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Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

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Raising River: The path with a new pup is a winding road

Sara Okstad writes that there are no books or online forums that are substitutes for having real-life conversations with dog owners when it comes to getting advice on how to raise an active puppy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Okstad)

Ten years ago, a kitten crawled into my husband’s open toolbox while he was on a hunting trip. It refused to leave. On his way home, my husband called, inquiring whether I would consider getting a cat.
I heard mewing in the background. I smiled, shook my head, and Googled, “how to take care of a kitten.” It was a short read and seemed manageable.
Last year, we began talking about getting a dog.

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