MEET MIKO! PLUS, AN EASY SUNDRESS FOR SUMMER

Easy dresses you can throw on and go in may be my go-to for the next couple of weeks, as I’m all the sudden very busy fostering a puppy! I picked up Miko, a three month old pup on Wednesday and it’s been a whirlwind having two dogs in my apartment! She’s got boundless energy and is so sweet, but I’m happy to report she’s also pretty good at settling down in her crate when it’s time for a nap or bedtime (most of the time…). When she’s awake it is non-stop though! With that said there’s not much time to get ready, let alone deliberate about an outfit. A cute dress like this with embroidery or other fun details takes the guesswork out of styling, because you can keep everything else simple stupid. Just throw on some neutral accessories and you’re good to go! A blue shirtdress silhouette looks classic but can sometimes feel stuffy – the bright embroidery and embellishments combined with the billowing sleeves on this style offer a feminine, playful twist. It’s 100% cotton and is a breathable, lightweight look for the hottest portion of summer! It’s an adorable everyday piece you can dress up or down in a pinch. Style it with sneakers for carpool and errands, and elevate the look with heeled sandals.

Now back to the puppy! If you’ve followed me a long time you may remember when I first got Reeses at the height of the pandemic in 2020? I’d already been isolated thanks to lockdown for eight weeks I think, and I was definitely under-prepared for how much work a puppy would be. I’d never taken care of anyone/anything other than myself, and at that time really cherished my freedom and flexible schedule. Despite my mom’s warnings, I went ahead and got Reeses and after the end of the first week I was about ready to throw in the towel. I was so sleep deprived and had put so much pressure on myself to do it “right”, whatever that means. I watched Reeses every second because I was worried about her eating or chewing on something she shouldn’t, in addition to going potty in the house. I couldn’t just let go and enjoy it because I was so overwhelmed and felt like I had to be “on” 24/7. I hadn’t even heard of the puppy blues thing until I shared how much I was struggling with that first week on Instagram, and to this day I think it’s the most messages I have ever received on the app. Everyone was so supportive and validating how hard taking care of a puppy can be, especially if you’re doing it by yourself! I amazing advice that ended up being super helpful – it made the rest of those first few weeks and months bearable until I could get her into training. Of course, six years later and Reeses is my bestie and I’m so glad I pushed through!

Fast forward to this spring, when I was looking at my summer schedule and didn’t have a bunch of travel lined up. I’ve been volunteering through New York Cares, but decided I wanted to also give back in another way and thought about fostering a dog! I don’t have any interest in getting a second dog for a number of reasons (the main one being I’m able to travel/fly with Reeses and getting a second dog would complicate that), but I thought fostering would be a fun thing to do while I’m in the city this summer. Reeses would get a playmate for a few weeks and I’d be helping give a rescue dog a cozy place to stay while the rescue matches them with their forever family! I applied to become a foster at Muddy Paws and Rescue City – they’re both great organizations in New York, but they do ask for different levels of commitment. Muddy Paws asks for 2-3 weeks on average commitment when fostering a dog, while Rescue City asks for eight weeks. Since this is my first time fostering, I thought the shorter option made the most sense for me!

I know fostering an older dog would be easier as I could get them on the same schedule as Reeses with mealtime and walks and such, but I really wanted to try fostering a puppy and see how I would do with six years of pet parenting under my belt! I was originally matched with a puppy named Mabel, who ended up not needing to move foster homes, then matched with Miko. She’s three months old, 15 pounds and has some pretty hefty paws – from her face and body shape right now, I’d guess she’s some mix of lab and pitt? She’s definitely going to be a big girl! She’s already taller than Reeses, but Reeses has about 12 pounds on her. And in terms of her temperament…. she is SO SWEET! This girl just wants to love, play and eat. Her tail is wagging non-stop 24/7, whether she’s eating in her crate or chewing on a bone or following you around the house. She’s such a happy pup! She loves to cuddle just as much as she loves to play! She’s verrrryyyyy food motivated and eager to learn. We’ve been practicing about 15 minutes a day with going into her crate, sitting, laying down and staying with the help of treats – she’ll do anything for a treat! She’s not 100% on the crate yet, but she settles down really fast – much faster than Reeses ever did. Except for one time, Miko has quieted down and gone to sleep within fifteen minutes of me closing the door on the crate.

She’s not fully set on her vaccinations yet so she’s considered an indoor puppy right now, which means if I take her outside she must be in some sort of pouch or carrier. So instead of my two longer walks with Reeses I normally would take, we do 3 shorter walks (10-15 minutes) so I can bring Miko along! Normally that wouldn’t be enough exercise for Reeses, but with all the playing they’re doing in the apartment she’s definitely worn out!! They’re having a lot of fun together, but Reeses is a bit territorial over anything in her mouth – whether it’s a bone or a toy, if Miko tries to grab what Reeses is holding Reeses will let her know to back off. Miko is still learning her social cues, and Reeses has been happy to teach her!

While there are elements of fostering a puppy that feel difficult, I feel much more confident and capable than I did when I first got Reeses. For one, I don’t take everything so seriously! I think being in a small space helps with that as there’s less to keep track of – I can just watch them play while I’m cooking or working. It’s easy to keep them contained to just my living area all day! I’m also so used to working my life around Reeses’ schedule over the last six years, so I’m way more flexible than I was when I first got Reeses. That’s probably my main takeaway from fostering so far, is realizing how much less rigid Reeses has made me. I’m very Type-A and like things done a certain way, but having a stubborn, high-energy dog will humble that right out of you! I certainly have plenty more I could work on, but I do think being a dog owner has helped me grow in more ways than I could have ever expected!

All of that to say, if you feel called to foster, give it a try! I know I’m only five days in but I’m really glad I did it. I’ll of course give y’all an update again once Miko’s been adopted, but so far so good! And if you happen to live in the New York tri-state area and are interested in adopting a dog, please consider Miko! She is the best girl who would be an amazing addition to truly any home. Click here to read more about Miko and apply to adopt her!