Peabody, The Mixed Breed Rescue

When Amanda Karkoutly’s last dog passed away in December of 2019, it was so devastating she wasn't sure if wanted another one.

“During the pandemic, I considered it, but then there was a large brush fire that came dangerously too close to my place in July of 2020. It was a miracle that it burned around me, and my building was fine,” she says. “That night, I was looking at a rescue site and saw Peabody’s sweet face and knew that was my dog. A week later, he came home with me.”

“That night, I was looking at a rescue site and saw Peabody’s sweet face and knew that was my dog. A week later, he came home with me.”

It was his sweet eyes that got her. Amanda wasn’t planning on getting another dog but reading his story and seeing him curled up in his foster picture made her feel connected to Peabody.

Read more about Amanda and Peabody’s love for each other and growth in this exclusive interview!

Dog Whisperer HQ: Tell us about Peabody.

Amanda: I adopted Peabody through the Labelle Foundation and it's just incredible to see his shelter picture compared to who he is now. I feel lucky to be a part of his happiness now. Peabody is now around five-years-old and, originally, the rescue had guessed he was a Maltipoo mix. He has a long body and short legs, so I presumed he was mixed with corgi or dachsund. Recently our vet suggested he looked like a Dandie Dinmont terrier and it floored me. He has silky hair, though, not fur (like the pure wiry Dandie) — he is definitely unique. He loves to go on long neighborhood hikes with a big grin on his face while he trots and people regularly stop to say how cute he is. Multiple people have compared him to Falcor from “The Neverending Story.”

Peabody before, at the rescue.

Peabody after.

“I adopted Peabody through the Labelle Foundation and it’s just incredible to see his shelter picture compared to who he is now. I feel lucky to be a part of his happiness now.”

DW: How is Peabody’s life now compared to when you first adopted him?

A: The rescue found him on the streets of Bakersfield with both eyes crusted shut, his hair like a long snarled shearling rug. They were able to get him double cherry eye surgery before I adopted him. You can still see his street life defenses sometimes: he is a bit jumpy still, and very able to defend himself when a person or dog approaches too quickly. At first, he barely allowed me to touch him, and only on the body. A year later, he'll cry when he wants to be in my lap. He loves to snuggle up close on the couch, he usually always has a paw touching me and now he loves having his face scratched. It's been remarkable to see him trust and accept love.

“He loves to snuggle up close on the couch, he usually always has a paw touching me and now he loves having his face scratched. It’s been remarkable to see him trust and accept love.”

Amanda and Peabody.

DW: What does Peabody bring to your life?

A: So much laughter… he's a clown. He's also a great protector and watchdog (big barks come out of such a short body) and just such sweetness. He's nothing but joy for me.

DW: What are your typical days with Peabody like?

A: If I sleep in, he'll wake me with a tail to the face when I start to stir. He'll have breakfast and we'll go out for a walk. We usually do two miles through the Hollywood Hills in the morning and stop and visit neighborhood friends along the way. He likes to pause at the overlooks and feel the breeze. He's such a curious dog; it's endearing. He'll sleep through the morning while I work, then we do a short walk in the afternoon. After his dinner, we do another long neighborhood walk and he knows exactly where his dog friends live and likes to stop to say hi to everyone. Then at night he alternates being sleeping in a ball on the sofa and then spreading out long on the floor until bed. He starts at the foot of the bed, and then usually I wake up to his head on the pillow next to me.

DW: What are Peabody’s quirks?

A: He's funny and he's always hungry. Peabody is very vocal; aside from his bark, he's a great communicator. For example, he'll lick his lips when he wants a treat and walk in place when he wants to go out. My favorite quirk is he'll spin when I guess the thing he wants. His tail doesn't just wag — it helicopters when he's excited, but his whole body gets into it and he'll move in a circle when he's happy.

DW: What are Peabody’s favorites?

A: He loves cucumbers and yogurt. He likes to be with me wherever I am, curled up on the bathmat while I shower. He isn't a chewer, but will shred toys, so he has a teddy bear made of rope and he likes to fetch with that. He then cuddles up with it when he's tired.

DW: Do you have sweet stories with Peabody?

A: I’ve enjoyed seeing Peabody relax over this last year, accept love and not always be on the defense. He's been such a wonderful addition. He's a great explorer too. I like to watch him discover new streets and areas. Taking him to the beach for the first time was special. He just stood, smelled the air with his eyes closed and then slowly wagged his tail.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing Peabody relax over this last year, accept love and not always be on the defense. He’s been such a wonderful addition.”

Indie Christmas, The Yellow Lab

Eleven-year-old Indie Christmas Uytingco (“Indie” for short) was born in Modesto, California. He's a Yellow Lab and is extremely loving and friendly to everyone and everything (except raccoons, ha). He's also very active, always wanting to play with his tennis ball and have an occasional wrestle. His parents Rob and Sally Uytingco wanted a small to medium sized dog but when we saw Indie at the rescue, they immediate thought he was beautiful and fell in love.

“The fact that his adoption name was ‘Christmas’ further enticed us,” Rob says. “When we finally met him, he was just so excited, curious and a little ball of energy, playing with his reflection in the mirror. Although knowing that he would eventually grow to be a large dog, the connection was there and we just went for it and have no regrets.”

Read this exclusive interview with the owner of the sweetest yellow lab around!

Dog Whisperer: Tell us about yourselves!

Rob: My wife Sally and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have always had dogs, and cannot imagine not having them in our lives. We are both UI/UX Designers that work from home so we are fortunate to spend all our time with Indie even during working hours. We also play in a band together called "Starry Eyed Cadet" where we gave Indie the honorary title of being our band manager. Our recording studio is also in our home so if you happen to listen closely to some of our songs, you can hear Indie contributing his talents by barking/singing in the background.

“We also play in a band together called ‘Starry Eyed Cadet’ where we gave Indie the honorary title of being our band manager. Our recording studio is also in our home so if you happen to listen closely to some of our songs, you can hear Indie contributing his talents by barking/singing in the background.”

Sally, Indie that band manager, and Rob. How cute!

DW: How long have you had Indie?

R: We have had Indie since he was three months old, so about 10 1/2 years now.

DW: Where did you first meet Indie and bring him home from?

R: Our first encounter with Indie was through the rescue group "Pups N Palz" based in Modesto, CA where we also picked him up from.

DW: What are some special traits about your dog's breed?

R: I think a lab's special traits include always being hungry, being super patient and loving with kids no matter how rowdy, always wanting to play, always being trusting and loyal to their parents, the ability to understand our moods (specifically sadness and attempt to comfort by snuggling and licking) and just always being extremely sweet. Indie has never shown an ounce of anger towards us even at his brattiest and always seems to look at us with adoring eyes even when we as humans are at our worst.

DW: What is your relationship with Indie like?

R: We are definitely a pack. Indie always makes sure he is in a room that either Sally and I are in. We relax together, play ball together and he takes care of us as we do with him. He literally comforts us during hard times and won't leave us until we are better. He sleeps at the foot of our bed every night and wakes up when we do. There is no doubt that he is family just like our siblings or parents. We love him to no end.

“We are definitely a pack. Indie always makes sure he is in a room that either Sally and I are in. We relax together, play ball together and he takes care of us as we do with him. He literally comforts us during hard times and won’t leave us until we are better.”

DW: What are Indie’s favorite activities?

R: Indie's favorite activity is, without a doubt, eating. He’s extremely food motivated and literally drops everything if there is food within reaching distance. A very close second favorite activity is playing fetch with his tennis ball while having a stuffed doll in his mouth. He literally needs to have a toy in his mouth in order to fetch his tennis ball for some reason. Very strange yet the cutest thing ever. Third would be another strange thing, sucking on his plush toy monkey as if it were a pacifier, to relax. We have a couple sets of monkey toys he's had since he was a wee pup and won't settle for anything else.

DW: What are your pup's favorite foods and snacks?

R: Indie's favorite food is Acana Meadowlands kibble (although he can eat anything and make it look like it's his favorite including veggies, except asparagus) and loves to snack on chicken jerky and sliced apples.

DW: Does Indie have any best friends?

R: We recently adopted a one eyed cat named Momochan from our dog sitter, Joyce, who fosters rescue cats for Saving Grace. During one of his stays with her, she noticed most cats stayed away from Indie except this little one eyed one that followed him everywhere. Indie seemed to enjoy her company as well. We thought about adopting a cat before but never pursued it. After seeing their relationship, there was no way we could pass on her, so we snatched her up right away and they've been living in near perfect harmony. We've noticed she sometimes likes to tease him, which gets him a little frustrated, but in the end, it's all love and play.

“We recently adopted a one eyed cat named Momochan... most cats stayed away from Indie except this little one eyed one that followed him everywhere. After seeing their relationship, there was no way we could pass on her...”

Indie and Momochan.

DW: What are some fun facts about your pup?

R: Indie's adopted name is ‘Christmas’ yet his birthday is on Halloween. He was named Indie for a few reasons. We noticed, as a pup, he was extremely curious and did a lot of crazy, sometimes fearless, exploration. We thought of naming him after Indiana Jones or "Indy" but we also loved the Indiepop genre of music. We jokingly called him "Indie Pup" so we decided "Indie" was the perfect name for all those reasons.

