#someone has to exercise this doggo

[agapemastiffs]

The Cane Corso: Your Own Personal Roman Gladiator (But Cuddlier)

The Cane Corso is a living, breathing statue (with a playful side). These athletic guardians boast a history as rich as your grandma's lasagna recipe, and their loyalty runs deeper than the Colosseum dungeon. But before you start digging a moat for your new best friend, let's break down the good, the gladiator-sized, and the surprisingly snuggly of owning a Cane Corso.

From Roman Warriors to Modern Day Bodyguards:

Imagine a world without fences. That was life for the Romans, who used these powerful pups for everything from fighting alongside warriors to guarding livestock (because apparently, togas weren't enough of a deterrent). These weren't your average guard dogs – Cane Corsos were basically furry gladiators, with the strength and agility to take down anything that threatened their humans. Much like their counterpart the Neapolitan Mastiff.   After the Roman Empire chilled out, Cane Corsos almost disappeared, surviving in secret dog fight clubs in southern Italy ( kidding, kind of). Luckily, some dog lovers stepped in and brought these incredible creatures back from the brink. Today, they're sought-after companions who are as happy cuddling on the couch as they are keeping an eye out for danger.

A Loyal Protector with a Playful Streak:

The Cane Corsos lifespan is approximately 9–12 years, which is longer than the average for a giant-breed dog. Cane Corsos are like cuddly warriors – fiercely loyal and protective of their families, but with a playful side that makes them fun companions. They're smart and eager to please, which means training can be a breeze (as long as you ditch the whole dominance thing). However, their independent streak is real. The English Mastiff can also be very playful as well. Early socialization is key to preventing them from becoming suspicious of strangers. Think of them as the security guards of the dog world – they'll let everyone know who's boss, but would rather play fetch than tackle someone (unless they really need to).

Owning a Roman Athlete: Exercise Needs and More:

Cane Corsos are not couch potatoes. These athletic doggos need regular exercise and mental stimulation to be happy. Daily walks, playtime, and activities that challenge their brains are a must. Their athleticism makes them perfect for active owners who enjoy running, hiking, or showing off their doggo parkour skills.

Owning Cane Corso Puppies means having a house that resembles a small Roman villa (with a yard, of course). Apartments or cramped spaces are a no-go for these large breeds. A fenced-in yard is their personal Colosseum, giving them space to roam and unleash their inner gladiator (minus the actual fighting). Grooming is a breeze (think one or two brushings a week), but their shedding might require a team of maids (or a good vacuum cleaner). Regular vet checkups, a healthy diet, and keeping them at a good weight are key to a long and happy life for your furry athlete.

Training Your Loyal Companion: Respect is Key:

Cane Corsos are smart, but their independent streak can make traditional training methods a challenge. Positive reinforcement with treats and praise is your best bet. They want to please their humans, so positive vibes go a long way. Early socialization is crucial to prevent fearfulness or aggression later in life. Think of it as teaching them proper doggy etiquette – gotta know how to interact with other creatures (especially the smaller ones).

Who Should Adopt a Cane Corso?

These aren't your average lapdogs. The ideal owner has an active lifestyle and a house that resembles a small castle (with a secure yard, of course). Experience with large breeds is a plus, as their size and strength require a confident and capable handler. Families with older children who understand canine behavior can find a loyal companion in a Cane Corso. But first-time dog owners, those with small children, or inhabitants of tiny apartments might want to consider a smaller guardian, like a fluffy pug (minus the gladiator skills).

The Unwavering Loyalty of a Modern Guardian:

If you can provide the space, care, and consistent training a Cane Corso requires, the rewards are epic. Their unwavering loyalty, athletic spirit, and protective nature make them cherished companions. The Tibetan Mastiff is also very loyal to their owner. Owning a Cane Corso isn't just about having a dog; it's about welcoming a guardian with a proud history and a heart of gold into your life.

In Conclusion:

The Cane Corso is a breed unlike any other.  Their imposing size embodies the spirit of the Roman arena, while their athleticism and intelligence make them capable partners in modern adventures.  Carefully consider the responsibilities involved in owning one of these majestic creatures. If you can provide the leadership, training, and love they deserve, a Cane Corso will reward you with a loyal friend and a protector for life.

A Watchful Protector: For The Progression Of The Ages

Mastiffs, gentle giants with ancient roots, come in various breeds. Loyal guardians with calm temperaments, they require ample space, training, and experienced owners due to their size and strength. Though some breeds have wrinkles, all Mastiffs offer a lifetime of devotion.

Cane Corso For Sale

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

075 of 2025

What is your absolute favorite hobby? Who got you interested in it?

Trainspotting is my first one, I got it from my love of trains, and my love of trains I inherited from my dad. Radio I don't even remember how it started, probably I read some unsolved mysteries blog and stumbled upon number stations.

What color are the squirrels where you live?

I haven't seen any in ages, but probably red.

Have you ever fostered an animal?

No, and I don't think it'd be a good idea because I would probably get too attached to it.

Have you ever dated a fat person?

Lol. Are fat people less worthy? My husband is overweight and I really don't care.

Have you ever dated someone with a fine ass body?

Yeah, but that wasn't my priority.

What are two foods you think taste good with whipped cream?

Brussels waffles and ice cream.

If you eat it, what is your favorite way to eat beef?

I don't eat beef.

Do you have any medication that you keep with you at all times?

Yeah. I take epilepsy medication twice a day and if I go out at evenings, I make sure I have my evening meds with me. It's very important.

[TW: ABUSE] Have you ever had a significant other who hit you?

No, but my first ex was emotionally abusive.

Do you own any exercise machines?

I think I have dumbbells and resistance bands somewhere, and also balls.

Do you have a dining room in your house?

No, but half of our living room serves as one.

Are you in the process of watching or re-watching a series at the moment?

Yes, that old Polish TV series about a priest.

Has anyone you know gotten a new pet recently?

I don't think so. Johan didn't want another dog after his doggo passed away.

How old were you 10 years ago? Who were your closest friends at that point?

I was 25 and my ex Nielsje was one of them, or my sister.

Do you still speak to any of them?

Of course, to both.

Have you ever kissed someone of another race?

No. But I'm not opposed to other races, just to kissing in general.

Are there any races you wouldn’t kiss?

I don't like kissing in general, I'm not racist.

What is your favorite thing about your best friend?

He's blunt and down to earth.

What do you mostly have in common with your best friend?

Sarcasm.

Do you like it when men shave their chests? If you are a guy, do you shave?

I'm not very hairy in general, so I don't have chest hair. Nothing to shave there.

What is your favourite kind of video game?

Super Mario Bros, and I'm nostalgic for retro games.

Do you watch anime? If so, what are some of your favourites?

No, I'm not a big fan of anime. But I liked Elfen Lied and Kara no Kyoukai.

Do you have any siblings? If so which one of them do you get along with the best?

I have one younger sister and I love her so much.

What’s your favorite TV show? And who’s your favorite character from it?

Allo Allo and definitely Gruber, he's hilarious.

Do people think you look like either of your parents? Does that offend you?

People have different opinions, and I see no reason why it would offend me.

Do you prefer regular bacon or turkey bacon?

Turkey bacon? We don't have it here.

Do you think it’s weird when people talk to their pets like people?

Not at all. I also talk to Susie, she likes it and even talks back. I think all pets like when their humans talk to them.

What is the last place, other than home, that you stayed overnight?

My parents house.

What is the furthest you have traveled alone?

1.200 kilometres.

Have you ever dated someone simply for their looks?

Nope, it's shallow. I'm not the one who goes for looks anyway. It's a personality that makes you beautiful or ugly.

What was the name of the main character in the last book you read?

Jenny.

Do you prefer pizza or hot dogs?

Pizza, but good hot dog isn't bad.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Ham, mushrooms, bell peppers and lots of cheese.

Is anyone in your family currently in the military?

No, but my ex is.

What is your favorite dog breed?

German shepherd.

Do you own a bikini?

Lol no. I don't wear such things.

What are three of your favorite bakery items?

Rice cakes, croissants, white bread.

Which book series could you read again?

The It Girl, yes I'm lame.

Is your last ex currently in a relationship?

As far as I know, he's not.

Who was the last female you were introduced to?

I think Elke, but I'm not sure.

Who was the last male you were introduced to?

Can't remember, probably Mustafa.

Is there any band out there that you like every song by them?

No, even my favourite bands have songs I skip.

Have you ever smoked?

No, never tried. Stinks too much.

Have you ever been in a lighthouse?

Yeah, but long time ago. I would love to do it again.

Do you know anyone who always makes themselves out to be the victim?

Yeah my mum used to be like that. Thankfully she changed for better.

How far away do you live from the house you grew up in?

40 kilometres, not more. But then, I live in a small country.

Have you ever been to a same-sex wedding?

If my own wedding counts, then yes.

What’s the most difficult experience you and a significant other have gone through together?

Probably my stroke. He proved I can count on him.

Would you like living on the coast?

Yes. I was born and raised at the coast and I'm lucky I still live not far from there.

Honestly, do you enjoy arguing?

Honestly, I see nothing enjoyable in that.

Are you scared of losing the person you like to someone else?

I don't think it's gonna happen.

Do you have a hard time making decisions?

No, but I always need to think about pros and cons.

If there was a large spider in your room, would you stay in the room?

Why wouldn't I? I just set the spider free.

What’s your favorite kind of meat? (vegan/vegetarian options count!)

Only chicken and some kinds of fish.

What’s the coolest or most memorable animal you’ve ever seen at a zoo?

I don't remember. The first and last time I was at the zoo was when I was 2 years old.

What video game have you played the most hours of? If you don’t know, just make a rough guess.

None; I don't play video games. I really prefer to read and travel.

Have you ever modeled before?

Lol no. I don't think anyone would want to watch me.

What’s your best friend’s favorite color?

Red, no doubts. He's a big fan of Manchester United.

What color was your senior prom dress?

I don't wear dresses.

Which YouTuber do you feel like you could be friends with easily?

Probably Nik Nocturnal. He's a hilarious dude and also a metalhead.

Who do you know personally that has a nice singing voice?

My sister.

If you met your favorite musician, what would you ask him/her?

I can't think of anything at this moment. I'd probably pass out or something like that.

What’s something you used to believe in that you don’t anymore?

Monsters.

What’s something you believe everyone should have?

I'm not the one to tell people what to believe in.

Who do you know that wears the most makeup?

Probably Nancy, but even then, it's not extremely much.

