Author: Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related. I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  • Insights on Panic

    A revelation sprouted from the non-stop stress here at Chez Champion of My Heart. An insight into panic and frustration and fearful dogs poked me square in the noggin when I unexpectedly flipped out
    recently and saw the parallels to what life is often like for dear, sensitive Lilly. You know how I sometimes gripe about how Lilly’s behavior flashes and catches me off guard? Well, these days, I
    feel something similar come over me, and I never see it coming. Maybe that’s how it is for Lilly, too.
    …

  • A Good Dose of Snuggle Pup

    On one of many nights I attempted to sleep somewhere other than where Tom was, I had the luxury of Lilly joining me. When either of us is sick, we use various bedrooms to avoid as much as possible
    passing the germs along. I had a doozy of a cold last week (clearly the stress wore me down), so I coughed, sneezed, and snorted my way through several nights. So, we let our poor neglected pups
    sleep loose (rather than in their crates), and Lilly picked me as her cuddling companion. …

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    The Bunny Channel

    Lilly has figured out that certain getting-dressed routines mean various things that may or may not involve her having any fun. The other day in my mad dash to get out of the house and deal with
    eldercare issues, I found her glued to one spot, just looking out the window. At first, I couldn’t figure out what she saw. When I realized a bunny had caught her attention, I figured a little border
    collie obsession wasn’t a bad thing for her with me being so busy. …

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    Weekly Training Update (Jan 15)

    I’m not sure this counts as a real training update since the ONLY thing Lilly and Ginko are learning these days is to handle us being busy, gone, worried all the time. I really wish I could write
    about the terrible things going on right now, but there are many reasons I cannot. So, please just know that we continue to need a constant flood of good wishes and mojo for pretty much everyone in
    our family. Those of us, under this roof, are mostly fine, if you don’t count bouts of crying, winter cold germs, unending/unimaginable stress …

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    The Time I Met “Eddie” From the TV Show Frasier

    Back in the mid-1990s, when I was on staff at the American Animal Hospital Association, I helped with logistics for the big annual veterinary
    conference. Think of it like throwing some 50 special events every day for thousands of your closest colleagues in a strange city for four straight days. It is exhausting. The exhibit hall was
    always one of big draws, with oodles of free schwag and other tantalizing things to get people into the various booths, where the oh-so-charming sales folks could work their magic. …

  • Eldercare Research

    Last week, before the most recent eldercare emergency cropped up, I did a bunch of research into housing and care solutions for my mom and her husband (another long, stressful story). Since many of
    you may find yourself in similar situations someday, I thought I might offer a couple helpful ideas. …

  • Unexpected Absence

    I’m so sorry for my New Year’s absence. I didn’t mean to take any time off, but life (once again) got in the way of my best laid plans. I would love to tell you the story. It’s dramatic, for sure,
    but for privacy’s sake, let me just say briefly that my mother-in-law (and all of us) could use your prayers and mojo. Imagine the worst possible scenario, then multiply that by about 10, and you’ll
    be somewhere close to the truly unreal reality. Plus, in the midst of all this family medical drama, which now spans both …