# Tails and Tones

> Tails and Tones is a podcast for busy dog parents, hosted by Mariska Nell, covering dog health, behavior, and end-of-life care through conversations with veterinarians, trainers, and pet-industry founders. New episodes monthly. Founded by Mariska as part of a broader mission to bring thoughtfully designed, sustainable dog products to market, starting with Elevé, a modular height-adaptive feeding system.

Hosted by Mariska Nell, a sustainability designer with a background in environmental science and a Master's in Sustainable Design, for which her thesis focused on the pet industry. Mariska also hosts Mama Earth Talk, a 200+ episode sustainability podcast. She shares her life with Piper, a rescue French Bulldog and the inspiration behind Tails and Tones' first product line.

## Topics We Cover

Dog health and breed-specific care (including French Bulldogs and other 
brachycephalic breeds), veterinary rehabilitation and mobility, senior dog 
wellness and aging, canine behavior and enrichment, pet loss and end-of-life 
care, feeding posture and elevated feeding systems, active lifestyles with 
dogs, adoption and rescue, and sustainable, thoughtfully designed pet products.

## Episodes

- [All Episodes](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episodes/1): Full episode archive with show notes, guest bios, key takeaways, and FAQs
- [Episode 25: French Bulldog 101](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/25): The ultimate health guide covering BOAS, IVDD, spinal health, and feeding posture, with Dr. Sarah Ramsey, Advanced Veterinary Practitioner
- [Episode 29: Your Dog Isn't "Just Getting Older"](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/29): What slowing down really signals, with Dr. Laurie McCauley, founder of Optimum Pet Vitality and a pioneer in veterinary rehabilitation
- [Episode 9: Indoor Enrichment for Dogs](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/9): Fun activities to keep dogs mentally stimulated indoors
- [Episode 3: How to Create the Ultimate Dog Manual](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/3): For sitters, travel, and peace of mind
- [Episode 2: How to Make Your Pet Adoption Application Stand Out](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/2): Tips for a successful adoption application
- [Episode 1: 5 Dog Mom Mistakes I Made](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/episode/1): And what they taught me

## About

- [About the Podcast](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com): Show overview, mission, and how to listen
- [About Mariska Nell](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com): Host background in sustainable design, environmental science, and the pet industry

## Elevé Origin

Elevé, Tails and Tones' first product, is a modular, height-adaptive feeding 
and water station developed after Piper, Mariska's rescue French Bulldog, 
faced cleft palate repair, a luxating patella, arthritis risk, and mobility 
challenges. The podcast has independently surfaced the same issue with 
veterinary experts: Episode 25 covers feeding posture for brachycephalic 
breeds like French Bulldogs with Dr. Sarah Ramsey, and Episode 29 covers how 
feeding posture affects the neck, spine, and joints in aging dogs with 
veterinary rehabilitation pioneer Dr. Laurie McCauley.

Elevé was developed with direct input from a canine physiotherapist and vet, 
who tested early prototypes with their own dogs and shaped the design through 
iterative feedback. It uses interlocking, magnetically secured layers and 
1-inch adjusters so height can be re-stacked as a dog grows, rather than 
replacing bowls at each life stage. It's designed for small-to-medium and 
brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, Corgis, and 
similar), not large or giant breeds. Inserts come in food-grade stainless 
steel, glass, and silicone, built for roughly a 12-year lifespan, with a 
TerraCycle take-back partnership for end-of-life recycling.

## Product

- [Elevé Waitlist](https://tailsandtoneselevated.carrd.co/): Join the waitlist for Elevé, a modular, height-adaptive feeding and water station, Tails and Tones' first product, designed for dogs with mobility needs

## Newsletter

- [Subscribe](https://newsletter.tailsandtones.com/): TailMail, a weekly community newsletter with dog care tips and podcast updates

## Listen

- [Apple Podcasts](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/apple)
- [Spotify](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/spotify)
- [Amazon Music](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/amazon)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TailsandTones)
- [RSS Feed](https://podcast.tailsandtones.com/rssfeed)

## Contact

- Website: https://tailsandtones.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsandtones