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When it comes to dog blogs, none quite do it as beautifully as Serena Faber Nelson’s Pretty Fluffy. From the gorgeous photography (a lot of which is contributed by the talented Sarah Dickerson of Chic Sprinkles) to the inspirational messaging (my favorite being The 13 Project), Serena has captured the dog world in such a stunning and positive way. But she can’t do it alone. Her trusty sidekick Soda is there every step of the way, and today, we get to know her a little better. Thanks for sharing Soda’s story Serena! (And thanks for having me and Mr. Harvey on your blog last month!)
What breed is your dog?
Border Collie
How old is he/she?
12 years
How did you and your dog come to be together?
I got Soda when I was just 21. As someone unhealthily obsessed with sitcoms, Soda got her name from Seinfeld, where George has his future firstborn’s name stolen and he tries to get the couple to switch to the name ‘Soda’ in the delivery room. She’s been by my side as I’ve started by career, met the love of my life, moved houses, and everything in between. She really is my best friend. My husband always jokes that once he had Soda’s approval he knew he had a chance with me! I love that now that she’s older, I get to be there for her and the bond we have these days runs very deep.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Intuitive – she always know whether it’s time for a cuddle or time to whack you in the face with a paw to get you out of bed!
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
Soda is a toy-aholic! She loves anything squeaky, and has destroyed many soft toys in her lifetime. However her favourite would have to be the Kong – whether she’s gobbling up the treats stuffed inside or playing fetch she adores her Kong. Now that she’s older she has the purple senior Kong which is much better for her teeth and gums.
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Bar tender. She’d listen to your problems for days on end, likes to get rowdy, and frankly, with her name, would fit right in. Scotch and Soda anyone?
What celebrity does your dog most resemble?
Amy Poehler. Hilarious, whip smart and gorgeous – but not afraid to be silly.
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
I know this is a no-no but she loves sitting on our bed looking out the window watching the world go by!
What do you love most about your dog?
Every. Single. Thing. It really is amazing that the longer you have a dog, the bigger your heart grows.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is_______________.
…a life well lived.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by Pretty Fluffy
When photographer and blogger Micaela Hoo emailed me to share a bit about her dog, Aubrey, I was both flattered and excited to learn more about the creative pair. I quickly check out Micaela’s website, and instantly fell for her dream-like images. As our first German Shorthaired Pointer and photographer pair on House of Harvey, I say welcome and thanks for sharing your story!
What breed is your dog?
German Shorhaired Pointer
How old is she?
6 years old
How did you and your dog come to be together?
My family and I got her from a family that could no longer keep her.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Loyal
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
A blue bone (Tiffany blue color, no less; she’s got style!)
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Magician (she’s already quite the Houdini… food seems to magically walk out of cabinets and disappear when she’s around!)
What celebrity does your dog most resemble?
Meryl Streep
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
Wherever her favorite humans are
What do you love most about your dog?
Her sense of humor and that she’s so affectionate
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is ______________.
…essential to a happy life.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by Micaela Hoo
It all started on Pinterest one lazy Saturday morning. I was scouring endless pages when I came upon a simple, but awesome, water bottle vase centerpiece DIY project. I quickly found the source at Erin’s blog, House of Earnest, and we all know what happened next…endless hours of blog digging. And then when I found her precious pooch Perry, GAME OVER. I was hooked. Let’s all get to know Perry a little better, shall we?
What breed is your dog?
She is a Schnoodle – Schnauzer/Poodle Mix
How old is she?
She is 7 1/2!
How did you and your dog come to be together?
After graduating from college my husband (then boyfriend), Matt, and I wanted to get a dog. I wanted anything ‘oodle since they don’t really shed and Matt grew up with a Schauzer, so it was a pretty quick choice to pick a schnoodle. We reserached local breeders to choose one that had a good reputation. The one we visited ended up having a litter from their own personal house dog and we chose a dog from that litter (at just 4 days old!). We went back for Perry at 8 weeks and took her home with us.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Cheeky. She’s a mixture of quirky, playful, and sassy.
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
She LOVES tennis balls. She could literally play fetch for hours.
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
She’d be a Zoo Keeper. We live on lots of land and she is always running around in the woods chasing something that she wants to be friends with. She also has an imaginary pet elephant named Krabby and pig named Bugsy.