“We thought of naming him after Indiana Jones or ‘Indy’ but we also loved the Indiepop genre of music. We jokingly called him ‘Indie Pup’ so we decided ‘Indie’ was the perfect name for all those reasons.”

DW: In what ways has Indie grown since you got them?

R: Indie is not quite the fearless explorer he once was. In fact, he is quite the opposite and very careful of his surroundings and makes sure he does not knock things over or break things. Other than that, he really is still the energetic, excited, playful and the loving pup he was when he was a three-year-old just with a bit more white hair on his face.

DW: What’s it been like raising Indie?

R: Though we've had dogs as children, Indie is the first we consider our very own and our son. Having had to raise him on our own, bring him up at his brattiest and most destructive to the present where he is just bratty... but in the best possible way, he has made us really appreciate the endless love and joy dogs give. In these crazy times where we sometimes lose hope in humanity, Indie can just come up to us without words, with a sincere stare, a meaningful lean into our side and give a simple lick on the face to make us realize that pure love does exist. Even during our darkest moments, that can bring a smile and swing the mood pendulum to the other side. We thank our lucky stars for Indie every single day.

“In these crazy times where we sometimes lose hope in humanity, Indie can just come up to us without words, with a sincere stare, a meaningful lean into our side and give a simple lick on the face to make us realize that pure love does exist.”

Tofu, The Maltese Puppy

Tofu is a one-year-old Maltese boy. He's very playful, but a little shy at first, according to his mama Stephanie. Tofu's a Taurus and can be very stubborn at times (typical!). He's very food motivated and loves chicken so much that people aren’t allowed to say that word around him. “I swear he'd trade me for a piece of chicken,” Stephanie jokes. Read more about this adorable puppy in our exclusive interview!

Dog Whisperer: Where did you first meet your pup and bring him home from?

Stephanie: I’ve had Tofu since July 15, 2020. He is my quarantine baby. I first met Tofu at three weeks old. This was at the height of demand for dogs during the pandemic. I was on a waitlist for three months, and when I went to reserve a specific puppy, there were only two pups still available in the litter: the fattest pup and the smallest pup. Guess which one I choose? The fat one because he felt more durable and kept sticking his tongue out at me. 😛 I knew when I held him this was my baby… and he still sticks his tongue out at me every day.

“I knew when I held him this was my baby.”

Tofu just celebrated his first birthday recently!

DW: What are some special Maltese traits, and why did you choose this breed?

S: Maltese are very intelligent and Tofu can certainly be clever. He's gotten picky with his food even though he has only eaten fresh dog food his entire life. It's gotten to a point where he won't eat until he sees me mix in hot water and place a treat in the center of his meal. We are currently testing out different recipes, but will probably have to start a rotation so he doesn't get bored.

I used to dog sit my friend's Maltese and fell in love with Vanilla. Being incredibly lazy, I knew I could not handle a large, high energy dog, and what I really wanted was a needy lap dog. After looking into the breed, Maltese seemed like a great fit for my lifestyle and I'm so happy I made the right choice.

DW: What’s your relationship with Tofu like?

S: He's the love of my life and I'd kill for him. He loves me too, but I think he loves food more. We both have separation anxiety from each other, but it's okay because I work from home.

Related: Video on how to ease separation anxiety if you are returning to work post-COVID.

DW: What are Tofu’s favorite activities?

S: Tofu loves car rides and sniffing all the smells with the windows rolled down. He has a stroller so he pretty much goes everywhere with us. He loves to run zoomies in the dog park and play with the other dogs.

DW: What are Tofu’s favorite foods?

S: CHICKEN. Air fried chicken breast is his favorite. His whole body shakes when we even say the word chicken. He also loves prime rib, steak, blueberries, strawberries, bananas and peanut butter.

DW: Does Tofu have any best friends?

S: Tofu loves to play with his friends at the dog park — Hexie, Trixie, Winston and Coco to name a few. Tofu's best friend is his mom. ☺️

“Tofu’s best friend is his mom. ☺️”

DW: Do you have any funny stories about Tofu?

S: When Tofu was a puppy, up until seven months, he would wake up super early, climb onto my bed and slap me in the face with his paw to let me know he's awake and hungry. It's Tofu's house and I'm just living in it.

“When Tofu was a puppy, up until seven months, he would wake up super early, climb onto my bed and slap me in the face with his paw to let me know he’s awake and hungry. It’s Tofu’s house and I’m just living in it.”

Nomo, The Siberian Husky

When Lydia and her partner Jacky were quarantining and working from home, they wanted an additional family member that would lighten up the energy of their home. They wanted a husky because — as Lydia puts it — they just are so friendly and adorable. Nomo, their husky puppy just over a year old, brought them so much joy during those quiet days and beyond.

Dog Whisperer: Tell us about Nomo!

Lydia: Nomo is a very friendly and vocal boy who loves humans and friends, and gets along well with our cat Leo. They’re actually best friends. Nomo, like many huskies, is warm and energetic. He sheds A LOT, though, because huskies have beautiful double coats so it’s like they’re always wearing layers (they shed heavily twice a year usually). 

DW: From where did you meet and bring home Nomo?

L: We actually first met Nomo at a Petco parking lot in San Diego. We found Nomo on Craigslist after countless failed applications to shelters because we were living at an apartment, at the time. We also needed a dog that would be friendly to our cat. We’ve had Nomo now for almost a year and couldn’t be happier!

DW: What is your relationship with your pup like?

L: Nomo loves to be around us all the time. He is usually in the same room we are in when we’re working and loves resting under Jacky’s desk. We wrestle a lot together because Nomo loves his pull toys and he also loves running in circles in our backyard when we throw his ball (he doesn’t know how to play fetch yet!). We’d say we have a pretty nice relationship and there are rarely arguments with Nomo because he is generally a good boy! 

“Nomo loves to be around us all the time. He is usually in the same room we are in when we’re working and loves resting under Jacky’s desk.”

Nomo, Jacky and Lydia.

DW: What are Nomo’s favorite activities?

L: Nomo loves to look through our living room window with Leo and whine at our neighbor’s outdoor cat who doesn’t seem to care much about them (ha). He also loves to go on road trips with us and put his head out through the window to let the air splash on his face. So far he’s been to Lake Arrowhead and Joshua Tree with us. We recently introduced him to dog parks after taking some time getting him socialized with a trainer, and we are so happy to say he has grown so much in terms of socialization. The dog park is one of his favorite places now!

“He also loves to go on road trips with us and put his head out through the window to let the air splash on his face. So far, he’s been to Lake Arrowhead and Joshua Tree with us.”

Nomo and Leo being mischievous.

DW: What are Nom'o’s favorite foods and snacks?

L: Nomo loves his bacon treat from the pet store and also loves broccoli, rice and — on special occasions — steak! Though to be honest, Nomo is very food-motivated and loves all kinds of food!

DW: Does Nomo have any best friends?

L: Nomo’s number one best friend is Leo the cat, though he is constantly making friends at the dog park and is actually going to our friend’s dog Tofu’s birthday party this weekend. He is very excited! At the party, he will also catch up with Kana, an older husky that he’s hung out with several times already! 

DW: What are some fun facts about Nomo?

L: Nomo grew up with a cat before we had him so he gets along very well with Leo, which is special because huskies can sometimes view smaller animals as prey. It’s so nice to see them hanging out. Another fun fact is that Nomo loves to tilt his head when we howl at him. At first, he acts like he’s confused and then he will howl with us. 

DW: In what ways has Nomo grown since you got him?

L: Nomo has grown so much and we are so proud of him! Since Nomo is naturally a very high energy and eager dog, we’ve been taking it slow with letting him go to dog parks because we were afraid he might offend other dogs. However, after taking him to doggie school he has improved so much and is now a social butterfly when he goes to the park! We were so happy and proud to see him running around at the park and hanging out with other dogs. 

Pickle, The English Bulldog And Patty, The Mystery Mix

Liz with Patty (left) and PIckle (right).

Actor-writer-musician Liz Eldridge fell in love with a family friend's English Bulldog and became — per her words — obsessed. She and her partner Marty have had their English Bulldog, Pickle, for nearly 10 years now, since he was a puppy. They also have an eight-year-old mystery mix pup named Patty who is Pickle’s BFF.

“Our current theory is that Patty’s a Boxer/Pit Bull or Boston Terrier/Pit Bull, but the rescue called her an English Bulldog, and I thought she was Staffordshire when she was a pup, but she never ‘chunked out’ like they do,” Liz says. “Patty just captured my heart at the rescue and then was immediately fast friends with Pickle. That's a rarity because Pickle doesn't usually like other dogs.”

Liz says at the dog park, Pickle ignores other dogs to find a tall man, then makes that man play with him. One time it was Ron Perlman!

“But Pickle adored Patty from the moment they met. They're my little gruesome twosome.”

Read more about Liz and her two pups in this interview!

Dog Whisperer: Where did you first meet your pups and bring them home from?

Liz: Pickle was a gift — the best gift of my life! I met him with his brothers and sisters. He was one of the cutest things I've ever seen! I saw Patty on petfinder and then drove out to the high desert to meet her at a rescue called Paws and Hearts. She was a desert stray and we think she was used as a bait dog as a puppy before being dumped in the desert. The high desert has some of the highest rates of death for dogs in the public pounds because people dump animals out there. It's heartbreaking how common Patty's story is; but I know she's living like a queen now!

