Woof, we're Charlie and Millie
Charlie
Charlie, our resident Ravenclaw, is an Australian shepherd who thrives on both physical and mental challenges. She delights in road trips, is a whiz at frisbee, absolutely loves to show off for an audience, and will do anything for top-notch snacks! Charlie has lived in Utah, Ontario, and now California. She has travelled by car and plane, and although she has loved ones in multiple places, California has stolen her heart! The literal moment we crossed the state line on our move down here driving from New York, she could smell the Sierras and was MEGA excited, having visited only once as a puppy. She couldnāt settle down until we got to a local dog park in the Bay Area three hours later lol.
This creative genius has boundless energy, but that energy is typically reserved for after 10-11am. She earned the nickname āGrumble Beanā for getting really grumpy with puppy Millieās energetic nonsense way too early in the morning. As Charlieās aging, she seems to love slow mornings more, she likes taking the time to wake up now! Unless she gets to go for a morning walk or hammock, she stays under the bed grunting at pestering Millie until sheās ready to greet the day!
Once sheās up, Charlie is always teaching herself new tricks, like her latest ādouble wave,ā purely out of desperation for treats. She has also been learning to play beach volleyball with us and her current high score is 3 rallies back and forth!! Proudest pet parents over here and itās only going to get better š
When Charlie isnāt camping or otherwise conquering the great outdoors, she LOVES to unwind by watching her favourite shows and movies like Avatar The Last Airbender, Korra, Moana, and Shrek. We watch Avatar and Korra so often that Bryce and I finally decided to switch things up and watch the Italian versions. At least this way we get some language study in, Charlie included! Of course the experience isnāt complete until Charlie peacefully dozes off with a ball in her mouth and legs fully stretched back like a little bear rug.
If anyone has suggestions for TV shows, please feel free to let us know on instagram!
Millie
Sweet and sensitive, Millie is our mischievous Hufflepuff who might dip her toes into a bit of assholery before love and fairness triumph in the end. Born and raised in California, she made our lives more complete the moment she arrived. Millie refuses to be anywhere without her family together, if weāre nearby but not physically together, she wonāt stop herding us until we are! Like any border collie, she is wicked intelligent and strategic, āwork smarter, not harderā is her main motto! Millie also loves stealing Charlieās favourite toys just to get under her skin or to take back a ball Charlie stole by making her jealous. Who knew weād end up teaching our dogs about empathy and manipulation? But here we areā¦ borders gotta bord š
This sassy and goofy girl is all about comfort, whether itās her memory foam beds, pillows or hammocking, which has now become a weekend ritual. If Millie doesnāt get her hammock time, she throws a full-on tantrum. Spoilt? Absolutely. But with her charm, who can resist?! Sheāll ask to be swung and sleep there for hours, even trying to swing herself sometimes. Her VIP experience wouldnāt be complete without a pillow, blanket, and music or Harry Potter audiobooks playing in the background. Like we said, spoilt AF.
Millie thrives outdoors with her humans, whether playing hard, diving fully under water to grab a toy, walking, vacationing, or hiking.. provided Bryce will pick her up or she can hop into the wagon when sheās ready to collapse! Her first camping trip was quite the adventure, she looked like a deer in headlights approaching the tent, then flew back into the car and refused to leave until she had no choice. By the end of the trip, she was hooked and now eagerly hops out of the car excited to explore the campsite!
Millie loves using her brain. Sheās been catching frisbees like a pro since she was 3.5 months old and has a knack for solving puzzles, even naming and finding her toys. Millie looks forward to her favourite daily routines including morning fish oil and nightly dark snackums, followed by taking her role as the middle spoon between us very seriously!