What celebrity does your dog most resemble? (personality counts!)
Zooey Deschanel
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
On our bed snoozing or the back of the couch to look out the window.
What do you love most about your dog?
How expressive her face is. She has the funniest moods and wears them on her sleeve.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is ______________.
…unconditional…until you’re packing to go on vacation.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by House of Earnest
When photographer Laura Goldenberger reached out to share the story of her two incredible rescued Boston Terriers, I knew I had to share. Not only did she save these two pups from an abusive situation, but she has captured so many of their magical moments through gorgeous photography–something I can truly admire. Today Laura shares some wonderful photos and the amazing story of these blue eyed ladies.
Can you share a bit about your pups?
My dogs names are Blueberry Valentine and Honey Bear Bowie, but if you’re a friend, they’ll let you call them Blue and Bowie. They just turned 2 years old on January 15th.
How did you and your dogs come to be together?
My whole life, I’ve wanted a dog more than anything. Growing up, it was what I wished for every time I blew out candles or wrote out my Christmas list. I would often hide stray dogs in my parent’s garage, sneaking them beef jerky or borrowed kibble from the neighborhood kids. But my Dad worked extremely long hours and my parents decided it just wasn’t in the cards. I was heartbroken even though they reminded me that when I grew up I would have my pup.
When I finally did “grew up” and became a full time wedding photographer, I knew I was ready to start looking at shelters and rescues. I’ve always had a connection with animals and a soft spot for those who need a second chance. I looked at Petfinder.com every day and visited a few shelters. I would end up spending hours petting each dog through the caged door, wishing I had a huge ranch where they could run free until they were adopted.
One day, I saw a picture of Blueberry. She had freckles on her cheeks and the most piercing blue eyes. As soon as I saw her, I knew she was my dog. When the day finally came to pick her up I noticed that, although she was a happy girl, she had pretty severe breathing problems and congestion. I took her to the Vet and discovered she had fluid in her lungs, a fever and pneumonia. Her heart was also enlarged due to the stress on her body. I found out that her previous owner not only neglected/abused her, but had taken her to be put down instead of getting her treatment.
After a couple weeks of antibiotics and medication, Blue was in perfect health. Though she still snorts like a little piglet (a very endearing quality). Three months later, the rescue contacted me asking for my help. They found out the same horrible person who had mistreated Blue, had bought her sister, Honey Bear Bowie, from the same litter and no longer wanted her sister either. The rescue wanted to know if I knew anyone who could adopt Bowie….I just had to have her. I wasn’t expecting a two for one deal, but I consider it the best surprise I’ve ever had.
Bowie wasn’t sick but had been abused and had zero training. Everything scared her, she would crawl on the ground, flip onto her back, and pee if you spoke too loud; she would shake and always have her ears pinned back. With a lot of patience, love and training both Blue and Bowie are now the happiest, sweetest, craziest, silliest, healthiest, smartest dogs I know!
What do you love most about your dogs?
I love how much they make me laugh. They are little clowns. Bowie can do a spot on impressions of Dobby from Harry Potter and also Benjamin Button.
Best Tricks: They know how to sit, wait, drop it, leave it, roll over, high five, walk on their hind legs, lay down, go to their beds, give kisses, play dead and more! Training them is a breeze and it amazes me how quickly they pick up new commands and tricks.
Favorite Activities: Their favorite activites are sun bathing, going on adventurous hikes, rough housing, learning new tricks (especially when treats are involved), playing on the beach and snuggling.
Favorite Treats: Their favorite treats, hands down, are the braided bullysticks from Trader Joes
Favorite Human Qualities: They sometimes remind me of little old men who snore loudly and fart often.
They are peanut butter and jelly, best friends, sisters and partners in crime. They truly love each other so much and spend every minute together. I am so happy that they could be reunited!
What’s the greatest lesson your dogs have taught you?
As silly as it may sound, they inspire me. Even though they were, at first, filled with fears and anxieties from their painful past, they are always wonderful to every person and animal they meet. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from The Perks of Being a Wildflower, ”even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.”
And now every day is a happy one for Blue and Bowie.
