If there were ever bannermen for the dog mom lifestyle, it’s Rachael and Wiggle. They are paving the way to normalizing the dog mom experience on our own terms, setting the bar and raising it. Us dog moms know the drill: we get the eye rolls, we get the “You’re that obsessed?” comments. We get confused looks when we talk about our dog’s latest achievement like it’s a Nobel Prize nomination.
Rachael and Wiggle are on the front lines of living a big life and living it boldly. When we first connected, she was planning something only dog moms will understand: a practice flight. A same-day, one hour flight out and back just to make sure Wiggle would travel well on a plane. That’s not “extra.” THAT is top-level Dog Momming at its best. And guess what? Wiggle handled it like he had TSA PreCheck and a United Club pass he paid for himself.
When asked about being a dog mom, Rachael said: “Dogs see ALL of us, our true selves in all our imperfection. Tired, sad, stressed, happy, angry… they love and are there for every version without hesitation. Their love is TRULY unconditional, and I’m extremely grateful I’m lucky enough to experience that love. A dog’s love is real love, and I refuse to downplay it for anyone. Wiggle isn’t “just a dog.” He is my soulmate, my best friend, my support everything, and the one who shows up for me without fail. If that makes me “too attached” or “obsessed”? Label me whatever you want, I’m happily booked and busy being Wiggle’s mom. There’s really no explaining that soul-level bond to someone who hasn’t felt it… It’s deep, it’s grounding, it’s healing, and it’s the most honest love you’ll ever experience. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re missing out. So, if loving your dog loudly, centering your world around them, or building your life around their happiness makes me “one of those dog moms,” then good, same. And I’m proud of it, and I hope I can inspire others to be proud too!”
She goes on to say, “Dogs don’t care about your salary, your title, or the 40 things you forgot to do today; they care about your happiness. He makes me want to be a better and stronger person, not in a cliche eye-rolling way, but in the ‘I actually want to become the version of myself he sees’ way. There’s something so magical about experiencing the love of a dog that makes you want to rise to it, and I think that’s one of the most beautiful experiences. He’s the reason I started building something for people like us, the ones who pack treats like they’re currency, change plans based on our dog’s mood, and show up everywhere with fur on our clothes like its couture. We need a space where that kind of love isn’t ‘extra’, it’s expected.”
Follow their journey on IG at: @adventureswithwiggle