypupandco.com for more details!
MEET OBI & REY
image courtesy of @thejedi_pups
From Dog Mom Naomi:
My husband and I have always been dog people and animal lovers all around!
When we started dating we both had family dogs that we loved dearly and we actually lost them both in the same week. ☹️ It was super hard and we were dying to get a dog, but we had lived in three places that wouldn’t allow us to have animals. I would constantly talk about having a dog and my husband would tell me that we would get the perfect dogs when we are able to.
We finally moved a week after we got married into a house that allowed animals and we literally adopted our dogs the same day we moved! 🥰🥰
We have always wanted to save from a kill shelter or rescue, so we found an amazing shelter two hours away. We saw Obi and instantly fell in love. We inquired about him and he was being fostered by someone who was fostering some other animals, and she asked if we wanted to meet his best friend, Rey!! They had only been in foster care together for a week and instantly became inseparable and best friends. Obi was in one of the worst kill shelters in Tennessee where he was outside 24/7 so he really hates water.
image courtesy of @thejedi_pups
We are so happy we saved them and I love them so much. It was completely worth the wait like my husband always told me! ❤️❤️
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Interested in sharing your rescue story? Please email us at hello@missypupandco.com for more information.
]]>Not only was this a change in routine for us, but our pups too. Between the Zoom calls, constant pings from instant messages and responding to emails, I’d be on my computer for hours before even getting up. Missy took notice (although she hasn’t experienced anything different with us since she was adopted in 2020) and became antsy, distracting, and it made me feel bad/sad for her.
I realized I needed to plan the day out in a way that would allow me to focus on work, but also ensure she can still have a fun and engaging day too. Here are 3 things I did to help us get more structured and intentional with our days.
1. Schedule play sessions
Look, I know that sounds boring and obvious but it changed how I managed my days. On my work calendar, I blocked out two 15 min intervals in the morning and afternoon everyday dedicated to playtime. Whether we play tug with one of our fun toys or do some training with treats, I know we have this dedicated time set aside where I am engaging with her.
2. Place/crate time
"Place" has become my BFF as a dog owner. We are fortunate that Missy enjoys relaxing on her spots, and I've put a bed by my desk, and one away from my desk. In the morning, Missy is to be on place for the first 2 hours (yes, 2 hours) of the day AWAY from my desk and where she cannot see me. This allows me to kick-off my work day focused without disruption.
The latter half of the day she's allowed to be on place near me, and with a kong, licki-mat, toy, etc. This gives her time to be near me, but focused on something she enjoys doing that keeps her brain busy.
It may seem like a lot of structure, but she has thrived off of the boundaries we've set for her and even the small, subtle changes have benefitted all of us.
Most days I have a meeting where I need complete peace, so she will spend time in her crate too - usually just for an hour or less - but still works wonders for us.
3. Utilizing treats/toys
I didn't realize the amount of toys there are out there to help keep dog brains busy. I was definitely underutilizing them and honestly didn't really need to buy anything; a lot you can re-create at home.
I hope these ideas help give you inspiration if you're feeling stuck. As always, reach out to our community if you're seeking advice or just someone to talk to about keeping your pup engaged while you work.
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