Dogs have always been a huge part of my life. My first experience with a dog was when I was about 3 and my grandparents (whom I spent a lot of time with as a kid) brought home a German Shepherd Puppy. From then on, I was pretending I was a dog, playing with the dogs, & eventually training, caring & working with dogs as my career.
Hope, a Jack Russell Terrier, came into my life a little over 8 years ago. She was born on my bed in the wee hours of the morning as the “middle child” (her mom had 3 puppies & she was the 2nd to be born). We decided to keep one of the puppies & Hope was the one! Her and I have done it all together: traveling, hiking, camping, flyball, modeling for Petsmart, etc. She is truly my “heart dog” and I do not know what I would do without her. She was my inspiration for starting my blog & documenting our adventures on social media. I could play fetch with this girl for hours and she would never get tired. She is the best cuddler & always seems to know just when I need her most. I almost lost Hope last year due to a Rattlesnake Bite while out on the trail. Thanks to good friends, coworkers at the animal hospital I work at, & a lot of prayers she pulled through & is still here with me today. She has taught me so much, 
specifically how to be strong & never give up.
Chappie is my little terror. He is an almost, 1yr old, Australian Shepherd. We brought him home last June after deciding Hope needed an adventure buddy. Chappie has taught me to live life to the fullest. He always goes at things with full speed ahead & no regrets! He still has a lot to learn, but already knows how to sit, wait, down, shake, speak, jump thru my arms, weave thru my legs, and do basic math. Yes, Math. I ask him, “What’s 1 +1?” and he barks twice. “2 + 2?” He barks 4 times! He is so smart & loves to please! He is as much of a velcro dog as Hope is.
Chappie and Hope are both my little shadows and I love them SO much. They make life so much more interesting & help keep me going even on the toughest mountain trails & through life’s toughest trials. You can follow our adventures on Instagram: @prospectorpups or on Facebook as well. There, you can find links to our blog & read our posts about our lives together!