Are you anyone’s first love?

Probably not.

How much does your mother know about your sex life (or lack thereof)?

Not much and it's better that way.

What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever had an obsession with? Do you still like that thing?

Can't think of anything specific. Maybe Tokio Hotel :P no, I'm not their fan anymore, even though some of their songs are cool.

Have you ever played any of the Animal Crossing games? Do you have the new game, or do you plan on buying it?

No, I haven't.

When was the last time you were nauseous? Do you know what caused the feeling of nausea?

Last November, stomach flu.

What brand of earbuds/earphones do you own? Do you like them?

I have headphones from Beats, but my earphones are all bought in Kruidvat. Nothing too expensive, but still pretty good.

Can you remember the last time you saw a rainbow?

On the sky? I can't. Probably last year in March.

Do you have any plants or flowers in your house? What kinds? Do you like having plants in your home?

We don't have plants because we have a cat, but I get fresh tulips around my birthday every year.

[akitalockwood]

Back to my GOW brainrot

Commissions

[lovemesomesurveys]

Are you a fan of My Chemical Romance? What's your favorite song from them?: I like Helena, I’m Not Okay, Ghost of You, Welcome to the Black Parade.

When was the last time you had your ears cleaned?: Recently.

What's your morning routine?: Well, my new morning routine since being in the hospital starts around 5 or 6 when they take care of stuff and then at 7 the morning shift comes in and my new nurse does her thing (temperature, blood pressure check, listens to my heart and lungs) and then administers my vitamins and medications and checks things out. After that, I just watch the news and go on my phone. Exciting stuff.

Does the future scare you? : Very much so.

Do you think anyone dislikes you for no reason?: They likely have a reason.

Where did you last adventure to?: My little beach trip back in March.

Have you ever read a book in an entire day? : Yeah, many times.

What always makes you feel better when you are upset?: Sometimes a good cry or sleep helps a little.

Have you ever been to a horse race?: No.

How did you get your most noticeable scar?: Surgical procedure.

When is the last time you had candy?: Over a month ago.

Have you ever taken back an ex or friend after they done something bad?: Yes.

What did you last borrow?: My mom’s iPad thst she let me keep while I’m here.

If you were to get arrested, what do you think it'd be for?: I have no idea. I don’t do anything.

What song did you last sing along to?: Slide by Goo Goo Dolls.

Who is someone you strive to be more like?: My mom and younger brother.

What last made you laugh?: Something on TV.

What does your hair look like right now?: It’s a mess. Good thing it’s still really short cause it would be a really tangled mess.

How many people do you know that are pregnant right now?: None that I know of.

Milk or Juice?: Juice, I guess. Last month I suddenly kinda liked apple juice. I was never a fan of that or any other juice, but I had a few little apple juice boxes here and they were actually good.

Do you like to vent on social media?: Clearly.

Did you go outside much today?: I haven’t all. Last time was May 26th, the night I was admitted here.

What would you say to someone who is having a hard time mentally?: I’m in that place too so I don’t know.

Have you read any news articles today?: Yeah and watched some of the news.

If you have any pets/kids, what are they currently doing?: My doggo is probably sleeping. I really miss her. 😔

Do you own any plaid pajamas?: No.

What is your favorite thing to put whipped cream on?: Coffee drinks and hot chocolate.

Do you know how to play pool?: I’ve never played.

Have you ever held a chicken?: No.

Do you polish your nails?: No. It’s been several years since I’ve last painted them.

Do you like to watch true crimes shows? What's your favorite? : Some, yeah. I’ll watch some stuff on the ID channel with my mom cause she loves that stuff. I liked the Unsolved Mysteries reboot on Netflix. I like some documentaries, too.

Do you remember the last time you seen a rainbow?: It’s been a long time.

What color is your pants?: I’m not wearing any, just a beautiful hospital gown ha.

Do you try to exercise every day?: No. I should with my arms.

If you have any piercings, what color is your jewelry? : My ears are pierced, but I’m not wearing earrings.

Do you know your blood type?: I do now, finally. I should have known that already a long time ago, but yeah.

Have you ever purchased anything from American Eagle?: Yeah.

Can you hear any birds from where you are?: No.

Do you like the music being released in the 2020's?: Yeah, some of what I’ve heard anyway. I haven’t been keeping up or really listening to music the past couple years. It’s so weird cause I used to daily.

Would you say that you have a loud laugh? : No.

Any uncommon pet peeves?: I’m so irritable now so it doesn’t take much. The ones that come to mind specifically at the moment are pretty common ones.

Do you like any weird food combinations? : Yeah. People think ranch and eggs are weird or mustard with Pizza Rolls.

Do you own any ripped jeans?: Nah.

When you were in school, what foods did you like from the cafeteria? : The chicken sandwich, pizza, and burrito.

Do you currently see anything blue from where you're sitting?: Yeah, a few things. Like gloves, the needle disposal box, my gown, the thermometer.

How long have you been on Bzoink?: A few months.

How many surveys have you ever created?: One a very long time ago on Xanga. Wish I had saved it somewhere else.

What is your daily screen time? : It varies. Right now it’s really all I have to keep me occupied.

Have any plans for the rest of the day?: Apart from the usual, my mom will be coming in a few hours and we’re going to watch the new episode of Only Murders in the Building. I love that show. I’ve started, finished, and caught up on several shows now since being here.

[pomrania]

I asked for breeds of dogs to draw as pokemon types, and here they are. Some are more recognizable than others, both in type and dog breed, and some look better than others, and some were easier than others; but it was good practice.

Below the cut, there’s my running commentary throughout the process, preserved for posterity. Basically it’s just me complaining about things, but if you want to read it, that’s your decision.

WHY DID I THINK I COULD DO THIS, this was artistic hubris.

Okay, look up a compilation video for the first breed on the list, that should provide a good point of reference.

Heh goldies are funny doggos.

Okay this isn't actually so bad once I get into it.

FUCK HOW DO YOU DRAW HINDQUARTERS

Okay I remember what beagles look like, this video is a good refresher; I slept with a stuffed toy beagle when I was a kid, I got the general stuff down.

HOW THE HECK DO I MAKE THIS INTO A GHOST-TYPE

So I guess I'm going with ghostly extra wagging tails, sure why not.

A dragon-type borzoi, okay, these dogs already look like dragons, this should be easy. ...words spoken just before disaster, I know it.

Heheh them doggos got long snoots.

What was that heraldic unicorn pose again, that should work well for them....

This looks just like a dog and not like a dragon-type DAMMIT.

Next is CORGI hell yeah! They're so hecking CUTE, and I know I won't be able to draw them to their full adorable, but at least I'll have fun watching the reference video.

This seems to be coming along well.

I wasn't planning on colouring them, but I might have to, to get the markings shown properly. But that will be AFTER I've done everything else.

Flying-type samoyed! I love samoyeds, they're so FLOOFY. Well actually the person suggested air-type, but euh.

Okay I have a good idea for this one. Don't know how well it'll turn out, but that's art for you.

Okay yes this is adorable and I love it.

Most of what I know about rottweilers, is that pretty much all of them that I've met, have been aggressively friendly, like "knock you over in an effort to lick every square inch of your face" aggressively friendly. Not really sure how I can convey that, or how I can show a rock-type, but that's what "trying things and seeing what happens" is for.

Oh frick I'm gonna have to draw 3D geometrics for the "rock" stuff ain't I.

Hm a "geode" type design might be cool; I'm prolly not the best person for that, but I'll bloody well try anyways.

Aaand I hit a major block, what even POSE do I use for this. Gah. Welp, when in doubt, go for the most basic stuff possible. Can I do better than that? Yes. WILL I do better than that, right at this moment? Probably not.

Rotties are big chonks aren't they.

Hm. Okay this doesn't necessarily look very "rottweiler", but it DOES cover up a bunch of my mistakes in anatomy, and I've always thought this style looks cool.

...I think I'm just going to skip "fighting-type boxer", since I'm willing to bet actual money that someone has already drawn that, it's just so obvious. And also this was one of two suggestions, so I don't feel guilty about ignoring that person (because I didn't ignore them).

Labs are like the most "generic" looking dogs I can think of, how am I gonna do this cool?

Two compilation videos later, I don't even have a CONCEPT in mind. The best idea I have is something playing off of a snowman, but that's literally it; those words, no image.

Heh, maybe one jumping in the air with a dopey expression to catch a snowflake? Seems a bit complicated, but I'll think on it.

Huh I don't think I've ever drawn a dog chasing their own tail before. It's a good exercise in posing and "okay if this motion is being made, how would the limbs move". Still frustrating though.

But how do I make it ICE-TYPE?! At least I have some vague ideas for the next one, but that's for ONCE I'VE FINISHED THIS ONE.

...I'm at a loss. I'm going to look up ice-type pokemon for some inspiration.

So it seems to be mostly shown in colouring, WELL THAT'S NO HELP TO ME.

Screw it I'm going basic as hell. ...or maybe just STUPID as hell, because I decided to draw a dog wearing skates.

This was the worst of all of them, but it's DONE now.

Maltese doggos already look like fairies, but I've learned from the borzoi one, that this just makes it HARDER. (They sure are hecking adorable though.)

They're just little puffs of fur! How can I make them look distinct?

Oh yeah there's also the "show" grooming they can have.

Some vague ideas, but I'll also check the list of fairy-type pokemon for inspiration.

Okay I'm just going to go full Baby as that seems to be the general trend.

This just looks like a regular maltese.

That's not MUCH better, but it's SOMETHING, and that's the end of the list so woot I'm done.

[oddthesungod]

Would jimbo and spocko have a dog or a cat? I like to think they have both so that Jim has someone to exercise with and spock has someone to read with - whaddya think?

Deeefinitely both, and Spock would be ridiculously good and patient at training the doggo, and thanks to it the doggo would be the best behaved dog EVER (Jim would would spoil the pupper rotten)

And the kitty would adore them both, cuz when they’re feeling cuddly they can just go to Jim who’ll give ‘em ALL the love and pets and kisses and when the kitty is not feeling like it they can go and hang out on Spocks lap, who’ll probably sense the exact amount of pets the kitty wants and no go over it 😌😌😌

[a-gorgeous-george]

Basic Questions

First name? Georgette

Surname? Foxworth

Middle names? Luciana

Nicknames? Gigi (by her     mother)

Date of birth? August     7th

Age? 22

Physical / Appearance

Type of clothes?