“The high desert has some of the highest rates of death for dogs in the public pounds because people dump animals out there. It’s heartbreaking how common Patty’s story is; but I know she’s living like a queen now!”

Patty and Pickle being cute as can be.

DW: What is your relationship with your pups like?

L: My life revolves around them — especially in quarantine. I wouldn't have it any other way. Most days, I wake up and feed them around 7:30 in the morning. If I'm late, Pickle wakes me up to demand his breakfast! They get fish oil and glucosamine treats because I'm one of those crunchy moms who won't let them have junk food like a jerk. Then they go back to sleep with Marty for a while and I work. They like to help me write on the couch throughout the day. They eat dinner early, around 3 pm, and then we go for our walk by the river. In the evenings I usually have a rehearsal or acting class. They've always loved music, but quarantine means they're around me acting a lot more since I'm rehearsing and auditioning over Zoom. Patty especially dislikes my acting; she freaks out that I'm really sad or upset and needs a lot of reassurance that everything is okay! I keep them in another room when I have a very emotional scene now so they don't get upset.

“My life revolves around them — especially in quarantine. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

DW: What are your pups' favorite activities?

L: These two love the beach, though neither really swims. They just LOVE splashing around in the water. When Pickle was a puppy, he fell in a pool and sank like a stone. I jumped in and got him out IMMEDIATELY but we decided we'd skip major swimming and stick to splashing. I take them on walks at the Los Angeles River almost every day for splash time. But the ocean is their true favorite. Patty also comes on runs around the neighborhood with me. Pickle can't do that, but he does enjoy a gentle stroll.

DW: What are your pups' favorite foods and snacks?

L: Pickle likes all foods and believes that all foods are meant for him. I like to give him scraps when I'm cooking. He loves greens like kale and broccoli, and fruit like blueberries. Patty is a bit more discerning, but she is also very food motivated. I get them knuckle bones from the Filipino market for a special treat.

DW: What are some fun facts about your pups?

L: Pickle was in a movie called "Improvising" when he was a puppy. He was hired to be the dog in “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” (I was playing Hippolyta) but he freaked out at dress rehearsal and got fired. Poor little guy. I was high up on a balcony when the guy playing "the man in the moon" brought Pickle out and he was just overwhelmed. No more stage time for Pickle! He's more of a cam-boy anyway. He's stubborn and troublesome and barks — but he's just the absolute sweetest when we are sad. In the mornings he's a major snuggler.

“Pickle was in a movie called “Improvising” when he was a puppy. He was hired to be the dog in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” (I was playing Hippolyta) but he freaked out at dress rehearsal and got fired. Poor little guy.”

Liz and Pickle!

Patty is the sweetest and smartest dog. She loves every person she's ever met, but she's terrified of other dogs. Something about other dogs barking can really set her off, and little yappie dogs make her crazy. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Patty is so gentle but can be a total beast. Patty's the sweetest and snuggliest and loves to give tons of kisses. But definitely do NOT mess with her!

DW: Do you have an interesting story about your pups?

L: Pickle used to bark at the neighbor kid while he played basketball. The day before Pickle's cruciate leg surgery I noticed the neighbor kid wasn't playing like he usually did. I took Pickle to surgery and was SO FREAKED out, so worried. The vet calls — he seems to have swallowed an enormous amount of plastic. A BASKETBALL. So he had to have surgery to remove the basketball, recover from that, THEN have his cruciate surgery. The ball bounced into the yard and Pickle was so mad at it that he just ate the whole thing. It cost... a lot of money. Still, Pickle 1, Basketball 0.

He's also very protective of children. When my friends bring their babies over, Pickle will guard the child. You have to convince Pickle you're cool to approach the baby. It's very sweet.

Patty also really loves little kids. She just wants to lick them endlessly; parents don't always love that. Patty was obsessed with my neighbor, Nick. She just adored him, but somehow kept escaping my house and showing up at his second story apartment next door! We couldn't figure out how she was getting out of our fenced yard until one day I hid down the block... She was CLIMBING A TREE and then just hopping over the fence! Patty accepts no barrier. We could all learn something from Patty.

“She was CLIMBING A TREE and then just hopping over the fence! Patty accepts no barrier. We could all learn something from Patty.”

Olive, The Dachshund And Poodle Mix

Olive is incredibly sweet and a total “cuddle bug,” as described by her owner Young-In Lee. “She’s the ultimate lap dog princess.” But don’t let that fool you: she has another side that may be surprising. She’s also dominant, feisty and a little mischievous.

Young-In adopted Olive almost five years ago, at eight weeks old, rescuing her from Orange County after seeing a Craigslist ad. 

“Her mom's owners thought she was part chiweenie and part beagle... neither chihuahua nor beagle came back on the test,” Young-In says. “Her DNA test reveals she's mostly dachshund and poodle (poodle was a big surprise), but is overall very mutty.”

Read more about this adorable mutty pup in our interview!

Baby Olive.

Dog Whisperer HQ: What are some of Olive’s special traits that come along with her breeds?

Young-In: As a dachshund, she's definitely a scent dog, constantly sniffing, but not exactly the best at following her nose... 😂 It takes her a while to find treats. She loooves to play fetch and is quite smart. I'd attribute this to her poodle side.

DW: Why did you choose Olive?

Y: I really wanted a dachshund but didn't want or need a purebred. There are so many mixed breed dogs that need love. I don't really have an exact reason why I chose her... she stood out to me amongst her litter because she was one of the runts and looked so stinking adorable to me. 😍

“I really wanted a dachshund but didn’t want or need a purebred. There are so many mixed breed dogs that need love.”

DW: What is your relationship with your pup like? 

Y: She has my partner wrapped around her fluffy tail. He spoils her like crazy. I try to be a bit more disciplined with her so she maintains her manners, but honestly, I'm a total sucker too. She's my little shadow — she always wants to be wherever I am, usually on my lap. 

DW: What are Olive’s favorite activities and foods? 

Y: Olive loves to play fetch, sunbathe, have fun with her blankie and goes crazy for Greenies! 

DW: Does Olive have any best friends? 

Y: Yes! She loves this one malti-poo named Mikko. We call them each other’s first loves. 

DW: What are some fun facts about your pup?

Y: She's a cat-like dog who won't really come for pets if you call her… but she'll come the moment you stop paying attention to her. She can be standoffish with most strangers but there are always the one or two special ones that she goes crazy for (I get jealous!). She also has a habit of sneaking down to the living room to jump on our coffee table and sniff for crumbs right before bedtime. Very naughty, but then I look at her face — how can anyone stay angry? 

“She also has a habit of sneaking down to the living room to jump on our coffee table and sniff for crumbs right before bedtime. Very naughty, but then I look at her face — how can anyone stay angry?”

DW: Do you have any funny or cute stories about your pup? 

Y: There's a door that leads to the backyard in our office. My partner is her doorman every morning from 9 in the morning to noon when the sun is out. She'll want to go outside for 10 minutes, then wants to come back in for two minutes, then wants to go back out to sunbathe. He opens and closes that door for her at least 10 times a day. Now, that's love. 

Clementine, The Pug, Schnauzer And Terrier Mix

Lizzi — a self-proclaimed avid bowler and karaoke singer who works in the fashion industry — adopted three-year-old Clementine just last year from the Pasadena Humane Society. Miss Clem, as Lizzi affectionately calls her, had puppies in the shelter.

“I was very lucky to adopt her the first day she was available after nursing!” Lizzi says.

Lizzi describes Clementine as very loving and sweet, but timid and a little silly at times. 

“According to her DNA test she's a pug, schnauzer and terrier mix,” Lizzi says. “She sits like a human! It definitely comes from her pug side. When I researched it, apparently pugs like to side sit because they're mimicking humans.”

Miss Clem mimicking Lizzi and the other humans in her life… and looking very fashionable!

We interviewed Lizzi to learn more about her darling pup.

Dog Whisperer HQ: Why did you choose Clementine?

Lizzi: Honestly, I wanted a dog who was going to be good around other animals, but also a little bit bigger than our cats, so the cats couldn't boss her around. (They can be a little intense!)

DW: What is your relationship with your pup like? 

L: Clementine is absolutely my baby! Since she's already had puppies, I think she's fully living her best life now. I love living in Los Angeles because I can take her almost anywhere. Her favorite places to go are Sunset Beer and Stories Book Cafe because they always give her a treat.

Adopting Clementine is one of the best decisions I've ever made! Seeing her grow from being a shelter pup to being a happy and healthy girl makes my heart so full.

“I think she’s fully living her best life now... Adopting Clementine is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Seeing her grow from being a shelter pup to being a happy and healthy girl makes my heart so full.”

Lizzi and Miss Clem.

Lizzi, her husband and Miss Clem.

DW: What are Clementine’s favorite activities? 

L: Clementine likes to go for short hikes (emphasis on short), enjoys sunbathing and loves chasing squirrels.

DW: What are your pup's favorite foods and snacks? 

L: Her favorite treats are bacon and anything that my niece drops at the dinner table.

DW: Does Clem have any best friends? 

L: Clementine's best friend is a dog named Luna! She is also a pug mix, and they have the same temperament. 

DW: What are some fun facts about Clem? 

