Random Post 2: Yogi & Milo

 For my second Random Blog Post, I want to share the story of my two beloved dogs, Yogi and Milo.

Yogi & Milo: aka "The Boys" 

They are Mini Australian shepherds and actually brothers from different litters! We got them both from an Amish farm, getting Yogi first, then for my 13th birthday, we somehow ended up back at the same farm where we found Milo. 

Looking at these two brothers, some found it hard to believe they came from the same parents since they were total opposites in both looks and personality.

Yogi: (aka Yogs, YogurtCup, Mr. Yogi, Yog-Master, Oddly, Tubbs) 

Yogi was the runt of his litter, a dark grey merle with short stick legs and small paws that somehow supported his tubby, oddly shaped body. With his small snout and brown eyes that had just a fleck of blue in them, he looked like he was stuffed like a sausage - which actually made him the perfect cuddle partner. He was a calm, affectionate, and emotionally-sensitive dog who liked to take life at a slow, easy-going pace. He was wise beyond his years – I like to call him an old soul, and was always there when you needed him (while making sure he got all his itches scratched in return). He loved nothing more than sleeping under the covers with you all night long.

Milo: (aka Meels, Milo-Man, Meats (short for Meatball), Tiddlywinks)

Milo was the perfect example of an Aussie - white merle pattern, slim and athletic with a large snout and big paws, and of course the highly desired heterochromia trait with one brown and one ice blue eye. But don't let his  beautiful eyes fool you - there isn't a thought behind them! He is what we like to call a "forever puppy" who knows nothing but bark and play fetch, most likely because we got him at 8 weeks old which was too young to be separated from his mother (hey, we didn't know! The Amish farmer just wanted to make a quick buck). Unlike his cuddly brother, Milo is a high-energy, attention-seeking, trouble-making dog who absolutely loathes being cuddled.

Together they had an interesting dynamic - the perfect mix of typical brothers and partners in crime. While Milo played fetch at the park, Yogi would be off sniffing the flowers. As you would expect from brothers, they’d have their occasional dragon fights (pictured below). 

Despite these brotherly squabbles, Yogi always took on the role of big brother, doing his routinely brotherly duties to clean Milo after every walk. Milo, when he wasn't trying to annoy his big brother, looked up to Yogi and followed his every move. 

Even though they differed in many ways, they were in the end true brothers, cut from the same cloth. Both loved to eat ice cream and had a shared intense hatred for skateboarders. They were even known as "the boys" at the dog park because they would gang up to herd the other dogs whenever their Aussie instincts kicked in. 

As we all grew up together, their story took many turns - our cat, Rigby entered and left the picture (pictured below), Milo became paralyzed in his back legs (but miraculously fully recovered), and their brief separation period after my parent’s split which helped them develop into their own identities (before reuniting with a stronger relationship than ever).  

Sadly, as I mentioned in my earlier post, Yogi passed last year, which was very difficult for all of us. While I wasn't with Milo after it happened, he too grieved in his own way and had to learn how to navigate the rest of his life without his brother. I can't imagine what he must have felt, but I know Yogi comes down to visit him to let him know he's never alone.

Growing up with Yogi and Milo was one of the best parts of my life. What seemed like opposites - a sensitive soul and an eternal puppy - created this perfect balance in our family, each brother filling in what the other needed. Through all our changes, from childhood to adulthood, from one home to two, they've been there making both the hard times and good times better just by being themselves. Even though Yogi is gone now, I try to be present and cherish every moment I have with Milo, while keeping all our memories - the ice cream sharing, the weekend reunions, the flower sniffing, and endless games of fetch - close to my heart.