Ellen Galvin's Blog, page 5

Hairy Housekeeping Hint Makes For a Happy Human

I can't help it: I like giving unsolicited advice. Especially when it comes to helping busy people figure out how they can work smarter and be happier. My own humans zip around in a whir of activity that makes even a boisterous Boxer's head spin. 

Slow down, breath, stop multitasking, appreciate the moment, become more Zen... 

Oh, yeah, and stop obsessing about all the dog hair on the couch. (My mom can't be the only one who doesn't want to deal with dog hair on the furniture after a long workday. Amazingly, Dad claims not to see it. But Mom sure does...Every...Single...Piece...of...Dog...Hair.)

Mom's Machiavellian solution? Ban Bella from the couch (gasp)! That is, until she read a housekeeping tip in the appropriately named Good Housekeeping that actually works. It's pretty simple, too. Just put on a pair of rubber gloves, dampen them with water, and rub down the fabric. I can't vouch for other fabrics, but it sure worked on our hairy, canvas-covered couch. It worked so well that I'M ALLOWED BACK ON THE COUCH!

Thanks, Good Housekeeping. I think this falls into the "work smarter and be happier" category (and it got you a renewed subcription).

Working Dog Wednesday: An Interview With Newman, Photogenic Philanthropist

Welcome to 'Working Dog Wednesday,' where I interview dogs of every shape, size and pedigree. I believe that all dogs are working dogs because we all have something valuable to teach humans (if they listen to us, that is).

Today's interview is with Newman, who never fails to impress me with his sense of wit and his flair for fashion. Ladies, he is also a philanthropist. What's sexier than a man who looks good while doing good?

Ehem, anyway. Let's find out more about Newman…

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Bella: Tell people a bit about yourself, Newman.

Newman: My full name is Katandy's Calypso Moon Newman — or just Newman for short. I was born on September 9, 2007 and I live in Newville, PA. I have a little Frenchie brother named Roger and an English bulldog sister named Thelma Lou. We all hail from Katandy's Boxers and Bulldogs in Severna Park, MD. We are affectionately known as Katandy's Triple Threat although we pose no threat to humans or other living creatures.        

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Bella: You have an impressive resume as a philanthropist. What inspires you?

Newman: After a brief stint on the show circuit, I decided that I could make my mark on the world by giving to those less fortunate than myself. So, rather than pee away my weekly allowance in confirmation show entry fees, I decided to put it to better use by fulfilling my philanthropic aspirations.

Newman's Curriculum Vitae

Head Baker & Chief Examining Officer (CEO) – Brushtown Area Barkery

Baking delicious homemade biscuits is one of my primary means of fundraising. As head baker and Chief Examining Officer at the Barkery, I supervise production and personally taste a sample from every batch of cookies to ensure that the highest quality standards are met. Among the organizations that I donate to are the American Cancer Society, Dog Scouts of America, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.                        

In February 2009, after learning about a critically injured boxer, Sassy Mae, who was in the care of Adopt A Boxer Rescue (AABR), I set out to raise funds for her vast vet bills. In less than two months armed with only an apron and rolling pin, Mom, Roger and I waged war against Sassy Mae's vet bills raising $1,000 by baking and selling 3,224 homemade dog biscuits which we donated to AABR.

PlayPup – Model

My mug has appeared on bags of biscuits, calendars, and various other displays throughout the country while raising money for the less fortunate (two and four-legged friends alike). A copy of my 2011 Calendar can be viewed at Scribd or on my blog. Last year, we even won the $1,000 Grand Prize for a Howl-o-ween contest sponsored by BigDog.com.

Editor-in-Chief of Newman's Notes

While I do occasionally use my blog to solicit funds, it primarily serves as a tool where I provide entertaining and educational information on responsible dog ownership. For example, see my Puppy Public Service Announcement about weathering July Fourth fireworks with your dog.

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Bella: You are also active with Dog Scouts of America. What does the organization do?

Newman: Dog Scouts of America (DSA) is a national 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization founded in Michigan in 1995 for dogs and their people. The motto is: "Let us learn new things, that we may become more helpful." The more a dog learns, the more welcome that dog becomes in more places and becomes an ambassador for good training and responsible dog parenting everywhere he or she goes. 