L: She actually really likes wearing clothes! I think she can tell when people are looking at her when we go on walks. (She likes the attention. 😉) 

“She actually really likes wearing clothes! I think she can tell when people are looking at her when we go on walks. (She likes the attention.)”

Hershey, The Toy Poodle

As a little girl, Sadie Joseph remembers watching dog shows and dreaming of owning a poodle. She loved the beauty and regality of the breed. Flash forward to today, and an adult Sadie has a six-and-a-half-month old toy poodle named Hershey, who she spoils to bits. 

“Hershey is my very first puppy and I’m glad poodles have so many wonderful qualities,” Sadie says. “I live in New York City so a standard poodle just wasn’t practical. The toy size made perfect sense. Plus, her face was just so cute I couldn’t resist!” 

Sadie met Hershey in Long Island and brought her home that very day. She knew as soon as she held Hershey that she wanted to give her the best possible life, full of fun and treats. Read more about this adorable pup:

Dog Whisperer: Tell us all about Hershey!

Sadie: Hershey is a six-and-a-half month old toy poodle. She’s a very energetic, playful pup who is alert and hilariously thinks she is a watchdog. Hershey loves attention and is truly a lap dog. Poodles are great companion; they’re athletic, responsive, easy to train and love to interact with people.

“Hershey is a six-and-a-half month old toy poodle. She’s a very energetic, playful pup who is alert and hilariously thinks she is a watchdog.”

DW: What is your relationship with your pup like? 

S: She’s basically my little shadow — she must be at my feet or in my lap at all times. I truly feel we are bonded. I hate being out of the apartment for more than a few hours without her. If I have a day planned, I usually pack her a bag and bring her with me. Hershey is very popular on the Upper East Side and she and I have all of the same quarantine habits: eat, nap, play, repeat. 😂  

“She’s basically my little shadow — she must be at my feet or in my lap at all times. I truly feel we are bonded. I hate being out of the apartment for more than a few hours without her.”

DW: What are your Hershey’s favorite activities aside from her quarantine routine?

S: She loves to drag her pink toys everywhere, play fetch and ruin any shoes she can get her paws on. Hersey can’t resist cuddling and, on walks, prefers to be carried like a baby or queen. She is teething so she enjoys nibbling on fingers, at the moment, but we are working on stopping that. She will even chew on her own feet; I find it incredibly adorable. She also loves to chase my iRobot and it’s pretty funny to watch! 

DW: What are your pup's favorite foods and snacks? 

S: Hershey LOVES her meal toppers, such as dehydrated chicken. Beef WholeHearted chewy training treats are her favorite, but Hershey goes crazy for frozen grapes and carrots

DW: Does Hershey have any best friends?

S: I’m her best friend for now… but we do plan on having play dates with a morkie named Prince and another toy poodle in our building named Molly.

DW: What are some fun facts about Hershey?

S: She is too smart for her own good. I tried to train her to sleep in a very large playpen and she continued to climb the sides like a ladder to escape. She sleeps most of the day and likes when I sing, even though I'm terribly out of tune. Her body goes stiff after belly rubs and she LOVES when I give her belly raspberries. 

Darwin, The Border Collie-Lab Mix

Neha and her husband skipped this honeymoon because they couldn’t bring their new wedding present, Darwin.

“We were so excited to get to know him,” Neha says. “We’ve had Darwin now for a little over two years!”

Darwin was living as a street dog in Beirut prior to Neha adopting him. While his origin remains a bit of a mystery, she believes he is a Border Collie with some Lab mix, and around three and a half years old.

“A friend in our community was living in Beirut and working with some local women to get dogs living on a construction site adopted,” she says. “They were concerned for the dogs’ safety. Our friend took the lead on coordinating the logistics of getting Darwin to the U.S. when they were about to return.”

Neha crowdfunded the effort to get him here, so a lot of people helped contribute to Darwin’s new life in the states! Read more about Darwin and his journey here:

“[Darwin] has adapted to a complete change in environment quite well and became socialized with people and other dogs... My husband and I love border collies and how smart and well-behaved they tend to be.”

Dog Whisperer: What do you like about Darwin’s breed?
Neha: Border Collies are known to be very intelligent, adaptable, sociable, affectionate and vocal. I would say this definitely describes Darwin! He has adapted to a complete change in environment quite well and became socialized with people and other dogs. Despite being a street dog, he quickly adapted to barking whenever people showed up at our door! My husband and I love border collies and how smart and well-behaved they tend to be. We love the “cookies and cream” coloring on Darwin’s nose and paws.

DW: Tell us about you and your husband.
N: We are a couple that loves animals! I am a scientist who focuses on water and environmental issues, and my husband is a musician who owns and runs a screen-printing business. We have a bit of a dual life at the moment where we are based both in Cincinnati, Ohio and Tucson, Arizona.

Neha (right), her husband and Darwin!

DW: What is it like having a rescued dog?
N: It is both an incredible joy and a lot of work at times. Darwin is very smart and world-weary, so we do not have to worry about him getting too adventurous and getting lost or running away. However, he was also abused when he lived on the construction site, so he came to us with some trauma when around men. It has been a lot of work to get him to a place where he feels safe and joyful.

DW: What is your relationship with your pup like?
N: Darwin has been a part of our family and a great adventure buddy since day one, but now, with the pandemic affecting so much of our lives in 2020 — including working from home most of the year — he has also become our coworker and confidante.

“Darwin has been a part of our family and a great adventure buddy since day one, but now, with the pandemic affecting so much of our lives in 2020 (including working from home most of the year), he has also become our coworker and confidante.”

DW: What are Darwin’s favorite activities?
N: He loves car rides and walks, especially if the walks involve bodies of water or puddles that he can drink and/or sit down in. Darwin also loves canoeing, though he mostly prefers to stay in the boat and soak up the scenery. He has a lot of FOMO, so he will often run into the car as soon as the doors open, so he doesn’t get left behind!

DW: What are your pup's favorite foods and snacks?
N: He loves chicken and rice more than anything! He also likes to eat apples and nibble around them until he gets to the core.

DW: Does Darwin have any best friends?
N: His best friend is our neighbor’s dog, Gypsy Moth! They love to run around together and play in our field outside, and visit each other’s houses (and food bowls).

DW: What are some fun facts about your pup?
N: One of the most interesting things to us was that when we got Darwin, he was never and has never been food-motivated! He’s a picky eater, and is hardly enticed to learn any tricks for treats. Instead, he responds to positive feedback and affection. It has made for an interesting (and loving) time trying to train him.

One-Eyed Ursula, The Chihuahua-Jack Russell Mix

She may be tiny but she has a larger-than-life personality. Oh, and only one eye — but she doesn’t let that stop her from being the spunkiest pup in the room. We’re talking about Ursula, a five-year-old Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix, who is equal parts bold and loving.

“She radiates joy and positive energy, and has more confidence than any other creature we know,” say her dads, Walker and Rory, who live in Toronto. “Her sweet, fun-loving personality wins most people over instantly.”

Ursula has completely adjusted to life with one eye and has grown leaps and bounds since she was first adopted. The doggy dads also took in Rosie, the Calico Cat, and Watson, the Teacup Chihuahua (their newest rescue). They have a full house, and even fuller hearts. 

Dog Whisperer HQ: Where was Ursula rescued from and what's the story behind that?

Rory: Walker was living in Los Angeles and met Ursula at a mall in the area. She was there with some volunteers and other pups from her rescue to generate interest in adoption. Walker hadn’t been planning on adopting a dog, but was so drawn to her that he contacted the rescue within minutes of meeting her. 

DW: What happened to Ursula's eye and how has she recovered from that?

Walker: We don’t know too much about Ursula’s backstory. Somehow, she ended up in a pound in Orange County with a visible eye injury. She was under a year old at the time. From there, she was transferred to a rescue center that had a program for homeless dogs with medical needs. It turned out she had a ruptured corneal ulcer and her eye had to be removed. I met her after she had healed from surgery. She’s completely adapted to life with one eye and gets around just fine!

“She ended up in a pound in Orange County with a visible eye injury. She was under a year old at the time. From there, she was transferred to a rescue center that had a program for homeless dogs with medical needs. It turned out she had a ruptured corneal ulcer and her eye had to be removed. I met her after she had healed from surgery. She’s completely adapted to life with one eye and gets around just fine!”

DW: How has Ursula grown — physically, mentally and emotionally — since you first brought her home:

R&W: She’s a very adaptable dog, so she transitioned to life in her new home easily. The move from California to Canada was a bit of a challenge for her, though. The winters have definitely been an adjustment! We had some regular behavioral issues when she was younger — mainly potty accidents and chewing furniture and clothes. She’s a smart girl (too smart sometimes!) and very treat-motivated, so she learned quickly with training. 

We’ve really seen her grow and mature since we adopted Watson about six months ago. She was jealous and resentful of him at first, but they’ve become so close and she’s taken on a protective big sister role. She’s so patient and gentle with him. It’s been beautiful to see their bond develop.

Ursula with her dads!

DW: What are some of Ursula's favorite activities?

R&W: Snacking! Food is her #1 passion. She’ll literally eat anything, but her faves are chicken and green apples. She’s also still a California girl at heart and just loves being outside in the summers. She would sunbathe for hours if we let her! Her other hobbies include zoomies (running around in circles), snuggling and playing with her favorite toy, a stuffed avocado.

DW: How does Ursula interact with other dogs? How about other people?

