🫣Would you ever choose a small dog?
“About six months into having him, Jonny ran out the door looking for me, but I wasn't there. He ran up the busy streets in Los Angeles and my friend chased him down a side street. A gardener who was outside picked him up… He bit the gardener and sh*t on my friend…”
Like people, every pet is unique. They come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments.
And while certain breeds might have distinct characteristics, each individual also has a one-of-a-kind personality
So when you’re used to one type of pet, branching out might bring up some uncertainty at first.
That’s exactly what happened to Jeannie Assimos–content creator, taco connoisseur, and dog lover–when she first sought out a new companion…
Because her soul dog, Jonny Cash, ended up weighing 140lbs less than what she was used to.
Way different than a gentle giant
“It did cross my mind. ‘Am I going to connect the same as with a big dog?’ It is absolutely the same. He's just been my little partner in crime.
…I grew up in a huge family and was always surrounded by tons of people… Then I was with roommates. Then I got married. I never was alone. And then at 40, I'm suddenly living alone… but I didn't feel alone. I had him. He’s my little companion, and there's so many joys with having a little dog I didn't know anything about.”
To Jeannie, the perfect dog was always on the larger side.
When she was a child, her family dog was a 150lb Bull Mastiff. A true “gentle giant,” he was trusted around her toddler-aged sister without second thought.
Fast forward to adulthood, she and her then-husband had an energetic, playful Australian Shepherd.
Life without a big dog just felt off.
So after spending some time adjusting to single life after a divorce, Jeannie knew she needed a dog at home again.
First, she decided to foster a pit bull. The dog was sweet, until a serious scuffle happened with another dog over a ball.
That moment made her realize, depending on the breed, a bigger dog might require a more “alpha” owner. Jeannie didn’t see herself in that kind of role, so she pivoted.
She was quickly introduced to the Pasadena Humane Society, where she learned they had just saved dozens of Miniature Pinchers (Min Pins).
Visiting the facility a few times, she felt she found the perfect dog.
It wasn’t the first she had her eyes on, but her friend convinced her Donny (now Jonny Cash) was the one.
Adjusting to a small dog
“I took him home and I let him out of the carrier, and he went and hid behind the couch. I just said, ‘Hey, your name is not Donny, your name is Jonny.’ Donny reminded me of Donny Osmond and I'm like, that's not cool.
..I pulled him out behind the couch and I told him, ‘You and I are going to be best friends, and there’s no need to hide from me.’ And honestly, from that moment forward he was by my side. He's been like my little soul dog.”
At the shelter, Jeannie was told Jonny isn’t very trusting at first but once he warms up, he’ll be very loyal.
And slowly, as he became more comfortable at home, she watched him embrace his full personality.
“Initially I think he was so shocked, like, where am I? Then, he just joined my crazy life and goes with me everywhere now.”
Within a few days of coming home, he got to explore Venice Beach with Jeannie and her friend, who had a pit bull puppy, Santo.
Jonny quickly decided he would be Santo’s boss (and bestie, of course!).
When at home, he found ways to keep Jeannie on her toes.
At first, he didn’t bark at all. Now, he barks at everything.
One day, he decided he wanted to play with the dog next door…
“There was a knock on my front door and a guy asked, ‘Do you have a little black dog? Because he's in my yard right now chasing my dog around.’ He dug a hole and went into the neighbor's yard. I didn't even know!”
Another time, Jeannie wasn’t home but some friends were staying at her place. They opened the door and Jonny rushed out.
They caught him, but not without a fight. And now, her friends will often remind her of how “terrible” he was when she first got him.
But when her boy is so sweet, she doesn’t remember that at all.
Special moments with mom
“With small dogs, you can take them to more places, you can dress them up, you put gold chains on them… I've been putting him in clothes from the minute I got him.”
The first weekend when we were in Venice Beach, I got him a little Nine Inch Nails rocker t-shirt and was like, ‘This is your new life, Jonny. Enjoy!’”
Because Jonny is fun-sized, Jeannie quickly realized how easily she could incorporate him into her life without making much adjustment.
He’s been on a plane with her to go visit family (though he doesn’t love that much). He’s been all over California to explore new places.
And no matter how busy life gets, Jeannie makes sure there’s always time for “Jonny-mom days.”
Sometimes that looks like visiting Carmel Beach, their favorite spot where Jonny loves the dog beach.
