Episode 4

full
Published on:

11th Jul 2025

4: Prepping for Paws: How to Make Your Home Dog-Ready

In this episode of Tales and Tones, host Mariska discusses how to prepare your home for a new dog, covering essential items, safety measures, and the importance of crate training. She shares personal anecdotes and practical tips for first-time dog owners, emphasizing the need for a safe and loving environment for pets.

Takeaways:

  • Join local community groups for pet supplies.
  • Consider where your dog will sleep and eat.
  • Potty training requires a consistent method.
  • Always have poop bags on hand for walks.
  • Doggy cams can help monitor your pet's behavior.
  • Dogs can have strong preferences for toys.
  • Safety-proof your home for your new dog.
  • Use eco-friendly cleaning products around pets.
  • Every dog is unique and may require different care.

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

Buy Nothing Groups

Forever Frankie

Frankie selecting her piggie

Doug the Poug's graduation video

Koa The Doodle

Coming in the next episode:

In the next episode, we are digging into boarding, pet sitting or what do you do when you go on holiday.


Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00] Getting Ready for a New Dog

[01:14] Pawsative Rant

[02:37] Essential Preparations for Dog Owners

[05:22] Creating a Safe Space for Your Dog

[08:16] Understanding Dog Needs and Training

[15:21] Fetch or Forget - Forever Frankie Adjustable Harness

[28:10] Where Tails meet hearts - Doug the Poug's graduation video

[29:30]- Paw-lebrity of the Week - Koa the doodle (Mom - Katherine Dad - Collin)

Show artwork for Tails and Tones

About the Podcast

Tails and Tones
Helpful tips, heartwarming tails, and honest reviews for the busy pet parent.
Helpful tips, heart-warming tails, and honest reviews for the busy dog parent.



Being a dog mom is the best—but let’s be real, it can also be confusing, messy, and a little lonely sometimes. That’s why Tails & Tones exists.



Every Friday, host Mariska (fellow dog parent and dog-obsessed human) delivers short, soulful episodes filled with practical dog care tips, honest product reviews, heart-warming stories, and real-life advice for intentional, busy dog parents like you.



Listen on your favorite podcast app—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or anywhere you tune in. You can also subscribe at https://tailsandtones.com/listen



If something in the show speaks to you—or you know a fellow dog parent who’d love it—please share it and leave a review on https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/tails-and-tones-6086657



Got questions or just want to say hi? I’m always around on Instagram @tailsandtones



Where every tail tells a story, and every tone speaks from the heart.



Podcast launch date 4 July



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About your host

Profile picture for Mariska Nell

Mariska Nell

Mariska Nell is a podcast host, pet advocate, sustainability expert, and proud dog mom to her rescue French Bulldog, Piper—also known as the real boss of the house. With a background in design and environmental science, and a Master’s in Sustainable Design focused on the pet industry, Mariska brings heart, humor, and purpose to everything she creates.

She’s the founder and host of Tails and Tones, a soulful podcast for intentional pet parents, where she shares insights, stories, and reviews that help make pet care a little easier and a lot more joyful. She also hosts Mama Earth Talk, where she dives into sustainability topics with changemakers from around the world.

Whether she’s recording episodes, consulting on pet-focused sustainability projects, or out on a walk with Piper, Mariska is passionate about creating a better world—for pets, their people, and the planet.