I strongly encourage anyone considering getting a pet to adopt from your local shelters & rescues. It is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.
all photos by Laura Goldenberger
When you happen upon graphic designer Promise Tangeman’s website, you stick around for a bit. Her’s is one of those portfolio sites that captures you from first glance and encourages you to dig deeper. So it really is no wonder that she helps other bloggers and creatives design their own gorgeous sites through her Sitehouse Designs studio. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of her work, and her pup Parker is pretty incredible too. Let’s all get to know this curly-haired cutie!
What breed is your dog?
Golden Doodle: Golden Retriever +Poodle
How old is he?
He just turned one on December 21, 2012.
How did you and your dog come to be together?
Such a meaningful story! Our friend’s 5-year-old daughter, Kate, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor (heart breaking and devastating) a few years ago. Kate fell in love with the pet therapy Goldendoodle dog that would visit her in the hospital. She was then given the cutest Golden doodle puppy as a gift from the breeder that she named Patrick. While Kate was in chemo and therapy we would dog sit Partrick for her. We absolutely fell in love with fluffy P and would thoroughly enjoy our time with him. Last year for Christmas my husband surprised me with Patrick’s baby cousin who we named Parker! Parker and Patrick’s mothers are sisters… haha. That’s how they came to be cousins! The dogs love to play together! And there is no current evidence of disease! Woohoo!! And we hope that someday Parker can be a pet therapy dog too! He needs a wee bit more training first.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Captivating
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
Bully sticks
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
He would probably be a therapist of counselor. He always knows how to meet you where you’re at, and then cheer you up.
What celebrity does your dog most resemble? (personality counts!)
Hmm… either Alf, Teddy Ruxbin, or Fozzie Bear.
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
The arm of our couch. He can watch the whole downstairs from that view.
What do you love most about your dog?
His cuddly personality and his humor.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is __________________.
…HEALING.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos provided by Promise Tangeman
One day, while getting lost in the abyss of blogs on the web, I happened upon the gorgeously designed A Pair of Pears. Upon further digging, I discovered their amazingly adorable pup, Pixel. Seeing those delicious spots, I couldn’t help but reach out and ask the talented couple of Jake and Jamie Bartlett to contribute a profile. So why don’t we all get to know a little more about this guy.
What breed is your dog?
Dalmatian
How old is he/she?
He is 4 and a half months.
How did you and your dog come to be together?
We have always dreamed of having a Dalmatian. Finally a few months ago we were able to find a breeder with a bunch of little puppies available. We went to pick Pixel out when he was only 5 weeks old. We will never forget when they brought out all the little boys in a laundry basket for us to choose. They were all so adorable. Pixel wobbled over to Jake and we fell in love. Three weeks later we were able to bring him home.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Curious
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
He loves is Kong Binkie (he’s a big baby)
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Toy Tester
What celebrity does your dog most resemble?
Will Arnett
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
The couch, even though he isn’t allowed on it.
What do you love most about your dog?
We love his little droopy eyes when he gets sleepy.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is__________________
…a bottomless pit.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by A Pair of Pears
Megan Gilger’s, The Fresh Exchange has become one of my favorite online spots for inspiration. Megan always offers a positive message in a visually beautiful way that simply keeps me motivated and inspired on the daily. I have especially loved those moments where she shares gorgeous photos of her two pups partaking in adventures. Today, Megan gives us a glimpse into the lives and personalities of her adorable dogs, Nellie and Tucker. Thanks Megan!
What breed is your dog?
Nellie: Golden Retriever
Tucker: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
How old is he/she?
Nellie: 3 years
Tucker: 1 year
How did you and your dog come to be together?
Nellie was a gift from my parents. Mike and I had dreamed of having a larger dog that could travel with us, adventure, and join in our lives living in Northern Michigan. We loved goldens but wanted a smaller more petite field version that was most likely bred to bird hunt. We found her in the newspaper from a local family of five kids that lived on a small lake. It was precious and perfect in every way. The exact way that only Nellie could have been found.
