His and her dogs

4/3/2024

With two dogs in the home, Morgen and Monty Stenroos decided they needed a larger home with a fenced-in yard. They found a home in Grimes where dogs Zaika and Aspen can roam freely in their backyard.

Morgen’s dog, Zaika, is a mixed breed mutt and originally lived with Morgen’s sister. Her sister’s other dog and Zaika didn’t get along, so she gave Zaika to their parents to take care of her.

However, when her parents moved to Florida four years ago, Zaika stayed with Morgen, and she fell in love with the dog. It was now Morgen’s dog.

As a youth, Morgen had many pets including dogs and cats on their family’s hobby farm in Minnesota. She was also surrounded by goats, chickens, quail, ferret, hamsters, rabbits, emu and guinea pigs. When she moved out on her own, she had a guinea pig. 

“It passed in 2020. I was really sad. They are social animals,” Morgen said.

Shortly after that, she got Zaika. 

“It’s a great companion to have around,” Morgen said.

Monty’s dog is Aspen, a plott hound. He obtained Aspen as a puppy, a descendant from his grandparents’ dog in Wisconsin.

Aspen is a fierce hunting breed. 

“Her siblings were bobcat and bear hunters. She’s gone hunting with them in Wisconsin,” Morgen explained. 

When hunting, Aspen wears a GPS tracker in her collar. Monty’s grandfather has baits on hunting property. If the bait is hit, they let Aspen take off. 

“She stands by the base of the tree. They are trained to hunt the bear. For example, if it goes up the tree, hunters know where to go on the map as we watch the GPS signal,” Morgen explained. 

The GPS collar has proven to be entertaining, even when not hunting. 

“We download a map of an area, and we watch her run around on the map, taking off, chasing squirrels or rabbits.”

The two dogs at home get along and play well together, yet they aren’t affectionate with one another. 

“We separate them if Aspen gets riled up. They don’t cuddle; they just co-exist.”

They’ll take Aspen to dog-friendly spots where they can have a beer. 

“We can’t take Zaika. She gets too anxious.”

The cold, snowy winter was tough on Aspen. 

“Aspen hates the cold. She keeps barking and wants to go outside. But once she’s there, she barks to come right back in,” Morgen said.

Both dogs provide companionship, entertainment and snuggles. 

“Now that Zaika is getting older — she’s 8 now — she’s cuddlier. Aspen will snuggle and let you pet her once she settles down.”

She and Monty are delighted with their dogs and the new space for them to romp around.

“I feel like I’d be bored without them,” she said. “They are like part of our family.” ♦