8 Best Dog Steps and Stairs For Bed

Woof! Hello you guys! As you all may know, dogs are in charge.

That means we make ourselves comfortable on places that our humans are the most comfortable. Beds, couches or wherever.

To make sure your dog gets to their designated comfy spot on your bed without injury, I've taken it upon myself to look for the best dog steps and stairs for beds and couches. I know right? I'm the best!

Unfortunately, not all of the dog species has been blessed with super long legs like Fluff. When I have to get up on the bed, chair or the tree stump in our yard, I need to run really fast then jump.


Fluff just climbs on without effort! She has not mastered the tree stump jump yet, because well, I never taught her. Just like I never taught her bin raiding skills.



I stopped stump jumping, but can still effortlessly jump on mommy's bed and the couches. I'm 10 years old now and I almost missed the stump once, but luckily mommy was there to make sure I did not lose my footing.

That was the end of my stump naps. If only I had some stairs to climb on to continue my stump naps...hmmm!

Best Dog Steps and Stairs For Bed

Here are the 8 Best Dog Steps and Stairs For Bed we chose according to popularity and highest rated. Continue to read on for more info on each.

1. Pet Studio Pine Frame Dog RampSteps

• These easy to use Rampsteps can convert from steps to a ramp to make it easy for arthritic or aging pets to reach beds, sofas and more.
• Has a sturdy mahogany-finished pine frame that can hold pets up to 130-pounds
• Each step measures 12" D x 16" W
• Steps are covered with soft, non-slip, easy-clean carpeting
• 3 Step measures 40" L x 17 1/2" W x 19 1/2" H

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

2. Pet Gear Easy Step III Pet Stairs

• Has wider and deeper stair landings for small and large dogs
• The rubber grippers on bottom keep step secure and in place
• Carpet tread is removable for easy cleaning
• Can snap together very easily, no tools required
• Step height is 6 inches

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

3. Pet Gear Easy Step IV Pet Stairs

• Wider and deeper stair landings for small and large dogs
• Carpet tread is removable for easy cleaning
• Rubber grippers on bottom keep step secure and in place
• Snaps together very easily and does not require any tools 
• Measures 34" L x 16" W x 30.5" H
• For pets up to 150-pounds
• Step height is 6-inches
• Made from blow-molded plastic and carpet fabric.

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

4. Pet Gear Easy Step II Pet Stairs

• Wider and deeper stair landings for small and large dogs
• rubber grippers on bottom keep step secure and in place
• Carpet tread is removable for easy cleaning
• Step height is 6 inches
• Top step depth is 12.25" and second step depth is 11.5"
• Snaps together very easily and does not require any tools
• Measures 22 x 16 x 16-inches; 
• For pets up to 150-pounds

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

5. Solvit PupSTEP + Plus Pet Stairs

• The PetSafe Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs are super lightweight and weigh only 5 lb, but are sturdy enough to support pets up to 120 lb
• The tread and spacing size make these stairs easy and comfortable to use for most small-sized and medium-sized pets
• Stair dimensions are 24" L x 16" W x 19.5" H
• Step measurements are 5" D x 13" W x 4.7" H
• Built-in side rails and non-skid feet help pets feel confident and secure when going up and down the stairs
• The pet stairs easily fold and can be tucked away when needed

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

6. Best Pet Supplies 3-Step Foldable Foam Pet Stairs

• These pet stairs are the perfect accessory for helping your little pup or kitty reach that high bed or couch. The stairs for pets are available in 3-step (13.5" high), 3-step Wide (16.5"), 4-step (19"), 4-step Wide(22") and 5-step (22.5") configurations to easily match your furniture’s height.
• A width of 15" or 16" and an anti-slip bottom makes these doggie stairs for small dogs very sturdy. Unlike wooden pet stairs that are rigid and slippery, these foam pet steps give your pet great traction to climb up and down.
• To ensure that your pet gets the safest quality steps, the manufacturer made sure that our USA sourced foams are CertiPUR-US Certified. CertiPUR-US Certified foams are manufactured without ozone depleters, PDBW flame retardants, mercury, lead and other substances or chemicals that can be harmful to your pets.
• The pet ramps for small dogs come covered in a removable ultra-soft fleece-like fabric that is machine washable. Replacement covers are also available. 

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

7. Wood Dog Stairs, 4 Levels

• These beautiful wood construction stairs come in a rich espresso color
• Is suitable for small and medium pets
• The height of the steps is adjustable between 21.5” and 25.5” high, and 17” wide
• Durable fabric-lined steps to protect your pet's paws and prevent them from slipping
• Tested to support over 100 lbs
• No assembly required and the foldable design makes it easy for travel and storage

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

8. Pet Gear Stramp Stair and Ramp Combination

• Extra wide One Step helps your pet transfer from floor to chair or sofa with confidence
• Carpet tread removes easily and is machine washable
• Rubber grippers on bottom keep step secure and in place
• Snaps together very easily
• Measures 22"L x 20"W x 10"H
• Suitable for pets up to 175 pounds

★ Click here to check what others said and the current price. ★

There you go, guys! Make sure you get your measurements and weights right before getting one of these. Do your dog a favor and make it easy for them to get on your bed and coach.

To a person suffering from the petless syndrome that will sound completely insane, but then again this blog post is not for them! Grrr!!

Woof! Woooooof!

Author: Buffy
Job: Guard dog, part-time blogger, Alpha dog, part-time chef
Future plans: Be the cuddliest dog in the whole wide world
Likes: Playing, eating and sleeping
Dislikes: Grooming and food thieves

Pic credit: Pixabay and Affiliate pics Renza edited.

NB: Links monetized by Viglink.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates you guys. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my 8 Best Dog Steps and Stairs For Bed blog post. Thank you! Woof!

