Ellen Galvin's Blog, page 8

Working Dog Wednesday: Meet My Four-Legged Facebook Friends

You don't have to herd sheep or walk through the airport sniffing suitcases filled with dirty laundry to be an active working dog. (I do admire the discipline of sniffing dogs, however. I also like the reflective vests that they wear. Unfortunately, I'm much too easily distracted for that kind of work.)

Take me, for example. My job title is Director of Goodwill (D.O.G.) at the marketing company run by my Mom and Dad. I'm responsible for maintaining a sense of energy, enthusiasm and creativity in the office. I make sure that there are toys distributed evenly across the floor. And, I insist that my two-legged co-workers don't spend all day hiding behind their computer screens.

The truth is, every dog is a working dog because we all have important things to teach our humans (that is, if they are willing to listen to us). Read what my new Facebook friends have to say:

"Wilco and Keera have taught me the importance of siestas, lots of refreshing water, and taking the time to play and bounce around like a spring lamb. Makes the working day go a lot quicker." – Jesse

*****

"Chuck, the Chief Canine Officer or CCO of South Sound Hounds, makes sure that I get plenty of exercise on a daily basis—rain, snow or shine. He allows me no excuses. He also reminds me when it's time to take a break and play. Every two or three hours he will quietly bring his nylabone or ball over and put it in my lap and make gurgling Chubaca noises. LOL. All he asks is that we take 10-15 min for fun and then I go back to work refreshed and he goes back to working on his Zzzzzzzs." – Megan

*****

"My Boxers, Max and Daisy, don't get to go to work with me, but when I get home from a hard day's work (I work at a call center and get yelled at all day for stuff that is not my fault and make it right) these dogs take all that away with the wagging of their stubs (a.k.a. tails) and the smiles on their faces. Nothing beats getting home and being greeted with such excitement and joy that no matter what kind of day I had, they make it all melt away. They also help me take my mind off the stress and take delight in the little things. Like when a butterfly dances in the air above their heads, it's an event!" – Renee'

*****

"Loving Lady Lana has taught us that no matter what your life was before, be grateful for what you have now. She was a rescue, and her life before coming to the lap of luxury here was no picnic, yet she always has time for kisses, loves, comfort and play. With the recent loss of her brother Barley she has been extra specially loving and comforting to us, even though I'm sure she is grieving too." – Heather

*****

What does YOUR dog teach you about working smarter and being happier?

Put Your Paws to Paper – Why Old-Fashioned Thank You Notes Make You Stand Out From the Pack

What's so great about dogs? We are experts at appreciation! Notice that I used the word appreciation, and not gratitude.

Humans tend to lump gratitude and appreciation together, but a dog will tell you that there is a difference. Think of it this way: Appreciation is gratitude in action. It's something you feel from the tip of your tongue to the end of your tail.

Personally, I show my appreciation by doing the famous boxer "kidney bean" dance. That's when I wind myself into a half-moon and wiggle my stub tail while dancing sideways across the floor like a crab. It's my own silly way of showing appreciation for even the most basic things in life—shelter, food, water and belly rubs. Oh yes, and cheese. I love cheese.

Admittedly, the boxer kidney bean dance isn't appropriate for most people. But if someone does something nice for you, you should acknowledge their effort and express your appreciation in a genuine way. This sounds obvious, but I've observed enough human behavior to know that this sort of personal and professional consideration is surprisingly rare.

So what should you do? Phone calls and personal visits are nice, but nothing beats a good old-fashioned thank you note. And while an electronic "thank you" is better than nothing at all, I can tell you from experience that humans go ga-ga when they find a nice, personal handwritten letter waiting for them in their mailboxes.

Yet as much as humans love getting thank you notes, few bother to send them out themselves. That's a shame—for the price of a greeting card and a first-class stamp, you can automatically differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack.

My advice is to set aside a time each week to write a few notes of appreciation. You don't have to write an essay, either. Just a few well-written and heartfelt lines to let someone know you are thinking about them and that they are not just a bunch of bits and bytes in your contact management system.

(If you are whining about your terrible handwriting, then do what my Dad does and subscribe to an online service like SendOutCards which lets you send greeting cards with the click of a mouse. You can even submit a handwriting sample and a signature to make the cards look as close to handwritten as possible.)

So what's the story behind the picture at the top of this post? Well, one of the groups profiled in my book is Delta Society, a non-profit that improves human health through service and therapy animals. Last year they invited me and Mom to attend Portland's annual Doggie Palooza event with them. It was a lot of fun, and I even sold a few books—a portion of which went to Delta Society.

