Paws and Reflect

Paws and Reflect

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I tested my former stray's DNA in hopes of learning her real age
Thanks to her murky past, we’ve never known how old Scout is. The shelter estimated she was between one and two years old when they found her. Our first…
 • Haley Young
It's just a slip lead, but sometimes an object becomes memory
But sometimes an object becomes more than an object.
 • Haley Young
I left an outdoor gear affiliate program
Because I do not need more stuff, whether it's free or not.
 • Haley Young
Affiliate links and discount codes
For brand and products I actually like (and regularly use)
 • Haley Young
How we keep our van clean (with our dog in tow)
The tidying up routines that prevent me from losing my mind in a tiny space
 • Haley Young
Financial transparency: How much we spend on our dog
Here I’ve compiled our annual average, specific expenditures in certain years (like her epilepsy diagnosis tests), and our grand total since we adopted…
 • Haley Young
Our favorite activities to share with our cattle dog
How do I decide what to do with Scout? What does she enjoy most? A look at our favorite physical, mental, and social activities—and how I think about…
 • Haley Young
Do enrichment toys teach our dogs to need constant stimulation?
Yes: Our dogs need to learn how to “do nothing”! But no: Providing our pets with outlets to express natural instincts does not automatically mean they…
 • Haley Young
(Mostly dog) stuff we use every day living in our van
Here are the small handful of belongings I think we could not thrive without in our converted camper van!
 • Haley Young
To maximize my memories per dollar, I moved into a van
Living in a small space encourages me to buy less and feel present more.
 • Haley Young
Our favorite dog ownership products and training gear
Updated post: This piece was first published in November 2021 and last edited in March 2024.
 • Haley Young
In favor of retractable leashes—used responsibly
When I tell someone that we love our flexi lead, I get everything from befuddled looks of shock (“aren’t you like, obsessed with being a responsible dog…
 • Haley Young
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