More: We call Nellie a “perma-pup” for how well she’s retained her cuteness. The fun of getting a mutt, is you never really know what you’re going to end up with. When we first got her she was a tiny puff ball, and at about 6 months old, she shed all the fluff and came out with this smooth long coat. She’s also much more petite than her siblings, with whom we’ve stayed in touch—one of them is over 60 lbs, where Nellie is only about 35. What she has always been is a sassy, sweet girl, and we love her an impossible amount!