At Home with Sunday - Edith Nguyen, Pickles and Purl

Introducing At Home with Sunday - An interview series with creatives and their best fur-riends. Our beautiful pets bring us so much joy, love and laughter. In this interview series we will get to peek through the windows of creatives and their life with pets. We'll be hearing how wonderful and enriching life is with these furry friends, about the ups and downs of daily life, some pet quirks, and dreaming up the purr-fect day in/out. And now, enjoy the first interview with... yours truly! 

Introduce yourself

I'm Edith, and I am the owner of Sunday Pet Jumpers. I design and handmake one-of-a-kind pet jumpers using upcycled sweaters!

Introduce your best fur-riends

Pickles is 6 years old and a chug (chihuahua x pug), and Purl is 5 years old, also a chug mix!

How did you meet Pickles and Purl? 

Pickles is actually a gumtree dog. We adopted him from his previous owner who couldn't care for him anymore. I remember being so nervous the day that we picked him up because his owner said that he let her know if I wasn't a good person (i.e. bark and growl). I was worried he would know that I came to take him away! I have kept in touch with his previous owner, and funnily enough, Purl also came from the same owner. 

Is there something that drew you towards getting a chihuahua or pug breed?

I have a vague memory of having two chihuahuas when I was really really young. We had to give our chihuahuas away when my family moved interstate and we couldn't take them with us. We didn't get a family pet for a long time after that because we were always renting. Perhaps I'm drawn to chihuahuas because of that nostalgic connection. Fast forward to many years later as a young adult ready to adopt a dog. I knew I wanted to adopt a rescue and I was only allowed to get a small dog because we were renting an apartment at the time. Fate would have it that we met Pickles. 

Describe your routine on a typical day

I start the day with getting mine and the dogs' breakfasts ready. I turn on my daily drive stream (news and music) while I have breakfast. Pickles will then jump onto the couch to sit with me once I finish eating, and I'll check messages on my phone. Then we'll go for a quick stroll around the block, usually for 15-20 minutes for the dogs to check their pee-mail. When we get back home, I'll work until it's time to go to the dog park. We usually stay for 40-60 minutes unless it's too cold or the dogs just stand around. We usually get home when my boyfriend Josh also gets home from work. So I'll have a catch up yap with him and then I'll potter a bit more doing work or house things while he cooks dinner. We will then go for a stroll after dinner to wind down. Now that it's a bit chilly, I'll set up the heater and the dogs' beds into the bedroom alongside my side of the bed. And I'll put them into their jumpers for bed.

Having a pet is immensely rewarding and is also challenging. Tell me, what are some of the best parts about your relationship with Pickles and Purl?

Their loyal companionship, our daily rituals (morning routine and going to the park) and having them potter around the house. Pickles and Purl honestly keep my mental health in check and always bring a smile to my face. I just love seeing their cute little faces all the time.

And what do you find challenging?

Training never ever ends, you have to be patient and consistent with training. Also, managing their reactivity. They have leash aggression and also bark at people and noises when we are at home. So I always have to be alert when we are walking if there are any dogs approaching, or if we pass by a house with a dog too. It is always manageable, but some days I do struggle when I'm not feeling the most patient. 

What are your favourite things about Pickles and Purl?

I love that Pickles is my little shadow and always has to be nearby. But he also loves Purl - if he's not next to me, he'll be right next to her, squishing her on the one cushion they're sitting on. It's very sweet.

Purl does this thing where she loves to stand up and wrap her paws around your leg, just like a toddler hugging their parents. She also likes sitting in odd places around the house - like on a tall stack of cushions on the couch, or in a little nook in the garden with her head peeping out (maybe she's hiding from Pickles??).

It’s the weekend, and you have the whole day to spend with your Pickles and Purl. Describe the perfect day in or out with them.

We wake up and it's a beautiful sunny day. We have breakfast and listen to the morning news (of course). Then we meander down to the local dog park. I'll grab a coffee and pastry on the way. We'll see all of our fur-riends at the park. Pickles and Purl will play and play. We'll meander home. I'll potter around in the garden or craft while Pickles and Purl sunbathe. Then we'll wash up and have an afternoon snooze on the couch.

Bonus question: do you have a core memory of Pickles and Purl that you don’t mind sharing?

We used to live across from Victoria Park in Brisbane, which used to be a massive golf range. Every morning, we would do a big lap off lead while the city was waking up. Halfway through the walk, there was a bench where we would always stop and sit together for a bit. It had a lovely city view with the morning glow of the sun, we'd hear the birds tweeting and the distant hum of the cars on the ICB. I just have such a special memory of the three of us sitting on that bench in that moment, and the feeling of being at peace.