At Home with Scribe+Social’s Sonia Bavistock

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Personifying laidback elegance, Sonia Bavistock has risen in the ranks as an influencer to watch, and a wordsmith to admire.

From her stunning Adelaide home, Sonia crafts campaigns for artisan wineries, online boutiques and luxury businesses – often with her doting pup, Amalfi by her side.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Sonia’s blog, Sonia Styling, captures her day to day style – her sartorial picks for the season awaited eagerly by her devoted followers.

So of course we just have to know her favourite pet picks for a fashion forward fido friendly home…

How did Amalfi come into your life?

I’ve always been a dog lover and had dogs growing up, so when my then boyfriend (now husband) moved into together, I was adamant we’d get a dog. Eventually. He had a cat who was in his twilight years, so we didn’t think it was fair to introduce an energetic puppy into our lives at that stage. It wasn’t until a few months after he passed away that I broached the subject of getting a dog.

We’d come across Shetland Sheepdogs a few years prior to that, so as soon as we decided to get a dog, we knew instantly it had to be a Sheltie! Three months later, Amalfi was part of our family.

What’s the one thing you wish you knew before getting a dog?

How much they grab hold of your heart and become part of the family.

Amalfi LOVES to…

Eat! Non-stop. Anyone would think we never feed him. That couldn’t be further from the truth!

What’s your best piece of advice for dog owners who want to keep their homes looking good?

Invest in a cleaner – ha! We’re pretty lucky, Amalfi is a very neat little dog who doesn’t make a lot of mess. However, I’d definitely recommend having a good quality vacuum cleaner. But also? Embrace the fact you have a dog and incorporate their bed, toys, etc into your décor.

The #1 product you and your dog just can’t live without?

It would have to be his Kong. It’s the only way we can slow down his eating long enough for us to enjoy our meal in peace!

My dog is…

The heartbeat of our home.

Amalfi’s Favourite Things…

Bed: I’ve tried so many different types of bed with Amalfi and he has chewed up every single one of them! His current bed – from Kmart – he seems to love. I think because it keeps his body temperature at a comfortable level and I have his favourite blanket (from IKEA) folded inside it.

Treats: We don’t tend to feed him many treats at home, but on special occasions he absolutely loves from The Woofery.

Toys: Like any good herding dog, Amalfi loves to chase a ball (and stop it, but not bring it back – because that’s the way you play the game, right?!). He also loves soft toys that he can play tug of war with and get you to chase him around the house with!

Pet Bowls: I love this simple and adorable ceramic bowl from Kmart. It matches the décor of our house perfectly and is a great size for plenty of water.

Walking: Because Amalfi is so little and so fluffy, he wears a harness with a lead when we go for a walk. Classic black suits his style!

Shop the post >

Pet Lounge $20.00

Ceramic Pet Bowl $5.00

Pink Throw $119.95

Plush Bear Toy $5.00

Plush Bone Toy $3.00

Pet Harness $45.96