Author

Melissa Gustin

Founder, Farmhouse Pet Supply

Melissa Gustin is a founder of Farmhouse Pet Supply, the Wisconsin family business she runs with her husband, Mike. They share their home with a Doberman, Riley, a Vizsla, Lexy, and a Siamese cat, Pandora, who is living proof that dogs and cats really do live together. They test every product with their own pack. Melissa writes Off the Leash on the day-to-day realities of big-dog life, house-training, senior care, and keeping a clean home, honestly and without the fluff.

Articles by Melissa Gustin

A gray-muzzled senior Newfoundland resting peacefully on an orthopedic dog bed

Senior & Aging Dogs

Senior Dogs and Nighttime Accidents: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and How to Help

Woke up to a wet bed? Senior nighttime accidents are common and rarely the dog's fault. How to tell incontinence...

Jun 4, 2026

A blue merle Australian Shepherd standing at the back door looking back to ask to go out

Potty & Pad Training

How Dogs Tell You They Need to Go: Reading and Teaching Potty Signals

Dogs signal before they go, sniffing, circling, heading for the door. Here is how to read those tells, teach your...

Apr 9, 2026