It Started With Maverick

Welcome Newlings!

Newling really began on an ordinary morning, in the house I still live in today.

Maverick was born just a few feet from where I'm sitting now, on 25th May 2023 at 12:41am. This was the second litter his mum, Evie, had, so I knew a little about what to expect. And yet, somehow, it still felt completely new and incredibly exciting.

Maverick was the first to arrive — and the biggest. Three other puppies followed shortly afterwards. He was the only black puppy, and the only one who looked exactly like his mum (whom I had developed a special bond with) — for a little while, he was called Nero.

Maverick is a rather unusual mix of Miniature Schnauzer, Miniature Poodle, Long-Coat Chihuahua and Biewer Terrier. Even before I knew much about what that combination might mean, I was fascinated by just how different his little personality was beginning to be.

By around eight or nine weeks, the puppies were fully weaned, but they were still very much at home with us. All four had been born in the house, and the remaining three puppies continued to live alongside their mother, Evie, until they were at least 16 weeks old.

We did lose one of the puppies at just two weeks old. She was born with a cleft palate and cleft lip, and despite our efforts, she sadly didn't make it. It was my first experience of just how fragile new life can be, and something I have never forgotten.

With the other three growing stronger and beginning to find their own personalities, those weeks became a very special part of my life. I was able to watch Maverick grow from his very first day, learning his little ways long before the walks, training and all the decisions that would come later.

And so, in many ways, my journey with Maverick had already begun.

It has been a steep learning curve.

This was my first puppy, and I decided to feed him a raw diet, following the approach his mother had been raised on. Looking back, that was just the beginning of a very long list of questions I hadn't yet realised I would be asking.

Why Maverick changed things for me

I've known Maverick since his very first day, long before the walks, the training and the thousand small decisions about food and care that come with having a dog.

I think that's why Newling exists at all.

I didn't arrive at natural dog care as an expert with a plan. I arrived as someone who simply wanted to get it right for a dog I'd loved from the very start.

Health had already been an important part of my own life for many years. As a child, I experienced some health challenges, and from my early teens onwards I began exploring a more holistic, naturopathic approach alongside more traditional Western thinking.

Over the years, my understanding of health changed considerably. By the time Maverick came into my life, I knew I wanted to approach his health with that same curiosity — looking at the whole picture rather than simply following one way of doing things.

And that's where things got interesting.

Too much advice, not enough calm

What I remember most from those early days is just how much conflicting advice there was — and how little of it felt calm or sensible.

Everything seemed to be either:

What I actually wanted was something much simpler.

I wanted to understand what I was feeding him, what was normal, what I should be looking out for, and how to make thoughtful, natural choices without feeling as though every decision was life or death.

Along the way, I was incredibly fortunate to find some wonderful holistic and traditional vets, both here in the UK and in the USA. They helped me through some difficult situations and taught me a huge amount.

I've also found an amazing local private practice just around the corner from home. They work alongside Maverick, me and the holistic vets to find a balanced approach whenever he needs treatment or extra support.

That balance has become really important to me.

So, why Newling?

Because, in many ways, I'm new to all of this too.

I'm new to being an animal guardian in my own right. I'm new to blogging, and I'm new to having a social media presence. Most of all, I'm still learning every day what it means to care for another little life and make thoughtful decisions on his behalf.

Newling isn't about having all the answers. It's about sharing the journey of finding them.

There are books I wouldn't want to be without, blogs I return to regularly, products and supplements I've found useful, and approaches to care that have genuinely helped us through some difficult times.

I'll share those things here — but not as a list of rules.

Some of what I've discovered may be useful to you and your dog. Some of it may not. And that's okay.

The questions I started asking in those early days are still at the heart of everything I share here:

There is still so much of Maverick's story to tell — including the things that didn't go to plan, the lessons I wish I'd known sooner, and the discoveries that have made the biggest difference to us.

That's what Newling is here for.

A place to share what I've learned, what I'm still learning, and the things that have genuinely helped along the way.

Practical, holistic and grounded.

Take what resonates and leave the rest.

Here's to growing well, together.