My world revolves around my girls. Of course I do give myself a mommy's day out every now and then, but Leia and Rey are my priorities. (Yes, I'm a Star Wars nerd.) I’ll get into our backstory another time: how we met, how we came to be in each others keeping, and I promise to post a ton of adorable, fluffy, puppy photos. But for now, here’s a glimpse into everyday life with my Aussie babies.
Australian Shepherds: arguably the smartest breed, and I’d say their second dominant trait is their endless energy. While I sit here Steeming, Leia (the blue merle and my eldest) is bringing me every toy in her toy-box one by one. She rarely gets tired, and she loves to play…always. She’s happiest when doing anything interactive and energetic.
Meanwhile, Rey (the red tri and my youngest) is passed out on the bed. Don’t get me wrong, she has her fair share of energy, too; but Rey knows how to relax and enjoy a good nap after a day at the park. Rey’s lower energy level could be due to her being half English Shepherd, or it may just be that they are different dogs with completely different personalities.
Being the adopted mom of two energetic dogs is a great way to stay in shape. Roughly half of my daily exercise comes from walking the girls and taking them to the park. Our regular place is roughly a two-mile walk, round-trip. My favorite park, however, is in the Coronado Cays. It’s paradise for Mommy and doggies! The dog park is right across the street from the beach, so I get to enjoy the lovely view while throwing toys for the girls.
Leia’s current favorite toy is the Air Dog Squeaker Stick made by Kong. It basically looks like a bowling pin made from a tennis ball. I got it for free at work and she has gone bonkers for it! If we go to the park without the Air Dog, Leia will frantically stick her nose in my backpack to look for it. Then she’ll look at me with sad puppy dog eyes as if to say, “What’s the deal, Mom? You forgot my favorite toy?”
Despite her passion, Leia is fickle. Once the Air Dog stops squeaking or the material tears, she’ll move on to a new interest. Rey on the other hand is consistent and always loves to chase the Chuckit Ultra Ball. She loves to run so I use the Chuckit launcher, which is a very handy tool that triples my throw distance.
I try to give my girls the best life possible, and making them happy makes me happy. I get frustrated with them sometimes, but then one of them will walk up and give me a random kiss and I melt into a puddle. Having a companion animal is a full time job and lifelong commitment. It’s also one of the greatest blessings. To any other dog parents out there, try to remember: your dogs may only be a part of your life, but for them, you are their whole world.