Other times, that looks like quiet dates, where Jonny sits on her lap while she gets her nails done. He puts his little head on the table and intently watches the nail tech.
And Jonny-Mom days aren’t complete without Starbucks.
“I take him to get a pup cup and when we're going in the door, he knows he’s getting a special treat. He’s just so happy with a little whipped cream on his face. It’s the cutest thing ever.”
Even day-to-day life feels more meaningful now that Jonny is in it.
Jeannie has noticed how he gets excited over even the smallest things, like going for a walk.
And she loves how his presence is a constant reminder of how joyful life can feel when we focus on being present with the ones we love.
A love like Jonny’s is the best kind of love
“I mean, it’s just the way he looks at me. Even in the car, he wants to sit in the front seat next to me and will look over at me like I’m his world… And every morning, he comes over and he licks me in the face and wakes me up. Every morning without fail.”
The love we feel from a pet is unlike anything else, and Jonny makes sure Jeannie knows she’s his human.
When Jeannie relaxes on the couch at night, Jonny has a special spot right next to her where he can bury under the blanket and be close.
He tends to be a little protective of his mom too, whether it’s from his little brother… Or from people.
Just a couple years after getting Jonny, Jeannie was dating and there was one guy in particular that Jonny didn’t like. He would even growl when he heard his car coming.
People say dogs are a good judge of character and it turns out, Jonny was right. That moment helped Jeannie see just how connected Jonny felt to her.
And in return, she’ll do anything for him.
Around five years ago, Jonny started having seizures. Even though the drive was far, she took him to a special dog cardiologist.
His heart was fine, but he ended up having gallbladder disease and needed special food and medicine.
But she didn’t blink twice. Anything for Jonny.
And since he’s older now (almost 14!), she knows their time together may be coming to an end.
To help keep him feeling youthful (and so she’s not alone when his time comes), she got him a little Min Pin brother, Brando.
“We've had him for a year and Jonny still won't play with him. Jonny's like, ‘I want nothing to do with you. I don't know why you're here.’”
A little dog with a big impact
“Did I ever imagine what this would bring? No. I've been a creator and a writer my whole life, so I've really gotten into taking photos of him and sharing his little persona through Instagram… He's kind of developed this little ‘bad boy that won't ever settle down’ persona so that's been fun.
But the connections I’ve made because of it… The whole thing has kind of taken on a life of its own!”
Since Jonny became Jeannie’s little companion, her life has changed for the better.
Whether he’s enjoying the fresh breeze on a morning walk or running around sniffing seaweed on the beach, Jonny is a constant reminder to slow down and find joy in every moment.
She finds he’s even helped shape her as a person too. Living in LA and having worked in Hollywood, it was easy to become self-centered…
But with Jonny (and Brando), she’s able to get outside of herself and care for another being. Now, she’ll put their needs before her own.
When Jeannie first started sharing Jonny’s life on Instagram, it was a creative outlet to share this love she has for her pup.
She never imagined he’d impact her life online too.
She’s taken Jonny to dog birthday parties and to dog surfing competitions (where a fellow Min Pin was competing!).
Since Jonny’s account naturally attracts dog lovers, she’s had conversations with people she never would’ve connected with otherwise.
A couple of them have become some of her closest friends. They’ll meet at the dog park or go to breakfast… all because their love of Min Pins brought them together.
Jonny’s impact has spread to other parts of the country too.
A woman in Florida sends him gifts for the holidays. And when she was sick and in the hospital, she had pictures of Jonny in her room.
And because Jonny’s become a little icon online, Jeannie can now use his popularity to help more dogs in need.
“I didn't know anything about the rescue world before Jonny. I didn't know anything about shelters. But now, having a lens into that world, I share dogs all the time on his Instagram. There's a couple rescues out here in LA that I donate to because I know exactly where the money's going.
Because of Jonny, I'm really an advocate for people rescuing and adopting.”
Whether you’re a fan of big dogs or the small dogs have your heart, they have certain routines and needs they’ve gotten used to since being in your life.
But if you had to step away for a few days, would someone know exactly what to do to keep them happy and safe?
If something happened, could someone confidently step in and take your place?
Putting a Cotl plan in place ensures your pet is taken care of, just the way they’re used to, no matter what.
Discover how the process works or book a call directly with Sean, our founder and CEO, to see what a plan could look like for you.