Read More »

30 Ways to Relax and De-Stress Your Life

Stress is something that we all have to deal with on a daily basis. I know first hand of how destructive it can be if left unchecked. 

If you are looking for ways to relax and de-stress your life then read further. 

Stress can lead to illness and other mental disorders. Because it affected my well being I decided to learn more about how to handle it.

I started by removing all triggers then slowly introduction potential triggers. I know it's not easy to remove the things that are causing stress in your life. 

Unfortunately, we can't just run away from our responsibilities. But there are things you can do to help relieve stress. 

Let's look at my list of ways to reduce stress. These are things that personally helped me and others.

30 Ways to De-stress Your Life

1. Remind yourself that "This too shall pass"

"This too shall pass" is something I always say to myself when facing something difficult. It always helps me remember I'll get through anything like I did before. 

Life is full of challenges but we have the ability to face them and to get through the rough times. 

Don't forget how strong you are. 

2. Take some time for yourself

Sometimes we just need some "me time". Time to focus on ourselves. The world will not fall apart, I promise. 

It's not your job to carry the world on your shoulders. 

3. Spend time on hobbies

Everyone needs a hobby. My bestie loves fishing, collecting lures, fishing rods and anything dealing with fishing. 

His collection is massive. That's his passion. He lights up when he talks about it. Completely opposite to when he talks about his actual job. 

I love creating, writing, experimenting with new dishes, making jewelry and researching anything that pops into my head. 

If researching is a hobby. lol. I get obsessive about it and it's fun for me so let's classify it as a hobby. 

When I started my jewelry making hobby it allowed me to access my creative side again and I started feeling better about myself. 

My work life also improved. It created a balance. A year later I left my job because my hobby showed me that I was capable of so much more. 

I have since retired from making jewelry and my blog is my main obsession now. I love how it's growing day by day. How I have the freedom to create and tell our stories. 

It's something I've poured my heart into and I'm proud to share it with the world. I created this! 

What do you obsess about that is fun for you? Do more of whatever that is. 

4. Spend time and play with your pet

Ahhh! My sweeties will probably give me dirty looks for putting this one nr. 4. If you don't have a pet then you should consider getting one. 

I understand that some lifestyles don't allow for pets and there's the training part until they actually listen and are obedient. 

I've heard some good things about adopting adult pets that are already trained so that you don't have to go through the puppy training process because that alone can be stressful. I'll talk about that in my next point.

A study showed dog or pet owners lived longer than people without pets. Pets help relieve stress by reducing cortisol, the stress hormone.

You also produce oxytocin the bonding hormone and endorphins when you have a pet. Both hormones make you happy.

Playing with my dogs is one of the most fun stress-relieving activities that I love doing. So it's safe to say pets are happy pills wrapped in fur. Cuddles!

5. Change your perspective

I stressed a lot when I got my puppy Fluffy. Love you, my sweetie! Mwah!

As soon as I changed my perspective about her and realized that she is not just there to destroy my stuff and bite my feet, I started seeing her for the amazing dog that she is.

I started focusing on her good qualities and she showed me more of them. I saw that she was very smart, brave, strong, loyal, funny and affectionate.

I acknowledged that about her. Today that's all I see. 

Changing your perspective is important when dealing with any stressful situation. Sometimes we are very judgemental and whatever we judge about the other person or thing, we see more of.

Finding and focussing on the qualities you like about someone will help you like them more because they will show you more of that side of them.

Same goes for situations you deal with in your life. Unfortunately, we love making assumptions, but I challenge you to be more open and see the positives. 

Doors will constantly close and open in your life. Things will end and something new will begin. The new can be beautiful if you can see it for what it is.

6. Lower cortisol levels

Exercise, yoga, going for a walk and playing with your pets all help lower cortisol levels and produces the happy hormones endorphins. 

You have to consistently work on keeping your stress hormone levels down. Don't like exercising? Go for a walk.

Yoga is more relaxing if you can get used to the poses. I don't do yoga but a lot of people find it relaxing and effective.

7. Eat healthy food

Get rid of the junk food. I purposely avoid the aisle in the shop where all the bad food is. It's right at the end so it's easy to not go there. 

I prefer cooking and eating my own food. If takeaway food is easier because you're too busy, try looking for recipes you can make ahead of time and freeze. 

I'm not going to be the one to tell you to count calories. I've never been on a diet in my life. 

I know what food makes me feel bad so I avoid those. It's all about portion control and limiting meals to three a day. Don't skip meals because your body will try to make up for it and you'll gain extra weight.

I had flu the other day and lost my appetite for two weeks. After that, the cravings started as my body tried desperately to replace the weight I lost. 

I even got a snack drawer. Snacks have been devoured and the drawer will go back to a normal drawer. I don't do snack drawers!

8. Talk about your problems with others

Talking about something helps a lot. I used to keep things to myself because I was afraid that people won't understand. 

All of our problems are universal. Whatever you're dealing with, a lot of other people have dealt with already or are currently going through it. 

They can offer guidance. If you just need an ear to listen, then let them know you just need to talk. 

Sometimes we solve our own problems just by talking it through with someone else. Yep, we are capable of solving our own issues. It's all about being open to seeing the solutions.

9. Laugh and smile more

Laughing and smiling also releases happy hormones that help fight stress. Watch a funny video on YouTube, comedy or sitcom are all fun ways to de-stress.

10. Practice positive self-talk

If your best friend was going through a hard time, what would you tell them? Tell yourself those things. 

I always say you are going to have you for the rest of your life. That means we should learn to be our own best friend. 

Pick yourself up when you're down. 

11. Write down your thoughts

I only started writing a few years ago. I realized that my writing is very revealing and helps me make sense of whatever I'm going through. 

