Who Runs This?

I'm sure you came here for cute dogs, but I'm going to have to disappoint you for today's post. Today, it's all about Danielle, AKA The Dog Mom. The general story of how I got here isn't exactly exciting, but it's still mine, so here it is.

I was born in Michigan and spent the better part of ten years there before my small, tight-knit family found its way to sunny Southwest Florida. My immediate family consists of my Dad, my younger sister, and my Grandma. Typical story: did well in school, was a pretty responsible kid considering how much freedom I had by the time I was a teenager, and loved animals, any animal. I was the quiet one in the corner reading yet another book about horses or the latest installment of the Warriors series surrounding the imaginary politics of being a wild cat. I tried once to hide two kittens I'd found on the street from my Dad. I failed. Turns out those kittens had a home anyway, but in hindsight they probably shouldn't have been out roaming like that... but anyway...

I don't feel like I really became a "dog mom" until Thor came around in 2008. Thor was my soul in furry, four-legged form. Until somewhat recently, I wasn't sure I'd ever love another living thing the way I loved him, and maybe I still don't, but it's damn close. Thor and I had 11 years together before I had to say goodbye. He was a German Shepherd of we'll say "questionable breeding" and his struggles with Degenerative Myelopathy proved to be more than either of us could bear. He was survived by his litter-mate, Tiny, who we said goodbye to a week before their 13th birthday, and their buddy Loki who passed suddenly in January 2022. When Thor was sick, there wasn't much I wouldn't do for him. We tried various harnesses, supplements, foods, massages, whatever. It was then that I probably started to be known as the crazy dog lady.

I love German Shepherds still, but when I was ready for another dog to come into my life, I wasn't quite ready for it to be a German Shepherd. I used to be a runner (I'm getting back to it now, I hope), and I wanted my next dog to be a running partner. I also knew I wanted a dog a bit smaller than a German Shepherd for a whole slew of reasons. So an Australian Shepherd was a natural choice. I did my research and felt fairly certain I knew what I was getting myself into. That's how Grimm came into my life. He'll get his own introductory blog post, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

When I'm not obsessing over dogs, I'm an English and Yearbook teacher. It was taking on the Yearbook part that made me realize I might actually enjoy photography and graphic design, but I quickly found out that I lack any actual training. But that doesn't stop me from taking the cameras home and trying to get perfect shots of all the pups.

I'd say one of my greatest strengths is that I'm painfully honest and transparent, which I think makes me relatable. I'm not afraid to look stupid or make a mistake or ask a question that probably has a really obvious answer. My weakness might be the fact that my particular brand of mental health comes with just as many highs as it does lows. For every great idea or moment of motivation I have, there's a dark cloud or lazy afternoon lurking right around the corner. I'll get it done, whatever "it" is, but timelines aren't always my jam.

My short-term goals feel pretty simple: gain some photography and design abilities, get back to running consistently, continue building my social media presence, and improve my dog handling skills.

When I think about long-term, I envision training for the half marathon I never ran, running the pack on some trails, getting Grimm his AKC Trick Dog titles, getting Reaper to be more tolerant, taking an RV full of dogs around the country to visit National Parks, and knocking out at least one intentional mile in every state (bonus if I can do it with a dog).

If you've made it this far, you're an absolute trooper. I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas. Reach out to me any time on Instagram @herrunningtails or email me at herrunningtails@gmail.com

Thanks for reading this tail, and hopefully many more!

Danielle & The Pack

P.S. Here are some old running pics for proof... and accountability.