Georgette’s style is all about femineity and luxury. She wears a lot of dresses, a lot of skirts, but even her workout clothes are designer. She swears “cheap” clothes give her a rash – and who would want to mar her perfect skin like that.

How do they wear their     clothes? Tight and tailored.

What are their feet     like? (type of shoes, state of shoes, socks, feet, pristine, dirty, worn,     etc)

Georgette is rarely seen without heels on, and thanks to regular pedicures and lack of abuse, her feet are soft and pretty always.

Race / Ethnicity? Spanish     and Indonesian

Are they in good health?     Oh yes, she has a strict workout schedule and diet she sticks to… well,     actually, perhaps not, because alongside that she also lives a life of high     stress and nicotine.

Personality

Are they more optimistic     or pessimistic?

It really depends on the source of power in a situation. If it is something she has control over, she is optimistic, can’t see how something would ever not work out, but if someone else is in control, her view changes considerably and she is usually fairly certain it will fail.

Do they ever put on     airs?

When is she not putting on airs?

What bad habits do they     have? She has a serious nicotine problem.

What makes them laugh     out loud?

She isn’t really a laugh out loud type of person. She might chuckle or smile in amusement, but laughing out loud indicates a level of ease that she just does not feel around people. Also Al.

How do they display     affection?

She is very physically affectionate… I think. She has never been in a position where she felt comfortable being affectionate with a person in that way. Besides that, she shares her wealth in ways that benefit that people she cares about, shares her privilege with them. She is happy to be her friends’ sugar mama.

How do they want to be     seen by others? Beautiful and in control.

How do they see     themselves?

She very much sees herself as a lone wolf. She knows she’s beautiful, smart, capable, hardworking, but she’s alone and absolutely terrified someone will recognize it. She is also very much aware of her inner rage.

·       How are they seen by others?

Because of her past with her family and the lack of ties it provided her, Georgette was left defending herself. Her arrogance and obsessive need to believe in her own importance is directly tied to the lack of importance anyone else gave her.

Strongest character     trait?

For all her bravado and arrogance, Georgette is 100% unafraid of hard work. From her work on her blog and marketing it, her history as a beauty queen, her strict adherence to her diet and exercise routine, every aspect of her life, she has no issue knuckling down and putting in the time and effort to succeed.

Weakest character trait?

She is incapable of asking for help, as if it somehow undermines her own achievements if someone else must assist her.

How competitive are     they?

Extremely. If you want to manipulate Georgette into doing something, make it a contest. She’ll probably even know what you’re doing and still be unable to resist.

Do they make snap     judgements or take time to consider?

Snap judgements all the way, baby!!

How do they react to     praise?

Smug agreement.

How do they react to     criticism?

Strong commitment to your character’s delusion that she is anything other than amazing.

What is their greatest     fear?

Dying without ever achieving anything of substance.

What are their biggest     secrets?

Georgette is crushingly lonely. Her whole life has been spent pushing people away, trying to protect herself and prove herself, full of anger, and it has left her without anyone she can be close to.

What will they stand up     for?

Once her blog is up and running and successful, once the magazine starts to take off, she will have real issues with people saying she’s self-made. She is fully aware that even without her father’s money, her name alone carries a certain currency most people do not have. She is well aware of her own privilege in that area and will stand up against anyone who compares her achievements against someone who didn’t have that head start.

Who do they quote?

She’s a closet book nerd and might not quote directly but will frequently make allusions to literature.

Are they indoorsy or     outdoorsy? Indoorsy.

What is their sinful     little habit? Cigarettes.

What sense do they most     rely on?

Sight – how someone/something looks dictates more of her life than it should.

How do they treat people     better than them?

What people better than them?

How do they treat people     worse than them?

That seems like an unfair question when everyone is worse than them.

What quality do they     most value in a friend? She wouldn’t know.

What do they consider an     overrated virtue? Niceness.

If they could change one     thing about themselves, what would it be?

She would have people who cared about her.

What is their obsession?     Herself?

Friends and Family

Is their family big or     small? Who does it consist of?

Her mother and stepfather, father and stepmother, Jenny and Oliver (Yes, she considers Oliver as part of her family)

What is their perception     of family?

When she was barely cognizant of life, her father had an affair, had a baby, split up her family, quickly destroying the idea in her head. It is an outdated concept made to make people feel like belong to a group, no loyalty or love.

Describe their best     friend.

………. Let me get her just a friend first.

Ideal best friend?

Someone who understands her hustle. Someone she can see the inherent importance in. Someone that can still pull her out of her head and get her to have fun.

Describe their     acquaintances.

She is jealous of the closeness of Dodger’s gang, watching as an outsider and wishing desperately to be a part of it all.

Do they have any pets?

She is a massive dog person! (Get it?) But yes, she has a little doggo, Valentina.

Past and Future

What was your character     like as a baby? As a child?

Awful? Spoiled? She was raised spoiled, but after her father’s betrayal, she sought to teach him a lesson. Even as a child, she would blackmail and torture him, threatening to reveal his dirty secret to the world. She was worse to Jenny even, more easily able to take out her anger over the affair and her birth on the younger girl than the truly guilty adults.

Did they grow up     nurtured or neglected?

Neglected – but that is partly her own fault. She is as much at fault due to her reaction and actively hurting her family and her father. She lashed out and did truly awful things and crushed what bond there might have possibly been.

What is the most     offensive thing they ever said?

Oh, I don’t know… in my head, I feel like she can be a very problematic person. Add that in with her natural meanness, I am sure she has said some awful stuff.

What was their first     kiss like?

It was awful. Some other 7th grader when she was in 7th grade. Too wet. Thought he was trying to drown her.

What is the worst thing     they did to someone they loved?

Repeatedly blackmailing her father for her own benefit.

What are their     ambitions?

She wants to outshine her father, claim their last name as her own and not the sullied version her father left in the wake of his controversy. That is why her blog and future magazine is named after her.

What advice would they     give their younger self? It’s not Jenny’s fault.

What smells remind them     of their childhood? Perfume and peppermints.

What was their childhood     ambition?

Growing up, her mind stayed on the pageant world. Her ambitions usually stayed just one pageant ahead of her.

What is their best     childhood memory?

She doesn’t know if it’s real or not, just this soft memory of her father grinning and spinning around the living room with her, dressed in his coat and tails.

What is their worst     childhood memory?

Listening in from the hall as his father confessed everything to her mother, hearing her mother sobbing as he threw clothes into a suitcase.

When was the last time     they were crushed with disappointment?

The last one? She still hasn’t got over her first one.

Love

Do they believe in love     at first sight?

She only barely believes in love in any form.

·       How do they behave in a relationship?

Georgette really doesn’t do relationships, thanks to that whole “love isn’t real” thing. They usually last a month or so, but she gets bored and has no issue telling him to get lost after that point.

When did you character     last have sex? Perhaps a couple weeks ago.

What sort of sex do they     have?

She is looking for something hot, passionate, and with someone she doesn’t have to worry about calling back.

Conflict

How do they respond to a     threat?

Georgette doesn’t back down from a threat, though her means for fighting usually involves $$$ instead of doing any sort of fighting herself.

Are they most likely to     fight with their fists or their tongue? Tongue.

What is your character’s     kryptonite? Point out her lack of backup.

If your character could     only save one thing from their burning house, what would it be? Say it     with me… diamonds.

How do they perceive     strangers?

Her trust or lack of trust in them is based solely on how they look.

What do they love to     hate? Oh, that is way too long a list to put here.

What are their phobias?     Bugs of any sort.

What is their choice of     weapon? Poison.

What living person do     they most despise? Her father.

Have they ever been     bullied or teased? That would not go well for that person.

Where do they go when     they’re angry? Home, to seethe and plot.

 Work, Education and Hobbies

What is their current     job? Blogger.

What do they think about     their current job?

She has dreams of something bigger, more substantial, but she’s thankful for the success the gossip blog has had and excited to grow it.

What are their hobbies?     Painting, reading, dancing.

Educational background?     Some college.

Intelligence level?

I believe she is fairly smart, but her work ethic covers a lot of distance for her.

Favorites

What is their favorite     animal? Doggies.

What is the most     beautiful thing they’ve ever seen? Her face in the mirror.

What is their favorite     song? Ego by Beyonce

Music, art, reading     preferred? Ooooooh… probably reading

What is their favorite     color? Gold

What is their password?

Honestly it is probably a secure combination of letters put together by a professional.

Favorite food: Lasagna

What is their favorite     work of art? Judith and the Head of Holofornes

Who is their favorite     artist? Gustav Klimt

What is their favorite     day of the week? Saturday

Possessions

What is in their fridge?     A lot of water, veggies, meal prepped chicken

What is on their bedside     table? The current book she is reading, a bouquet of pink and white roses,     a gold lamp, a rose gold silk eye mask

Spirituality

Who or what is your     character’s guardian angel?

If she has a guardian angel, she would really like a word with it.

Do they believe in the     afterlife? I mean, she now knows Hades, so yeah

What are their religious     views?

Once you meet a god, you kinda realize which system of beliefs is the right one

·       How would they like to die? Painless and pretty

What is their zodiac     sign? Leo

Values

What do they think is     the worst thing that can be done to a person? Abandonment

What is their view of     ‘freedom’?

Able to make your way through life on your own two feet without having to rely on anyone else to support you.

When did they last lie?     Probably an hour ago

What’s their view of     lying? It definitely can make things easier.

When did they last make     a promise?

She doesn’t really bother. You either do things or you don’t. The rest is just extra words.

Daily life

What are their eating     habits? Healthy food prepared by a chef.

Describe their home.

Luxurious home in a gated community bought by her father.

Are they minimalist or a     clutter hoarder? Minimalist.

What do they do first     thing on a weekday morning? Drink a glass of cold water.

What do they do on a     Sunday afternoon?

She can be found putting the finishing touches on her blog post for the week.

What do they do on a     Friday night?

She can just as easily be found out dancing as home alone working.

What is the soft drink     of choice? She doesn’t drink soda.

What is their alcoholic     drink of choice? Merlot.

Miscellaneous

What or who would your     character dress up as for Halloween? Anything sexy.

Are they comfortable     with technology? She can do basic things.

If they could save one     person, who would it be? Jenny.

If they could call one     person for help, who would it be? Over her dead body.

What is their greatest     extravagance? Jewelry

What is their perception     of redemption? She hopes it’s real.

What would they do if     they won the lottery? It would change her life 0%.

What is their favourite     fairytale?