There is power in the action of putting a pen to paper. I mentioned earlier that we all have the ability to solve our own problems. 

Writing is a way to put things in perspective and to make you see things that your mind might be hiding from you. 

We run on autopilot, unfortunately. We're products of all our experiences and that makes us blind to solutions that might be staring us in the face. 

Go ahead and write. Write without thinking. Write without judging yourself. 

Everything in this life has a balance. Don't be afraid of the parts of yourself that you feel that you need to hide.

When I'm angry or upset and decide to write it down, things come out that should be burned. But it's ok. I make up for it in other ways. 

I also feel much better afterward and my mind feels clearer. A clear mind for me means it's open for ideas to flow in.  

You'll soon see you can handle anything.

12. Meditate and be mindful

Meditation is another good way to clear your mind. When you first start to meditate it will be difficult because our minds hate it if we take control. 

With practice, it gets easier. Try guided meditations on YouTube or read my meditation post where I talk about some meditation exercises I enjoy doing that's easy for anyone to try. 

Be mindful and focus on the now. We tend to get stuck in story loops and play out our greatest fears. Things that might never even happen and it's all you can think about. 

Break the loop! Come back to the now. Just shifting your focus to the present will help break the story loops that are increasing your stress levels. 

13. Organize tasks

If something looks like it's too much work, it's hard to even start. Break up tasks into smaller tasks that seem less overwhelming. 

It all will add up and soon whatever seemed too much at the beginning will seem less like a mountain. 

14. Get a stress ball

There are these little stress balls that you squeeze to help reduce stress. At my old job, they gave us each one. They were fun to play with.

15. Avoid toxic things

Avoid alcohol, nicotine and any harmful drugs. No one's life ever got better from using these things.

They will not make your life stress free although some people's excuse for using them is to help them with stress. Weird. Do what you need to do to stop.

16. Get more sleep

Sleep helps your body relax, you reset and feel better to face another day. Dreams also help your mind work through problems. 

But unfortunately it's super confusing and most dreams we forget. The mind is brilliant but it needs help to work through stuff. 

Never let your mind go on solo missions. You have to guide it. Do that by doing some of the things I've mentioned in this post. 

17. Manage your time better

Plan your day, week and month so that you feel more prepared and in control. There are only so many hours in a day and it can feel like nothing will ever get done.

Planning it out will help you see it from a higher view and it will seem less stressful.  

18. Give it over to God

If you're religious, praying and giving it over to God will help lessen the burden. Stress does feel like we're carrying the world. Repeating that it's not your job to carry the world.

I'm more spiritual than religious. But both have valuable teachings to help guide me through this life.

Believing in a higher power is an anchor. We all need anchors. To feel there is a reason for all of this.  

Life will get hard and messy sometimes. Spirituality taught me that I have more control than I thought. 

Source or God is always there and I just have to reach for whatever I need or want. To be open and receive it.

It's not easy to allow the things we want because of our limiting beliefs running on autopilot in our subconscious. But it's not impossible. 

If you're not getting what you want out if this life, don't blame God. I see a lot of people doing that. I was one of those people.

You will attract and become what you think about most of the time. 

The law of attraction is real. It is not a fairytale. If you're the victim, life will make you a victim.

Over and over again unless you work on changing your thought processes. Read further and I'll tell you what helped me break the negative thought patterns.

Work on what is blocking you from receiving what you want. Be positive, follow your bliss and you'll get more happy things. 

19. Learn to say no

This one is hard if you're a people pleaser. I was one too so I get it. "Everyone has to like me or else." 

Think of it this way. You're blocking the other person's personal growth by constantly saying yes to them. 

If your cup is empty and you can't say no then be prepared for a stressful life. You come first, then everything else. 

20. Do things that make you happy

If you're a full grown adult, then by now you should have figured out what you like and what you don't like. What your boundaries, needs and wants are. 

If not, it's time to take stock and think about it. All the experiences you have in your life will teach you a lot about yourself. 

This life is about finding the things you love and moving in that direction. The more you follow that path, the happier you'll be. 

It's as simple as that, but of course, humans make it super complicated.  

If you don't like something, why continue having it in your life? Stress can kill you. That's how serious this is. 

I worked in a stressful job for 9 years. Dealing with awful clients every single day. I hated doing the same thing over and over again. 

I couldn't create anything there. I'm an introvert so having a lot of people constantly around me was draining. 

Too many rules and a lack of freedom which is something I hate. Plus I don't like being told what to do. But I stayed because that's what life is supposed to be like right? It's normal.

I stopped eating, talked to no one and I was sick every day. But I stayed. 

Every day as I was walking to work, I wished a car could run me over. But I stayed. 

What?! Too real? That was my life. I went down a path doing things I hated every day and wondered why I felt sad all the time. I felt trapped and actually believed there was no way out.

Luckily I woke up, escaped, almost went mental trying to figure out my life, figured it out, got happy and currently working on achieving all my goals. Doing things I actually enjoy doing. 

If there is stress, it's good stress. But I recognize it as an indicator that I'm doing too much. If I see it increasing, I step back, take some me time and jump in again when I'm ready. 

This life is not about getting stuck in situations that make you unhappy. We all have choices. I know first hand how comfortable the unhappiness feels, but believe me, the happiness is much better. 

21. Get away from negative people

You're the average of the five people you hang out with the most. Think about it and decide if that's who you want to be. If they are supporting and make you a better person, then good.

If they bring you down, are untrustworthy and don't help you grow, then it's time to say goodbye. 

22. Avoid social media and news

I need social media for my blog, but on a personal level, it's not something I use. Facebook is known to cause depression. There's a lot of negative people on social media spreading their gloom.