Any dog can become a Dog Scout. The only requirement is that the dog and owner must be able to pass a test – very similar to the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test with the addition of a "Leave it" command, proving that the owner is responsible and the dog is well mannered and not aggressive toward humans and other dogs. 

I have been an active member of Troop 161 since July 2009. Part of our work includes community service and fundraising for charities in line with our mission. Since 2007, Troop 161 has raised over $10,000 for charities that help people and dogs, including the Salvation Army, local police K9s, and service dogs. Our troop members actively participate in educational and therapy programs for kids and adults. Oh, yeah, we earn badges, too!

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Bella: As if you weren't busy enough, aren't you getting ready for your IMPROV debut?

Newman: Yes! The first Dog Scouts sanctioned trial is going to be held in my home town on August 13-14. Mom has registered me in the novice category and I hope not to embarrass us too much.

IMPROV was created in the 1970s by Lonnie Olson and stands for Impromptu Multifarious Performance Requiring Obedience and Versatility. A different kind of obedience competition, it puts the emphasis on a dog's ability to perform cues as asked. There is no standard course or judging format. However, it does have standard categories of exercises like retrieving and touching strange objects that would be found lying around your house. Each time you go into a ring, you are required to do a different set of exercises which is what makes it so fun and challenging.

While IMPROV is supposed to test how ready dogs are to be useful in real life, the whole point is to have fun. It's also a chance for Mom to use her brain to get me to complete new tasks by using skills that I already know. So, basically she needs to "think outside the box of Milk-bones!"

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Bella: Last but not least, for such a busy dog, you handle things very well. What advice do you have for humans who are juggling to stay on top of all the responsibilities of work and life?

Newman: Don't sweat the small things. Life is too short to spend time worrying about things that don't really mean much in the overall grand scheme. Take for example this scenario: I'm at a fundraiser and I'm surrounded by delectable treats, including female boxers. I can't control my salivary glands, and I accidentally drool on my Navy blue sports coat. Do I go ballistic? Heck no (provided a tennis ball isn't in the room!) It's not the end of the world. Keep what's really important to you, like family and friends, close to your heart.

Wise advice from a wise dog. Thanks, Newman!!

Follow Your Intuition and Succeed

Dogs follow their own instincts—most of the time, anyway. Sometimes, we get carried away by the moment and forget to follow our inner voices which almost always leads to a "D'OH!" moment (to quote Homer Simpson).

I knew in my gut that I shouldn't trust that beady-eyed little duck.
But it was a hot summer day and the water looked so cool and inviting...

Yet here's the thing: It's better to goof than not to goof at all. Dogs and successful humans know that intuition is their friend. When we face choices and opportunities, we trust our instincts and we go for it.

In fact, intuition is more important than ever in this age of information overload. It's impossible to collect every single piece of information that you need to make a decision. Yet far too many humans procrastinate by saying they need all the details. Well, you'll never have all the details. Too much data can even make you forget what you were looking for in the first place.

My advice is to get the information you need to make a decision and then make the decision. Sometimes, good enough really is good enough. You'll never get ahead otherwise.

Just watch out for little yellow rubber ducks...they're evil!

Have you listened to your intuition lately?

Working Dog Wednesday: Meet Gracie, Bert & Maya From Olive

People assume that I'm a "he" instead of a "she." Perhaps it's a Boxer thing. After all, Boxers look more serious than silly. But I'm a girly girl at heart which is why I love pretty collars (preferably ones with pink flowers on them). And since Mom loves me, she ordered a new collar from Olive. Check it out:

Olive's owners, Barb and Gina, have the coolest eco-friendly products with the friendliest customer service. They also have the best employees—like Gracie, Bert and Maya, a trio of retail-savvy canines who talked to me about their jobs at Olive for this week's 'Working Dog Wednesday' column.

From left to right: Yorkshire Terror-er Gracie keeps the delivery folks in check and is the company's chief taste tester. Shih Tzu Bert keeps the peace and oversees operations from his bed. Poodle Maya takes care of the yard and makes sure the squirrels keep at bay and don't get into the bird's food (she admits to chasing pigeons, too). I'll let each one of them tell you more about themselves:

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Hi everybody, Bert here. My job is to pull down the day's orders from our shipping manager. Gina (my Mom) makes notes on every order (customer's pets' names, whether or not they've bought before, etc.) so that we can personalize a thank you card. After the orders are pulled from the system with names and personal info noted, they go to the packing area where product is pulled and packed. Each order is specially wrapped in green recycled tissue and every customer gets a snack or two with his/her order and a handwritten thank you note.

