If you’re a fan of Jess Murphy’s effortlessly cool dinner parties and perfectly styled tablescapes, you’ll know her beloved groodle Macabee is never far from the action. Corporate girl by day, hostess by night, Murphy is firmly in her dog mum era—and proud of it. We caught up to talk daily rituals, feeding well without the fuss, and the small habits that keep Macabee thriving.
Some love stories involve candlelit dinners and curated playlists. Others involve muddy paws and morning walks. For Murphy, Macabee has always been at the centre of it all. Recently celebrating his 10th birthday, their bond was years in the making.
“I grew up on a farm with working dogs and always knew I wanted one of my own,” she explains. “I spent 12 months researching breeds to find the right fit.”
When she spotted an ad for Macabee in the Trading Post, it felt like fate. So committed to becoming a dog mum, Murphy even swapped her apartment for a house to give him room to roam, though these days, Mac (as she calls him) rarely strays far from her feet.
We spend 98% of our time together,” she laughs, as Mac pads around just off camera.
But by the time Friday night rolled around, he was getting worried. He’d heard “absolute crickets” from his potential suitor, having messaged him the day before to confirm (as any good date should do). So he turns to fellow comedian, friend and Sydney local Lucinda Price (aka Froomes) for advice.
“We're having a bit of a back and forth at this point. She's like, ‘Keep me posted. Surely he’s going to respond. Surely you’re going to go out on this date.’ I’m like, I don’t know. I don't have a good feeling about this.”
An hour before dinner, the fateful message arrives.
Jess and Macabee prove that feeding well, playing often, and soaking up the little moments are all it takes to be a happy, healthy dog duo. And with Big Dog Pet Foods, you can make mealtime just as fuss-free, and just as tasty, for your pup. Check them out here.
This article is sponsored by Big Dog Pet Foods and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
When the saying “once bitten, twice shy” was coined—the creators didn’t take Louis Hanson into account.
A writer, actor, and comedian, Hanson is never one to shy away from an unplanned adventure, which is exactly how he found himself being ghosted by a man in Sydney—who’d done the exact same thing twice before.
We spend 98% of our time together,”
More than a pet, Mac has been Murphy’s constant through life’s curveballs. In 2025, she was made redundant from a job she’d held for seven years and broke her ankle the very same week.
“Mac was there through thick and thin,” she says. “Even when I was in a moon boot for four months, he would adjust his speed on our walks.” For Murphy, it’s those quiet moments that matter most.
“I’m big on daily gratitude, and every day I look at him and just feel so grateful he’s in my life,” she adds. “He’s brought me so much joy. Sometimes I just look at him and think, ‘Oh my God, I love you so much.’”
Between her 9–5, The Dinner Party Guide and a growing TikTok audience, Murphy’s schedule is stacked, but caring for Mac has never felt like another task on the to-do list.
Their mornings start early, just the two of them. By 5am they’re looping New Farm Park, usually ending at their local coffee spot where the iconic duo are instantly recognised.
“Everyone says hello,” she says. “One cafe is in a pretty tight space, but they’ll see him and say, ‘Mac’s here, we’ll move this table.’”
At home, Murphy, a confessed “helicopter mum”, is as discerning about Mac’s meals as she is her own. With food such a big part of her world, his diet was always something she wanted to get right.'
“I’m pretty picky with him, just like I am with myself,” she says. “I love a good ingredient.”
Still, she laughs, that level of care didn’t happen overnight.
“It’s been a learning curve,” she says. “I started him on kibble, and I used to give him treats that now I look back on and think, ‘Would I do that today? Probably not.’”
Like many modern pet owners, Murphy found herself overwhelmed by conflicting advice online.
“I went through this stage of seeing those plates on Instagram, with meat, egg, spirulina, all the little extras, and thinking, ‘Is this what I’m supposed to be doing?’”
But for Murphy, the pressure to curate the perfect bowl didn’t sit right. “I don’t have the nutritional education to be measuring out exact dosages,” she explains. “I’d rather have one product I trust that gives him everything he needs.”
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by a2 Milk™ by Anchor™ and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
To join Wright in recreating nostalgic noms and finding connection through food, pick up a fresh bottle of a2 Milk™ by Anchor™ and some of your favourite Kiwi pantry staples and hit the family kitchen.
By Morgan Reardon
Just The Two Of Us: The Simple Rituals That Keep Jess Murphy And Her Groodle Thriving
The Simple Rituals That Keep Jess Murphy And Macabee Thriving
18 March 2026
FEATURE
I’m actually just gonna have dinner with my mates tonight."
That’s where brands like Big Dog Pet Foods come in. Offering nutritionally balanced meals (Mac’s favourite is the lamb), it’s a simple way for Murphy to feel confident she’s doing right by him, without overcomplicating things.
Because for her, it comes down to responsibility.
A true collab between Brisbane-based dog lovers, Morgan Reardon sat down with dinner-party hostess and proud mum of Macabee, Jess Murphy to chat about just how special the bond between an owner and their pooch can be.
He’s taught me to be a better person all around, friendlier, more patient, everything.
They can’t advocate for themselves. We have to advocate for them. I’m in charge of this dog. I want to know I’ve made the best decisions for him.”
And it’s working. The proof? Just look at him.
“When people realise he’s 10, they’re shocked,” she laughs. “They say, ‘What? He looks like a puppy. He acts like a puppy.’
For Murphy, doing right by Mac now, especially when it comes to his health, means they get to savour the simple moments for years to come. And it’s those ordinary moments that mean the most.
“Every morning, just before five, I’ll hear him come into my bedroom and sit down,” she says. “He won’t jump on the bed until I say, ‘Come on, hop up.’”
“Then we have our morning cuddle for five or 10 minutes before I get up for our walk. It’s nothing special, just everyday stuff, but it’s my favourite.” Mac is rarely left behind, either. Family holidays are planned around dog-friendly stays, he’s been a regular fixture in her offices over the last decade, and he’s the crowd fave at her dinner parties.
“We have matching outfits,” she laughs. “He loves clothes and is obsessed with this green corduroy jacket. He’ll drag it out onto the deck and drop it in front of someone until they put it on him, even in summer.”
It’s these small rituals, morning cuddles, daily walks and dinner party cameos that define Murphy’s dog mum era, and we’re here for it.
More than a pet, Mac has been Murphy’s constant through life’s curveballs. In 2025, she was made redundant from a job she’d held for seven years and broke her ankle the very same week.
“Mac was there through thick and thin,” she says. “Even when I was in a moon boot for four months, he would adjust his speed on our walks.”
For Murphy, it’s those quiet moments that matter most.
“I’m big on daily gratitude, and every day I look at him and just feel so grateful he’s in my life,” she adds. “He’s brought me so much joy. Sometimes I just look at him and think, ‘Oh my God, I love you so much.’”
Between her 9–5, The Dinner Party Guide and a growing TikTok audience, Murphy’s schedule is stacked, but caring for Mac has never felt like another task on the to-do list.
And it’s working. The proof? Just look at him.
“When people realise he’s 10, they’re shocked,” she laughs. “They say, ‘What? He looks like a puppy. He acts like a puppy.’”
For Murphy, doing right by Mac now, especially when it comes to his health, means they get to savour the simple moments for years to come. And it’s those ordinary moments that mean the most.
“Every morning, just before five, I’ll hear him come into my bedroom and sit down,” she says. “He won’t jump on the bed until I say, ‘Come on, hop up.’”
“Then we have our morning cuddle for five or 10 minutes before I get up for our walk. It’s nothing special, just everyday stuff, but it’s my favourite.”
By Morgan Reardon
18 March 2026