Mind you, we're not talking a lot of money. We barely broke $100. We did a lot more schmoozing and drooling than selling. Still, a few weeks later I got a personal, handwritten card from Douglas Day, Director of Major Gifts at Delta Society. (The picture is a copy of his card. It is a reproduction of artwork drawn by a 13-year old girl who works with her dog as a registered Delta Society Pet Partners therapy team. )

He said he was delighted, yes, delighted, to receive my gift and assured me that it would make a remarkable difference in many lives by enabling Delta Society to share the healing power of animals. Then, he said that I was adorable—just like his own boxer, Tessie! (Okay, I admit that I focused on the word adorable for quite some time.)

The point is that Doug's note was classy. It made me feel good. It made my Mom feel good, too. In fact, she's had it under her desk blotter for the last three months. Everyone wants to feel like they are making a difference, and it doesn't take much to acknowledge other people's efforts and actions.

How about putting your paws to paper and writing your own note today?

Chickens With Attitude, Or How to Challenge Assumptions

If you haven't heard, urban chicken farming is hot—especially here in Portland. In my neighborhood alone, there are nearly half a dozen coops that my mom has to avoid when she takes me on my daily walk. No matter how hard I try, I can't control the urge to go on a chicken chase…

That's why I thought it was funny when my friend Kyoko Nakayama Johnson, owner of Waialua Doggies, told me about a series of chicken workshops that she helped organize for fellow dog trainers on the Island of Oahu. Led by dog trainer and author Terry Ryan, workshop participants use reward-based clicker training to shape the behavior of chickens.

Why chickens? Supposedly, they are faster than the average dog which helps the trainer improve his or her timing and coordination skills. They'll also balk if they don't like the way that they are being treated. More important, since most dog owners or dog trainers don't have any experience working with chickens, they don't bring the same emotional baggage to a training session as they do with their pets.

According to Poultry in Motion's Terry Ryan, "If you can do wonders with a chicken, you can do wonders with your dog." (Click here for a Honolulu Star-Advertiser article about the workshop.)

To me, the underlying message is this: Stay curious and playful. Open your eyes and find new ways to look at old problems. Set aside your old assumptions. Approach each relationship with a clean slate.

This doesn't mean you have to start breeding city chickens in your backyard (please, no more cocky chickens who taunt me from across the sidewalk). Look to your loyal, four-legged friends instead. A dog can walk the same route a hundred times and we'll still stop to sniff whatever catches our fancy. It's like we've never been there before.

There is a saying, "In the beginner's eye there are many possibilities, in the expert's eyes there are few." Fortunately, we dogs see ourselves as perpetual beginners. We see everything as new, so everything has possibilities—even if it involves chasing chickens down the street.

The Power of PAWSITIVE Thinking (and How Wine Can Help)

I'm an optimist by nature—after all, I am a boxer. I'm also a dog, and dogs have known about and understood the "Law of Dogtraction" long before humans turned their own version into the subject of mega-selling books and videos.

The principle is simple: You attract into your life the things you think about. That doesn't mean that I can stare at a jar of peanut butter and make it fly off the kitchen counter and into my wide-open and eagerly awaiting jaws—no matter how often I try. That's ridiculous. (If you've watched the highly annoying The Secret and saw the scene with the lady and the necklace, you'll know what I'm talking about.)

Instead, I focus on the things in my life that are positive. It doesn't matter if they are big or small. Today, it only took a small ray of sunshine coming through the window to make me wiggle my little nub tail with delight.

It also helps to look for the humor in every situation. I like to think that I'm teaching my humans a lot in that regard. (Hey, it wasn't my fault they didn't put the toilet paper away. It takes effort and talent to unravel the whole roll and use it to decorate the living room.) Fortunately, they think my antics are pretty funny. My behavior also gives them plenty to talk and write about.

All of this said, I also know that reality sometimes bites. Sure, I believe in silver linings, but I also live with humans in the real world. No matter what the positive-thinking gurus say, the idea that a positive and cheerful attitude alone can make everything better is a recipe for disappointment.

The truth is that the problems of the animal world and the human world are gigantic. Sometimes, they make it difficult for anyone, dog or human, to feel like they can make a difference. The "big picture" can be so overwhelming that it makes a sensitive dog like me want to run to the backyard, dig a hole and bury her head.

So what's the secret to staying motivated when things get tough? Baby steps. If you want to tackle a complex issue or challenge without becoming overwhelmed, you have to focus on the things you can do right here and right now.

For example, my mom wants to feed, foster and adopt every single rescue boxer whose profile she reads online. Most of their stories are heartbreaking, but sometimes there is not much that she can do personally. Fortunately, there are rescue groups like Legacy Boxer Rescue in Texas with volunteers who pour their hearts and souls into their work. That's why Mom and I are happy to be donating 40% from the sale of each book to them (click here for details).