Tucker was a little different story. We had been wanting a second dog for a while. Nellie is a social dog that really truly enjoyed the company of other dogs. She was always wanting to play and so we felt having another dog would be the right thing for the long days at home while we worked. Instantly we knew we wanted a Cavalier. Their disposition and energy was great for Nellie and the size was perfect for our living situation. But as some know Cavaliers are pricey and we thought it would never work out, until my dad heard of an Amish family who was wanting to find a home for their 10-month-old Cavalier male. We jumped at the opportunity. When we went to meet him, he was living in a situation that I would say Cavaliers are not bred for. It was the beginning of Spring and it was cold and muddy. He was living in a wooden barn with horses and chickens. When we got him it was hard to tell his coloring till we got him home and gave him a bath. In many ways we believe we rescued him from a hard life. He is a sweet little guy that has brought much love and fun to our lives and Nellie’s. He couldn’t have been a more perfect fit.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Nellie: Sweet
Tucker: Spitfire
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
Tucker: It changes daily with his toys, but he is deeply attached to a red blanket in the house that if it is not in his kennel at bed he gets very upset. I made this mistake one day and washed it. This is when I discovered his love for it. He kept whining that night and the next day when it came from the dryer I have never seen him more happy. We have never figured out why, but wherever that blanket is, Tucker will curl up and fall asleep.
Nellie: She is a pretty monogamous toy owner. She has this giant stuffed tiger that we are not sure where it came from, but she routinely “dominates” as we very kindly say. She loves to “perform” mostly when we have friends over. This is something she has been doing since she was a pup and it certainly has become a routine.
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Nellie: She would be a full-time mom that spends her days training for a marathon when her kids are at school.
Tucker: Bartender…always the life of the party
What celebrity does your dog most resemble? (personality counts!)
Tucker: Stephen Colbert . He will be the one who gives you crap but also make you laugh and feel loved.
Nellie: Gwyneth Paltrow…sweet, beautiful, in-shape, and talented.
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
Wherever they can spoon together. Nellie is the big spoon and Tucker is the little spoon. Every single day.
What do you love most about your dog?
Tucker: He is always fun and making us laugh. Tucker loves to have fun and is probably more adventurous than you would expect for his breed. He goes paddle boarding, hiking dunes, jumping in the waves, and even been known to try to take on the squirrels in the yard. There isn’t a day that he does not make us smile really big or where he doesn’t make us feel that he feels very fortunate to have joined our family. He is a true gem under all that feistiness.
Nellie: She is pure sweetness and really only wants to cuddle, but give her the opportunity and she will be running laps around you. There is nothing not to love about Nellie, even when she steals tomatoes from the garden, we still find it endearing in some sort of dog owner way. She is quite possibly one of the most loyal dogs I have ever had. She will never wander too far and when we go hiking she never needs a leash as she stays right with us. Nellie is a dog you know you will only be lucky enough to have once in your life.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is__________________
…the purest and most honest love we may ever know.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by Megan Gilger
One day, during an intense internet dive, I happened upon the gorgeous blog, Sitting in a Tree. It was one of those miraculous internet finds (I am sure you can relate) where you suddenly find yourself digging through months and months of content, getting lost in a never-ending abyss of loveliness. So when I found out about Tori’s two adorable pups, Violet and Briar, I knew I had to finally reach out. Let’s get to know these two rescue dogs a little better, shall we?
What breeds are your dogs?
Violet- a white golden retriever (rescue) & Briar- a pound puppy
How old are they?
Violet is 2, Briar is 7
How did you and your dogs come to be together?
We found Violet when we were looking for a second dog for Briar. We had lost our first Golden Retriever, Lola, to cancer at the early age of 6 and poor Briar was just as devastated as we were. It was a hard time around our house. A lady was re-homing Violet because she had an underbite! Can you imagine!? I think that underbite was the best thing that ever happened to Violet because now she lives in a house full of love. I found Briar after searching every pound in San Diego for the right dog. I knew when I saw her there was something special. She reached her paws through the cage to touch me… I was sold.
In one word, how would you define your dogs’ personalities?
Violet is happy and easy- a typical golden retriever. Gentle, loves kids, loves all animals – what you see is what you get. Briar is so unique. Incredibly smart and calculating. You can always see her wheels turning. She’s also an incredible watch dog – always taking everything in. She takes longer to warm up to people, but once she does, she loves them forever. I’m her favorite, that’s for sure!
What are your dogs’ favorite toys/treats/playthings?