She isn’t really big on fairytales, but definitely prefers the darker original versions. So much more realistic than that happily ever after in love bullshit.

Do they believe in happy     endings?

She believes in the ability of a person to make their own damn happy ending.

What is their idea of     perfect happiness?

Surrounded by a family that loves her

If your character could     travel through time, where would they go?

She has it on good authority that life gets more uncivilized the farther back you go, so she’s good, thanks.

If they could have a     superpower, what would they choose?

Full on mind control. She’ll make you do what she wants and feel no guilt.

[viking-raider]

Wing-Dog *Fic Request*

Summary: You’ve heard of a Wing-Man? Well, Kal Cavill is a Wing-Dog! You’re hired to watch Kal, while Henry films the second season of The Witcher, and in true Wing-Dog fashion, Kal has plans for you and Henry.

Pairing: Henry Cavill/Reader

Word Count: 2,443

Rating: G for Fluff, Kal Fluff, Doggo cuteness 

Inspiration: Request by @romyr4​

Author’s Note: Romyr messaged me this request and it’s been on my mind ever since! Kal is such a special part in Henry’s life, that if Kal took to someone so much, Henry probably would too.

Tag List: @jennylovelyheart, @peakygroupie, @jessevans​ @MITZWINCHESTER @rosie-loves-things​, @ohjules​, @mary-ann84​, @omgkatinka​, @hm-fck​, @the-freak-cassie-131​, @heelsamizayn​, @agniavateira, @cap-barnes, @romyr4​, @michelehansel, @katiebriggs004-blog​

“Henry, this is y/n.” The producer introduced the pair of you on the set of the new season of the Witcher. “She's the one your agent asked us to hire, to watch Kal while you're filming.” She explained, smiling between the pair of you. “Y/n, this is Henry.”

“Obviously.” You chuckled, extending your hand to the actor. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

“You as well.” Henry nodded, shaking your hand. “Do you have experience with large breed dogs, like Kal?” He asked, sounding like the protective dog dad he came off as.

“I know a lot about them.” You assured him, nodding back. “I've had large breed dogs all my life, and I am the one that takes care of them at the veterinary and doggy daycare business, I work for.”

“So, you're a Vet as well?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at you.

“Vet tech,” You corrected him, carefully. “I'm still going to school to become a full blown Vet.” You explained to him. “I have another year of school.” You added, knowing that was probably going to be the next question out of his mouth.

“You are a little dinky, for Kal.” Henry replied, crossing his arms over his chest, but the smile and spark in his eyes told you he was teasing you, making you blush.

“If I can throw down with a fully grown, two hundred pound, male Great Dane, I'm sure I can survive Kal's buck thirty.” You countered, giving Henry a mischievous smirk.

Henry nodded his head, impressed. “We'll see.” He told you, turning. “I'll go get him.”

“How did you throw down with a Great Dane?” the Producer asked, looking at you, surprised.

“I rode it like a horse.” You joked, making them laugh. “No, it's just about knowing how to stop them.” You told her, pulling a treat out of you pocket. “Works, every time.”

“We'll see, cause here comes the Bear.” The producer said, seeing Kal running at the pair of you, full sprint.

“Aww, he's beautiful.” You commented, changing your stance and then held up the treat in your hand, making Kal slide to a halt and sit inches in front of you. “You're an incredibly good sitter too.” You added to him, giving him the treat and a pat on the head. “Good enough for you?” You asked, looking up at Henry, who stood several feet away, shock on his face.

“That's all I need to know.” Henry nodded, closing his mouth. “I do have conditions,” He told you, coming to stand behind Kal. “I want a photo of him every couple of hours, just to make sure he's all right, and a text, if you take him anywhere off the lot.”

“That's fair and very doable.” You nodded, meeting his eyes.

“Great.” Henry felt good leaving Kal with you, while he worked. “This is my phone number.” He swapped numbers with you, and handed you Kal's leash. “I'll text you, when I'm finished working.”

“Aye aye, Witcher.” You giggled as Henry walked away to hair and make-up. “So, Kal, what do you wanna do?” You asked, smiling down at the black and white Bear.

“Kal!” Henry yelled as the Akita took off around his trailer.

“Bear!” You yelled back, as Kal jumped up on you, excitedly.

“I swear, sometimes it seems he's more excited to see you, than he is to see me.” Henry commented, coming around the trailer to greet you.

“He knows who has all the treats.” You laughed, as Kal sniffed at the zipped up treat pouch on your hip. “Good morning, Henry.” You said, finally greeting the Brit.

“Good morning, y/n.” He greeted you back, smiling softly. “I'll let you two do whatever it is, the two of you do all day.” He said, patting Kal on the head and walking off.

“I got something for you.” You said to Kal, after Henry had gone.

You lead Kal over to your trailer, disappearing inside for a moment and came back out with a ball. You'd been taking care of Kal for just over two months, and in that time, he'd destroyed nearly every ball he'd gotten his jaws on. But, after talking to one of the other Vet Techs, you'd found this ball, that was meant to be indestructible. But, you'd find out if it really was, in the next couple of days that Kal had it.

“You ready?” You asked him, grinning to see his eye glued to the solid, red rubber ball, and bark. “See what you got?” You said, and took off running, making him chase after you.

You laid down in the grass panting as your two hour alarm went off. It was you, that was supposed to be getting Kal exercise and tired out, but it was completely the other way around. He nudged at your head with his cold wet nose, drooling on you as his tongue hung out the side of his gaping mouth. You patted the ground next to you, and Kal obediently laid down beside you, rolling onto his back for dramatic affect.

“You're just mocking me now.” You teased him, digging into your pocket for your phone and turning the camera on. “Say Treats for Daddy!” You said, tilting your head towards Kal's and snapped the photo Henry wanted every two hours.

Henry's phone vibrated on his set chair, and he picked it up between takes. Opening his messages, he grinned at the photo you'd just sent him, you looking totally beat, and Kal looking like he was have a blast, and could go a few miles more.

“Who's babysitting who?” Henry texted you back.

“If I'm still alive, when you get off work, then you'll know.” You texted back, and made Henry laugh even more.

Henry had finished filming for the day, and made his way to your trailer, which is normally where he'd find you and Kal at the end of the day.

“I'm sorry, I won't do it again!” Henry heard you yell, from the over side of your trailer, as he raised his hand to knock, then heard you yelp and the thump of you falling down. “Y/n?” He called, moving around to the other side.

“I promised not to do it again!” You laughed, hands holding on to the thick fur of Kal's neck.

Henry stood by the side of your trailer, seeing Kal standing over you and licking at your face as you melted into hysterical laughter. You grunted as Kal dropped his heavy body on top of you, but kept laughing and playfully struggling against the big Bear.

“Mercy!” You howled in laughter. “Just tell me what the ransom is!” You told Kal, letting your arms fall to the sides as he kept licking at your face and drooling all over you. “I'll give you all the treats!” You tried bargaining with him. “I swear! All the treats and no more fake throws!”

Biting into his lip to keep from laughing himself, Henry looked around and saw the small treat bag you usually carried around sitting on the ground, and stooped to pick it up. “Kal.” He called, chuckling as you continued to beg for mercy.

“Oh, thank god, a Witcher!” You laughed even harder, turning your face towards Henry, who was still in costume and wig. “Please, Witcher! Pay this beast, it's ransom!”

“What do I get out of it?” Henry asked, turning on his Geralt voice. “I doubt there's any treats in here, I'd like.” He bounced the bag in his hand. “There's definitely no coin.”

“I'll be at your mercy!” You giggled, moving your head out of the way of another attack by Kal. “Name your price, Witcher!” You stopped struggling with Kal and laid limp beneath him, out of breath from running with Kal, and laughing.

“You let me repay you, for taking care of Kal so well.” Henry told you, using his normal voice again. “Come to dinner with me, tonight.”

“Well,” You panted and motioned to Kal, who just laid on top of you now. “I don't have much of an option, do I?” You said, looking over him over.

“No, you don't.” Henry grinned, taking out his phone and snapping a pic of the two of you.

“You're just living for this, now.” You laughed, smiling at him.

“I really am.” Henry nodded, opening the treat pouch. “Kal, treat?” He called to him, holding out a palm full of them.

Kal perked up at the word treat and his head swung around to him, his nose sniffing at the air between him and Henry. Henry made a noise and Kal shot up and ran for him, colliding into Henry's legs and devoured the treats he had for him. You gasped, filling your burning and deflated lungs with the cool afternoon air, and took the hand Henry extended to you, letting him pull you up onto your feet. You dusted yourself off and looked up at Henry, seeing the smirk still lingering on his lips as he looked down at you.

“Pick you up in an hour?” He asked, lifting a brow at you.

“I'll be ready.” You blushed.

The three of you parted ways and you took a quick shower and pulled on some decent clothing for a dinner. You opened your trailer door at Henry's knock and smiled at him, relieved he was just as decently dressed as you were, his hair still wet from the shower he'd apparently also took. You followed him to his car and buckled your seat belt as he slid into the driver's seat beside you.

“What was that ball you got Kal?” He asked, looking at you as he started the car. “He's had that thing for a while now, and it's still, more or less, in one piece.”

“One of my fellow Vet Techs suggested it to me, after she asked me why I kept picking up new ones.” You chuckled, brushing your still wet hair behind your ear.

“I'll have to grab some more from you, before filming is done.” Henry smiled, glancing at you. “But, we've got several more months of that.” He added.

“We got the time.” You agreed, looking back at him.

You and Henry had dinner that night, and several more times in the following weeks. Being that you were dog-sitting Kal, and Kal nearly always went with Henry, you got to follow Henry around to the various filming locations for the Witcher; London, Budapest, Austria and the Canary Islands in Spain. It was fun to travel, even better to spend that traveling with Kal and Henry. You and Henry had become close, very close thanks to Kal, he was like the Wing-dog equivalent to a Wing-man. But, you were still paid to take care of Kal, and give Henry updates on the Akita while he was on set working. Henry hadn't heard from you in several hours, and he was an hour's drive from where you and Kal were, at your flat in London. You weren't answering his texts or his phone calls, which made Henry's already cranky day, even crankier. So, when he got off work, he rushed as quickly back to you two as the law would allow.

“Y/n?” He called, opening the door with the key you'd given him, but he received no answer, not from you or Kal. Huffing, he mounted the stairs, taking them two at a time and pushed open your bedroom door, his shoulders relaxed as Kal's head came up and quietly woofed at him.

