Pupper Love
Three of our dog Scoop's top picks in honor of his second birthday.
Scoop is my first dog. I don’t know how the universe did it, but it sure seems this furry guy was destined to complete our family. The long nights and accidents of the puppy days are behind us, and I cherish every moment I have with my little buddy. He brings joy to everyone he meets and is always there for a snuggle when I need it—and perhaps sweetest of all, he knows when I need it.
A few weeks ago, we celebrated Scoop’s second birthday. He enjoyed a woofin and some dog wine (yes, dog wine) along with a slew of new toys. To mark the occasion, it’s only right to share another roundup of Scoop-endorsed buys sure to make any pup’s tail wag. And if you need more pupper picks, you can see my previously featured dog faves here and here.
Give your dog a boop from me and Scoop.
1. Lily's Kitchen Dog Treats & Snacks (£3 and up)
I stressed a lot about finding the right food for Scoop. I wanted to be able to reward him and give him snacks he loves throughout the day without blowing his entire diet. Everything Lily’s Kitchen makes is full of all-natural fresh meat, produce and herbs to provide balanced nutrition without any yucky fillers. The brand was started in 2009 by Henrietta Morrison, who had been cooking meals from scratch for her sweet dog, Lily, who was ill. Scoop’s favorites are the Beef Burgers, Woofbrushes and Bedtime Biscuits.
2. K9 Sport Sack® Air 2 (£72.98)
We love taking Scoop around London and beyond, but navigating busy train stations can be tough. To make things easier and safer, I ordered this backpack from K9 Sport Sack®, which was created by avid cyclists Joseph and Jen Watson. It has mesh sides for breathability and pockets to store his water bottle and a snack or two. While it’s sold as a backpack, I often wear it on my front, which is just as comfortable for both of us. Fair warning: Strangers will ask to take photos.
3. Barc London Dog Toys (on sale for £3.40 and up)
Two years in, Scoop remains not only a toy lover, but a toy destroyer. When he gets something new, we usually take bets on how long it will survive. I decided to give the Barc London range a try (they were all over my Instagram) when shopping for some new toys to update his selection. Scoop got the biggest smile on his face when he first saw them. His favorites include this one for playing tug of war and the line of squeaky toys in fun shapes like the skulls shown above. They’ve held up well to date, and the range of colors makes these the chicest dog toys I’ve seen so far.
How to shop for … a dog bed
A bed is one of the first and most important purchases for your pupper. It took some trial, error and growing up for Scoop to fall in love with this Barbour bed, but these tips helped us avoid wasting money:
Measure your pup and allow room for growth so the bed will work for them now and once they’re full grown.
Pick a breathable and durable fabric for puppies who like to dig and chew. For extra protection against damage, avoid too many exposed seams.
Look for a dark color or pattern to hide everyday stains.
Make sure the cushions and cover are easy to clean in the washing machine to keep it fresh.
Spend on quality features (like memory foam) to keep your dog comfy and happy, but not too much that you can’t easily replace it if needed.
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