Meet my three dogs: (left) Shep, (middle) Faith, (right) Junee
Black Girl In a Doggone World™ (on Substack) 2023
This publication is for dog sitters, dog walkers, dog boarders, dog walkers, and (especially) Black folks who defy the stereotype that we're scared of or don't like dogs. Occasionally my complex feelings about cats come up too.
Subscribe to this Substack column for $5 per month or $50 per year. For $80 as a founder, get full access to “Black Girl In a Doggone World™,” “Homegrown Tales,” "I Do See Color," "One Black Woman's Vote" and “Window Shopping” too.
Follow "Black Girl In a Doggone World™" on social media:
Instagram @BlackGirlDoggoneWorld and Threads @BlackGirlDoggoneWorld
(Looking for BGIDW 2019-21? Click here. 2022? Click here. 2024? Click here. 2025? Click here.)
Subscribe to this Substack column for $5 per month or $50 per year. For $80 as a founder, get full access to “Black Girl In a Doggone World™,” “Homegrown Tales,” "I Do See Color," "One Black Woman's Vote" and “Window Shopping” too.
Follow "Black Girl In a Doggone World™" on social media:
Instagram @BlackGirlDoggoneWorld and Threads @BlackGirlDoggoneWorld
(Looking for BGIDW 2019-21? Click here. 2022? Click here. 2024? Click here. 2025? Click here.)
49. Skip New Year's resolutions, try dog goals instead (Part 2) ~ 6 of 10 additional ideas to build a better dog-and-dog-owner relationship in 2024 and beyond
48. Skip New Year's resolutions, try dog goals instead (Part 1) ~ 5 of 10 initial ideas to build a better dog-and-dog-owner relationship in 2024 and beyond
47. Is your dog really a picky eater, or is it something simpler? ~ Quiet observation around two dogs can teach you a lot about each dog's behavior
46. Some charitable donations higher, others lower in 2023 ~ Felines & Canines introduces GUPPY program to place 'gently used' pets into new homes
45. Korea Dog Meat Farmers’ Association versus People Power Party ~ The similarities and differences between dog farmer protests and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-immigration bus tour
44. Window Shopping: Allivet is repeating the reason Walmart PetRx failed ~ Think twice before agreeing to auto-ship agreements, especially pet prescriptions
43. Bert Kreischer's podcast question about dogs ~ 'Brotherly Love' podcast: Sorta-sober Bert asks about 'five things you wish you could incorporate in your life that dogs come by seamlessly'
42. What do we know about the mystery dog illness in 2023? ~ The verdict is still out on the symptoms, social habits and a cure
41. The tale of the microfiber dog cloth ~ When cleaning your smartphone becomes a pet protest
40. Is your observant dog better than a pregnancy test? ~ Nope, I'm still never asking a woman if she's pregnant
39. Happy Halloween: Jackie versus Junee on All Hallows' Eve ~ Junee fighting Halloween decorations: My favorite new part of the holiday
38. Don't let dog hair Deebo your pipes ~ The trickiest part about having a short-haired dog
37. The other reason I keep trying to go vegan: Dogs ~ My childhood friend and meatless spaghetti made a long-lasting impact
36. The scariest moment for a dog-walker ~ Shamontiel's Halloween-themed stories for 2023: What happened when she lost the keys to the pet owner's door?