R&W: She’s super awkward around bigger dogs! She gets along well with dogs her size or smaller, so size was a big factor when we started looking for a second dog. With humans, she’s quite the social butterfly. Everyone she meets is an instant BFF.

DW: What is your bond with Ursula like?

R&W: Our bond with her is very special. Walker and Ursula have been tight from day one, and it was love at first sight when Rory met Ursula three and a half years ago. She’s a lap dog so she’s pretty much always sitting on one of us, and we spend a lot of time as a family. She makes us laugh every single day. We couldn’t imagine our lives without her.

Ursula and Watson.

DW: What advice would you give dog owners who adopt dogs with special needs?

R&W: We don’t consider Ursula special needs because her missing eye doesn’t present any challenges in her daily life. But here’s our advice for adopting any rescue dog: make sure you do your research and ask a lot of questions about the dog’s history (if available), personality and temperament... Be realistic about your lifestyle and commitment level, and have a clear idea of what size, temperament and energy level would be most compatible. 

Remember that you’ll be integrating a new creature, with a history and habits, into your life and home, which can be a bumpy process. So most importantly, be patient! It can take weeks or even months for a “new normal” to be established with your pup. It’s all worth it, though!

Check out Ursula’s Instagram @one.eyed.ursula.

King Boris, The Cavalier

By Boris, with help from owner Maaike 

Hi everyone, I’m Boris and I’m a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I’m two years old and the king of the household. If my parents sit on my spot on the couch, I will just stare at them with big puppy dog eyes until they move away — only the best for the king, of course!

We live in the busiest part of The Netherlands near Amsterdam. But luckily, we have the beach close by for when we need to relax! 

I never call Maaike my owner because, you know, I own her. Once you get a Cavalier King Charles, you become their staff. But in all seriousness, Maaike is my mom and companion. She is 25 years old and is obsessed with me. (And I feel the same way about her!)

Boris and Maaike.

We’ve been together since I was 10 weeks old and we met for the first time when I was seven weeks old. Our bond is very strong. She knows exactly what I want even though I can’t directly speak to her.

One of my favorite activities is chasing my dad's drone — he hangs my toy below it and I just run and run (no worries they make sure it’s safe). Other things I like to do include meeting up with other cavaliers that I’ve met on Instagram. I prefer cavaliers over every other breed to play with — I recognize them immediately! But my favorite activity by far is sleeping. There’s nothing better than chasing your dreams! 

“I prefer cavaliers over every other breed to play with — I recognize them immediately! But my favorite activity by far is sleeping. There’s nothing better than chasing your dreams!”

Mom says I’m a picky eater, but I’d like to say that I have a ‘fine taste.’ I love the peanut butter cookies that she bakes for me. I also go crazy for a piece of apple or a red bell pepper! 

I didn’t want to become a vegetarian, and during my first year with mom and dad, I still ate meat. But I kept getting sick. I threw up a lot, had diarrhea and it caused many sleepless nights. 

I had to go to the vet very often and we tried many different diets. One night it got so bad we had to go to an emergency vet. There, they did an ultrasound of my tummy. An Instagram friend of ours, who is allergic to meat protein, told us how they found that out during an ultrasound. So my parents asked the vet to check for that as well. 

That’s when they found out I’m allergic to meat protein. In the beginning, they really struggled with that: what do you give a dog who’s allergic to meat?! But after some research we found out it’s not even that hard: there are many companies that provide veggie treats and, ever since I’ve gone veg, I’ve been super healthy again! 

I’ve made many friends but my bestie is Oscar. He lives in Norway and we met on instagram! By now, we’ve met a couple times in real life and, last summer, our families spent two weeks together. We had so much fun! Oscar is a big cavalier and I’m small, but we make a great team. 

Fun facts to know about me: 

•  My favorite toy is Crokkii. I got him when I was a pup and I never sleep without him. If Crokkii isn’t in the bedroom when we go to sleep, my parents have to search the house till they find him. 

•  My wardrobe is bigger than that of my parents. I have different sweaters, shirts, bandanas, bow ties, PJs and costumes. 

•  A couple times a week, my dad plays piano music for me just before bedtime to calm me down. 

Follow Boris the Cavalier on Instagram @boris.king.charles.

Norman’s Training Journey

By Heather Leichner

Norman is a tough dog to train, but through multiple tactics and never giving up, owner Heather and her husband were able to help him make progress.

Norman in his new home.

My husband and I adopted our mix breed puppy from a shelter when he was six months old and weighed 45 pounds. We knew immediately that we would need a trainer. Even though Norman is the sweetest puppy, there were behavior issues apparent from the start. We hired our first trainer right away to help introduce Norman to our cat and make our home a safe environment for both of them. 

“We hired our first trainer right away to help introduce Norman to our cat and make our home a safe environment for both of them.”

As the weeks went on and the training continued, Norman and the cat started to get along wonderfully. Norman had pretty much mastered the basic training commands, but his behavior worsened in other areas. We were taking him to the dog park almost every day because he was so hyper, but his interactions with the other dogs were not ideal. He seemed to play too hard and rough with other dogs. He didn’t understand when a dog no longer wanted to play so it led to a lot of frustration from both dogs.

We then decided to enroll Norman into a doggy daycare to help him learn how to interact properly with other dogs. That didn’t go well either. Norman went to daycare three times and, on the third day, a letter was sent home with him saying that he showed aggression towards a trainer and would possibly be removed from the program. At that moment, we decided to stop taking him to the dog park and stop bringing him to daycare. We hired another trainer to work on his behavior. This trainer said that Norman appears to struggle with impulse control and taught us ways to positively enforce calm behavior while on walks and through games that we could play at home. 

“We hired another trainer to work on his behavior. This trainer said that Norman appears to struggle with impulse control and taught us ways to positively enforce calm behavior while on walks and through games that we could play at home.”

However, I began to notice that Norman had two very different sides to him. When we were with the trainer or on walks with my husband, Norman was well-behaved and tried his best to do what he was told. But when Norman and I would go for walks alone, it was a completely different story. He started randomly lunging at me, latching onto my arm, growling, and — at some points — biting me.

This problem behavior started at a tunnel near our apartment so I thought he was scared of the tunnel, so we just started avoiding it. Despite that, his behavior then started escalating to lunging and barking at passersby on bikes and skateboards. He was even jumping and biting at people holding the door open for us to our apartment building.

In the coming weeks, it got to the point where I was afraid to walk Norman alone, and he even started acting this way towards me when we would go outside for a simple potty break. With the seriousness of these behavioral issues and the fact that they were getting worse, we started looking for a stricter method of training.

“With the seriousness of these behavioral issues and the fact that they were getting worse, we started looking for a stricter method of training.”

We considered signing him up for a board and train program, but instead reached out to our daycare and asked for suggestions. They referred us to our third trainer whose method revolved more around leadership than positive reinforcement. She saw Norman’s issue as him not viewing me as “the boss,” but instead viewing me as a playmate… so whenever I tried to get him to listen to me or make him stop chasing after a person on a bike, he would get frustrated and come after me.

After a one-hour training session, and properly and safely incorporating a prong-collar, Norman was a completely different dog. He no longer comes towards me with any frustration or aggression. He walks right beside me, and we rarely have to enforce with the prong-collar. He continues to struggle with bikers, but not to the same level of aggression, and we intend to slowly introduce him to the concept of biking in the coming months.

“All of this progress happened within three months of bringing Norman home! Without training and working hard to find the proper training solutions that work for both us and our dog, I can guarantee that we would not have been able to keep Norman. But with all the hard work we have put into him, I am positive he is going to turn out to be an amazing and well-behaved dog.”

All of this progress happened within three months of bringing Norman home! Without training and working hard to find the proper training solutions that work for both us and our dog, I can guarantee that we would not have been able to keep Norman. But with all the hard work we have put into him, I am positive he is going to turn out to be an amazing and well-behaved dog.

Keep up the training and never give up!

*This story is one dog owner’s experience. If your dog has issues with aggression, please seek out professional help from a trainer!

Norman’s Bell

When we adopted our Norman from a shelter, it was very clear that he was not with his dog family for very long and had not been properly socialized. The first signs of this were that he didn’t know how act appropriately around other dogs and he didn’t know how to make “proper” dog sounds. He wouldn’t whine when he needed to go potty or wanted to be let out of his crate. Since we live in an apartment, he had some issues communicating to us when he needed to go outside.

So, after doing some research, we decided to get Norman a bell and teach him to ring it when he has to go potty. At the beginning, we would place the bell on the ground and force him to ring the bell by picking up his paw and doing it ourselves. After a week or so of doing this, we started luring him with a treat to ring the bell on his own before we would take him out to go potty.

Now, about three weeks into the training, he rings the bell when told to before a potty break, or when he REALLY has to go — but is not quite fully consistent with it yet. However, we believe in a few more weeks, this will be a great solution for his lack of communication skills, and can even be translated for different skills such as wanting food or wanting to go on a walk!

Chihuahua Cedric

Cedric enjoying fall!

Chihuahua Cedric, often seen donning fun outfits, is the cutest little chihuahua in Montreal — and beyond. Cedric loves traveling, snacking on edamame, meeting new people, taking bubble baths and playing with toy mice! Find out more about this precious pup with a lot of online fans in this exclusive interview.