Kal was on the bed with you, partially covered up with your blankets, you were worried he'd get cold while you took a nap, and with your arm slung over his his body, head resting on his big paw as you slept, curled up against him. Henry's heart melted, all the stress and crankiness he had throughout the day, going with it as he watched you sleep. Kal woofed at Henry a bit louder this time, making you stir, rubbing you cheek against his paw and patting his side to calm him.

“Sorry.” You heard Henry whisper to Kal, getting the hint that he didn't want Henry bothering you, and opened your eyes.

“Henry?” You whispered, sleepily rolling onto your back, as Henry moved out of your room. “What time is it?” You asked his back.

“Just past seven, at night.” Henry replied, turning back towards you.

“Fuck!” You snapped, sitting up. “I never heard my alarm go off, I only wanted to take an nap for an hour.” You said, swiping your phone off the bed stand and seeing the endless string of texts, phone calls and voicemails Henry had left you throughout the afternoon. “I'm so sorry, Henry.” You told him, looking at him, shocked and worried.

“It's all right, y/n.” He assured you, smiling softly. “Both Kal and I have been running you rabid the last several months, and I trust you enough with him.” He told you, looking between you and Kal, tilting his head to the side. “I just got a little anxious is all, it's been one of those days.”

“Well,” You shifted over in bed, and patted the open space beside you. “We can fix that.” You smiled at him, and Kal barked in agreement with you.

“I thought you were my dog?” Henry commented, sitting on bed beside you. Kal woofed, walking over you to lay down on your and Henry's legs.

“He's your Wing-dog.” You chuckled, leaning in to kiss Henry on the cheek.

“Best Wing-dog a man could have.” Henry agreed, turning his head to capture your lips with his. “and you're the best woman, I could have. You take such great care of Kal and me, while still managing to go to school.”

“Well, someone has to take care of you two silly boys.” You teased, grinning at him.

“I've got to take you on vacation after you graduate, and I've finished filming the Witcher.” Henry told you, brushing his knuckles against your cheek. “You've more than earned it.” He said, laying down with you, Kal curling up at your feet.

“All three of us have earned a vacation.” You answered, humming as Henry wrapped his arms around you, burrowing you both into the blankets and mattress.

[kindahoping4forever]

going off that ask about tumblr inside jokes, i kinda want to see if we can make a list or something. i want to know how many i understand. so like for you what would someone say that would make you think 'ah its a tumblr 5sos fan'?

This is a good question! The ones already mentioned are a great start...

Inside jokes are kind of subjective because they can range from basic references (Is it balsamic?) to absurdly specific and possibly only popular among your friend group (Not fucking back in the day, RECENTLY) so I went more with points of discussion where if I heard someone mention it, it would make me 👀:

- Ashton = Daddy (a timeless topic, really)

- Calum = Oral King

- Cashton = Soulmates

- Protect Michael at all costs

- Luke wearing makeup (specifically that video during release week but really ANY time, we're not picky)

- If you remember [insert basically any event pre-Youngblood] you deserve a veteran's discount

- If More ever gets taken off the setlist we all unstan

- Whether or not Easier has rights (ps it does)

- What happened to the MYT tour diaries?

- WHERE IS ASHTON SPEAKS TO MICHAEL??

- You wanna fuckin scream for me? / Yes Sir

- Is SGFG actually their best album or are we just nostalgic: an exercise in Hot Takes

- Ashton with This Haircut

- Duke. That's it. He's just our collective doggo.

[quercussp]

Tonya’s one month anniversary

It’s now been a month since I adopted Tonya, and I honestly don’t remember what life was like before. But I think it’s important for me to process my feelings in writing, so I’m going to do just that, and feel free to skip it if it’s not something you’re interested in.

First, I just want to give a general update. In the month that we have Tonya, she has made amazing progress. Even though she is not a particularly anxious or timid dog, her confidence in our home has grown substantially, and her real personality only started coming out a couple weeks ago. 

As is the case with a lot of shelter dogs, one of her biggest problems was peeing in the house. I am glad to report that she has been accident free for more than two weeks and seems to be totally housebroken at this point. We went from going outside 8 times a day to finally go to the 4 times a day that I plan to stay at.

Her feeling much more calm has also been noticeable by the fact that she has stopped obsessively patrolling the street outside through the window and barking at everyone, by the fact that she stopped jumping at noises and that she is now more or less ok with not being glued to my side 24/7. I think when we just adopted her she immediately decided that I’m her safe space, and whenever she got scared or anxious, she would want to be right next to me. Now she’s become a little more independent and secure.

It seems that she has never had toys before, so for the first couple of days she had no idea what to do with them. The first time she played with her little stuffed duck I nearly cried, and by now she is very interested in all her toys and is getting better and better at playing.

Tonya has mastered the “sit”, “down”, “come”, “up”, “stay” and “fetch” command. Sometimes she decides she’s not in the mood, and it takes a little time to get her attention, but in general she is an incredibly smart girl and learns with incredible speed.

Another big accomplishment for us is that she is now totally ok with going into her crate. It took about two weeks of training to get her used to it, but now she will go into the crate when commanded (provided she gets a lovely treat afterwards). She sleeps in her crate and we crate her whenever we are both outside the apartment (which is quite rare), so it’s a huge relief to have her feel comfortable in it.

We’ve also made really good progress at walking on a leash and not trying to eat squirrels. Sometimes a squirrel is just too tasty to pass and Tonya starts pulling and barking, but most of the time I can now break her out of it by commanding her to come.

Of course, Tonya still has some things we need to work on. The most important thing is barking. Tonya is part corgi, and corgis are naturally very vocal, so we’re working really hard to discourage barking both for attention and at the door. Unfortunately that means ignoring the barking until she stops, which has meant a rough couple of days for our neighbors. But the good news is that Tonya is getting better, and hopefully we will be able to get past this behavior.

***

Getting Tonya has had a profound effect on my life and my mental health. My therapist has encouraged me to get a dog for quite some time, and as always, my therapist was very smart to suggest that. So here are some of the positive effects Tonya has had on my life:

1. Routine

As a person struggling with and eating disorder and depression, routine is everything for me. During this self isolation time, keeping up with a routine was very very hard, and even though I tried my best, within a couple weeks I was running out of steam and 99% of all my energy was going towards just basic functioning. Having Tonya has forced me to adapt a really strict routine which made my life so so much easier.

2. Sleep

Tonya forced me to spend most of my time outside of my bedroom (we don’t allow her in the bedroom, so now I spend all day in my home office in the living room or on the couch), which has done wonders for my quality of sleep.

3. Exercise

So this is kind of a more complicated one. In general, having Tonya has definitely increased my general level of activity, but it did decrease the time I spend intentionally exercising. I have much less time or energy to go running, but I do walk at least 4 or 5 miles a day, so I guess you lose some you gain some. But having a half hour walk before breakfast every day has definitely done a lot for my energy levels.

4. Love

That’s self explanatory.

Of course, there has also been some things that I am having a bit of trouble with.

1. Anxiety

This was especially hard the first couple weeks. I was so so worried about doing something wrong, hurting her by accident, being a bad owner, her not loving me, that the first couple weeks were kind of a nightmare anxiety wise. Now that we’ve gotten used to each other a bit, it’s gotten a bit better, but it’s still sometimes difficult to manage.

2. Cleanliness

I’m a very obsessively clean person, and there’s just objectively a lot of mess from a dog. She sheds a lot, no matter how much I wipe her paws after walks, dirt from the outside gets in, and she’s a just a dog, so there’s mess. This is something I’m still trying to learn to cope with. I try my best to control the mess, and stay calm when I can’t, but this is something that will take some time.

3. Self care

Having a dog takes up a lot of energy, so some things have to go. I don’t remember the last time I washed my face. I’ve definitely been cooking much less, have done less cleaning or other self care activities, spent a lot less time alone with myself, and so on.

4. Money

Having a dog is expensive. I know that we can afford her, but I worry about money in the best of times, and now with a reduced income due to covid, I spend a lot more time worrying about money and cutting expenses.

***

But in general, there’s nothing more rewarding than having a lovely wonderful doggo at your side. Both me and my husband are absolutely besotted with her, we love her so much, it’s kind of amazing. I don’t think it was possible to feel so much love towards someone. It’s also so amazing to watch my husband who used to say that he doesn’t like dogs at all and that this dog is mostly for me obsess about her and coo at her every time he has the opportunity, just stopping in his tracks when she’s lying down or looking at him to go “aww” and cuddling with her like crazy. She truly did bring us together even closer and make us feel like parents, which I love.

Next week we are going to start professional training, and eventually I want to train her as a therapy dog. She’s also already registered as an emotional support animal, and I want her to get some additional training as a mental health support dog. She really does have a profound effect on me and is an amazing companion. 

I love her more than words can say, and I’m eternally grateful to the universe giving her to us. I feel like we have been waiting for her our entire lives, like she was always meant to be with us, and I can’t imagine my life without her.

[creek-cryptid-deluxe]

This pandemic has brought out the best in some people and the worst in others (as I'm sure you've all seen in the news).

Now, despite his faults, I've always thought my father was an overall reasonable, compassionate person. During this pandemic, though, his inner boomer (he is at the very end of the age range, thus a young boomer) has emerged. Twice now he has said things that have made me equal parts disgusted and enraged.

The first instance was when he went to the pet store to get omega 3 tablets & toothpaste/toothbrush for the doggo a week ago. He text me while there "must be nice to get paid minimum wage and not give a fuck about your customers."

My response: oh yeah I'm sure that being forced to risk your life daily during a pandemic for abusive customers while not making a living wage is fucking great. Maybe cut them some fucking slack. They are exhausted, scared, & get screamed at & threatened daily by the entitled assholes who come in their store while not being able to make ends meet.

He didn't respond.

The second was today. I should preface this with disclosing that we live in a state that is prematurely reopening because our governor believes we should all sacrifice ourselves on the alter of capitalism so he & his buddies can make a buck while his constituents die. He went to pick up a to go order from a local restaurant & text me "It's hilarious watching the chaos of the dine in area reopen."

I didn't respond. Like, how the fuck is it 'hilarious' that people are being forced to risk their health during a global outbreak of a highly infectious, horrifying disease?? What the actual fuck is wrong with him? I'm deeply embarrassed to be related to him.

