January Dog of the Month: Theo The Mini Aussie

Happy JANUARY, DailyBarker!

Can you believe we’re already two weeks into the new year?! I felt like 2018 breezed by in the blink of an eye. Did y’all make any New Year’s resolutions or goals? Maybe joining our DailyBarker blog team is on your list of goals? Just saying, there’s always room at the table and we’d love to have you. 😉

I’m SO excited to kick off the very first Pet of the Month Spotlight with one of our newest contributors, Theo (and his mama, Alli)! Theo and Alli connected with me last year and I am beyond thrilled they are a part of the DailyBarker team. You’ll be hearing a lot from them this year on some fun topics. But in the meantime, let’s have you get to know this little ray of sunshine. Theo has SUCH a personality and cracks me up with his goofiness. Theo, take it away buddy!

What is your name?

Theodouris of the House Dadouris, King of the Master Bathroom, the Basement Couch, and the Patio, Master of All Adoring Strangers, Protector from the Squirrels and Burglars, Eater of Shoes and Dryer Sheets, and Son of Crazy Lady. You guys can call me Theo.

Where are you from? 

I live in the greatest city in the world, Philadelphia PA, home of the LII Superbowl Champions! Go Eagles!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am the definition of a basic pup. I like yoga, hiking, pizza, staying in and watching movies, and exploring my city (I bet this sounds eerily similar to your Tinder profile. Don’t worry ladies, I’m single.) On weekends I like to try out new brunch places and do zoomies in the dog park. Mom says I need to make new friends, so I do my best to sniff all the butts when I’m out, but between you and me, I’d rather hang out with the humans (they have all the snacks.)

Do you have any nicknames?

There’s a whole slew of names, ranging from cute to embarrassing. Theopatra, Theodious, Stinkybutt, Stinker, Bubba, Pup, Pupcorn, Puppernickel, Chunk, ChumbaWumba, Wiggle Butt, Wiggz, Booger, and Good Boy! For a while mom would call me “No, Bad Dog!” but she stopped calling me that when I stopped eating her socks, probably because it was a weird name.

How many years have you been on Instagram?

I’ve been out here grammin’ since March 2017!

What got you started on Instagram?

My coming home story is a bit different than most. I wasn’t an accident, but I was certainly unplanned. I’m the first pup in my family, and let’s just say Mom was a little clueless when it came to raising a puppy. Instagram has been such a huge resource to see what other dog families are doing out there, and it keeps Mom from raising me to be another Kujo. I’ve made so many friends through Instagram, learned about cool new toys, and met a whole group of Mini Aussies that are just as silly lookin’ as I am.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day begins around 6:45 when Mom has her phone play “The Circle of Life” to wake us up. If she’s feeling extra energetic, she’ll hold me over her head like Simba. I’m usually pretty sleepy still so I like to do a snooze for a few hours while Mom heads to work. She doesn’t want to leave, but someone’s gotta bring home the bacon.

Once she gets home it’s party time. I like to start by doing a few zoomies across the house to show off how fast I am and then it’s walk time. It used to be jog time, but we took a vote and decided no one really liked it. If it’s nice out, we’ll walk all the way to the dog park and I can play with my friends. By the time we get back it’s dinner time. Mom puts out food for me, but what she’s cooking usually smells better so I like to stand under her feet and make sure she knows I’m there to taste test.

Before bed, we do tricks for treats and that’s when I get to learn cool things like “high fives,” but not roll over because I get dizzy and don’t like it when my belly is out. Then I like to hop in bed and dig myself a fort in the blankets and fall asleep while watching Animal Planet.

What is your favorite travel spot?

Being a city pup is cool, but I love going to visit Nana and PawPaw in New Jersey. I’m the first grandchild, so they give me lots of treats and make sure I always have someone to play with no matter what time it is or how rainy it is outside. Their backyard is huge, so I can run all around and chase the ball really far! Sometimes I wake up early with PawPaw and we go for long hikes in the woods and we find cool sticks to chew on. There’s even a lake nearby that I go sniff at, but I don’t want to swim in it and mess up my fur.

If you could be another animal, what would you be?

I’d be a meerkat. I sort of look like one with my big eyes and little nose, and sometimes I smirk just like them. I even learned how to stand like them. I think I’d fit right in!

What is the one thing, you can’t live without?

Moosey! He was a gift on my first day home and we have been inseparable ever since. Sometimes I chew him apart and eat his stuffing, but that’s just how we play.

What is your favorite meal or thing to eat?

I love all food, if you couldn’t tell by my belly. My favorites are watermelon, pepperoni, cheese, peanut butter, ice cream, ice cubes, jerky, carrots, apples, tortilla chips, popcorn, and French fries. When I’m not eating human food, I like to chew on my bully sticks.

Tell us one random fact about you that no one knows!

My dream is to one day be a professional zoomer and run around Lincoln Financial with the big Eagle flag after they score a touchdown!

Where can the DailyBarker community connect with you?

You can get your daily fix of silliness by following me on Instagram @theo_the_mini_aussie or you can visit my blog www.itsalwayssunnyintheodelphia.com. So slide on into those DMs and let’s be friends!

Want your pup featured in our next Pet of the Month post? Learn more about submitting your furry friend here.

Alli Dadouris

Alli, 27, is a not a regular dog mom, she’s a cool dog mom. By day you can find her working at the University of Pennsylvania, but by night she’s navigating through what we like to call “adulting.” From tacos and margaritas, to spin classes and avo toast – whatever it may be, there is no one better than Theo to be by her side.