Because the Internet can feel so impersonal, the thank you card helps make the exchange a little more intimate and personalized, and lets the customer know how much we appreciate them shopping with Olive. Once my job is done, I like to curl up in a warm cozy spot and take a snooze. Fortunately, Gina shares her task chair with me so I can catch 40 winks during the 40+ hour week.

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Greetings! Everyone calls me Gracie, although I prefer Grace. That's because Gracie is a baby name and I'm almost 12. I'm the eldest around here and I make sure the others stay in check. I also troll the aisles and check out what's new and make sure that everything is tagged and catalogued properly. The worst thing is to accidentally send the wrong item to a customer. It doesn't happen very often, but humans are only human (dogs on the other hand would always get it right). Fortunately, we all like to quote Stew Leonard who said: "The customer is always right."

At lunchtime it's catch-as-catch-can which I don't mind but Mom gets stuck eating at her desk a lot (Bert and I have the same mom, Gina. She's always smiling and likes to make customers happy and their pups healthy). Anyway, thank gosh for 'Amy' who makes meals in little boxes that Mom microwaves. They're organic and quick to make. Me, I prefer a good Himalayan Chew. There's always stuff around here and I could eat it all—probably until I exploded, but Mom says I'd get fat. (To which I say, So what? Life is short!)

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Hey there, my name is Maya and I love going to work at Olive where play is always encouraged (as long as we don't get in the way of "The Flow," that is. Now, if I could just get someone to remember to leave the door open for me…). One of my favorite parts of the day is cookie packing time. Olive natural/organic treats are baked in small batches in a certified organic kitchen. They're human grade (at holiday time the people eat them too 'cause we don't have time to take a break). They're delivered in bulk and we pack them at Olive to ensure the utmost freshness. We all like to gather round when they're being packaged in case a morsel or two misses the bag. Score!

I'm also a model. During the cooler months, my Mom Barb makes me try on stuff so that we can see the fit. This helps us advise customers in selecting coats and sweaters for their dogs. Most stuff is made special for Olive, like the Joe Jacket in the picture that was handmade in Canada (although I'd appreciate it more if I lived in Montreal instead of Austin).

When I'm not modeling or taste testing, I chase rats with tails (Mom calls them squirrels). The humans complain about wasting a lot of energy opening and closing the door for me, but I'm teaching them a lesson in perseverance. I mean, in spite of the fact that I've never caught one, I don't give up. Kinda like Olive. We've had our ups and downs with the bad economy, but we keep believing in what we are doing and the importance of healthy products for pups like me. We haven't lost our passion. Kinda like the way Bert feels about cat treats. (I know, a dog's not supposed to eat cat treats. That's a whole 'nother story....) And as much as I love work, I also love going home. We all leave together. First bill of order when we get home is din-din. Yay!!

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So there you have it, a day in the life of Gracie, Bert and Maya at Olive. Visit them at www.olivegreendog.com and tell them that Bella sent you!

Why Writing Checks Is My Favorite Part of the Job

Usually, I do a "Working Dog Wednesday" interview with a fellow canine who teaches humans about working smarter and being happier. (I have a very fun interview lined up for next week, I promise.)

Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite work tasks: writing checks. Not the kind of checks that go to the electric company or (yikes!) the Internal Revenue Service. I have personal assistants who do that kind of dirty work for me.

Instead, I like to write the kind of checks that make people really, really happy. Like the hard-working volunteers whose organizations are part of my "Bella Gives Back" program. You can read all of the details here, but basically I give back 40% from every book that is purchased through my website (and where the purchaser chooses one of the participating non-profit organizations by entering the name of the organization in the field that is labeled "promotion code").

It's not always a lot of money, and I wish it would be more (hey, my book makes a GREAT gift for all your dog-loving, work-life-balance-seeking friends and coworkers!), but a volunteer from one of the rescue organizations reminded me that every little bit helps and every little bit is appreciated (she also said $250 is about the equivalent of four spays, how cool is that?).

Anyway, today's check is going to Adopt A Boxer Rescue. If you've been following them on Facebook, you'll know that they (and all the other rescue organizations) have their hands full taking care of dogs like Columbo, who was left for dead on the streets of Philadelphia but is being nurtured back to health with good food, good veterinary care...and lots of love. Get well, Columbo!