Adding to that, I don't read or watch the news either. My bestie can't understand because according to him I need to be informed about all the violence and bad news happening everywhere. 

Uhmm, no thank you. I focus on the positive. The news is not positive. That goes against everything I promised myself. 

I spend almost my entire life as a pessimist. Today I'm someone that believes in miracles, and that beauty exists in this life. The dark cloud that followed me everywhere disappeared.

It tries to come back sometimes but I just tell it to go to hell. I'm strong enough to not let it in anymore.  

23. Visualize your goals and dreams

Daydreaming can help reduce stress. These are good story loops. Imagine a happy time or something that you want to happen instead of focusing on a potentially bad thing. 

Remember good things are possible too. 

24. Read Books

I'm more of a research reader these days, but I read thousands of books in my life. 

Most of my family worked at a book printing company so there was always a lot of books to read around the house. A lot! 

Stories that transport you to another world. One of my favorite authors was David Gemmel, he passed on already. 

He wrote fantasy novels and each book had a hero. Druss the legend, Skillgannon and his swords of night and day, Waylander, and many others. 

The heroes were great men. Brave and strong. Leaders that led armies and changed the world. Nothing could touch them.

Reading their stories made me feel brave for some reason. Like I could take on the world. Only a brilliant writer can capture a reader like that.

Reading does not only help you escape from your life for a little while, but it makes you smarter, it helps you be more creative and influences how you feel and see things. Very powerful.

25. Sing and dance

Singing can relieve stress. I love singing. A lot. I'm not tone deaf either. I won't do it on a stage, but it's something that I love doing. 

I'm not much of a dancer though. I hate dancing. I don't understand it. But I know a lot of people love it. So dance and sing more. 

26. Hang out with friends

We choose our friends luckily. They are similar to us and like the same things. Being close to like-minded people can help reduce stress and they are easier to talk to if you need to talk. 

27. Listen to calming music

Music has a way of affecting your mood. A sad love song can get you balling your eyes out if you miss someone. An upbeat song can make you dance and a little happy and so on.

The sing-along songs are the best. Music can send you on a rollercoaster ride if you're in a negative space.

Calming music to mellow your mood will help. 

28. Question negative thoughts

Our mind tends to make up different stories about possible future scenarios or things that happened in the past that might seem true but it's seen from your perspective so the story is incomplete.

It's easy to believe these stories as facts or truth. If you're not awake and believe everything your mind shows you then life will feel hard and you'll feel powerless.

I used to believe a lot of things my mind showed me until I came across The Work by Byron Katie. She created a worksheet where you fill in a series of questions designed to question your thoughts and the negative beliefs you hold.

Negative beliefs are negative thoughts that you kept thinking over and over again and now it runs on autopilot in your subconscious. It holds you back from achieving happiness, success or whatever you desire.

With Byron's The work, you can question your thoughts and see the lies your mind is telling you. The aha moments are powerful.

I had one eye-opening moment that removed years of pain in a few minutes. I wrote about Byron's process and questioning thoughts in my how to change a negative core belief post.

29. Do meridian (energy points) exercises 

Our body consists of meridian points aka energy points. When you tap on them in a certain order or sequence they do something amazing.

They release negative emotions and thoughts. Earlier, I talked about the story loops we get stuck in, well tapping breaks the negative story loops. 

It allows you to access your subconscious mind that's ruling your life and rewriting it so that you have control.

I only tried tapping methodologies Eft (emotional freedom technique) and Faster EFT. 

EFT worked a little slower for me, but a lot of people found it effective. Faster EFT uses another sequence of tapping and for me, it worked better. You can test each and see what fits you best.

I used Faster EFT aka Eutapics by Robert Gene Smith to get rid of my anxiety and to cure my depression. Thank you, Robert!

Yep! I said cure. Like in never returned again and never will. It only took 5 minutes to break my depression loop. 

I remember feeling really sad one day, tapped on the feeling, and the sad feeling disappeared. 

What?! Exactly my thoughts. I kept waiting for the sadness to return but it never did. It's been three years now. 

This is not a Faster EFT post so I'm not going to go into much detail. The Eutapics website has more info. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you're someone struggling with life. 

It's really weird that not everyone is using this, but I understand why. 

The process to get to a point where you are open enough to see something as tapping on energy points to help you feel better is not a straightforward path. 

I can tell you this helped me get rid of my depression and 99% of people suffering from depression that's reading this will not try it. 

Sure there are multiple ways to overcome depression. But tapping helps get rid of fears and one of the best ways to relieve anxiety.

Here are a few more examples I used it on. 

I used it to get my driving license. A month and a half before my learner's license was supposed to expire, I researched ways to get over my driving fear. I came across faster eft. 

Scared to even call and make a driving lesson appointment. I tapped. Next thing I know I'm on the phone with a driving instructor.

He did not show up by the way. Then I called another one that actually showed up.

I took three weeks of driving lessons every day and tapping the hell out of my fears. I passed my driving test the first time. A week before my learner's license would have expired.

I wondered what this Faster eft thing was and why does it let me do things that I'm scared of doing? I started testing it on other stuff. 

I had brain fog for years. It felt like I was asleep all the time, even when I was awake. I tapped on it and the extreme fatigue went away. It even helped me to understand things better.

I was scared to touch dogs. I touched my dog Buffy with gloves on and I did not understand dogs at all. I tapped on it. The next thing I know my gloves are off and Buffy gets showered with petting and cuddles. 

Plus I started writing from a dog's perspective suddenly. That didn't happen from years of experience observing dogs. It happened in literally minutes. 

I used it to start my blog too. For two years I was afraid to write. Scared of what people might think. Tapped, next thing I know my blog is registered and my welcome post published. 

