TL;DR

In this solo episode, Mariska Nell reflects on nearly six years with Piper and shares everything she'd set up from day one if she were starting over, from building a consistent daily rhythm to the feeding posture discovery that changed how she thinks about mealtimes entirely. She walks through dental habits, medicine prep (including her go-to cheese ball technique), and why introducing equipment like ramps, shoes, and strollers early, before you actually need them, makes life so much easier down the line.

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

FAQ

Why is my dog's feeding posture important?

Feeding posture affects strain on the neck, shoulders, and joints over thousands of meals across a dog's lifetime, and for brachycephalic breeds especially, bringing the bowl to a more comfortable height can reduce unnecessary physical stress at every meal.

How can I get my dog to take medicine without a fight?

Build up a repertoire of foods your dog loves as "vehicles" for medicine (used only occasionally so they don't become suspicious), give a decoy piece with no medicine first, and consider using a syringe with something pleasant beforehand so it isn't only associated with medical treatment.

What can I do if my dog won't tolerate teeth brushing?

Alternatives include enzyme gels or pastes brushed lightly over the teeth and gums, dental drops added to water, foam or gel products applied directly, and dental chews, alongside regular vet dental cleans, typically starting from around eighteen months of age.

When should I introduce equipment like ramps, shoes, or strollers to my dog?

Introduce equipment early and in low-stakes, positive situations, long before you actually need it for a surgery recovery, extreme heat, or mobility decline, so your dog already has a positive association when it truly matters.

How much rest does my dog actually need?

Adult dogs typically need 12-16 hours of sleep per day, and puppies need even more; skipping deliberate rest time can leave a dog overstimulated, anxious, and harder to settle even after a busy, "successful" day.

What is a "snaffari" and why does it matter?

A snaffari is a slow, sniff-led walk where the dog sets the pace and gets to investigate their environment freely; a 20-minute sniff walk can be more mentally tiring and satisfying for a dog than a longer, faster-paced walk.

How do I build a calming bedtime routine for my dog?

Repeat the exact same sequence every night, the same cues, phrases, and wind-down activities, consistently over weeks or months until your dog associates that sequence with safety and settles on their own.

About the Author: Mariska Nell

Mariska is the founder of Tails and Tones, a design-led, sustainable dog product brand. She's also the host of the Tails and Tones podcast, where she explores dog health, product design, and intentional pet parenting with experts, veterinarians, and fellow dog parents.

Background: Mariska holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Design, a Bachelor's in Interior Design, and a Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science. She's spent over 10 years working as a sustainability designer and strategist across the UAE, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and India. Her previous work includes collaborations with brands like Nespresso, Costa Coffee, and Dubai Airport, and she founded Design By Mariska, known for trash-to-treasure art exhibited at Dubai International Airport. She's also the host and founder of Mama Earth Talk, a sustainability podcast with 200+ episodes on zero waste and climate action, featuring guests including Dr. Sylvia Earle and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. She created the free Living Lighter course for practical sustainable living.

Piper: Mariska shares her life and work with Piper, her French Bulldog rescue dog. Piper joined the family in 2021 at 5 months old and has been the Chief Paw-duct Tester for everything Tails and Tones creates. Piper's journey, including cleft palate repair, luxating patella, arthritis risk, and recent mobility challenges, directly shaped the founding mission of Elevé (Tails and Tones' first product: a modular, height-adaptive feeding system).

Mission: We are on a mission to help modern dog parents simplify everyday care and elevate life with their pets, without sacrificing style or sustainability. Tails and Tones exists to build products that show up for dog parents, beautiful, sustainable, and robust enough to support you on the worst days. Not just the easy ones.

You can find Mariska at @tailsandtones on Instagram, or visit tailsandtones.com to learn more about Elevé and the Tails and Tones mission.