Faber-Nelson - Dog mama: 200 tips, trends, and how-to secrets for stylish dog owners

Copyright 2019 by Serena Faber-Nelson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Daniel Brount

Cover photo by Alexander Mayes Photography (alexandermayesphotography.com)

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-4472-1

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-4474-5

Printed in China

Disclaimer: The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book. Before making any changes or additions to your dogs diet or lifestyle, remember to check with your local vet regarding your dogs individual needs.

For Emmy and Isobel

Contents

Introduction

Diamonds Dogs are a girls best friend

Theres a good reason that so many dogs on social media have millions more followers than our regular human accounts: we love dogs.

In the pet-parenting boom over the last decade weve seen the rise of the dog mom.women who unashamedly treat their dogs like kids and incorporate them into their daily lives. But were not the cast from Best in Show.

We are stylish, smart, influential womenwho simply cherish and value the bonds we have with our dogs.

From organic treats, to luxe bedding, and on-trend fashion, dog mamas want the best for our pups. For dog moms, our pets are essentially extensions of ourselves.

From first loves, to first jobs, marriages, milestones, and beyond, our dogs grow with us as our confidants and best friends.

Dog Mama is not a training or behavior book. Im not Cesar Millan (my dog still sleeps on the sofa when he thinks Im not looking). Nor is this a photo book filled with cute dog shots (though there are plenty of those!). This book is a road map for dog moms to live their best lives with their pups.

Over the last two decades my job has seen me learn more dog tips and tricks than I could have ever imagined. In 2010 I started Pretty Fluffyan online home for the stylish, modern pet owner. Through interviewing experts, reviewing products, and creating pet-parent-focused content, Ive been steadily filling every corner of my brain with dog-related knowledge.

This book is all about breaking down this information into bite-sized pieces and sharing it with youin the hope it will make life with your dog sweeter and easier.

This book is for you, dog mama. Enjoy and give your dog a cuddle from me.

Serena Faber-Nelson

The 6 Types of Dog Moms

The Active Dog Mom

Want to find an active dog mom in her natural habitat? Head to the local dog park. If you go before 7:00 a.m., you may even find a full herd of active dog moms.

This dog mama and her pup have energy to spare (its like they regularly exercise and are filled with endorphins or something!). Get chatting and youll hear all about their weekend fun runs, their adventurous hikes, and their daily games of fetch (they take turns with their pupper because it keeps both their heart rates up.)

They know all the latest fitness crazes for doggos theyre regulars at doga (dog yoga), doggy bootcamp (where you both get abs of steel), and pup-friendly paddleboarding.

For active dog moms, active wear is actual clothes they wear to exercise innot just stretchy pants they wear with claims they might go for a run later (like some people who will remain nameless cough, cough )

Bursting with endless enthusiasm and great ideas of outdoor activities for dogs, the active dog mama is a fabulous friend to have aroundthey might even inspire you to break out of your comfort zone!

Just keep the fact that you and your dog spent last weekend on the couch binging Netflix to yourself.

The Dog Momager

Step aside, Kris Jenner.

The dog momager is the fierce talent behind every cute pupper you see on the gram. Shes not a regular dog mom, shes a fun dog momand she has the 7,984 posts to prove it. (#blessed)

Armed with her trusty smartphone, youll catch her on a random street corner waiting for the good light to come back while she snaps pics of her much-loved pup in their latest outfit (#woofcouture #gifted, of course). If youre lucky you may even get a glimpse of the oft-talked-about but never seen Instagram husband who has taken the afternoon off work to help them capture the perfect shot.

A dog momager knows Daisy the Cavoodle (105K followers, thank you very much) works best after an organic treat and belly rub. She lives and breathes in hashtags and has memorized the best filters to edit out dog hair.

While her parents lament the chosen use of her PR degree, the dog momager is laughing all the way to the bank. Want to know the hottest new dog trends? Want to see the cutest collars? This girls your gal.

Wed all love to hate on her, but the pull of her sublime photos and witty captions is just too strong. So we double tap that cuteness and wait with bated breath for the next post.

The Designer Dog Mom

Want to know whos got a better wardrobe than you? A designer dog moms dog, thats who.

The designer dog mom knows her Burberry from her Balenciaga, and her Louis Vuitton from her Louboutins (the latter she keeps far away from her dogs reach!).

With a fashionable eye, this dog mama nearly always looks like shes stepped off the cover of Vogue or should that be