It’s been since October that I’ve shared a dog mom life update with you all, and a lot has happened since then! If you’re new here, check out this post for a little more about our life with two Labrador Retrievers (I’m warning you – there are some majorly adorable photos). Any-who, as I said, we’ve done a lot in the last few months.
Lola is now 8 months old, which we can hardly believe. She has such a fun personality and is honestly the best puppy I’ve ever had. I get asked a lot about how much of our things she’s destroyed and I’m always happy to say not a single thing. She has never chewed anything and only expresses interest in her toys where that’s concerned. She was the easiest to train, which is a nice thing about labs, but I just feel that Lola picks up new skills quicker than any lab I’ve had previously. And she’s extremely calm. Right now she is just laying by my side.
Over the holidays I took Lola out for some socialization to an event hosted by PEP! (Pet Education Project) at the Pearl here in San Antonio. It was a fundraiser and part of a program to increase awareness for taking proper care of your pets. Plus, they offered photos with Santa. I absolutely love how Lola’s photo turned out. She did very well but was pretty excited, as she’s very friendly with other dogs and people.
We took our girls to Christmas at my in-laws. Both of our parents are so sweet when it comes to Bella and Lola, calling themselves their grandparents. Our girls are included in everything, which makes us so happy. Because of all the driving we did, Lola has learned to be a very good car rider. She also loves to snuggle up with you on any couch, chair, or bed. She’s the most physically affectionate dog I’ve ever had, and most mornings I spend a few cuddly minutes with her and a cup of coffee. It’s my own version of meditation.
Lola is still eating puppy food and will continue to do so until she’s at least 18 months old. She’s a little over 45 pounds now, but is still pretty small in her overall build. We actually really like her this size. She fits just about everywhere and you can still pick her up. It’s really cute. Bella has always weighed around 65 pounds so she’s a bit bigger. The jury is still out whether Bella will fully accept Lola as a part of this family. Bella tolerates her but she’s not really a fan. I think she enjoyed being an only dog for a long time, and having a spunky new roommate is not something she really cares for. Bella mostly tries to ignore Lola. But every now and then there’s a moment of play so there’s hope on that jury!
This week I’m meeting with a dog trainer to work on the last couple of skills that Lola struggles with – “come” and “stay.” These are always the hardest commands to solidify. It’s not that Lola doesn’t know these commands. She often comes when I say to and she can stay when I tell her to, but she’s not consistent. I’m going to be working with a trainer on some strategies to get her to do these things all the time. It’s for her own safety, especially as we live in an area with wildlife that can be a danger to her. I’ll post an update on that in a little while.
My outfit: American Eagle Sweater (similar here) | Jeans (similar here) | Heels | Palmgrens Bag | Sunglasses
As in previous dog mom posts, I would like to share some products that we use that have been helpful as dog parents. All of these items are things we’ve purchased that make life with dogs a little easier, more efficient, and enjoyable for us and our girls. This list is definitely “dog mom approved!”
+ We love this airtight dog food container. It holds up to 40 pounds of food (I buy the 35 pound bag so it’s perfect) and keeps critters and insects out of it. They’re stackable too, and there’s space to write the dog’s name with a dry erase marker. We have two of these and keep them in our laundry room.
+ This portable dog paw cleaner was intriguing and so I bought one. I think it’s great but recommend not overfilling the container with water. When you plunge the paw in that water just spills out. But with the right amount of water you can get the paw in no problem. Lola is a little weird about messing with her feet, but Bella doesn’t mind this. Everything can be placed in the dishwasher which is nice.
+ Biodegradable poop bags let you pick up waste without worry. These bags are 100% certified biodegradable and compostable and they’re leak-proof. Some people prefer the bags to be scented, and these are not. But if you’ve ever picked up poop before then you know that no amount of floral scent really helps. These bags are awesome!
+ We finally needed to get a new collar for Lola, and went with a nylon buckle style collar. I prefer the buckle to a clip because it’s sturdier and the bright pink color is easily seen. Her tags are clipped to it so we can hear her too.
+ We don’t travel anywhere without this car seat cover. It fits both of our SUV’s and keeps hair and any other debris contained. I love that it has velcro straps underneath that secure to the floor/walls/undersides of chairs to keep it from moving. It’s easy to clean and it has an extended piece that lays over the bumper so Bella and Lola’s nails don’t scratch the paint as they get in and out. It’s amazing for road trips.
+ Our girls love to lounge on our sofas, so a good dog blanket is a must. We have leather furniture so the hair doesn’t get stuck into the cushions but I still like to keep the dogs on a blanket when they’re up there. I love that this one is waterproof and machine-washable.
+ We are still fans of these rawhide free chews. I even like the way they smell. As I mentioned in a previous post, I will not give rawhide to our girls. These are a great alternative and it keeps them busy doing something they love – chewing!
Shop My Dog Mom Approved List:
xo – Erin
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