After that, I went on a tapping frenzy until all my negative story loops were gone. My mind was clear and I could step back and observe everything. Who was observing?

I woke up. I guess you can call it a spiritual awakening. 

At that point, I knew that I was a spiritual being living in a temporary physical experience. Before that, I just thought I'm this body, it will die one day and there's nothing after this. 

I instantly knew God existed. I knew that there's so much more to this life. 

My thoughts became easier to control. Ideas started flowing in from who knows where. Life finally made sense.

I had a clarity that I've never felt before. I no longer felt powerless and knew I was going to be fine.

We each have our own path. I'm just glad I found something that helped me and will continue to help me.

This info is free on Robert's YouTube channel and website. There are practitioners you can hire to help you if you aren't comfortable doing it by yourself. I'm more of a DIY person so I fixed myself.  

Robert also has seminars where people learn the skill, tap and leave changed forever. I suggest doing your own research. 

If you start researching and experimenting with this then I won't sound like a crazy person to you right now.  

All you have to know is that this works. Start small and increase. Happy tapping!

NB: I'm mentioning this because it worked for me and it might work for you too. But if you have a diagnosed mental disorder or illness then speak to a professional. 

30. Be grateful

Lastly, be grateful. Begin your mornings with saying thanks to everything in your life. You woke up, you are still breathing. Thank God for another chance. 

Everyone has problems. But we can't allow them to break us. 

You can't appreciate the light if you've never known the darkness. The key is not to get stuck in the dark. 

We came into this life to learn, grow and evolve. Without your problems, you will be static. You'll always be the same and that is not your purpose. 

Be grateful for your problems because they will teach you the skills and wisdom that you never had before. They will make you stronger and better. 

They will teach you not to repeat actions that led you to where you don't want to be.  In turn, you will go in the direction that leads you to your true path.

If you're depressed and unhappy, then you're not on your true path. How you feel is your guide. Change your story if your story does not fit into what you imagined a beautiful life should be. 

Phew! That was long. I have not written in a while so I guess it all poured out. 

I hope my stress-busting tips are helpful if you are currently dealing with stress. It's something that's unavoidable but controllable.

Stress is part of life, but do not give it the power to destroy you. 

Until next time,

Goodbye.

PS: If you love my writing and want to show your support, just buy me a coffee paypal.me/lifeanddogstuff. Thank you! :-)

Pic credit: Pics Renza edited.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my 30 Ways to Relax and De-stress Your Life post. Thank you! :-)

Read More »

How to Clear Your Mind With Meditation

I've always been fascinated with how the mind works. Being an introvert, my mind was always really loud and chaotic and I hated all the lies it was telling me.

Yes! Our minds are liars.

If you want to know how to clear your mind with meditation then read on.

So much can be accomplished without the clutter. I had to learn how to sort through the garbage and lies in my head.


The worst part of an untrained mind is that we actually believe the lies. "I'm a failure," you tell yourself or "I'm not good enough" and the worst lie of all, "I'm all alone". Is that really true?

Your mind will show you how you failed, how you're not enough and how alone you are. Uhm, No! All lies!


We go through this life learning and growing every day. If you didn't succeed at something, it just means you need more practice and the fact that you tried means you know a little more than you knew yesterday.

It could even mean you need to try different things until you find what fits you best. Through your life, you're constantly going to change and evolve.

Even your failures, especially your failures are just stepping stones to the next version of you.

Show your mind you are not a failure. Think of all your successes, no matter how big or small they are. I believed the "I'm a failure" lie, even though I achieved so much in my life.

I also believed the "I'm alone" lie, even though I had so many people in my life that loved me and would do anything for me. Luckily my best friend pointed it out because I was too blind to see it.

This lie is common for those who aren't married with kids. Guess my mind wanted me to know it's time to settle down. It just did it in a way that was really cruel and it blinded me to all the other people I have in my life.

Remember to always question those negative thoughts. Find proof in your life that they aren't real.

If you think of the mind, it is similar to a filing cabinet. A really, really big one. It stores information through sounds, visual images, emotions or smells, etc.

It then links information together that might seem related or relevant. So if you are in a situation, it will search the file cabinet and bring up whatever emotions, visual images, etc relating to that situation.

That's all fine, right? It's how we remember things. But what if you're in a situation where you suddenly feel anxious and scared for no reason?

Then it becomes a problem. Yes, the mind protects us from danger, but left uncontrolled it can be disastrous.

How to clear your mind of unwanted thoughts

The mind is like a small child. It needs guidance. A few years ago I would have said there's no way I can control my thoughts, but it is possible.

Know that you can never stop thoughts, they are just a natural way of being.

But you can become aware of what's real and what's not. It all begins by believing the fact that not all thoughts are real, then you're already halfway there.

There's a lot of things I've tried to clear my mind from unwanted thoughts. I was tired of all the clutter and the negative thought patterns I found myself stuck in.

In future posts, I will write about all the other methods I've tried. In this post, I'll just cover meditation.

Meditation is an awesome way to silence a chaotic mind. Mindfulness is just becoming aware of the present moment.

Meditation to quiet your mind

What is meditation and how to do it?

Meditation is the practice of turning your attention away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment.

You need to find a quiet place where no one can disturb you. You can sit or lie down with your eyes closed and breath in and out while focusing on your breath.

The focusing on your breathing part will help your mind not wander off. If it does wander, and yes it definitely will, just come back to the present moment and keep focusing on your breath.

That's the basics of learning how to meditate. There are lots of different meditation techniques and I'll share a few of my favorites later.

Can't clear mind during meditation

Be aware when you first start meditating, it will be extremely difficult. Don't give up and say, "No, this is not for me".

Our minds are not used to being quiet so it's going to find a way to distract you from clearing it. Yes! It's sneaky.