35. If you want to get a good night's rest, get a pet ~ The other perk of dogs being creatures of habit
34. Would you pass up a vacation if you couldn't bring your pet? ~ Standing up for pets: 61% opt out of pet-less vacations, 40% take pay cuts for WFH jobs
33. All dog brushes are not created equally ~ Understanding how to groom your smooth-haired dog
32. A dog-sitting job taught me a valuable lesson about the gig economy ~ Why women should charge their salary ‘worth’
31. Do you want your dog to be in your wedding? ~ 5 tips to make sure your playful dog doesn't destroy the dress, eat the food
30. NEWS: Free pet vaccinations on South Side Chicago ~ PAWS Chicago will introduce its new traveling veterinary van
29. Five go-to tips for checking your dog's paw pads ~ Avoid painful cuts, dried pads or blistered pads on your puppy
28. Making a vegetable grocery list for you and your dog ~ Strategizing the best use of outer aisle shopping in grocery stores and gardens
27. Just because your dog can eat fruits doesn't mean she should ~ Wait at least 48 hours for the dog fruit test results
26. Happy 2nd Adoption Anniversary to Junee! ~ Juneteenth is special to me for two reasons: black history and my four-legged roommate
25. No, you don't have to wipe your dog's butt ~ Your 'fur baby' is not human, nor does (s)he have butt cheeks
24. Why do we take so many photos of our dogs? ~ Tips for best dog pics without annoying them and avoiding gold eyes
23. Making your dog the mail carrier's BFF ~ How a Junee bone made my dog the mailwoman's cheerleader
22. Why the drive-up lane makes sense for dog owners ~ The dog sitters I never asked for at Target (and Starbucks and McDonald's)
21. Skip the dog barrettes, rubber bands at groomers ~ What works well on a human child is a nightmare for dogs
20. The puppy vs adult dog debate ~ Joseline "The Puerto Rican Princess" had a point on "College Hill: Celebrity Edition"
19. How everyday students, adults can get involved to save pets ~ Meet Anna Morrison-Ricordati of Animal Legal Defense Fund
18. 6 times you should take off your dog's collar ~ Pet safety tips for dog owners with chain collars
17. Puppy walks, puppy tricks ~ What to keep track of during a walk with your dog
16. Chelsea, Kwame doesn't like your dog Rocky ~ And six other warnings for people who date anti-pet people
15. Is a self-serving dog bath facility worth the money? ~ For busy pet owners, grooming outside of the home makes sense
14. Junee had a secret admirer ~ And it took me almost three hours to figure out who sent cookie treats for my dog
13. When your pup is a dog bed destroyer ... Carpet may do the trick and save you money too
12. French Bulldogs beat out Labrador Retrievers after a 31-year winning streak ~ My favorite memory of the first French Bulldog I dogsat
11. Yes, PUP insurance may cover your dog ~ What you need to know before investing in personal umbrella insurance (PUP)
10. Condo insurance protects against dog bites ~ Taking legal steps to cover your pet before and after someone has been bitten
9. Hey dog lovers, keep your fingers to yourself ~ Every dog with teeth has the potential to bite you
8. When it's time to be the busybody dog protector ~ Blurred line on leashing and crating outside of the home
7. Happy 2nd Birthday to Junee! ~ Two years wiser, and she still won't stop sitting on me during meditation
6. Dog vet rebates: Are they always worth it? ~ As with human doctor visits, understand the pros and cons of dog treatments
5. Dog walking when you don't feel like walking ~ S.A.D.: Seasonal Affective Disorder can make humans and dogs not want to walk
4. Filtered water vs tap water: Which should dogs drink? ~ Ease up on using tap water for everything
3. The Puppuccino debate: Can dogs safely eat whip cream? ~ Recognizing the signs of a lactose-intolerant dog
2. Never underestimate a three-legged dog ~ Caring for dogs with physical disabilities
1. 6 tips to save on annual dog expenses ~ From donations to car pooling
48. Skip New Year's resolutions, try dog goals instead (Part 1) ~ 5 of 10 initial ideas to build a better dog-and-dog-owner relationship in 2024 and beyond
47. Is your dog really a picky eater, or is it something simpler? ~ Quiet observation around two dogs can teach you a lot about each dog's behavior
46. Some charitable donations higher, others lower in 2023 ~ Felines & Canines introduces GUPPY program to place 'gently used' pets into new homes
45. Korea Dog Meat Farmers’ Association versus People Power Party ~ The similarities and differences between dog farmer protests and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-immigration bus tour
44. Window Shopping: Allivet is repeating the reason Walmart PetRx failed ~ Think twice before agreeing to auto-ship agreements, especially pet prescriptions
43. Bert Kreischer's podcast question about dogs ~ 'Brotherly Love' podcast: Sorta-sober Bert asks about 'five things you wish you could incorporate in your life that dogs come by seamlessly'
42. What do we know about the mystery dog illness in 2023? ~ The verdict is still out on the symptoms, social habits and a cure
41. The tale of the microfiber dog cloth ~ When cleaning your smartphone becomes a pet protest
40. Is your observant dog better than a pregnancy test? ~ Nope, I'm still never asking a woman if she's pregnant
39. Happy Halloween: Jackie versus Junee on All Hallows' Eve ~ Junee fighting Halloween decorations: My favorite new part of the holiday
38. Don't let dog hair Deebo your pipes ~ The trickiest part about having a short-haired dog
37. The other reason I keep trying to go vegan: Dogs ~ My childhood friend and meatless spaghetti made a long-lasting impact
36. The scariest moment for a dog-walker ~ Shamontiel's Halloween-themed stories for 2023: What happened when she lost the keys to the pet owner's door?