Of course, the folks at Legacy Boxer Rescue take their work seriously—but they also know how to have fun (after all, they live with boxers!). This Saturday, February 26, they are going to celebrate their seventh anniversary with a wine social in Plano, Texas. My mom is disappointed because Plano and Portland aren't anywhere near each other. This is, after all, a woman who never says "no" to a good wine social. But that doesn't mean we can't help spread the word...or raise our glasses in solidarity.

But if you live in Texas, you like wine and you love boxers (who doesn't?) then please check it out. All of the proceeds will help boxers in need. And, don't forget to bid on my "pawtographed" books at the silent auction.

Cheers!

Portland Boxer Meetup, Or How I Used the Internet to GET OFF the Internet

Humans like to say that it's "every man for him (or her) self." That's ridiculous. Take it from a dog: It takes a pack of colleagues, coaches, mentors and friends to build a successful life.

My own pack is made up of hundreds of dogs and humans. I've met many of them around town at dog parks, street fairs, the veterinarian's office, the pet supply store and the corner café. My network also includes people and pets I've met online.

I love making new friends so much that it makes me sad to know that there are humans who isolate themselves in their work and their jobs. For those who work at home or are stuck in a cubicle all day long, it's an easy trap to fall into. But humans, like dogs, are pack animals who aren't meant to go through life alone.

So why are so many humans lonelier than they were just 10 years ago? Why are there people who have dozens or even hundreds of Facebook friends and Twitter followers yet nobody besides their pets to confide in?

I'm not saying that technology isn't cool. Thanks to the Internet, I don't ever have to leave my house to meet other dogs and their people, something I appreciate on a cold, rainy winter day when I don't feel like getting my paws wet and muddy at the dog park.

But really, what's a little mud on the paws? The strongest relationships are those that develop away from the computer. Sometimes, you just have step outside of your digital bubble and make real-life connections…even if you have to use technology to make it happen.

So that's what I did today—and boy was it fun! (And yes, there was a LOT of mud.) Thanks to Meetup.com, I joined a boxer meetup at a local dog park. At first, it was a little overwhelming. Can you imagine the kind of energy generated by dozens of boxers who've been cooped up all winter long? We could have generated our own power plant!

But the sun was shining, the people were friendly, and nobody tried to steal my little red ball—all of which made for a great day. So here's my advice for this long President's Day weekend: Log off the computer, get out into the real world, and meet up with friends old and new.

How are you going to get your paws muddy this weekend?

Working Dog Wednesday: Emmi the Pug

Meet my friend Emmi. Doesn't she look very happy with herself? That's because she's smug as a pug...and she deserves it!

Emmi is a sweet rescue pug who lives in Las Vegas and is anywhere from 8 to 10 years old. Nobody knows her exact age because she was abandoned in an apartment without any food or water. Fortunately, she was rescued by a great organization called www.rescuepugs.com, which is how she eventually made her way to her two-legged mom, Claire.

Emmi is also a certified therapy dog who visits patients at the local hospice. I wrote about Emmi in my book because she and her mom didn't just dream about creating a meaningful life—they made it happen.

You see, becoming a certified therapy dog is a multistep process that requires time and commitment. Emmi and her mom began the process by studying the legal issues surrounding hospice care and learning all about the needs of patients, their families and the staff.

Next, Emmi had to take a practical exam on topics like obedience, following commands, ignoring distractions and interacting with other dogs, people and situations.

Finally, Emmi and her mom went on three supervised hospice visits. It took dedication and hard work, but now they are certified to visit the hospice on their own, where they bring love and comfort to patients and their families in very trying times.

The moral of Emmi's story is that she and her two-legged mom had a plan and they doggedly stuck with it. They didn't just dream about living a meaningful life, they created one.

What's your plan?

Slobbery Boxer Kisses for Valentine's Day and Beyond

Ah, Valentine's Day. A day of romance. A day when humans show their love for each other with chocolate and roses.

Do dogs care about Valentine's Day? Well, chocolate is toxic and roses belong in the garden (where naughty boxers like me bite the buds off the stems and run crazy circles around the yard with our ears flopping in the wind and the soft, velvety rose petals flying out of our mouths).

The truth is, every day should be Valentine's Day. Our job as dogs is to remind people that it feels good to share affection and appreciation 365 days a year. And while gifts are nice, nothing is more precious than the gift of time. Life is short (especially in dog years, sniff, sniff) so take a moment out of your busy life to tell your two-legged and four-legged family and friends how much they mean to you.

(Of course, we dogs won't object if you spoil us a bit this February 14th.  Personally, I'm hoping for a day at the beach with lots of breaks for cheese snacks and belly rubs.)