Violet loves a tennis ball or baby toys! Briar likes to slowly deconstruct stuffed toys.
If your dogs were human, what careers do you think they would have?
Violet would be a happy, beachy California actress type. Briar would be a mathematician! Ha!
What celebrities do your dogs most resemble?
Oh yikes, this is hard…
Where are your dogs’ favorite places in the house?
Violet owns the couch. She sleeps on it, legs in the air and belly exposed. Briar prefers anyplace where she can secretly watch everything that is going on around her.
What do you love most about your dogs?
So cliche – but the unconditional love. They remind me to slow down and enjoy the little things. It’s so simple to make them happy. And I absolutely adore the relationships I’m watching unfold with them and our 8-month- old – that’s just magic. We really love animals and being able to teach another human about loving animals and respecting them is such a beautiful thing.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is__________________
…is better than human love. It completes me. Humans can be grumpy and pessimistic. My dogs aren’t as complicated and make my house a home.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
photo of Tori by Joielala; all dog and family photos courtesy of Tori Hendrix
I first met artist and illustrator, Lisa Congdon, at last year’s Alt Summit Conference. But before we ever met in person, I had known of her fantastic Chihuahua, Wifredo, and all of his photogenic moments via Twitter. Today I am so glad to have both Lisa and Wilfredo sharing their story.
What breed is your dog?
Chihuahua Mix
How old is he/she?
Five-years-old
How did you and your dog come to be together?
About five years ago, I started my search for a dog. Initially I thought I wanted to rescue a French Bulldog. I have several friends with Frenchies, and I love them so much. So I got connected with a rescue here in San Francisco. I told the woman who ran the rescue that I wanted to adopt a dog who wouldn’t chase my cats. She said “You don’t want a Frenchie, then!” But she also told me, “I might have the perfect dog for you. And he’s a Chihuahua.” I had never considered adopting a chihuahua! I agreed to go meet him, and it was love at first sight. He was five months old and completely adorable. And he didn’t chase my cats! In fact, he’s always been very good with my cats.
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Charming
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
He’s got a purple rubber football shaped toy that he’s obsessed with. In fact, we have a stockpile of them in case he ever loses one!
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Camp counselor
What celebrity does your dog most resemble?
Will Ferrell
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
Under the kitchen table (wherever the food is falling!)
What do you love most about your dog?
He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is__________________
… unlike anything else in the world.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by Lisa Congdon
I first stumbled upon the design brilliance that is Satsuki Shibuya via my daily blog diet. I instantly fell in love with her clean and fresh textile aesthetic. So when I found out that Satsuki was the owner of a handsome King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, I knew the time had come to finally reach out. Here, we get to know a little more about what makes Skippy tick.
What breed is your dog?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
How old is he/she?
He’s a little past 3-years-old.
How did you and your dog come to be together?
My husband had been wanting a dog for some time now and during my studies, we had agreed that if I were able to figure out a way to work from home, we could possibly think about having one. Luckily, after graduating, we were able to figure out a way for me to stay home and work so voila! We now have Skippy!
In one word, how would you define your dog’s personality?
Sunshine
What is your dog’s favorite toy/treat/plaything?
He goes gaga over treats! I mean NUTS! But his favorite treat is anything from the Dogswell Veggie Life series where they wrap chicken around some dried fruit.
If your dog were human, what career do you think they would have?
Hmm, that’s a tough one, but I would say something where they’re nurturing and helping others. Perhaps a nurse, counselor or volunteer for a non-profit organization helping those in need.
What celebrity does your dog most resemble?
Oh, that’s hard as I’m not too familiar with celebrities, but from the ones I do know, maybe Adam Sandler? But again, that’s from my very limited knowledge of celebrities!
Where is your dog’s favorite place in the house?
His tiny bed that he’s had since we brought him home. It’s waaay too small for him now and his limbs are always falling out of it, but he still loves curling up inside to take his naps.
What do you love most about your dog?
His easy going, loving nature. I’ve never seen him get mad or upset and always, no matter what, he has a wag for every person he meets and every situation he’s in.
Finish this sentence: The love of a dog is__________________
… truly unconditional.
CHECK OUT MORE PUP PROFILES HERE.
all photos by Satsuki Shibuya
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