Our French Bulldog, Piper is almost six. And looking back, there's a list of things Mariska would do differently from day one. In this solo episode, she shares everything, the daily routines, the health habits, the equipment, and the medical prep, that she wishes someone had told her before Piper came home.

Takeaways:

• Why a consistent daily rhythm matters more than any individual training technique
• The feeding setup most owners miss, and why how your dog eats matters as much as what they eat
• Teeth cleaning alternatives when brushing just isn't happening (drops, foam, enzymes)
• How to get your dog comfortable taking medicine, the cheese ball method and the decoy trick
• Why you should introduce shoes, ramps, and strollers before you ever need them
• The midday rest most dog parents skip, and why it changes everything
• The non-negotiables Mariska would never go without

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

• Enzyme tooth gel, dental drops, dental foam that we use or ask your vet or local pet store
• Frenchie vs Everybody dental toppers
• Episode 32: Why Your Dog Reacts with Mena Lopes
• Episode 33: The Hidden Cause of Dog Allergies with Amanda Smith
• Sign up to our Tails and Tones waiting list for our first product (Piper's Founders Pack, Elevated Food System) here
• Sign up to our Tails and Tones newsletter here
• Review the podcast on Podchaser
• Find Tails and Tones on our socials: Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / LinkedIn / Website

Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00] Intro + product update

[02:18] Why routine is the foundation (and what causes anxiety in dogs)

[03:20] The morning routine that sets your dog up for success

[06:05] The feeding setup, how Piper’s physio changed everything

[09:35] Dental health, the parent fail and what actually works

[18:45] Getting your dog ready for medicine (before you actually need it)

[25:10] Equipment habituation: shoes, ramps, harnesses, strollers

[30:05] Midday rest, - why your dog might be overtired (not under-stimulated)

[31:55] The afternoon sniff walk (“sniffari”) and why it matters

[34:05] Evening routine and wind-down

[35:50] What I’d never skip (the non-negotiables)

[39:05] Outro