Slobbery boxer kisses,

Bella

P.S. A special shout-out goes to my new "boy crush," Sarge. I think you can agree that he's waaaaaaaaay cuter than that Justin Bieber kid!!

Bella Dawg vs. Eminem for Grammy Fame

The word around the dog park is that Eminem is going to take home all the top prizes at tomorrow night's Grammy Awards. Since I'm forced to listen to the bad '80's music that my Mom likes so much, I can't really tell you whether Eminem's nominations are well-deserved (although I'm sure they are since the critics seem to be unanimous in their approval).

In any case, I thought it was appropriate to dig through my blog archives and repost a rap song that I wrote in 2008. Sadly, I wasn't signed by any record labels back then...maybe this time around? 

yo, yo
fellas,

my name
is bella.

i'm a boxer who raps,
(in between naps).

firecrackers,
weed whackers,
car jackers.

the noiz is all 'round,
makes me bark like a hound.

mama's gonna send me to the pound
(not really).

xoxo,
bella dawg

Grab a Leash, Walk Your Dog…and Exercise Your Hippocampus

I love going on long walks with my humans. With the weather getting better, they've been taking me on afternoon strolls around the neighborhood (usually to the local coffee shop so that Mom can fuel her caffeine habit). Other times they load me up into the Subaru and we drive to nearby Mt. Hood or the Oregon Coast for a day of outdoor adventure.

If you've read my book (you'll dig it, I promise), you'll know that I spend an entire chapter barking about the benefits of physical exercise. Let's face it: Since dogs and humans started hanging out together more than 12,000 years ago, we've both become more sedentary. Unfortunately, dogs weren't bred to spend 18 hours a day napping, and humans weren't designed to sit on their bums for hours at a time.

According to Dr. James Levin of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, today's humans suffer from "sitting disease" and burn anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 fewer calories per day than they did just 30 years ago. Well, guess what? If you are sitting, then your pets are probably sitting, too. No wonder 44% of dogs in the U.S. are either overweight or obese!

Okay, okay. I'll admit there are some days when all I want to do is indulge my inner canine couch potato (even though, technically, I'm not allowed on the couch. Notice the word "technically.") Still, nothing rouses me from a deep slumber like someone dangling a leash in front of my nose and saying, "Let's go for a walk." Suddenly, it's off to the races.

Luckily, walking is one of the easiest ways for dogs and humans to get into shape. According to a new study, it might improve memory, too. That's because regular walking can expand your hippocampus. Your hippo what?! Your hippocampus…the part of the brain that forms memories and helps you remember where you hung up the dog leash and stashed the poop bags.

So why aren't you outside walking?

"I don't have a dog."
Volunteer to exercise a neighbor's pet or to walk dogs at the local animal shelter. Most shelters desperately need people who can give dogs the physical activity they need to say healthy, happy and adoptable. (Our local Oregon Humane Society even has a "Running With Dogs" program for humans and dogs with energy to spare.)

"I'm too busy."
Pick a time of the day and mark it on your daily calendar. It takes 21 days to form a habit, and walking is a good one to have.

"These stretchy pants make me look fat."
You can't find a more supportive, nonjudgmental and dependable walking partner than a dog. We don't care where you are going, what you are wearing or what shape you are in—we're just happy to tag along and keep you company.

"I don't feel like it."
Here's the deal: Your dog doesn't feel like dressing up for Halloween but he does it because he loves you and it makes you and all your YouTube friends crack up. Now lace up your sneakers and take your best friend outside.

Dogs are tangible, butt-wiggling reminders that regular physical activity is a basic and instinctual need. With enough exercise, we are happy, relaxed and confident. Without it, we're anxious, stressed and bored. Humans are no different. So the next time you need to blow off some steam, lace up, leash up and go for a walk.

Wanna come walk with me?

Bella 'Sez: This Valentine's Day, Get Out and Play!

Okay, how fabulous is this cover? Notice the little heart-shaped bubble that says, "PLAY This Valentine's DAY, Page 12." Now flip to page 12 and... Yessiree, that's me!

My article on the value of play is in the February issue of the awesome Bay Woof, which is jam-packed with news for dog lovers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Like Portland, the Bay Area is a playful pet's paradise. I should know, because a few times a year my humans load me (along with my pillow, toys, treats, bowls, collars and leashes) into the Subaru and we drive down to visit family and friends. (The two-legged 2-year-old comes along, too. This is good because it means we stop for a lot of snacks.)

Fortunately, you don't have to live in the Bay Area to read my article because it's on Bay Woof's website.

Thanks for letting me contribute, Bay Woof. I'm honored!

(Credit for the cover art goes to www.paintedpet.net)