Additionally, this motherfucker in all seriousness suggested getting a second dog to keep our current dog company. Let's look at some facts about the conditions we agreed to PRIOR to adopting our dog & how it's worked out:

He agreed to sweep the floors at LEAST every 2 days because she sheds heavily. It has been at least 2 weeks since that last happened (and I'm being generous as it's probably been closer to a month). There are PILES of dog hair in the corners & against the walls. It's disgusting & I physically can't do the floors.

In the same vein, mopping was to take place once a week. Again, it's been probably about a month.

Dog is supposed to be washed once a week. He was putting it off until she smelled SO BAD that I gagged any time she was near me & even then, I had to threaten to rub his sheets on her to get her washed. I put an alarm in his phone that goes off as soon as he gets home every Saturday, so for the last 2 weeks he has done it & thinks he deserves heaps of praise for this.

He is supposed to handle her food & water. This means filling & washing the bowls, as well as cleaning the stand (we had to get elevated bowls because she strained her neck bending down to eat). He thinks that if he just feeds her & puts more water in the bowl, that he is doing it. Every night before bed, I have to empty & clean her water bowl because the water in it is disgusting, then sit on the floor to clean all the excess water off the stand because she is a messy drinker & ends up with standing water all in the stand which will breed mold.

There was an agreement to abide by my training rules for her. Since I'm home all the time, I agreed to train her but he spoils her & undoes all my training.

Scoop the backyard poop daily. This actually started happening 3 weeks age after the FOURTH TIME she tracked it inside. And really I think he only started doing it because she got it on my duvet & sheets, which he then had to take to the laundry mat because our washer/dryer can't handle my duvet, just the cover. So because he was extremely inconvenienced by it, he made a change to prevent it.

Take the dog on 2 walks of a significant length daily, one before work & one after, so she gets the proper amount of exercise. This one he actually does. And if he can't, for whatever reason (be it illness or hockey) he hires a walker off of Wag. So that one he is pretty consistent about.

This doesn't even cover that I'm the one who is with her all the time so I do all the play, the brushing, the training, and keep an eye on her behaviors to make sure she's healthy & happy.

So, since he can't manage basic dog care I said, in the most condescending mom voice I could muster, "Now (dad's name), when you can prove that you can consistently care for your current dog properly, we can think about getting another one. But until then, the answer is no." He laughed, but I hope he realizes how absolutely fucking serious I am. I can barely care for myself. I can't take on another dog.

I'm so frustrated. Plus, I'm about to hire someone to roll up in here twice a month to help me with the floors, dusting, & my bathroom.

[brownskinsugarplum76]

Eye of the Storm, Ch 6

This one came tumbling out of my brain pretty quickly... I've really fallen in love with these two together! 😍😍😍 No smut, but we continue the love-fest. I also go into what happened between Robert and Maggie after the one shot Tequila Sunrise. I plan on going into more flashbacks later. (Catch up on the rest of the Eye of the Storm chapters here.)

Thanks as always to @firethatgrewsolow for the read. ❤️❤️❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie and Robert caught Strider gleefully chasing after the birds and barking his excitement. They could tell right away that he meant no harm to the seagulls, he was just excited to find playmates.

Because there was some distance between them and Strider, Robert put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. The dog raced toward his master, as though playing with his feathered friends would never match the connection he had to Robert.

Strider wagged his tail expectantly, and Robert crouched to scratch behind his pet's ears. "Hey, boy! What kind of adventures did you get into with those birds? Hmm? Couldn't wait for me to get some exercise? What am I going to do with you, huh?"

"He's got you wrapped around his paw, hasn't he?" Maggie watched with amusement as her magnetic, masculine boyfriend suddenly became a boyish imp who didn't seem to have the heart to scold his pet.

"He is certainly a big part of my life when I'm at home." He glanced up at Maggie but quickly trained his eyes back on Strider. He resumed ruffling the dog's fur with joy.

"So much so that you brought him across the ocean and a big country to live with you, it seems."

"Exactly. I couldn't go that long without my boy!" He turned back to his pet. "Strider, this is Maggie. You'll be seeing a lot of her for a while. I hope you two can be friends? She's special to me, just like you."

"Hey, Strider! I grew up with a dog in my house, so I am definitely pleased to meet you." She stroked his fur and then scratched behind his ears, just like Robert had.

"Do you like the beach? I do, too! I love to go every chance I can get, and I'm so excited that you and Robert live here! I'd love to walk you out here. What do you say?"

She continued to pet Strider, and he nuzzled against her, glad to have met a new friend.

"He's been cooped up almost all day; that might explain why he escaped. Why don't we all take a walk now?"

"That's a good idea, Robert."

"I'll let you bond with him a little more, while I get his favorite ball."

"Absolutely. I'd love to keep this cutie company." Maggie resumed petting Strider's mottled coat and talking to him. He was content to bask in Maggie's attention.

Maggie couldn't have asked for a better day: seeing Robert again, becoming his special roommate, and knowing it was just the beginning of a couple of blissful weeks with him. It was like she was living inside of a rock and roll fairytale, and she planned to cherish every second.

Strider perked his ears up and wagged his tail, seconds before a ratty tennis ball soared over his head. "All right, doggo, go fetch!" Robert yelled from a distance.

He reached Maggie by the time Strider clamped down on the runaway ball. "I thought you might want this," he said, helping her into her jacket. The wind had whipped up a bit, the waves were reclaiming some of the shoreline, and sunset was on its way.

"Thanks. It is starting to get a little chilly."

Strider returned and dropped the ball at Robert's feet. "Good boy. Nothing ever gets past you! Maybe there's a tryout for you with Wolverhampton in the future, hmm?"

Robert threw Strider's ball once more, and the pet was off again.

"Fancy a walk?" Robert placed a hand on the small of Maggie's back.

"I'd love to."

They stopped and started down the beach, pausing to throw Strider's ball, examine seashells, and kiss.

"This is a lot like that first night…" Robert started.

"But very different in other ways…"

"And not just because we're sober and not horizontal!" Robert chuckled before he got serious. "Maggie, having you here really feels like my life has regained something it was missing after the accident… I'm so glad we ran into each other. I feel more complete, more alive somehow… Does that make sense? I've never felt this way before."

"I completely understand. I felt so at home when we went inside your place, and I feel like Strider and I will be good friends in no time. I don't know, it just…"

"...Feels right." Robert finished her thought, grasped her face, and sent her reeling with a spellbinding kiss.

They smiled at each other while their lips still touched and  kissed some more.

"We've already woken up to a majestic sunset together; how about we watch the sun go down this time?" Robert sat on the sand, back where it was still dry, with his legs spread wide. He motioned for Maggie to join him, and whistled for Strider to take a break with them.

Maggie sat down between Robert's legs, and he wrapped his arms around her. Strider enjoyed the feel of Maggie's hand in his fur.

Maggie was soothed by the smell of Robert's well-worn leather jacket and the sandalwood scent that was always there when he was close. It was a heady scent that was more powerful for her in that moment than the eternal fresh ocean smell that whipped around on the early evening air.

Robert kissed the top of her head and rested his hands on her shoulders. Just like back in 1972, they had the beach to themselves.

Maggie enjoyed the rapidly changing colors of the sky and marveled at how much had changed between them over the past few years. She was certain that her first encounter with Robert, back when she was working at the restaurant and trying to get her band off the ground, would just be a one-night fling. She was prepared to remember it as the most romantic one-night stand ever, with the most captivating man she'd ever met.

She thought that Robert asking for her number the next morning was just a polite way to say goodbye. But when he actually called the next day, and they spoke for hours… It was beyond belief.

He arranged for a car to take her to The Forum the following day, and she watched in the wings after having missed the San Diego show while working. The concert was phenomenal, and her sampling of tour life afterward was more outrageous than she could've imagined. It was a long night of partying and transcendent intimacy with Robert. She slept soundly through the ride back to San Diego, and her dreams were filled with visions of the vivacious blond singer.

It was a lovely beginning for them, and was joined with many more memorable encounters, of lively parties, romance, intelligent conversation, and commiserating on artistry at times. Robert was as much a friend to her as a lover, a friend who had climbed all the peaks and valleys that she was starting to climb, one who was more than willing to give her a boost when needed.

Their history made her that much more willing to experience every happy moment possible with him and work through every bad one that was to come.

"Penny for your thoughts, Mags?" Robert murmured his question in her ear after realizing she had gone silent.

"I'm just thinking about us."

"Good thoughts, I hope?" He heated her inside with delicate kisses along her jawline.

"Only the best." She sighed and noticed that Strider had fallen asleep.

"I've said it before, but you've always been a highlight for me whenever we come out west. You understand quite a bit of my life, having lived along a similar track. You've had every right, on many occasions, to get angry, never take my phone calls again, or send the driver packing, but you're always there for the next trip with a smile. God knows I don't deserve someone like you, with all the Good Time Percy galavanting I've done. Just… Thank you."

Maggie nuzzled against his chest and enjoyed the moment.

"I was an absolute mess here after the accident. If no one had come around to see me, I'd probably be back in that caveman beard that I shaved off a little before I met you, drinking Bovril and screaming at the soccer games on the TV. I had just started getting back on track with my voice… But then my body takes a big hit? And there was no certainty as to whether things would ever be right again? I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to deal with it, just wanted to lay low. And then it became a big, months-long pity party--a pity party with women and stimulants and anything else to chase the blues away. But the blues never left. If I had let you in… If I had sought you out when things went bad… I…"

"It's water under the bridge, Robert. Really. Just don't let it happen again. OK?

It was Maggie's turn to give Robert a searing kiss." Seriously, don't hide out if you're feeling low. I'm here for you."

"I will share your load… Oooh, let me!" Robert belted out some of his ad libbing from Physical Graffiti. The wind carried off the sound, but the meaning was fully captured by Maggie's heart.

"Exactly, shameless front man!" She laughed and sprung to her feet, dusting the sand off her clothes.

"I'm cold now… Race you back to the house?" Without a reply from Robert, she was off, with Strider following along, awake again and ready to play the new game Maggie had started.

"Dammit, woman, not so fast! You know I'm taking it easy!" Robert gingerly jogged the first few yards and, feeling fine, sprinted as best he could in the twilight to close the distance between them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of my stories are here, or search for the hashtag #brownskinsugarplumlibrary

[teawithagent67]

We have been really struggling with bedtime anxiety and people all come close and cluster together to express that they are sad and lonely and upset and hurt and don't want to exist anymore or someone steps on everybody else to demand that we stay alive for the cats.

That's a massive run on sentence but it's how we are feeling lol.

