So You Wanna Get An Aussie, Kid?

This post was originally published on March 12, 2022 on our old blog, ItsTheGrimm. Since originally published, I've learned that Grimm is actually an Australian Shepherd Mix (Aussie, American Pitbull Terrier, & English Shepherd).

Well, whoopty-doo.

Let's just go ahead and start by saying this: I know I've gotten ridiculously lucky with all of my dogs. My experience is mine, and yours will be yours. They're separate but equal, and both are completely valid. But this is our story, Grimm's & mine.

If you've read our previous blogs, you know I've been a hardcore German Shepherd mom for the last 13 years, basically half my life. After losing my heart dog, Thor, I started thinking about the things I wanted out of another dog and who I wanted to be. Let's be real, being in your teens is different than your early twenties which is way different from being in your late twenties. I've changed a lot since we first brought Thor home in 2008, and with my own changes come changes in what I need from those closest to me: dogs.

So, I think the real question is why did an overweight, self-proclaimed couch potato who stays home to "get her money's worth" get an Australian Shepherd?

Reason #1: Athleticism

I knew I wanted to be more active, because I'd been yo-yoing with my weight and my love of running for years and it was time to start getting serious about it. With that, I knew that I wanted to find a breed more suitable to running. A German Shepherd can definitely do the job, don't get me wrong, I just haven't had great luck with GSD's and their hips. Australian Shepherds and Border Collies were always as the top of the "best running breeds" lists, and I knew a Greyhound would leave me in the dust (I definitely wouldn't mind a sighthound one day though). I also liked the idea that because Aussies are a bit smaller than German Shepherds they can be ready to start run training a bit sooner. More research has shown me that even an Aussie being a bit smaller, it's best for Grimm that we still wait until after at least a year to start running together, and even then to go slowly and build up the mileage.

I'm not over here running marathons or anything, but I love the idea of my partner in crime being part of my fitness journey. I let my German Shepherds be couch potatoes, and it worked out just fine for the most part. But those rare times I wanted to go hit a trail or take a long walk, they weren't exactly up for the challenge. Thor was a trooper and would do whatever I wanted because I was his person, but it wasn't something he enjoyed doing on a regular basis.

Reason #2: Size

Which brings me to this part: I LOVE BIG DOGS!

But with big dogs, come big price tags and some back-breaking moves when it comes time to pick them up for any reason.

The price of pretty much anything medical is going to be more expensive if your dog is larger, it's just a fact of Big Dog Mom life. A lot of medications are priced by weight, and there's a heck of a difference between prices when we compare a 50lb and a 110lb dog. As a teacher (just as an adult in this economy, honestly), money is a big factor when making decisions, and with a dog it's no different. A slightly smaller breed made sense from an economic perspective, so an Aussie fit the bill there too.

I liked the idea of a smaller dog for a couple of other reasons:

Travel: I got a newer SUV, and it's a bit smaller than my old one. The idea of trying to pack a couple of huge dogs into it with enough bags to get us through a weekend getaway was a daunting concept. I'm not anticipating any flights with Grimm, but I'd imagine his size could come in handy there too.

Old Age: the general rule of thumb is that smaller dogs have longer lifespans (huge generalization, but roll with me here). I harbor a not-so-secret desire to have a Great Dane and another German Shepherd, but I'm not sure I can handle only having 10 good years with my dog again. I also know that mobility issues come into play with many older dogs, and I don't relish the thought of hoisting another 100+ pound pooch into the car or into my bed with me every day. I did that with Thor for years, and I don't regret a moment of it, but that doesn't mean it was easy.

The Intimidation Factor: People don't want to hear it, but when you have a big dog, especially a breed like a German Shepherd that's often associated with being aggressive, there's a lot of fear that you have to deal with. On more than one occasion it was very clear that the vet or vet tech or pet store associate was very uncomfortable interacting with my German Shepherds. I was asked more times than I can count to muzzle them for basic exams, despite the fact that they had shown no sign of aggressive behavior whatsoever. I don't find myself intimidated by any dog without a good reason, and even then, I usually just assume that I provoked or triggered the dog to lash out. But it doesn't change the fact that when you have certain breeds, there's a bias that comes with that.