Dog Whisperer HQ: Tell us about yourself, Chihuahua Cedric!
Cedric: My name is Cedric and I'm a chihuahua. I share my daily life on Instagram and on YouTube under the name Chihuahua Cedric. I share little moments from my daily life and my bigger adventures. I began doing this to share my life with my family that lives in another country. Very soon afterward, more people started following me in large numbers. Now, I have many friends from all around the world. 

DW: Are you full chihuahua?
C: Yes! I'm an apple head long haired chihuahua. 

DW: Who are your owners? Can you tell us about them?
C: My owners wish to remain as private as possible. Sometimes you can see glimpses of them in my videos or hear their voices, but overall they don't want to be known. However, I can tell you that my mom was born in Estonia, just like me, and my dad was born in Canada, where we all live right now. My mom is the one who takes all the Instagram photos of me and films YouTube videos. She's always loved to be creative and we work well as a team. 

DW: How long have you been with your owners, and what is your bond like?
C: I met my owners when I was five months old. I am eight years old right now and I've lived with my humans for most of my life. We do everything together. They always try to find a way to bring me with them wherever we go. Like when we travel together, they always think about dog-friendly places to visit before booking anything. If they can't bring me, we won't go! I'm part of the family and they don't like to leave me behind. For them I'm not a pet, but a family member. 

“They always try to find a way to bring me with them wherever we go. Like when we travel together, they always think about dog-friendly places to visit before booking anything. If they can’t bring me, we won’t go! I’m part of the family and they don’t like to leave me behind. For them I’m not a pet, but a family member. ”

DW: Where did they first meet you?
C: I was the last puppy left in the litter that no one wanted, because I have a severe overbite. My humans knew my biological father and that's how they learned about me. They had been wanting a small dog that they could easily travel with, but they hadn't really started looking for a dog yet. When they saw a video of me playing with my siblings, they fell in love immediately and decided I was going to be part of the family. Five months later, they came to Estonia to get me. When they first saw me in person, they were surprised. I had seemed much bigger in the photos and videos. They were terrified that they would accidentally step on me or hurt me. We got to know each other over a few weeks and they stopped worrying as they saw I was very smart and careful.

“I love discovering new places and meeting new people and trying new foods. The first trip I did with my humans was a road trip through France right after we left Estonia. I loved France — dogs are allowed everywhere there. I got to eat in restaurants, go shopping, walk around historic sites and taste delicious French cheese.”

DW: What are your favorite activities?
C: I love traveling! I get extremely excited when my humans take out the luggage. I love discovering new places and meeting new people and trying new foods. The first trip I did with my humans was a road trip through France right after we left Estonia. I loved France — dogs are allowed everywhere there. I got to eat in restaurants, go shopping, walk around historic sites and taste delicious French cheese. It was a very special time to bond with my humans and learn to trust them. I think maybe that's why I love traveling: it strengthens our bond.

I also love learning. Ever since I was a puppy, my favourite thing to do was to learn new tricks. I don't even do it for the snacks; I just enjoy all the special attention that I get from my humans. Now that I'm older, I don't learn new tricks as often. I mostly practice the tricks I know as part of my daily routine. We practice in the morning and a bit in the evening while having snacks. It's so much fun!

DW: What are your favorite foods and snacks?
C: I love eating boiled chicken! I also like seafood, but that's more of an occasional treat. I will never say no to a piece of lobster! My favourite dog treat is any treat from Farm Fresh Pet Treats. They are a Canadian company and make the best dog treats in the whole world. I know, I've tried a lot of different treats in my life. I also like eating vegetables and fruits. I love freshly steamed edamame the most. It's nutritious and delicious! You should try it too! 

Kenzo and Cedric.

DW: Do you have any best friends?
C: My biological father is my best friend. His name is Kenzo and he looks just like me! We get along so well. When I go visit him in Estonia, we are inseparable. We do everything together as much as possible. We share a bond that is magical. He is as relaxed and sweet as me and we both like very similar things. Spending time with him is always fun.

DW: You've worn some cute outfits — what are your favorites?
C: My favourite thing to wear is my neon yellow-green sweater. It was specially made for me so it fits like a glove. It's not always easy to find clothes small enough for my tiny body. Regardless, my mom is always finding me cute outfits. I like my cute hoodie and my warm winter coat too, not to mention my Halloween costumes. I like the vampire costume, because it's easy to move around in. Some other costumes look good, but I don't actually feel comfortable in them. Mom just puts them on me for photos. I don't mind as long as she doesn't tell me that I need to wear it for the whole day!

The best costume! 🧛🏼‍♀️

Where’s Cedric?

BOOO! Did I scare you?

DW: What are some fun facts about you we should know?
C: I love baths! I am one of those rare dogs who likes a relaxing bath time. I used to be scared of baths, but my mom decided to create a spa-like environment to relax me and herself. Now we listen to calming spa music and I get gently massaged in a warm bubble bath. It has made a huge difference for both of us. We both like my bath time now!

I was already two years old when I barked for the very first time. My humans thought I was mute or something. One day I just barked at another dog out of the blue. Everyone was startled, even me! Now I bark more often, but only at other dogs. My pet peeve is misbehaving dogs. I really get upset when other dogs don't listen to their owners or bark for no reason. It upsets me, so I bark at them.

I love collecting toy mice. The ones that are meant for cats. When I was a puppy, I was extremely tiny, and dog toys were too big for me to play with. The small mice were perfect and most of them made some sounds too. I started getting mice as gifts, from my humans and my human friends. My collection started growing over time. My fans have even started sending me toy mice from their respective countries. It's absolutely wonderful. I might end up becoming the dog with the most toy mice if this continues. 

DW: Finally, what's it like being so cute?
C: I get a lot of attention. I never go on a walk without people stopping us to pet me or ask about my breed. I usually like to stop even when my humans want to keep on walking. I love all the attention and getting pet by strangers. Sometimes when someone will walk right past me and wont stop to pet me, I will get disappointed. I expect everyone to want to interact with me. I love people! Thank you for being my friends! ♥️

Follow Chihuahua Cedric on Instagram @chihuahuacedric and on YouTube here.

Kai, The Boxer Mix

Shelby Nungester’s best friend is her 2.5 year old boxer mix named Kai. She describes him as the sweetest, most loving boy — very energetic, but not the best listener (they’re working on it). “He is curious and expressive,” Shelby says. “Kai's breed is very sweet and strong. He is also intelligent, affectionate, loyal and stubborn.”

Shelby chose Kai because boxers are often abandoned. They need close attention and training, and have a lot of zest.

“I knew that I had the time and the energy to love a dog like this,” says Shelby. “I have met other dogs like Kai and they were always really good dogs.”

We spoke with Shelby about Kai, and her little family!

Shelby and Kai cuddles.

Dog Whisperer: So it’s you, Kai and your partner Nate. How did Kai warm up to Nate?

Shelby: Kai and I recently moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Colorado to live with Nate. We live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver. Kai liked Nate right away, even though he was a little jealous. Nate would go on walks with us when he visited us in Cincinnati and would find cool hikes to take us on when we visited him in Colorado. Nate is actually really allergic to Kai, but that has never stopped him from playing with Kai or carrying him around. Kai loves to be held. I don't think he realizes he is 70+ pounds. When I'm not around, Nate takes really great care of Kai. He has taken him to the lake, taken him out for special snacks and has taught him to catch food when you throw it to him. Nate also got him a special doggy cake for his second birthday. I love our little family.

Shelby, Nate and Kai.

Nate carrying Kai. Look at that smile.

DW: How long have you had Kai, and where did you bring him home from?

S: I’ve had Kai since he was six weeks old. I first met Kai through a coworker. I had been carrying around food, a leash and a collar in the trunk of my car because I figured that someday I would come across a dog that had been abandoned or in need of a home. However, about a year later, my coworker asked me if i was still looking for a puppy, and told me that his mom's friend's dog had just had a litter. I didn't know what Kai's color or gender would be in advance. My friend's mom picked him out for me and I picked him up from her place in Amelia, Ohio the next day.

“Kai is my best friend. A few years ago we went on a cross country road trip together. We drove from Ohio and visited friends in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. We spent every moment together for two weeks, even sharing the backseat of the car as a bed. We got to do some really fun hikes in the mountains and along the coast. Kai was able to meet some of my friends and make friends himself.”

DW: What is your relationship with Kai like?

S: Kai is my best friend. A few years ago we went on a cross country road trip together. We drove from Ohio and visited friends in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. We spent every moment together for two weeks, even sharing the backseat of the car as a bed. We got to do some really fun hikes in the mountains and along the coast. Kai was able to meet some of my friends and make friends himself. On our trip, Kai got to meet dog friends Pono and Starbuck. He really enjoyed getting to play. He also got to go to a restaurant that had a menu for dogs. We have taken lots of long road trips together. He is the best travel buddy. Kai is also an ESA (emotional support animal) so he can technically go on a plane, but I don't think we're ready for that yet.

Baby Kai. Awww.

DW: What are Kai’s favorite activities?

S: Kai enjoys chewing on nylabones or licking peanut butter out of a Kong toy. He likes to cuddle and loves to be pet. His favorite activity is probably going on long hikes or walks. Kai has hiked up to 10 miles. If he has snacks and lots of water, he's good to go for a long time. Kai has been camping a few times and seemed to really enjoy that as well. He had a great time running around in the woods and chewing on sticks. 

