About Live Like a Dog Today

Live Like a Dog Today started with a simple thought I couldn’t shake: dogs seem to understand something about living that many of us spend years trying to figure out.

I wasn’t trying to build a philosophy or start a brand. I was trying to understand why my dogs seemed to be better at life than I was.

Hi, I’m Roy.

I live in Upstate New York with Mozzie, a Boxer/Pit Bull rescue who follows me from room to room because apparently being apart for 30 seconds is unacceptable.

Marlow, my Frenchie/Pit Bull mix, is no longer here. I miss her every day, but she still influences so much of what Live Like a Dog Today has become.

I grew up in a tiny country town in New York called Jefferson. It was a single-parent home with five kids and not a lot of money to go around. But my mom showed up every day, even on the days when I’m sure she had nothing left to give. That kind of consistency stays with you.

My adult life hasn’t followed a perfectly straight path either. I’ve been married, divorced, and remarried. I learned a lot along the way, especially about communication, being present, and what happens when you stop paying attention to the people and things that matter.

For years, I built a career in the corporate world. Coming from a childhood where stability wasn’t guaranteed, building a successful career felt important. It was also the responsible thing to do.

I learned a lot during those years. I learned how to lead, communicate, solve problems, and support people. But I also became really good at always thinking about what came next.

The next meeting. The next project. The next goal.

I could be doing well by every outside measure and still feel like I wasn’t fully enjoying my own life.

That’s where Mozzie and Marlow came in.

They had completely different personalities. Mozzie is highly food-motivated, loves car rides, enjoys being chased, and follows me almost everywhere. Marlow was more independent until she decided it was time for affection. Then the decision had been made for everyone. She loved her toys, playing tug, sticking her head out the car window, and lying in the sun.

They didn’t need a big event to enjoy themselves. A walk, a car ride, dinner, a sunny spot on the grass, or simply being near us was enough.

Meanwhile, I could be on a walk thinking about what I needed to do when I got home. I could spend time with someone while mentally being somewhere else. I was moving through life, but I wasn’t always paying attention to it.

My dogs were.

They weren’t measuring their lives against anyone else’s. They weren’t trying to look successful. They weren’t waiting for everything to be perfect before enjoying the day.

They were just living the life in front of them.

The more I noticed it, the more I started asking myself a simple question:

What would it look like to live a little more like my dogs?

Almost ten years ago, I made the first Live Like a Dog shirt. It wasn’t something I planned to sell. I made it for myself because I wanted a reminder I could actually wear.

For years, that was all it was. A personal reminder to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy more of the life I already had.

In late 2024, I started building the website and creating real designs. Mozzie and Marlow were getting older, and I wanted to create something inspired by them that could continue long after they were gone.

Marlow passed away in April 2025, only a few months after the website went live. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful that I started when I did.

After she died, I froze for a while. I had trouble concentrating and stopped putting much work into any of this. Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and I’m not sure it’s something we ever completely finish working through.

But losing Marlow also changed the way I looked at my own life.

We all know life is short. We hear it constantly. Then something happens that makes us really feel it. A death, a diagnosis, or some other loss reminds us not to take our time for granted.

For a while, we pay closer attention.

Then life gets busy again.

With Marlow, I didn’t want to go back to rushing through my days. I didn’t want to skip the walk because I was busy. I didn’t want to spend an entire day looking at a screen and realize I had barely noticed anything around me.

I wanted to be there for my family. I wanted to be there for Mozzie while he was still here. And I wanted to be here for my own life.

Live Like a Dog became more than a shirt or a reminder. It became the way I wanted to live.

Be present. Find joy in ordinary things. Love fully. Stay curious. Take care of yourself. Keep going when life gets hard. And be comfortable being who you are.

I don’t do all of that perfectly. Not even close.

Outside of Live Like a Dog Today, I love fitness, being outdoors, learning new things, making sourdough, and yes, watching reality TV. I’m in a season of trying things without needing to know exactly where they’ll lead.

Some days I do a good job of slowing down and taking it all in. Other days Mozzie still has to remind me.

I’m not an expert who has life figured out. I’m just someone paying closer attention to my habits, my choices, my dogs, and the ordinary moments that are easy to miss.

If you’re trying to do the same, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Live Like a Dog. One day at a time.