The meditation exercises I like doing are all sort of interactive and a good way to clear the mind during meditation.

How to quiet your mind while meditating

Because thoughts can't be stopped, it's best to learn how to observe them and understanding why they are there.

Stepping back and not interacting with thoughts will help stop the ones you don't want to think about. The minute you interact, it causes something I can only describe as a story loop and you can get stuck in there.

With enough practice, meditation will help break the negative story loops and help you focus on more positive thoughts.

Your job is not to stop thoughts while meditating. That will be frustrating. You just need to learn to detach from them.

Anyway, let's look at three meditation exercises I use that is easy for beginners and really fun. Yes, meditation can be fun! Yawn!

I'm just making up my own names for them. I have no idea what their actual names are. Remember you start with the breathing exercises as I explained earlier and add-on. 

Easy meditation techniques for beginners

1. The empty room meditation

Imagine a room filled with a lot of things. Then remove the things one by one until the room is empty.

While constantly focusing on your breathing, just sit in the empty room. This is a good meditation for focus and clarity.

You can even fill the room with your anger and stress causing issues or anything that's currently causing you pain and remove them. Another thing you can try is making a fire in the middle of the room and burn everything.

Anything is possible in your imagination. Be as creative as you want to be.

2. The energy exchange meditation

Here's another cool meditation that I love and it kind of freaked me out when I first tried it. Basically, you have to imagine that everything around you is made out of positive energy.

You know, feel-good happy healing energy. When I say everything, I mean every single thing around you.

The ground, desk, chair, a nearby plant, everything. You can do this one outside also if you want.

You have to do this exercise in a sitting position. Close your eyes and do the normal breathing, but this time when you breathe in, you imagine breathing in all the positive energy around you.

When you breathe out you imagine releasing all the negative energy inside you.

You will normally feel your negative energy in your throat, chest or stomach. Wherever you have a bad feeling in your body.

As you continue with this meditation you will notice something strange happening. Your body will start moving!

I can only describe it as a swaying motion. Yep! Freaky! No, you're not being possessed. 

Don't fight against it. Just let it be. Do this for 10 minutes if you're starting out.

You can increase the time when you feel you're ready. This meditation can be done with soothing music as well. Without music, your body is still going to move on its own. It's fun! Try it!

3. The bubble river meditation

The last meditation exercise I always do when I notice that my mind is getting too loud. This is how it works.

I do this one lying down then I imagine my current thoughts are a river of bubbles. I then pop the bubbles or let them flow by.

Do not engage with the bubbles. Remember how your mind goes searching in the filing cabinet? 

If you engage with the thoughts, your mind will find more relating thoughts plus it will make up future scenarios that might possibly play out.

This is a good meditation for peace of mind and concentration. You can do this exercise until you feel your mind is quieter.

As long as you don't give your thoughts momentum, and just observe, then you won't go down the stream with them.

If you do find yourself interacting with a thought bubble, and believe me you will, just focus on your breathing and try your best to get back to the present moment.

Final thoughts

That's it! For beginners of any sort of meditation, it's best to start out with 10 minutes and just increase the time as you become more comfortable.

Meditation is one of the best ways to get rid of negative thoughts. I talk about another method in my how to change negative beliefs post.

It goes a little deeper into the subconscious mind by questioning thoughts. Make sure you check it out.

The past is gone. The future does not exist. The only thing that is real is the present moment. 

We can not change the past, we can only learn from it and make better choices and be stronger because it happened.

The future is not here yet. There are so many possible outcomes the future has, so do not believe the outcomes your mind shows you.

Our minds are there to protect us from possible danger. It will show you what can possibly happen.

But these possibilities are determined by things that happened in your past, things you've seen, heard or read somewhere. It just takes in all that information and makes up some story that seems real.

This moment is the only thing that is real. Do you normally see yourself in your thoughts? Well, that alone should tell you that your mind is constructing a so-called reality. It fooled us all.

The mind is brilliant and beautiful. There is so much untapped potential there.

Getting rid of the chaos, being mindful and always questioning your negative thoughts will take you one step closer to a happier and more peaceful life.

Until next time,
Goodbye.

PS: If you love my writing and want to show your support, just buy me a coffee paypal.me/lifeanddogstuff. Thank you! :-)

Pic credit: Pixabay pics Renza edited.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my How to Clear Your Mind With Meditation post. Thank you! :-)

Read More »

Super Cute Dog Shirts and Sweaters

Ruff! Hello, my fluffies! Humans wear clothes and in recent years there's been a trend in doggie clothing.

I'm not really sure who came up with it, but dogs are people too so I guess it's normal that they wear clothes.

Mommy put a sweater on me once. Once! I ate through it. She won't make that mistake again. Grrr!


Buffy and I are really fluffy and mommy likes to keep the fluff a certain length. So even though she wants to dress us up like the human children she never had, she's got to settle for fluffy coats.

Sorry, Renza! It wasn't meant to be.

Those with shorter hair can definitely wear clothes. It will keep them nice and warm especially in winter. I looked for some cute dog shirts, sweaters, and jackets for the fluffless.



If mommy decides to shave me one day I might consider wearing one of these. But unfortunately, she'll die if she can't stroke our fluff at least a thousand times a day. Really annoying Renza!

Buffy and Fluffy in garden

Affiliate links ahead! Make sure you scroll right with the little arrow on ShopStyle wizard to see all of them and heart for sales alert or click on the picture or text links for more info on the product. 

Cute Dog Shirts and Sweaters

1. Lightweight Adjustable 'Sporty Avalanche' Pet Coat

• This lightweight adjustable 'sporty avalanche' pet coat has a concealed hood that pops out of the collar.
• 3M Thinsulate thermal heat retention technology as an inner shell.
• Adjustable at the tail-end.
• Leash slit holder above the neck area.
• Belly easy closure closures for easy on-off access.
• Available in multiple sizes and colors.