We stay alive for the cats. We stay alive for friend Al and friend Sarah and to walk D's doggo Rebel and the sunrise each morning.

Gob everything has been really hard emotionally/financially and I have this thing where I don't want to ask for anymore help because I feel like all I do is take and take and take. I want to help others.

But someone counters that with a we volunteer our time to teach others a craft that not many people do anymore and we walk a dog that would not get the exercise otherwise and we are just trying. Dammit.

I feel so hopeless and lost and I'm just getting tired over and over again and my battery never goes back up.

[flatstarcarcosa]

extremely detailed character meme (Van, ships: right on target and far from any road)

found this on my dash and i thought i’d fill it in! under a cut b/c it is REALLY detailed! some of the questions don’t apply for me, and i tried to make it easy to tell which ship i’m referring too b/c some things are different here and there 

Character Chart Character’s full name: Van (pronounced vaughn, rhymes with fawn) Miller Reason or meaning of name: None  Character’s nickname: None, aside from petnames Reason for nickname: None Birth date: for ship: right on target: 10/03/1990 for ship: far from any road: 10/03/1970  Physical appearance Age: ship: right on target: 29\ ship: far from any road: 24 in 95, 30 in 02, 40 in 2012 How old do they appear: Perpetually babyfaced. So about 15 or so until they hit their mid 30′s Weight: honestly i don’t know Height: 5′2 (look what’s the point of a self insert if i can’t achieve my dream of being at least five foot tall all right) Body build: stronk.  Shape of face: square ish?  Eye color: grey Glasses or contacts: glasses, doesn’t like them unless they’re sunglasses though, prefers to squint and look like a hamster  Skin tone: pale/sickly at times, tan if they’ve been in the sun, but still very white  Distinguishing marks: pointy canines  Predominant features: nothing really sticks out, van’s physical features are pretty normal Hair color: naturally a muted blonde. prone to dying it a bright yellow in 95 and 02 for ship: far from any road. dyed black for ship: right on target Type of hair: straight Hairstyle: fluffy, over hair sprayed mullet ponytail thing for ‘95, ‘02 has a less hair band style looking thing but still pretty punky, ‘12 Van has what i call the ‘business undercut’ (far from any road). also just a normal, kind of spiky undercut for (right on target) Voice: i dont know how to answer this?  Overall attractiveness: this is just a bad question  Physical disabilities: I’m gonna break this one down because one thing i love about my self inserts is modifying my own, actual disabilities a bit so: far from any road: van has kidney and bladder problems that get progressively worse as time goes on, and undiagnosed celiac disease. because of a severe motorcycle accident in ‘89 they also have a weak/bum leg that is prone at times to flaring up with pain and instability with no warning. after a second motorcycle accident in ‘95, these things get a lot worse. by the time ‘12 rolls around van resigns themself to having traded in their bike years earlier for an actual car and using a cane. they’re not happy about it.  right on target: same kidney/bladder/digestive issues. bum leg is a side effect of general chronic pain caused by it. their leg has a habit of still going out at random, and despite needing a cane sometimes they refuse to use it. lester always keep an eye out in case their leg is about to collapse under them. he’s grabbed them many times to keep them from hitting the ground.  Usual fashion of dress: dark, leather, jeans, punky looking things.  Favorite outfit: leather jacket, motorcycle boots even if they’re not riding, jeans.  Jewelry or accessories: big clunky silver rings. right on target!van has a solid black metal band on their left thumb that matches one lester has.

Personality Good personality traits: tries to be kind, tries to make things better for others at the expense of themself, funny, loves animals,  Bad personality traits: addiction problems, quick temper, far from any road!van likes to hustle people at bars and get into bar fights but usually only if they’ve been provoked  Mood character is most often in: it cycles a lot, so  Sense of humor: good? this is a vague question  Character’s greatest joy in life: photography, making people laugh, alone time Character’s greatest fear: death, being in poverty again/being stuck in poverty,  Why? being poor is Not Fun What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil? far from any road: something happening to rust. they don’t realize at it first but he’s become their grounding agent, and without him there to balance them out they would not fare well.  right on target: lester’s brief stint of being fucking dead and murdered on TV wasn’t a good time.  Character is most at ease when: it’s cold and rainy out and they have an excuse to stay in bed and snooze.  Most ill at ease when: surrounded by too many people and too many noises. Enraged when: hhhhhhhhhhhhh often? the worst they get is in ‘95 when marty makes a few jabs at their trauma and they beat him bloody before rust pulls them off him.  Depressed or sad when: also often, sometimes for no reason. thats kind of what clinical depression is. Priorities: money. taking care of themself with it in order to be able to help others. Life philosophy: sometimes you don’t have to be great, you can just be okay.  If granted one wish, it would be: ability to change gender/sex characteristics at will. Why? it’s the transgenderism (i use that word satirically and as a joke, for those that don’t know that’s a te]]]rf dogwhistle in other situations, a lot of trans people have taken it back)  Character’s soft spot: their pets and the fact that being a raging asshole is a front they have to actively work at. Is this soft spot obvious to others? depends on the person. to rust? yes. to lester? not as much.  Greatest strength: refusal to give up. Greatest vulnerability or weakness: raging asshole disease and the addiction issues. Biggest regret: developing addiction issues.   Minor regret: it also cycles like their moods. Biggest accomplishment: far from any road: got a bachelor’s degree in sociology before deciding to get into journalism.  right on target: ??? van doesn’t feel accomplished. lester is trying to encourage them at going to college but he’s not very good at it.  Minor accomplishment: “not fucking dead yet, assholes”  Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about: far from any road: van was never able to find out who it was in the south texas area that was targeting members of the LGBT community, that’s the whole reason they ended up with the crusaders and met rust, they had reason to believe it was someone connected to the gang. despite help from rust, the investigation went nowhere and all they have is a half finished expose.  right on target: they didn’t try to leave an abusive situation sooner. Why? see above Character’s darkest secret: i? don’t know??   Does anyone else know? N/A Goals Drives and motivations: just live the best they can Immediate goals: not die Long term goals: not die, perhaps be less of an alcoholic  How the character plans to accomplish these goals: slowly?  How other characters will be affected: they help.  Past Hometown: --- Type of childhood: traumatic Pets: dogs, frogs, turtles, hamsters First memory: ---- Most important childhood memory: ----  Why:  ------ Childhood hero:------ Dream job: ------ Education: bachelor’s degree for far from any road, GED for right on target Religion: atheistic but understanding and accepting of others Finances: far from any road: not fucking superb, hence the side hustles. right on target: poor  Present Current location: far from any road: Louisiana, i don’t remember TD ever stating where at aside from in the sticks right on target: NYC  Currently living with: rust or lester  Pets: far from any road is various pets at various times, right on target is initially just the doggo. Religion: still the same  Occupation: hustler slash freelance journalist for far from any road, unemployed for right on target Finances: better by 2012 (far from any road) thanks to a boring but stable office job, and for right on target they have lester’s money now and even lester doesn’t know how much he has aside from “a lot”. Family Mother: ------- Relationship with her: nonexistent    Father: Bastard Sr. Relationship with him: nonexistent.  Siblings: sister, older Relationship with them: non existent Spouse: rust/lester Relationship with him/her: i mean in both settings it’s a long term (rust right at around 20 years if you count their time in the crusaders initially, lester about 7 years) so, good if complicated at times Children:  no Relationship with them: none Other important family members: none  Favorites Color: purple, green, black Least favorite color: red Music: prog rock Food: pizza, waffles, hash browns, cereal  Literature: lots! really, its across all genres Form of entertainment: viddy gaems Expressions: what?  Mode of transportation: motorcycle or car  Most prized possession: also motorcycle or car Habits Hobbies: viddy gaemz, photography, sketch comedy  Plays a musical instrument? nah Plays a sport? is pool a sport?  How he/she would spend a rainy day: cozy in bed, s***ing some d***  Spending habits: they are fucking cheap as fuck whether they have money or not Smokes: yes, they say they’re planning to quit but [thor voice] is he though  Drinks: yes, it’s the alcoholism  Other drugs: pills mostly. to be fair they do HAVE to have a lot of meds because of chronic illness but they do love them some benzos  What does he/she do too much of? drinks, sleeps, smokes What does he/she do too little of? healthy food, exercise  Extremely skilled at: hustling. that works in both setting because with rust they learned it themself, with lester he taught them. also, writing.  Extremely unskilled at: art, socialising with people  Nervous tics: knuckle cracking,  Usual body posture: crosses arms a lot  Mannerisms: ???? Peculiarities: ????? Traits Optimist or pessimist? pessimist  Introvert or extrovert? introvert  Daredevil or cautious? cautious  Logical or emotional? both actually, it’s not fun Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? disorderly and messy, clashes with rust’s methodical and neat Prefers working or relaxing? relaxing  Confident or unsure of himself/herself? switches rapidly between both  Animal lover? yes Self-perception How he/she feels about himself/herself: bad.  One word the character would use to describe self: asshole  One paragraph description of how the character would describe self: no good alcoholic junkie with a shitty temper, a shittier outlook and few skills or worth to bring to the table except a raging selfish streak What does the character consider his/her best personality trait? sense of humor  What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait? temper  What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic? thicc What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic? crippled How does the character think others perceive him/her: badly,  What would the character most like to change about himself/herself: alcoholism  Relationships with others Opinion of other people in general: they try to be cordial, unless they’re in traffic, in which case it’s fuck you and your fucking mother you stupid fucking motherfucker  Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others? yes Person character most hates: [redacted]  Best friend(s): @dadbodsandbots is p much hanging out somewhere in every setting  Love interest(s): rust and lester  Person character goes to for advice: they don’t, that requires enough vulnerability to admit there’s a problem Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: also rust and lester Person character feels shy or awkward around: van is very uncomfortable around marty most of the time, he reminds them of their father. it smooths out as time goes on, but still. also when lester was stuck with the DA, they didn’t like daken at first  Person character openly admires: ehh? Person character secretly admires: ehh?  Most important person in character’s life before story starts: ehh?  After story starts: ehh? 

found here

[smokeydogcollars-blog]

Top Ten Dog Collars 2018

Let’s face it – your pup is more than just your canine companion. If you own a pooch, it’s likely that your furry friend is a big, fluffy part of your family. You know what we mean. You feed Fido scraps from the dinner table. You begrudgingly (okay, it’s not all that begrudgingly) let him climb into bed and sleep on your pillow (even though he drools all over it). You don’t hesitate when he wants to go outside for his third (that’s right, third) walk of the morning.