Shelby hiking with Kai.

DW: What are your pup’s favorite foods and snacks?

S: Kai is allergic to poultry so we have to be careful about his food and snacks. He loves peanut butter, coconut oil, carrots, cheese, yogurt, watermelon and blueberries. 

DW: What are some fun facts about Kai? 

S: Kai has a lot of nicknames: Peanut Butter Prince, Sir Mushington, Piggy, Bunny, Bubby, Kyle and ‘the one who drinks Monster and punches drywall’ (when he's being bad). He also has webbed feet. Nate says he imagines Kai as a mix between Tyler the Creator and Goofy.

Kai and his bff Norma by the pool.

Sleepy Kai and parents nearby.

Mayor Max Of Idyllwild

By Belinda Cai and Phyllis Mueller

“I meet with the public downtown nearly every day. I run a nonpartisan political office, which means I do not take sides on political issues or political parties. I only do kind and loving things for people, and I represent everyone. I love everyone unconditionally. I also do a lot to promote charities and businesses. I go to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and rehab clinics. I visit patients to make them feel better.”

He’s an All-American Golden Retriever purebred, turning seven human years old this May. That makes him 49 years old in dog years, but age aside, he’s a fun, frisky, happy and loving dog. And oh, did we mention? He’s Mayor of Idyllwild. Yes, the mayor! And he’s held the position since he was just 11 weeks old, taking over for Mayor Max the First when he passed away from old age. (Our new Mayor Max's full name is Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller, II.) All in all, being mayor is a cool job for this cool dog, and his people love him!

Here’s our exclusive interview with the adorable mayor:

Dog Whisperer: What are some of your duties and obligations?

Mayor Max: I meet with the public downtown nearly every day. I run a nonpartisan political office, which means I do not take sides on political issues or political parties. I only do kind and loving things for people, and I represent everyone. I love everyone unconditionally. I also do a lot to promote charities and businesses. I go to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and rehab clinics. I visit patients to make them feel better. I do hundreds of things, but everything I do is kind and loving.

When I attend an event, we promote in the event that I will be there. More people come out because I am there. The events are then more successful. We do a tremendous amount of work with animal rescue organizations, and we are a rescue group ourselves. My charter is to help make the world a better place by conveying unconditional love and doing as many good deeds for others as possible. I am working for peace on earth in our lifetime. ☮

“We do a tremendous amount of work with animal rescue organizations, and we are a rescue group ourselves. My charter is to help make the world a better place by conveying unconditional love and doing as many good deeds for others as possible. I am working for peace on earth in our lifetime. ”

Mayor Max as a puppy!

DW: Who are your owners? Can you tell us about them?

MM: My owners are Phyllis Mueller and Glenn Warren. They are also my Chiefs of Staff. Phyllis is the spokesperson for my nonpartisan political office. Phyllis and Glenn have been happily married since 1984. They have owned three Golden Retrievers since 1985. I, Mayor Max, and my two Deputy Mayors, Mikey and Mitzi, are Phyllis’ and Glenn’s third set of three Golden Retrievers. Mayor Max the First was in their second set of Golden Retrievers. They love the Golden Retriever breed because we are top notch service dogs and because we are so good with people and other animals. We are perfect for jobs that place us in the public.

“I, Mayor Max, and my two Deputy Mayors, Mikey and Mitzi, are Phyllis’ and Glenn’s third set of three Golden Retrievers. Mayor Max the First was in their second set of Golden Retrievers. They love the Golden Retriever breed because we are top notch service dogs and because we are so good with people and other animals. We are perfect for jobs that place us in the public.”

DW: How long have you been with your owners, and what is your bond like?

MM: I have been with my owners my entire life. They even visited me before I could leave my mommy. I am inseparable from them. I love them. They take me everywhere with them. But if for some reason I can’t go with them, they always get me a wonderful dogsitter. I am never left alone. I was brought home from Auanga, California, at 11 weeks old, from EveningStar Kennels.

DW: What are your favorite activities?
MM: This is a very easy question for me. I like to eat. I like to play in my dog runs and retrieve tennis balls. I like to dig holes. And most of all, I like to meet and greet with the public.

DW: What are your favorite foods and snacks?

MM: I am a Golden Retriever. I love to eat everything, even things I’m not supposed to eat. But I think my favorites are pizza, ice cream, dog treats and bacon.

DW: What are some fun facts about you we should know?
MM: I wear a tie to work every day. I weigh 79 and a half pounds. I like to sneak into the pantry or garbage cans seeking snacks. I don’t mind making a mess in the kitchen because I am never disciplined. Everything I do, Phyllis and Glenn think is cute. I am very mischievous that way! If there is any food anywhere, I will find it. Once in a while, Phyllis and Glenn forget to put food on the counter way in the back, so I will snag it. I got a whole blueberry pie once! 🥧

DW: Any closing remarks, Mayor?
MM: I love you with all my heart. I will love you unconditionally for my entire life. You can always reach me by calling Phyllis at 949-525-0100. You can arrange a visit with me on any day by calling Phyllis. 

Follow Mayor Max on Instagram @mayormax1.

MAYOR MAX                                             

aka: Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller, II                                 

Phyllis Mueller

Chief of Staff for the Office of Mayor Max Mueller

Office of the Mayor of Idyllwild

P.O. Box 1848

Idyllwild, California  92549

(951) 659-0283 Mayor Headquarters Office

(949) 525-0100 Phyllis Mueller Mobile

max@mayormax.com

www.mayormax.com

www.facebook.com/mayor.max.3

Spuds McDuff, English Bull Terrier

Spuds chillin’ in the grass!

“Matt describes his relationship with Spuds as a very close one. He often works from home or coffee shops (before the pandemic), so Spuds is always by his side. The two are inseparable. When they aren’t working and chilling, they enjoy being outdoors.”

Four-year-old Spuds McDuff is an English Bull Terrier who loves to do many things, including traveling all over the country. He has many adventures to share, and a vintage large letter postcard from every city and state he's ever visited.

But his favorite activity? Sleeping. According to owner Matt, “Give him a cozy couch and a blanket, and he’s set.” In addition to being a sleepy boy, Spuds is also cuddly and sweet, and loves playing with other dogs. 

“I rescued him as a 10-week-old puppy from someone who got him way too young, and realized they couldn’t have a puppy,” says Matt, a software engineer. “My friend had a finger on the pulse of bull terrier activity in San Diego (where I lived) at the time, so he heard about Spuds needing a home and let me know.”

Matt describes his relationship with Spuds as a very close one. He often works from home or coffee shops (before the pandemic), so Spuds is always by his side. The two are inseparable. When they aren’t working and chilling, they enjoy being outdoors. 

“Spuds loves the dog park, and can run for hours with other dogs, as you can see on his Instagram account,” says Matt.

Spuds and owner Matt.

The duo has traveled around a lot. Matt is a self-described “digital nomad,” and therefore, so is Spuds. They’ve been on adventures galore. 

“The whole western side of the state of Oregon is absolutely magical,” says Matt. “Spuds loved going to Secret Beach on the Oregon coast, and he actually had a ton of fun at the redwoods in California.”

Spuds doing what he does best!

And now, for some fun facts about this adorable English Bull Terrier from Matt:

•  Spuds, like most dogs, loves cheese. If he so much as thinks there is cheese being eaten, he’ll dash full speed and try to get it. He also loves to chew on properly prepared deer antlers, because he’s kind of a dog hipster. 

•  Spuds has a spot on the back of his neck, that if you pet, will make him go into a trance and fall asleep in 45 seconds. Then you stop and he’ll snap out of it and get grumpy that you quit. 

•  Spuds is super allergic to basically everything, so I’m constantly having to stop people giving him treats, much to his chagrin. 

•  While not related by blood or basically any other kind of relation, Spuds is the spiritual great great grandson of the original Spuds Mackenzie and Suds McDuff.

•  Spuds dreams of traveling the world, so if anyone out there can help with that, hook it up.

•  Spuds has swam with a shark, cuddled with a bear and nonchalantly jogged with a lion! 

Follow Spuds McDuff on Instagram @spudsmcduff.

Mochi And Nova

Nova and Mochi!

“I found Mochi on Petfinder. She was rescued from train tracks along with her siblings in Texas. A Texas-based rescue that re-homes dogs up in NYC drove her up to us. We found Nova last year on Instagram through a special done by The Dodo! Nova’s mom looks so much like Mochi; we instantly fell in love. The puppies were rescued by a police officer in Puerto Rico.”

Owner Samantha refers to her two pups as “the two cutest powdered donuts.” It’s easy to see why, because they’re certainly powdered donut-like: sweet, fluffy and dusty white. One pup’s name is Mochi. She's three years old, super friendly, gentle and very mellow. The other is Nova. She's an eight-month-old sassy wild child. 

Upon doing a DNA test, Samantha found out Mochi is 37.1% American Pit Bull Terrier, 26.2% Cane Corso, 10% Australian Cattle Dog, 7.9% Boxer, 5.9% Border Collie and 12.9% Supermutt. Samatha hasn’t done Nova’s DNA test yet, but the girls look very similar. 

No matter what mix of breeds they are, these two pups are 100% adorable and an unstoppable duo. 

Dog Whisperer: Describe the pups.