Check more info and cost of coat!

2. Plush Heavy Cotton Hooded Sweater

• This Plush heavy cotton hooded sweater features a leash-slit holder behind the neck area.
• Available in multiple sizes and colors.

Check more info and cost of the sweater!

3. Pink Whale Pet Polo Shirt

• Vineyard vines Pink Whale Pet Polo shirt makes for an adorable look.
• Short underside gives them more freedom of movement.
• 100% cotton offers soft comfort.
• Perfect for parties and festive occasions.

Check more info on this dog polo shirt!

4. Patchwork Whale Pet Polo Shirt

• Vineyard vines Patchwork Whale Pet Polo shirt makes for an adorable look.
• Short underside gives them more freedom of movement.
• 100% cotton offers soft comfort.

Check more info on this dog polo shirt!

5. Flag Whale Pet Polo Shirt

• Vineyard vines Flag Whale Pet Polo shirt makes for an adorable look.
• Short underside gives them more freedom of movement.
• 100% cotton offers soft comfort.

Check more info on this dog polo shirt!

6. Dog Threads Raspberry Gingham Dog Shirt

• Classic, stylish raspberry gingham print dog shirt perfectly designed for your stylish pal, collar and all.
• Comfortable fit with short sleeves, dapper button closures, and detailed stitching throughout.
• Perfect for everyday wear with comfortable, soft cotton and dog-friendly cut to avoid doggy messes.
• Made in the USA by a family-owned business that donates a portion of their proceeds to an animal rescue.
• Comes in different sizes so you can find the right one for your pup, no matter the breed.

Check more info on this dog shirt!

There you go my fluffies! If I could I'd give you some of my fluff to keep you warm, but as you know, mommy is selfish and wants to keep our fluff all to herself. 

Fluffy after dreadful bath

I just got a new haircut and bath for my birthday last week. Buffy is next but he's like a little forest and needs at least three people to mow through all that fluff. Good luck with cloning yourself Renza!

Ruff! Ruff!

Author: Fluffy

Job: Doing puppy work, part-time blogger, a world leader in training.

Future plans: World domination

Likes: Biting hands, destroying everything in sight, playing, stalking, digging, cuddles and tummy rubs.

Dislikes: Baths, self-cloning Needleman and not getting my way.

Pic credit: Pics Renza edited.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates my fluffies. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my Super Cute Dog Shirts and Sweaters post. Thank you! Ruff!

Read More »

10 Healthy Living Tips to Feel Better

Today I'm sharing 10 healthy living tips to feel better.

Living a healthy life can seem like a lot of work. You have to watch what you eat, exercise, manage your stress levels and loads of other stuff.

It's not easy. Especially if you live a busy hectic life. Where's the time anyway?

I also thought I don't have time for this. Then I got really sick and was forced to look at why.


It had more to do with work stress. Stress led to not eating right, not getting proper sleep and it just all spiraled from there.

The one thing about this life you have to know and what I've learned the hard way is that if you go down a destructive path and not making any attempt to change, life will force you to change.

Yep! And you will not like it at all.

Say hello to all kinds of health problems, mental health issues, social issues and whatever feels really bad.



But all is not lost. Sure you will not be healthier or have a healthy mindset overnight. It will take time.

Start with small steps. Small steps will lead to good daily habits. Healthy daily habits that will lead to a healthier you.

I made a list of little things you can do every day to get momentum going.

Healthy Living Tips

1. Gratitude

This should be the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning. Express your gratitude for everything in your life.

This can be done in a form of prayer, maybe write it down in a gratitude journal or just say what you're grateful for in your head.

What this will do is start the snowball effect and set the mood for the rest of your day.

2. Sleep

I used to work shifts and I feel your pain if you're a shift worker. Shift work should be illegal. I think it fits into the human torture category.

Anyway, sleep is important. Eight hours of sleep is the goal. I make it a point to turn everything off at 10pm at night to get my 8 hours sleep.

My bestie says I'm like a robot that switches off at 10 but it's a habit that helps me feel better during the day.

One quick tip that helps me. Listen to something really boring. You know how you watch a boring movie and fall asleep. Do that!

I also listen to sleep meditations on YouTube. Very effective.

3. Meditate

Your mind has everything to do with living a healthy life. Someone can tell you to exercise and diet to be healthy but let's face it, it's not gonna work without mental strength.

Meditation is a tool I use to weed out negative thoughts. It helps to organize my thoughts better and allows me to step back and observe.

Clearing your mind leaves room for inspiration to flow in. You'll make better choices, deal better with stressful situations and respect your body and mind enough to take care of it.

Also not to allow others to disrespect the boundaries you've set for yourself.

We are only given one body and mind. It works hard for us. We might as well return the favor.

4. Get a pet

For those who get a little lonely sometimes know how awful it feels. I get it. Since I got my dogs I don't feel lonely at all anymore.

Buffy and Fluffy are always there making sure my days are filled with love. So much love.

Pets can be a great contributor to living a long healthy life. They can be the reason you get pumped full of happy hormones, why you laugh more, stress less and be inspired to be healthier by making better life choices.

My dog Buffy was the snowball effect that led to me fighting to feel better. I owe everything to him.

Just a dog? Nope! So much more.

5. Exercise

I hate exercise but some people love it. What do they have that the exercise hating people don't have? I'll let you know as soon as I find out.

I asked my bestie because he loves working out but you know guys can't explain things properly in detail to understand it clearly.

There was just a lot of you have to because. Not really helpful.

I guess as long as we're moving and not just in one place and position for an extended period of time it should help.