We get it, he’s a part of your family and he deserves the best. Luckily, everyone at Smokey Dog Collars understands just how important your pooch is to you, and we don’t blame you. We all have our own doggos that mean the world to us, too.

See, we get it. And because we do, we thought we’d comb through the web, search through reviews, and actually try out a bunch of the best dog collars available on the market to you and your pooch, then narrow down the massive list of collars to a cohesive top-ten list for you!

Check out our findings below and see what collars we think are the best purchases for your pooch! We’ll have the links available, so you can do a little more research (or in case you want to start shelling out some cash for a special collar for your best four-legged friend). Looking for some cute dog collars? How about a dog leash? Maybe you’re seeking out a dog collar that’s best for your pup’s safety? Maybe you’re just after a cute dog collar for your indoor pooch. Either way, we’ve got the list of our top ten collars below! Check them out!

Adjustable Rainbow Collar for Dogs

Do you have a pup with a real eye for color? Okay, okay, your dog can’t see color, we know, but that doesn’t mean your pooch shouldn’t sport the flashiest rainbow collar around. Check out our Adjustable Rainbow Collar with a striped design, alloy buckle, and leather material. This basic leash features a breakaway and quick release button. With an adjustable band, this is the perfect collar for your tiny puppy or full-grown dog!

Adorable Collar with a Flower

We’re sure that your pooch is already plenty adorable on his or her own, but why not add this darlin collar to sweeten the deal? For $12.95, you can purchase this Adorable Collar with a Flower from Smokey Dog Collars in a variety of collars. Want your pooch to be delicate and sweet? Try our rose-colored Collar with a Flower. Are you seeking a touch of masculinity for your flowery pup? The blue collar is the perfect pick.

Adjustable Dog Collar with Punk Rivet Spiked Studs

What’s tougher than a collar with studs? A collar with studs and spikes! If you’ve got a ‘tough-guy’ pooch and you want the world to know it, the Adjustable Dog Collar with Punk Rivet Spiked Studs is the collar for you. This collar is featured for all seasons, is made of leather, and is available in a variety of colors like black, pink, red, or white. For just $15.95, this tough collar can be all yours.

Fashion Leopard Flashing LED Dog Collar

Are you looking to make a statement with your pup’s neck accessories? Look no further than Smokey Dog Collars Fashion Leopard Flashing LED Dog Collar. This uniquely-designed collar features three modes of LED lighting safety options, including quick flash, slow flash, and steady light. This collar is available in six different colors, is made of nylon, and has quick release features as well. For just $15.95, this collar can be yours.

Cute Adjustable Dog Collar with Bowknot and Bells

Going on a walk with your dog is more than just an exercise, it’s a chance to show off your pup’s newest accessories. Nothing will get the neighbors (and they’re pups) more envious than Smokey Dog Collar’s Cute Adjustable Dog Collar with Bowknot and Bells. Designed with the unique, and fashionable, pup in mind, this collar has all the bells (literally) and whistles you could want for your dog. Made of polyester, this bowtie collar is available in eight different color and pattern combinations, so you’ll certainly be able to match one of them with your pup’s personality. The best part? This collar is on $9.95 on Smokey Dog Collar’s website.

Best No Pull Reflective Dog Harness

Does your pup have problems walking on a leash? Do you constantly have to pull him back in and remind him to heel during your treks? This doesn’t have to be a daily struggle anymore. Check out Smokey Dog Collars Best No Pull Reflective Dog Harness as a tool for training your dog to walk on leash. This solid-colored basic halter harness is reflective, padded, and has quick release features built in. Made out of oxford and flexible, breathable mesh, this is the perfect harness for training and walking your dog. It’s available in a variety of colors and sizes, leaving plenty of options for you and your pup.

Breathable Dog Harness Vest with Reflective Tape

If you’re looking for the perfect harness for long walks at night with your pup, then the Breathable Dog Harness Vest with Reflective Tape could be the perfect fit for you and your pooch. For $29.95, you can purchase one of these solid-color harnesses that are flecked with bright reflective tape that helps keep your dog in your line of vision – even in low-light. This is perfect for training your pup to not pull when you’re out for your walks.

USB Rechargeable Adjustable Dog Collar

Your pup already lights up your life, why wouldn’t you purchase them a collar that lights up the night? Check out Smokey Dog Collar’s USB Rechargeable Adjustable Dog Collar, a 50cm collar that features personalized options, lights, and quick release features. This collar will fit basic leashes, is made of plastic, and is a perfect match for all seasons. And the best news? No matter what size your pup is, they don’t have to miss out! This collar is available for pooches ranging from small to large!  Available to you for just $24.95, you won’t want to miss out on purchasing bright addition to your pups life!

Bling Rhinestone Dog Collar

We know that someone out there has a pooch that loves the bling bling, which is we crafted the perfect, glamorous, blinged out color just for them! Available for $19.95, this bling-tastic collar comes in color options like blue, gold, pink, red, and rose! The Bling Rhinestone Dog Collar is a size-specific collar, though, made only for pups who are classified as small to medium dogs (whose necks are about 8-18 inches). Sorry big dogs, this particular collar isn’t for you, but check out some of our other options on the list!

Super Cute Adjustable Dog Bandana Scarf Collar

This last one on our list will have you saying “howdy, y’all!” in the most cowboy way possible. If you want to dress your pooch up with a touch of pizzazz, we certainly recommend that you purchase Smokey Dog Collar’s Super Cute Adjustable Dog Bandana Scarf Collar. This dog scarf, available in black, pink, red, blue, or green, is a printed pattern scarf that acts as a collar, too! Available for all seasons, this is the best nylon dog scarf on the market! Don’t miss out on the price, either. At $12.95, this scarf collar is a steal!

Whether your pooch is looking for a tough, durable, adventure harness, or wants to showcase their style in a bowtie flecked with polka-dots, Smokey Dog Collar has all the options you’ll want, and everything in between. From neckties collars that look like bandanas to spiked, studded, leather, tough-guy collars, Smokey Dog Collar has it on their shop! Check out or top ten list above for our go-to-guide on the best dog collars on the market! But shop fast, with our cute designs and sweet savings, our collars go quick!

[a-libra-writes]

not a request but I just was wondering how difficult it is to take care of dogs? I don't have a specific breed in mind but I've constantly been thinking about getting one lately

this ended up long (no surprise lol) so here’s a cut. feel free to DM or message me if you got more questions! 🐶💞

I think it depends on the personality and needs of the individual dog, but overall, dogs def require a lot of TLC. They need socialization, toys, and can have some hefty vet bills if they get sick. 

However! If you prepare yourself for the responsibility, and know what sort of breed/doggo you’re planning to get, things will run smoother. 

Dogs need exercise, period, even a little bit. So taking them to doggy daycare, or a dog park, or just a walk around the block. Having a back yard  (even a little one) is preeeetty much necessary imo, so they can use the bathroom, run around and enjoy the outdoors. Some doggies aren’t fans of lounging around outside, but some really do love it and can get stir crazy.

That’s another thing, they’ll need toys, bones, and so on to keep themselves occupied or they’ll get boooored. and a bored doggy means getting into shit and chewing. When called baby Shay “Shaynado” for a reason, she was a terror before I started taking her to daycare and before she had other doggos like Caddy and Hannah to play with. Hazel is also a terror but she has her older siblings to play and amuse her, plus a milk carton. Idk why she likes them but whatever keeps her quiet for five minutes.

So they arent too diff from cats or small animals in that they have these basic needs. I also cannot stress enough, get a vet and do a yearly checkup, plus get those heartworm and flea guards. I KNOW its expensive AF but god you dont want to see a dog with a flea infestation or heartworm. It’s horrible.

OH! And big thing I noticed in new dog owners, they’re not familiar with dog behavior. Dogs are actually very expressive and you can start to pick up on their feelings if you know what to look for. Def read up on common gestures, behaviors, and behavioral problems. TBH a lot of dog anxiety and stress comes from boredom and loneliness, which can be solved with playtime and socialization.

I def recommend getting an older mutt from a shelter, and starting with a smaller dog. Older dogs (3+ years) are more patient and don’t have that “puppy” energy and mischief. I say a small dog because they’re easier to handle and care for; plus I don’t know if you have a house, apartment, a yard, etc. I really, really do not recommend puppies for a first time dog owner, regardless if you’e adopting or shopping. This is coming from someone whose done both and dealt with waaay too many puppies. Don’t do it.

I don’t know your preferences in doggo breeds, but mutts are great! They’re generally healthier and can have the best personalities traits of diff breeds. I love me a mutt. Here’s some “starter” breeds I recommend, they’re also common in mutts in shelters:

Havanese are incredibly sweet and dorky-ass dogs. They do tend to have grooming needs, like brushing their fur every day and getting a bath or a groom. 

Bichon Frise are very friendly, energetic and just happy little bundles of floof. Their fur is not as demanding of grooming, especially if you keep it short. Also, they’re hypoallergenic!

People give Chihuahuas a lot of shit, but I actually adore them. With the right owner they aren’t yappy or aggressive, like a lot of people stereotype them as. A lot of well-trained Chis I’ve met are cool, more independent and curious.

I don’t always suggest terriers for a first time owner, but Yorkies really are friendly, bubbly and happy little guys. They can be quite clingy to their owners, so it’s good to help them get independence. 

Pomeranians have a lot of grooming needs, but they’re often chill, happy to sit in your lap and friendly lil guys. Like a lot of smol dogs, it’s good to socialize them so they aren’t codependent on you.

Miniature Pinschers are not only REALLY freaking cute, they’re dorky and sweet as all heck, and have lots of energy. Damn I love these guys. Every one I’ve met has a great temperament.

On the more medium dog side, spaniels are really great companions and outdoor dogs. If you don’t mind a bigger and heftier dog, pit bulls and pit bull mixes are giant lovebugs that want a home. You’ll often see german shepherd, collie and boxer mixes of all sizes in shelters; just know those dogs have a much higher energy need. 

Dachshunds are cute and iconic, but their little legs and long back can lead to health problems. Still, they have good temperaments and are often so sweet and chill. In my experience, doxie mixes often have that cool personality.

Pfft i forgot about Shih Tzus aldkekew they require quite a bit of brushing and grooming but they are so friendly and silly. Not the brightest dogs but they do their best!

Hopefully this was helpful and not meandering, lol. I’m not certified in any whatever way, I’ve just worked with dogs professionally for 5+ years and owned them since I was a wee lass.