Reason #3: Health & Wellness

German Shepherds, like all breeds, come with their own list of health conditions they're prone to, and I really just needed a break from the heartache that came from watching two of them whither away from Degenerative Myelopathy. It's hard, really hard, to watch your best friend's body stop cooperating with him when his heart and soul are still up for the fight. I knew I wasn't ready for more of that, and it just kind of felt like it was inevitable that I would have to deal with more hip, joint, and generally mobility issues if I got another German Shepherd.

Australian Shepherds have their own issues too, but in my research it just seems like they are an overall a healthier breed. With Grimm, I'm kind of rolling the dice since I found him from what would be considered a "backyard breeder", and I've since learned that he's a mix of a couple of breeds. The mixed breed aspect may be an advantage since he may not have as many markers for some of the scary conditions that are more prominent in purebred Australian Shepherds.

Thanks to becoming a bit of a "dog nerd" I feel like I'm a much better Dog Mom this time around. I'm doing a better job of keeping Grimm from doing too many repetitive and jarring movements, like jumping on and off the couch/bed or in and out of the car. I keep his play very organic and just let him do what feels good. I don't stop him from having a full-blown zoomie moment outside in the yard or from pouncing on me while I'm on the couch. I let him go nuts at the park and do whatever his instincts tell him to do. He does a nice job of regulating his own play, and it's my job to watch and advocate for him. I feel like I've set him up to be a healthy, happy dog with many beautiful years to come.

Reason #4: My Mental Health

This one might sound a bit weird, but stay with me.

One of my best friends had the very astute notion that it was a good thing I didn't get another German Shepherd, and her reason was simple: part of me would probably feel like I was trying to replace the ones I'd lost.

I'd never thought of it that way, but she's right. All dogs are unique individuals, it's why we love them. Because Grimm doesn't look like my old pack, I don't feel the guilt I thought I would when I got a new dog. It's not about replacing who I've lost, because that can't be done. It's about giving another dog the chance to love, and be loved by, me. Grimm is beyond unique, but he has a bit of everyone who came before him in his little soul.

• Grimm can be stubborn and aloof like Loki was. He can tell you just as much by looking at you as he could any other way. It's something in his soulful little eyes and the way he'll throw his own toy to play by himself.

• Grimm is sassy and tennis ball obsessed, just like Tiny. You could get Tiny to do anything for a tennis ball, and Grimm's not so different in that way. The love of a tennis ball is how I get half the decent photos I get of him.

• Thor was my soulmate and my protector, and Grimm's learning to be too. Not to mention, Grimm has a very similar addiction to plastic bottles for toys. They both had/have a similar desire to please me, and a gift for lighting up my world on the worst of days.

Having one 55lb package full of his own unique traits and those of the pack before him, it's done wonders for my sanity. Depression is a tough one, but I'm tougher. Grimm's very existence gives me purpose. I don't pour myself into 10-12 hour work days anymore, because I have someone wonderful waiting at home for me. I've really begun to think about what my life can be outside of just my day job. I want better and more, for me and Grimm. I'm through coasting through life, I'm ready to pack up our stuff and start white-water rafting through it instead.

Reason #5: He's Cute

I know that's not supposed to be a huge reason when responsibly choosing a pet, but damn if I didn't get a cutie! I kept coming back to the Craigslist add with his picture and thinking, "There's no way he's still there." And every time the breeder would redo the listing, there'd be less puppies, but there he was. How no one wanted to snatch him up, I'll never know, but for that, I'll always be grateful.

I was made for loving him,

and he was made for driving me crazy every day.

Thanks for reading this tail, and hopefully many more!

Danielle