35. If you want to get a good night's rest, get a pet ~ The other perk of dogs being creatures of habit
34. Would you pass up a vacation if you couldn't bring your pet? ~ Standing up for pets: 61% opt out of pet-less vacations, 40% take pay cuts for WFH jobs
33. All dog brushes are not created equally ~ Understanding how to groom your smooth-haired dog
32. A dog-sitting job taught me a valuable lesson about the gig economy ~ Why women should charge their salary ‘worth’
31. Do you want your dog to be in your wedding? ~ 5 tips to make sure your playful dog doesn't destroy the dress, eat the food
30. NEWS: Free pet vaccinations on South Side Chicago ~ PAWS Chicago will introduce its new traveling veterinary van
29. Five go-to tips for checking your dog's paw pads ~ Avoid painful cuts, dried pads or blistered pads on your puppy
28. Making a vegetable grocery list for you and your dog ~ Strategizing the best use of outer aisle shopping in grocery stores and gardens
27. Just because your dog can eat fruits doesn't mean she should ~ Wait at least 48 hours for the dog fruit test results
26. Happy 2nd Adoption Anniversary to Junee! ~ Juneteenth is special to me for two reasons: black history and my four-legged roommate
25. No, you don't have to wipe your dog's butt ~ Your 'fur baby' is not human, nor does (s)he have butt cheeks
24. Why do we take so many photos of our dogs? ~ Tips for best dog pics without annoying them and avoiding gold eyes
23. Making your dog the mail carrier's BFF ~ How a Junee bone made my dog the mailwoman's cheerleader
22. Why the drive-up lane makes sense for dog owners ~ The dog sitters I never asked for at Target (and Starbucks and McDonald's)
21. Skip the dog barrettes, rubber bands at groomers ~ What works well on a human child is a nightmare for dogs
20. The puppy vs adult dog debate ~ Joseline "The Puerto Rican Princess" had a point on "College Hill: Celebrity Edition"
19. How everyday students, adults can get involved to save pets ~ Meet Anna Morrison-Ricordati of Animal Legal Defense Fund
18. 6 times you should take off your dog's collar ~ Pet safety tips for dog owners with chain collars
17. Puppy walks, puppy tricks ~ What to keep track of during a walk with your dog
16. Chelsea, Kwame doesn't like your dog Rocky ~ And six other warnings for people who date anti-pet people
15. Is a self-serving dog bath facility worth the money? ~ For busy pet owners, grooming outside of the home makes sense
14. Junee had a secret admirer ~ And it took me almost three hours to figure out who sent cookie treats for my dog
13. When your pup is a dog bed destroyer ... Carpet may do the trick and save you money too
12. French Bulldogs beat out Labrador Retrievers after a 31-year winning streak ~ My favorite memory of the first French Bulldog I dogsat
11. Yes, PUP insurance may cover your dog ~ What you need to know before investing in personal umbrella insurance (PUP)
10. Condo insurance protects against dog bites ~ Taking legal steps to cover your pet before and after someone has been bitten
9. Hey dog lovers, keep your fingers to yourself ~ Every dog with teeth has the potential to bite you
8. When it's time to be the busybody dog protector ~ Blurred line on leashing and crating outside of the home
7. Happy 2nd Birthday to Junee! ~ Two years wiser, and she still won't stop sitting on me during meditation
6. Dog vet rebates: Are they always worth it? ~ As with human doctor visits, understand the pros and cons of dog treatments
5. Dog walking when you don't feel like walking ~ S.A.D.: Seasonal Affective Disorder can make humans and dogs not want to walk
4. Filtered water vs tap water: Which should dogs drink? ~ Ease up on using tap water for everything
3. The Puppuccino debate: Can dogs safely eat whip cream? ~ Recognizing the signs of a lactose-intolerant dog
2. Never underestimate a three-legged dog ~ Caring for dogs with physical disabilities
1. 6 tips to save on annual dog expenses ~ From donations to car pooling