If you have any questions about the "Bella Gives Back" program, contact me and I'll get right back to you.

Wags and Wishes,

Bella

 

Spot Magazine Reviews Secrets of a Working Dog

One of my favorite local magazines is Spot Magazine so I was very excited to see a review of my book in this month's issue.

"Reading this book is a pleasure, and a great way to get thinking about ways to enrich your life." - Megan Mahan for Spot Magazine (read the full review here)

Also, if you live here in the Portland Metro area, please check out the big "Shine with Spot" event planned for July 30th in downtown Portland. It's a great chance for pet professionals and nonprofit owners to network and learn about social media while raising money the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund and the S.A.F.E. emergency pet fund. (Since it's being held in a fancy place and I can't really be trusted around savory hors d'oeuvres, I'll be sending my humans in my place.)

For more information about the event, visit http://www.spotmagazine.net/shine-with-spot/. Tickets for this fun afternoon of food, networking and great raffle prizes are just $30...tell them that Bella sent you!

Wags and Woofs,

Bella

Happy Fourth of July!

Working Dog Wednesday: An Interview with Princess Zelda

This week, I interviewed royalty. Was it Prince William? His lovely new bride? No, this week's 'Working Dog Wednesday' features my good friend Princess Zelda, the wise and witty superstar who is famous for her books, greeting cards, calendars, cookies and more.

Zelda is a diva, for sure. But she's a diva of the best sort and she always has time for her friends and her fans. She even wrote the foreword to my own book, Secrets of a Working Dog. Today, Zelda graciously agreed to talk to me about her latest project, a children's book called Princess Zelda and the Frog. Take it from me, this book is going to be a huge hit. My own 2-legged little sister insists that I read it to her five times a day!

Bella: Delighted to see you again, Zelda. I must say, you look fabulous. What's your secret?
Zelda: It's the tiara, darling. I think everyone should wear one!

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Bella: So tell me about your new book, Princess Zelda and the Frog. What's the behind-the-scenes story?
Zelda: Well, I decided that the classic Grimm fairy tale needed a little modernizing. It needed a bit of that "Zelda Zing," if you know what I mean. So I called up my creative team, recruited a few of my bulldog buddies, pulled together a wardrobe of fantastic costumes, and voila!—a gorgeous new fairy tale was born.

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Bella: What makes this such a special book for children?
Zelda: This is the first book for kids where real dogs dress up and impersonate humans. No cartoon characters here. It's just me—Princess Zelda—and my photogenic friends the Frog Prince, King Sour-Mug and Queen Lucille…wrinkles, underbites and all! We take our pint-sized readers (and their parents) on a fun and fantastic trip to Zelda Land.

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Bella: Is being a fairy tale princess harder than being a modern day princess?
Zelda: I love playing dress-up (oh, those silk gowns are heavenly)…but a fairy tale princess has to deal with so many rules and restrictions that it's positively stifling! A modern princess, on the other hand, doesn't have to be perfect. She can have fun, be herself and still be treated like royalty that she is.

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Bella: I understand you are very busy promoting the book. What else are you up to?
Zelda: True, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. In addition to promoting the book, I am working with my mom, Carol Gardner, to bring therapy dogs to children's hospitals across the country. I also work with the Morris Animal Foundation to support research to find a cure for canine cancer, and with the Banfield Charitable Trust's Pet Peace of Mind project which helps people in hospice stay together with their pets. It's not easy to juggle so many things at once, but true princesses always find a way to give back.

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Bella: With a schedule like that, how do you maintain your princess physique?
Zelda: My secret for staying sane is to work out and eat healthy. I have my own personal trainer and my mom spoils me with a yummy diet of brown rice, broccoli, chicken and pumpkin. Oh, and I get lots of pawdicures. A princess must always have pretty paws!

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Bella: Will there be more fairy tales in your future, Zelda?
Zelda: Well, I've been sworn to secrecy…but everyone knows that English bulldogs have loose lips so, yes, you'll be seeing more of Princess Zelda in the future.

Princess Zelda and the Frog (Feiwel & Friends, 2011) is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can get personally pawtographed copies from Zelda's website at www.ZeldaWisdom.com.

Check out Team Zelda's recent TV appearance on KATU's AM Northwest. 

