I need to start off this post by explaining just how hard it was to not write in Winnie’s “voice.” You know that voice, the one people use when providing their dog’s inner monologue or when you carry on a conversation with your dog throughout the day.

Or maybe you don’t.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m a dog person. A big one. Dogs are much simpler than humans, and some (most) of the time they are much more pleasant to be around. If you are in any way familiar with me or Wit & Delight, you have met Winnie Bear Peters, my first kid, and my constant companion.

Winnie used to rule the roost, before kids, and she had both Joe and myself wrapped around her paws for a long time. We vowed to never forget about her when the baby came. Nothing would change.

Of course, it happened, despite our best intentions. Winnie was a champ and took all of this in stride. When it was time for me to go back to work, I knew just who I wanted by my side, Winnie. And to try and make up for the lack of attention at home (or bribing her) we’ve switched up her dog food to incorporate raw into her diet, which is why we’ve switched to Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Kibble.

One of the great things about co-owning a space is being able to dictate the rules. I know of quite a few dog-friendly offices here in Minneapolis, but I never had the pleasure of working at one. Admittedly, I was a little concerned about bringing her into work with me. Would co-workers be tolerant of her? Would she be a distraction? Would I be a distraction? Would I be able to concentrate? Would she poop or pee on our brand new floors?!

Any reservations I had about her at the office were unfounded almost immediately. After an initial perimeter walk and meet and greet with the staff, she promptly made herself at home on the big couch and napped.

When she is here, she is part of the team and acts as such. Quite a bit of the staff is very conscious of what they consume, and I think this has affected both of our diets and cravings. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more informed about my food choices and eat foods that are balanced. I like that Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Kibble uses meat (grass-fed beef, chicken, venison, and quail, oh my!) as the #1 ingredient. In addition to all that responsibly sourced protein their Raw Blend Kibble is also full of organic fruits and vegetables. I’m proud to say that both of my kids eat their vegetables daily.

After purchasing just about everything organic once August started eating solid foods, it made me consider what we all were eating, even Winnie. Knowing that Winnie’s food is held up to such high standards (baked or cold-press prepared) and full of ingredients and vitamins makes me feel a little better about my previous lack of awareness.

Lately, Ellie (Colleen Eversman’s pup) has been another constant in the office, and I think Winnie appreciates the canine camaraderie. These two keep each other entertained for hours, and help maintain a little levity. Always one to share, Winnie graciously lets Ellie have the first crack at one of Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties. Well, she sometimes does.

It’s not always easy to have both dogs in the space. They are loud, clumsy, continuously jumping on and rushing at anyone that enters the space, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Editor’s Note: I couldn’t resist this last photo.
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Ed. note: This post was sponsored by Stella & Chewy’s. The compensation received in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.

While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for the development of additional dynamic content to be produced, unsponsored. Thank you for supporting our partners!

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.