Dog Life
17 posts
Then and Now: Five Years With HankOctober 2, 2026October 2, 2021 to October 2, 2026. A skinny transport dog, a turkey twine scare, a rebuilt knee and the gray hairs on his chin now.
Late Summer Swims on a Rebuilt KneeAugust 3, 2026Swimming was part of Hank's comeback plan. Our August lake days, the life jacket rule and how we kept him from overdoing it.
Seven Years Married, One Dog-Friendly Weekend on the North ShoreJune 24, 2026Our anniversary weekend in Two Harbors with Hank in the back seat. Pet fees, lakeside walks, a cat sitter at home and what we'd skip.
Cleared for Fetch: Hank's Return to Off-Leash PlayMay 21, 2026The surgeon gave the okay in mid-May. How we eased back into fetch in the fenced yard, the throws we limited and the rules we kept.
Back on the Sunrise Prairie Trail, SlowlyApril 17, 2026Fourteen weeks after surgery, Hank walked a mile and a half of paved trail near North Branch. The pace, the rest stops and a very busy tail.
Eight Weeks After TPLO: The X-Ray AppointmentMarch 6, 2026On March 2 we drove back to Blaine for Hank's recheck films. The bone healing, the $310 bill and our new list of allowed activities.
Surgery Day for Hank, From a Waiting Room in BlaineJanuary 10, 2026Drop-off at 7:30, a phone call at 1:10 and a groggy dog in a cone by evening. TPLO day felt very different from the other side of the counter.
Hank Slipped on the Ice, and Now We Wait on a KneeDecember 30, 2025A squirrel, an icy backyard and a yelp on December 28. The exam, the likely torn ligament and the uneasy days before a surgery consult.
Four Years of Hank and Our Gotcha Day TraditionOctober 2, 2025October 2 is Hank's adoption day. The same river trail, a plain burger patty and one photo under the maple, four years running.
Boarding Hank for a Wedding Weekend: Cost, Kennel and AftermathSeptember 17, 2025Two nights at a kennel outside town for a Duluth wedding. How we picked it, the $109 total and the sleepy, slightly hoarse dog we got back.
Blue-Green Algae Season and Where Hank Swims InsteadAugust 27, 2025Late August brings algae warnings on some lakes. How we check before a swim, the spots we skip and the sandy river bend Hank loves instead.
Our Dog-Friendly Cabin Week Near Nisswa, Honestly ReviewedJuly 25, 2025A $75 pet fee, a dock Hank refused to leave and one porcupine scare. What a dog-friendly resort week up north was really like.