A Father's Day Tribute from a Dog to her Dad

This Father's Day, I'd like to say "thanks" to my 2-legged Dad with some of the things that I appreciate the most about him.

I love the fact that my Dad knows how to:

Treat a lady.
Dad buys flowers for my Mom "just for the heck of it." This makes her very happy. For this reason, I like to surprise her with the occasional bouquet of roses, too. (Unlike my Dad, however, I can't drive myself to the florist so I bite the heads off the roses in the garden and deliver them to Mom's feet instead.)

Play like a dog.
If I pester long enough, Dad will step away from his computer and get down on the floor for a rambunctious game of tug-of-war. He doesn't mind breaking a sweat and he doesn't freak out if I slobber on his clothes. Although he rarely wins, I admire his dogged persistence and his playful spirit.

Cook like a guy.
Sure, I know that Mom has my good health in mind. But really, how many carrots can a carnivore eat? Thank goodness that Dad does most of the cooking in our house, because it always seems to involve BBQ chicken and cheese—LOTS of which ends up on the floor and in my bowl.

Best of all? I love the fact that my Dad, who never had a dog growing up and was skeptical about letting a four-legged creature like me into his life, gets up early to feed me breakfast. He builds a comfortable nest for me in the back of the station wagon whenever we go on long road trips. He tucks me in at night.

Oh yeah, and he doesn't complain when I jump up on the couch and wedge myself between him and Mom.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. May I have another piece of cheese?

Free Range Dogs & Bubble-Headed Humans; Or Why It's Not O.K. to Poop-and-Run in Portland, Oregon

My two-legged mom is like most moms. She embarrasses me sometimes. Take this morning, for example. We went for a walk through the neighborhood and turned the corner and nearly tripped over a yellow Lab, limping along the sidewalk looking lost and confused. Poor guy was having a senior moment.

Anyway, he needed a hug so Mom gave him one. She was trying to read the address on his tag when a Volvo lurched to a stop a few blocks away and a lady got out and shouted, "Oh, don't worry about him, he's free range." As she was about to drive off, Mom shouted back: "Yeah, so are you. Free range in the head, that is!"

Talk about embarrassing. But the stuff really hit the fan when we returned home and found a big pile of "free range" dog poop on our front lawn—yet again. While Mom was using every curse word known to man (and sailor dogs), I was running through the list of possible culprits in my mind. Was it the leashless dog that stampeded our front porch a few weeks ago and knocked my two-legged little sister down to the ground as she was leaving for preschool?

Or was it the dog who trails after the guy who jogs down our street in his bare feet? Apparently, this is the latest human craze (even though dogs have been running without shoes since the beginning of time). Anyway, the barefoot jogger wears all the latest high-tech running gear, he just doesn't wear shoes. For that matter, the doofus never has a leash or a plastic bag or a clue as to where his four-legged friend is or what he's doing.

Look, I'm not blaming my fellow canines. I would LOVE to be free range. I'd jump on old ladies (because they are nice and usually carry treats); I'd stalk squirrels; I'd chase all the neighborhood cats; and I'd never worry about carrying plastic bags because I could take an unencumbered bathroom break on somebody else's landscaping (seriously, who lets their dog take a dump on top of a neighbor's blooming azalea bush? And unless you are a Great Dane, how do you even get your butt that high?)

Really, Portland pet people, what's the deal? We are so lucky to live here. It's the dog friendliest city in the U.S. But people who take these privileges too far give responsible dogs (and their responsible humans) a bad reputation. And as lovely as our little neighborhood is, we still live in a city which means lots of people, plenty of fast-moving cars, and a pack of wily urban coyotes. Not to mention one very pissed-off person I'll call 'Mom.'

Why do you let your faithful four-legged friend wander around on his own and think that you are doing him a favor? Take him on a walk, go for a run, visit a dog park or give up your vanilla-caramel-latte habit so that you can pay for a few hours of doggie day care per week. It's called responsible dog ownership. (And don't tell me there isn't one near you. Portland has more dog parks and dog day care places per capita than most cities in America—combined.)

So here's my tip for maintaining happy human harmony: The coyote might go after your dog, but my mom will go after you—with a bull horn and a plastic bag. So please, for the love of dog, save us all a bit of embarrassment and be a role model for how dogs and humans can learn good manners from one another.

Wags and woofs,

Bella the Boxer