The Question Every True Dog Lover Must Answer

Panic set in this week. During a phone call home while I was out of town. A last minute trip I’ll tell you about sometime. For now, this panic was about our “newish” puppy. Because of the last second nature of this trip, I left all the animals in care of my husband. There was a time when this would’ve seemed impossible. This man who didn’t want any pets. This man who has come so far. Early on, he learned

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About That Time My Puppy Threatened To Flunk Obedience School

It’s that performance anxiety dream. The one where you’re in class and you haven’t done all the work. You’re not going to graduate. You’ll be the laughing stock of the class. You’ve had that dream, Dear Reader? The good part is when you wake up realizing this was just a dream. Everything is fine. Oh, were it so. That was no dream. That was my real life. My real puppy. The real final exam at puppy obedience school. I apologize

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Graduation Fear Confession: My Girl Might Not Get Her Diploma

It’s possible I’m a terrible mother. As I have a crisis of confidence in my girl. She’s supposed to graduate this weekend. Between you and me- I’m not sure she’s going to make it. I scroll through Facebook seeing photo after photo of students boldly holding up their diplomas. “Look at what I’ve done!” Their smiles scream through my screen. As for our ceremony this weekend, The chances that my girl will come home with a diploma? Uh… It’s not

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Your Miracle Cure When Raising Teenagers Gets You Down

I’m still shaking my head. At this miracle treatment. The syndrome for which I was told there was no cure. That only time would heal this common malady. The affliction of living with teenagers. Perhaps you know the symptoms, Dear Reader. The rejection of your very being. To be told, That you are a dumb adult, Totally no fun to be around, A colossal bore. With an 16-year-old and an 18-year-old at home, we are in the thick of it.

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The Puppy You Prescribed For My Broken Doggie Heart

You did this. I’ve said that many times these last few days. You, Dear Reader. You, who took the time to reach out after my beloved Darla Dog passed. You, who encouraged me to get another dog. You, who told me to not wait too long. You, who said the ache would ease. You, who said it wouldn’t, but to take the dive anyway. And so well, Saturday. The day my daughter saw a crack of opportunity in my husband’s

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Old Dog Love

Please catch my newspaper column each week in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Dayton Daily News and other newspapers across Ohio.  Here’s this week’s column: Many days she smells no better than an old blanket that’s been soaking in a bucket of sour milk for week. Her body sports more lumps than a bride’s first attempt at making mashed potatoes. Still, I look at her and know that I’m in love. She is my 13 ½ year old dog.  Together, we’ve reached a bittersweet

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