Shawn & Andrew East and Nash & Oakley

Nash has been with us since almost the very beginning of our relationship! We had only been dating a few months when Shawn found out about a dog in the Southeast who needed a home. She was living in Des Moines at the time and flying back and forth to Nashville to visit Andrew. Naturally, she decided to fly to Nashville, drive to pick up Nash, and bring him home.

His very first night with us was actually in Andrew’s college dorm room at Vanderbuilt, which is pretty funny to think about now. 

Since then, Nash has been through just about every chapter of our lives. He’s lived with us in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Des Moines, Nashville, and Indiana. He’s seen us get married, build businesses, and welcome three babies into the world. Through all the changes, he’s been a constant source of joy and unconditional love. Always wagging his tail, always happy to see us.

Oakley’s story happened a little faster. Actually, a LOT faster. 

We had just welcomed our third baby, and Shawn had wanted another dog for a while (because why not add to the craziness of 3 kids under 5?!). Nash was getting older, and we loved his demeanor so much that we thought it would be sweet to have a younger dog learn from him. 

One morning around 8 a.m., Andrew finally agreed that maybe it was time. By 10 a.m., Shawn had found Oakley and his brother Jack through Wags & Walks, a local Nashville rescue. By noon, Oakley was home with us. 

So, Andrew had approximately four hours to process the decision, haha! 

Shawn’s parents ended up adopting Jack, so the brothers still get to be part of the same extended family. 

Oakley fit right in from day one. He and Nash have become the sweetest buddies, and our kids absolutely love having twice the wagging tails around the house.

We originally got introduced to Finley’s through their Training Treats that Oakley loved, then found their Oven Baked Biscuits that both the pups loved but ultimately made the switch because we were looking for something that would be a better fit for Oakley, especially with him being a younger, growing dog who eats quite a bit! 

What started as a decision about his food turned into us falling in love with the entire Finley’s brand. The dogs have really enjoyed the transition, and we’ve especially loved discovering their treats. 

One of the things we have loved is how much the kids have gotten involved. Feeding Nash and Oakley is now something they look forward to doing themselves, and it’s become a sweet little part of our family’s daily routine.

Our dogs have a pretty great life, if we’re being honest. They even have their own little elevated feeding stations that look like thrones. They’re spoiled, haha. 

We feed Nash and Oakley twice a day, once around 6:30 in the morning and again around 5:30 in the evening, with the same portions at each meal. 

The morning feeding has become one of our kids’ responsibilities. They help get the food ready, fill the bowls, and make sure both dogs are let out and taken care of. We love that it’s teaching them consistency and responsibility while also giving them something they genuinely enjoy.

And then there’s treat time. 

Usually around 10 a.m., Shawn’s mom comes over, and the dogs know exactly what that means. We’re pretty sure that’s their favorite part of the day. They might actually love Grandma more than us at this point.

We love that there’s a story behind what we’re feeding Nash and Oakley, and that we get to keep sharing that story with our kids. The packaging helps bring it to life by highlighting the people and purpose behind Finley’s, giving us an opportunity to talk about inclusion, perseverance, and the opportunities our purchases help support on a regular basis. 

We’re also excited about what’s actually going into their bowls. Finley’s dry food combines lots of meat-rich protein with some veggie protein and superfood hearts, plus good stuff like prebiotics and probiotics to help with digestion and omega-6s to support healthy skin and coats. We spend a lot of time thinking about getting everyone in the house the right nutrition! 

Being able to talk with our kids about both the care that goes into the food and the people the brand supports makes it feel more meaningful every time we pick up a bag. 

The dogs are excited about what’s inside the bag. We get excited about the story behind it, too.

Something we’ve learned over the years is that the people behind a company matter just as much as the product itself, and that’s something we’ve really come to appreciate about Finley’s. We’ve gotten to know some of the people behind the brand, and you can tell there’s a genuine love for dogs and for the community they’re building. Their commitment to creating opportunities for people with disabilities makes that mission even more
meaningful. 

We talk a lot in our family about the importance of treating people with dignity, recognizing their gifts, and finding ways to make the world a little better for the people around us. 

When we think about Nash and Oakley, we think about the unconditional love they bring into our home. There’s something really special about supporting a company that wants to extend that same kind of love and care beyond the dogs themselves. 

At the end of the day, the quality of the food has to come first, but when you find a company that makes a product you love AND stands for something meaningful, it makes the decision that much easier.

For us, it starts with feeling confident about what we’re putting in our dogs’ bowls. 

Nash and Oakley are at two very different stages of life, so we’re especially mindful of finding food and treats that fit their individual needs. They also eat very differently. Nash acts like he’s trying to set a world record every time he eats, Oakley is a little more slow and steady. 

We love that Finley’s puts thought into its ingredients with their veggie protein hearts and offers options beyond just their everyday food with their array of treats. 

And from a practical standpoint, we pay attention to how the dogs respond. Are they excited at mealtime? Do they seem comfortable and happy with their food? Is it working well with their routine? Does the food seem to help with digestion and health?

Of course, the ultimate review comes from Nash and Oakley themselves. And judging by how excited they get when it’s time to eat, they seem pretty happy with our decision!

Oh man, they’re champions in completely different ways. 

Nash is our steady, independent, old soul. He’s been with us through so many different seasons of life, and there’s something really beautiful about the consistency of his personality. He doesn’t need to be the center of attention. He’s just always there, quietly loving everybody.

Oakley, on the other hand, is basically a professional cuddler. 

He NEEDS to be around people. If you sit down on the couch, there’s a very good chance Oakley is going to come find you and make himself comfortable. He loves being part of whatever is happening, especially if it involves the kids. 

One of our favorite things is watching them get the zoomies. They’ll take off running, and our kids absolutely lose their minds laughing. It never gets old. 

We think what makes them champions is how much joy they bring to our family. They don’t have to win anything or accomplish anything. They’re just really, really good at loving us. 

And honestly, that’s a pretty great thing to be a champion at.

This is a great question because we have VERY different athletes living in our house.

Nash would absolutely be an individual-sport athlete. He’s independent, focused, and pretty content doing his own thing. We’re thinking gymnastics. He’d be the veteran Olympian who knows exactly what he’s doing, doesn’t need a lot of attention, and just goes out there and executes.

Oakley? Football. One hundred percent. 

That dog is built for a team environment. He loves camaraderie, always wants to be around somebody, and would absolutely be the guy in the locker room giving everybody hugs before the game. Classic lovey dovey golden retriever energy.

We’re not sure how much actual football he’d play because he’d probably spend most of the time celebrating with his teammates, but his energy would be unmatched.

We've really enjoyed incorporating Finley's food into Nash and Oakley's regular meals, but the treats have probably become the most fun part of the experience for our family. 

The kids love getting to give them something special, and we've made treats part of our daily routine rather than just something we pull out occasionally. 

And then there's Grandma's daily treat visit, which has basically become a sacred tradition in our house. She loves the seasonally themed snacks (the monster snacks were a big hit this fall!). 

We love having different options for rewarding the dogs, showing them a little extra love, or just making an ordinary moment feel special. 

Because let's be real, Nash and Oakley have given us so much love over the years. We don't mind spoiling them a little in return.