Ace (pictured) and Penny Ace had been an only dog for four years, so he was a bit reluctant to share his mom and dad with Penny the rescue dog. It took a lot of patience, but now they play and play fight and chase each other around the house! Penny was found one Thanksgiving back in her mother's hometown, covered in fleas and picked up for allegedly chasing people. The country music mom was immediately drawn to Penny's red fur and funny colored left eye. Once pictures were sent to a certain hockey-playing husband, it was pretty much a done deal.
This singing human launched her non-profit, Checotah, Animal, Town and School Foundation (C.A.T.S) Foundation in 2009, the small Oklahoma town where she grew up and C.A.T.S. Happy Paws Shelter about a year later.
Meredith Grey Swift, Scottish fold Age: 3 yrs Meredith is a great traveling companion and named after her musical human's favorite character on Grey's Anatomy, Meredith Grey. She an excellent lounger and welcomes her musical human after weeks on the road.
Merle, English Bulldog Age: 4 yrs Merle and his traveling musical human met in Jacksonville, FL at the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" (aka for the Florida vs. Georgia annual college rivalry football game). Some folks were selling puppies from a radio flyer wagon and Merle was, "too cute and needed to grow up on a bus."
Barkley, Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier (Brown) Etta, Snorkie Schnauzer/Yorkie (Black) Ages: Barkley is 1 yr old, Etta is 2 yrs old Barkley is a perfect little gentleman with a small service bell he will ring for treats (who's trained who?!). His personality is laid back which is a perfect balance to Etta. She is energetic and affectionate giving kisses and hugs to everyone, dog or human. Both pups love to travel with their musical humans and play for hours together. Photo courtesy Thompson Square's personal collection
Moo Moo, Chihuahua A regular host of the Nashville Humane Association’s big Unleashed: Dinner with Your Dog event, this country music human loves animals and rescues strays while on the road. To keep the house from becoming a zoo, they've set a limit with three dogs and a python named Boots.
Sylo, American Bully (aka Pit Bull) Age: 1 yr Sylo was diagnosed as being deaf shortly after being born, so his loving human trained him using a variety of hand signals. Now as he has gotten older his hearing has started to develop slowly but he still responds to the hand signals. Sylo is a true road dog who spends his days lounging on the bus, and makes an almost nightly appearance on stage to appease his many fans...
Blade, Blue Pit Bull Best friend and a competitor himself, Blade is an American Bully Kennel Champion in the extra long division. A loyal sidekick, Blade often accompanies his Titan-player human to autograph signings and otherwise runs around the yard eating sticks and playing. Photo by Mandy Whitley
Recording artist, Luke Smallbone (for King & Country)
Buddy, nicknamed Bud, Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel / Poodle mix) Age: 3 yrs Bud is incredibly friendly and smart, and his humans found him preciouspups4u.com. With that cute face, who could resist him?
Bridgette (gold) and Duffy (black) Passionate about dogs, this pet-loving human has long been a rescuer and also created Bonaparte's Retreat to save dogs who were unadoptable from Nashville Humane Association. If you're in Green Hills in the morning you may see her out walking her pack of rescued pups through the neighborhood.
Blue, Bluetick Coonhound Age: 4 yrs Blue is one smart dog. With the help of a few treats, he can learn just about any trick. Current tricks? He can sit, shake, go down, roll over, bark on command, spin, crawl, and do a figure eight through your legs. Any time Blue sees a critter, he lets out his inner hound tendencies and howls about loud enough to break glass.
Willowbrand Joined the Shelton family in May 2014 The Shelton's are a mixed bunch of adoptees and rescues, Blake included. A true animal lover, this musical human is mother to six of her own (dogs, cats, horses) and an advocate to many more through TAILS (Texoma Animal Improved Living Society) in Oklahoma. Photo from @Mirandalambert
Wrigley Riggins Frey, Mini-Pincher, Chihuahua mix This pup was rescued from a shelter called Kimber's Critters, but you won't find him on tour with the musical humans because he hates car rides, but maybe that's because he knows what waits at home. Riggs leaps into action at the mention of the words 'chicken' and 'treat,' and can sense the opening of any refrigerator within a mile. If you can call it a trick, he is unparalleled in the art of hiding socks and an amazing builder of blanket forts!
Dede Klaver Hecht, Mini Schnoodle Age: 6 yrs Dede learned all her tricks in the first six weeks out on the road with her musical human. She can sit, shake, lay down, sit on her butt, dance, walk, and leave a treat in front of her until someone says OK. Dede is from the Wisconsin Humane Society, part 1,100 dogs who were rescued from a puppy mill. She comes from a litter of seven Mini Schnoodles and was the last one to get adopted (after the runt!). Dede loves the car almost as much as the park and she travels on road trips whenever possible.
Dug, Great Dane/English Mastiff Age: 4 yrs With a laid back and easy going temperament, Dug isn't really a fetch dog. The gentle giant scares a lot of people with his size, but he's harmless and always happy to see his hockey star human, no matter what's happening. Dug's best trick is to roll over and play dead when his human says 'bang!' Photo by Mandy Whitley
George and Jake (pictured) Who knew that Jake the pound puppy would one day be in the limelight — you may have seen him in a few of his country music dad's videos. You won't see much of George, he generally stays behind the scenes except for this Feel That Fire video.
Pollux, F1 Savannah cat Age: 3 yrs Since he's a domestic hybrid cat (cross between a domestic and large-eared wild African cat), Pollux can jump high enough to touch the top of the doorways in his house and once escaped for six days. His humans found him a couple miles away with a broken tail! With such an adventurous spirit, Pollux's humans are regular supporters of local Nashville animal hospitals. Photo by Kristin Joyner
Chelsea, Morkie Griffin, Maltese Ages: Chelsea is 3 yrs old, Griffin is 16 yrs old These two sweethearts are their momma's pride and joy and happen to be best friends with each other despite the age difference.
