34: If I Got a Puppy Tomorrow, I’d Do THIS Differently

About this episode

Mariska shares lessons learned from raising her French Bulldog, Piper, and what she would do differently if she got a puppy tomorrow.

Our French Bulldog, Piper is almost six. And looking back, there's a list of things Mariska would do differently from day one. In this solo episode, she shares everything, the daily routines, the health habits, the equipment, and the medical prep, that she wishes someone had told her before Piper came home. Takeaways: Why a consistent daily rhythm matters more than any individual training technique The feeding setup most owners miss, and why how your dog eats matters as much as what they eat Teeth cleaning alternatives when brushing just isn't happening (drops, foam, enzymes) How to get your dog comfortable taking medicine, the cheese ball method and the decoy trick Why you should introduce shoes, ramps, and strollers before you ever need them The midday rest most dog parents skip, and why it changes everything The non-negotiables Mariska would never go without Relevant links mentioned in the episode: Enzyme tooth gel, dental drops, dental foam that we use or ask your vet or local pet store Frenchie vs Everybody dental toppers Episode 32: Why Your Dog Reacts with Mena Lopes Episode 33: The Hidden Cause of Dog Allergies with Amanda Smith Sign up to our Tails and Tones waiting list…

People in this episode

Host: Mariska Nell

Topics covered

• dog care
• puppy training
• health habits
• daily routines
• pet equipment

Keywords

• puppy training
• dog health
• daily routines
• feeding setup
• teeth cleaning alternatives

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tails and Tones

Books & works: Episode 32: Why Your Dog Reacts with Mena Lopes, Episode 33: The Hidden Cause of Dog Allergies with Amanda Smith

More episodes of Tails and Tones

• 36: Limping But Not in Pain? Why Your Dog's Discomfort Is Easier to Miss Than You Think with Dr. Ellie Lederer · June 5, 2026 · 50 min
• 35: Understanding Dog Behavior, The Hidden Link Between Pain, Emotions & Reactivity with Dr Julie Ashton · May 1, 2026 · 52 min
• 33: The Hidden Cause of Dog Allergies Most Owners Miss with Amanda Smith · April 3, 2026 · 44 min
• 32: Why Your Dog Reacts (And What It’s Trying to Tell You) with Mena Lopes · March 20, 2026 · 43 min
• 31: Senior Dog Care & When Is It Time? Navigating Dog Dementia and Pet Loss With Adam Greenbaum · March 6, 2026 · 43 min
• 30: How to Run With Your Dog: Distances, Gear & Ultra Training with Meghan Gould of She Runs Ultras · February 20, 2026 · 46 min