People walk if they aren't into running. Or some other thing.

Hey! I never said this was a fitness blog.

But just in case, let's try to exercise more. Or else!

6. Work through your issues

Emotional health is just as important as physical health. Don't let things pile up in your head.

Find ways to let them out. Talk to someone, write about it or find some other ways to express it and let it go.

Most of our problems and health issues are there because we hold onto stuff. The bad stuff in life, the things that make us sad.

Stop focussing on the negatives or the what could have been. Being positive feels better.

We shape our own journey through this life. Make a choice and decide where you want to be in a few years and follow that path. I can't promise it will be easy but I can promise you it will be worth it.

7. Get organized

Do you know that feeling where everything is in its place, the day is planned and there's nothing but harmony? Aim for that!

Sure unexpected surprises will happen during your day but when you're organized you have better control and less stress.

Healthy living means a life that's not filled with stressful things and your job is to make it easier to navigate day to day activities.

8. Fasting

Over the holidays I kinda overindulged. I've been really good at not overeating and staying away from junk food but when the holidays come around the yummy food was hard to avoid.

I ate and ate, and ate some more and there was no stopping until I started feeling weird. I can't describe it exactly but I felt really bad. Like a garbage bin is the only word that comes to mind.

I knew I needed a detox or some kind of system cleansing. I came across a video that talked about fasting. Or intermittent fasting.

I don't believe in starving yourself and I always linked fasting to starving. But it's not if done right of course.

So I tried the minimum fasting time which is 16 hours. For me, it was 6 pm at night when I'm done eating dinner until 10 am the next morning.

In three days I was feeling better than I did in a long time. I felt less tired and my body felt like it was in rhythm again. It was an incredible discovery.

I love it when my mind accepts solutions. Things I knew about but that were not in my mind's focus. We all have those solutions staring at us but blind to see them.

Since then I don't eat after 6 pm anymore, but I'll eat breakfast anytime after I wake up in the morning and don't wait for 10 am. But whenever I feel like a garbage bin again, I'll do the full 16 hours fast.

I make sure my plate is not too full and incorporated more veg, fruit, and water in my meals. I limit eating processed food, fatty junk and whatever looks like a heart attack on a plate.

For me, its all about portion control, having the right amount of breaks between meals so that my body has time to digest food and adding healthy food to daily meals.

What you eat shows up on the outside and affects how you feel inside.

Also, try to eat for your blood type. I never knew my blood type was the reason why I can't drink coffee and starchy foods make me pass out.

My blood type makes me prone to get thyroid issues, arthritis, gastro problems, and high blood pressure.

My family members are sufferers from arthritis and high blood pressure. I had a thyroidectomy a few years ago and had gastro problems in the past.

You can learn a lot about eating healthy from what your blood type can tolerate. Do some research. It's interesting what you can find out.

That sounds easy, right? Most of this fasting happens in sleep mode anyway. It's not recommended for everyone. Do more research and speak to a doctor about intermittent fasting if you have health issues.

9. Detox

Daily our bodies are bombarded with toxins. It's in food, the environment and all around us. Our bodies do a good job getting rid of these toxins, but it needs help when it gets too much. 

As humans, we tend to sometimes overdo things and then the trouble starts. Make sure you detox your body whenever you feel low energy, unwell or want to shed a few pounds.

Recently I came across the Red Tea Detox Program which will aid you in detoxing and feeling healthier. It uses rooibos tea which is something I grew up with.

As a South African, rooibos has always been in our house. Granny lived in a small town called Wupperthal and they grew rooibos there. She always talked about its health benefits and our family drinks rooibos tea a lot. 

Wupperthal burned down a few months ago, unfortunately. It's one of our churches many mission stations and the church is rebuilding the town. 

We donated as much as we could. Hopefully, the residents there can resume their lives soon once the town has been restored. Keep them in your prayers. 

Granny lived till 91 and grandpa is turning 96 this year. Still, fit and well. 

Make sure you check out the Red Tea Detox Program to experience all its health benefits. It's not just about the tea, the program is filled with knowledge about how to take care of your body better. 

It has three sections that consist of a diet portion that outlines what to eat, an exercise portion and a mindset portion to help get you motivated.

10. Get a hobby

Let's face it. Most of our jobs aren't that satisfying. As humans, we are meant to be creators and in most workplaces, we have to create someone else's vision.

I feel most satisfied when I create something. Unfortunately, jobs are a must to bring in the money but luckily a thing like hobbies exist.

A hobby will allow you to do what you love. Express yourself and be the creator you were meant to be.

Try different things until something sticks or just try everything.

I can get obsessed about something then get bored with it. Then try something else then repeat.

Like writing. I haven't written in a year. This post is the first one in what seems like forever. My writing voice still sounds the same and I forgot that I actually love writing.

Last year was a really hard year. My granny passed and it was not easy. I didn't feel like sharing anything, because I only share or write when I'm in a positive uplifting mood.

I was at peace that she passed. That was not the reason why I struggled. It was the aftermath of dealing with grieving family members and all the changes that I had to adjust to.

As soon as I stopped and decided not to let them steal my joy, I started to feel better. I forgot for a moment that I'm in control of how I feel.

Remember that as I leave you. You alone control how you feel. You can't control others but you can choose to not let them take your happiness away.

Being joyful is the key to living a healthy happy life. Focus on that and everything else will fall into place.

Time to go. If you are not feeling like your best self I hope you'll try my suggestions.

Start small, but start.

Until next time
Goodbye.

PS: If you love my writing and want to show your support, just buy me a coffee paypal.me/lifeanddogstuff. Thank you! :-)

Pic credit: Pixabay pics Renza edited.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my 10 Healthy Living Tips to Feel Better post. Thank you!

Read More »