Samantha: Mochi has a great athletic figure; she runs very fast! Nova is also athletic, and is constantly jumping. She can reach above my nose when she jumps! It’s very impressive. When she does it outside, everyone is shocked at how high she can get!

DW: Tell us about yourself!  

S: I was born and raised in Manhattan. My father is from Washington Heights and my mother is from the Philippines. I have a younger sister who is a nurse, currently working on a COVID floor at NYU. The girls love her and go crazy when she comes home after her shift. I went to Hunter College and currently work for a staffing agency for nurses and physical therapists. 

Samantha and Mochi.

Samantha and Nova.

DW: How long have you had your pups? 

S: I’ve had Mochi since she was five months old and Nova since she was three months old. 

DW: Where did you first meet your pups and bring them home from? 

S: I found Mochi on Petfinder. She was rescued from train tracks along with her siblings in Texas. A Texas-based rescue that re-homes dogs up in NYC drove her up to us. We found Nova last year on Instagram through a special done by The Dodo! Nova’s mom looks so much like Mochi; we instantly fell in love. The puppies were rescued by a police officer in Puerto Rico. They were a litter of newborn puppies found in the mud. After the paperwork was completed, Nova was flown with her siblings from Puerto Rico up to us! 

Mochi glamour shot.

DW: What are your pups' favorite activities? 

S: Mochi loves to run around, especially on grass! She also loves to bathe in the sun. Mochi loves the beach and has her own life vest for swimming. Nova loves food — if something involves food, you can count her in. We are hoping to get Nova on the beach this summer too!

DW: What are your pups' favorite foods and snacks? 

S: Mochi loves ice cream! She’ll close her eyes and lick the container while I hold it. Sometimes I think she’ll fall asleep [ice cream drunk]. Mochi’s other favorite is cheese. Nova, on the other hand, loves chicken, eggs (even the shell) and pumpkin!

Nova glamour shot.

DW: Do they have any best friends? 

S: The girls have tons of friends but I’d say — above all — they are definitely each other's best friends. They love each other so much and are very protective. I love catching them sleeping on top of each other at home. It’s so sweet!

DW: What are some fun facts about your pup?

S: Everyone thinks they are related (sister-sister or mother-daughter) even though they aren’t. They are two very strong personalities, Mochi is sweet and gentle, while Nova is strong and rough! Mochi is affectionate and Nova needs to warm up to you first. After that, she may come sit by you on the couch. I sometimes laugh thinking about how they are polar opposites!

Follow Mochi and Nova on Instagram @mizz_mochi.

Sheldon and Penny, Corgi Twins

“‘We call them our twins because we were literally up all night with crying puppies, potty training, teething, feeding and playing,’ she says. ‘Sheldon is your typical boy dog, meaning he’s all about playing. He’s loud and obnoxious and rough. Penny has a sweet demeanor. She’s loving, gives kisses and loves to snuggle.’”

Amy and Aaron Podell have two Corgis who are brother and sister. Their names are Sheldon and Penny, inspired by the couple’s favorite TV show, The Big Bang Theory. 

“We call them our twins because we were literally up all night with crying puppies, potty training, teething, feeding and playing,” she says. “Sheldon is your typical boy dog, meaning he’s all about playing. He’s loud and obnoxious and rough. Penny has a sweet demeanor. She’s loving, gives kisses and loves to snuggle.”

Amy with the Corgi twins!

Amy and Aaron with the Corgi twins.

Being a cat person most of her life, Amy didn’t expect to be such a passionate dog mama. When she met Aaron, she learned he had an extreme cat allergy. Co-owning cats was out of the question for the couple.

“Fast forward to us trying to start a family and the difficulties we encountered, including multiple miscarriages,” she says. “When I was at my lowest point, my husband surprised me with my first Corgi, Rupert. He knew I needed help with my depression.” 

Amy had an undeniable maternal need to love and care for a child; meeting Rupert was like a light switch going off. 

“The depression was gone and I felt like myself again,” Amy explains. “He filled that void. Shortly after and, to our surprise, we became pregnant with our son Harrison.” 

When Rupert passed away many years later, Amy was devastated. She never knew how a dog could bring them so much joy and love. 

“They truly are an extension of a family. That’s when my husband, being the awesome man that he is, surprised me with Sheldon and Penny,” she says. “I’d lost my first love, Rupert, and knew I had to be a Corgi mama again. I am so grateful for them and for my amazing husband and son.”

Dog Whisperer HQ: What are your Corgis’ favorite activities?
Amy: Our Corgis’ favorite activities are playing fetch and snuggling mama on the couch EVERY night. We can’t even say the word “play” around them or they’ll go crazy. We actually have to spell it. Even then I think they know what it means!

DW: What are their favorite snacks and foods?
A: They literally love to eat anything! However, if I had to choose, I’d say peanut butter and apples.

DW: How have your corgis grown (physically and personality-wise) since you got them?

A: Though they’re from the same litter, Sheldon is larger, around 35 pounds. Penny is a petite Corgi and about 29 pounds. Sheldon was always a large Corgi, though. He was actually the largest in his litter. Penny was a crazy puppy and very hyper. She’s mellowed out over the years. 

It was definitely a handful to raise the twins. We were exhausted and took turns caring and playing with them. We tried crate training and eventually succeeded in getting them to sleep in it. Looking back though, I wouldn’t change a thing. We both work full-time and I’m grateful the twins have each other. 

DW: Do you have any cute or touching stories to share about the corgis?

A: When the twins were four months old, we went to our first SoCal Corgi Beach Day in Huntington Beach. They were such an attraction that they made the local newspaper! That’s actually why I created their Instagram account. The rest is history.  

One last fun story. Sheldon is a celebrity! He was selected last year as the Corgi for Hill’s Science Diet small bites dog food. I’m blown away even to this day when I walk into the pet store and see his adorable face on the shelf. Proud mama! 

Sheldon being famous.

Check out the Corgi Twins’ Instagram @sheldonandpennycorgitwins.

Oliver, Penelope Lane And Margo

Hannah with her pups.

“‘My favorite things to do are listen to true crime podcasts, travel anywhere and everywhere, and gaze lovingly at my three dogs.’ Hannah is a board member and volunteer at Deity Animal Rescue, and has volunteered at local humane societies and donated to various rescue groups throughout her life.”

Hannah Strader is the ultimate dog mom, with three furbabies who she loves more than anything. She grew up in Wisconsin with two “super naughty” wirehaired fox terriers. They sparked her immense love for dogs — even though those dogs were ornery!

“The fox terriers were incredibly smart, but their behavior was just awful,” Hannah says. “We laugh about it all the time now, but I don’t think my parents found it super funny back then. I’ve had all sorts of dogs (and pets) in my family: a Rottweiler, Great Danes, my beloved chihuahua, and even some cats and hamsters thrown in throughout the years.” 

Hannah was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Wisconsin, went to school in Minnesota and moved back out to California in 2012. She wanted to be with family and in the warm weather... and she hasn’t looked back! ☀️

“Fast forward to now: I work and live in West Hollywood. My favorite things to do are listen to true crime podcasts, travel anywhere and everywhere, and gaze lovingly at my three dogs.”

Hannah is a board member and volunteer at Deity Animal Rescue, and has volunteered at local humane societies and donated to various rescue groups throughout her life.

Dog Whisperer: Tell us about your pups:

Hannah: Oliver, 12 (ish): I think he’s probably turning 13 at some point this year. I did a DNA test on him and, believe it or not, there is no corgi or doxie in there! Oliver is 25% chihuahua, 25% Lhasa Apso, 12.5% pekingese, 12.5% cocker spaniel, 12.5% American Staffordshire terrier (ha!) and 12.5% mega mutt. The best word to use to characterize my Ollie is “aloof.” He is along for the ride but would much rather be sleeping. He’s very confident but that is probably a result of his cluelessness. He’s so very, very, very sweet — a grumpy old man, but in a lovable way. 

Penelope Lane, 3 (ish): I did a DNA test on Pen as well. She is 50% shih-tzu, 25% Chihuahua and 25% Jack Russel terrier. I thought she’d be a mix of like 15 different terriers, but turns out she’s only 25% terrier! Penny is insanely smart, which I think she gets from her terrier ancestors. She is hilarious, with so much energy, but is also more than happy to curl up in your lap and sleep. She LOVES her toys, especially the llamas and lambs — she tears them to bits but still chooses to play with them over any others. Penny can be very sassy, but it's just because she cares! She is hysterical to watch as she plays; she definitely has a mind of her own. 

Margot, 5 (ish): Margot is probably a purebred chihuahua. She has that sweet little apple head and is way too tiny for me to assume her to be any other breed. Margot is a SASS. She is the second chihuahua I’ve ever adopted and I was so happy to find out she, just like Mollie before her, is not at all the ’stereotypical’ chihuahua. Margot loves people and other dogs, and thoroughly enjoys playing with Pen. She is pushy (but not overly so), and incredibly loving and snuggly. Margot is the type of dog who can jump right into a pack and it feels like she’s always been there. 

Margot, Oliver and Penelope.

DW: How long have you had your pups?

H: Oliver: since September 30, 2018; Penelope: since November 9, 2018; and Margot: since June 1, 2020.

DW: What is special about each of the dogs' breeds?

H: I love so much that Oliver is a shelter special. He cannot be categorized: he is truly an amalgam, and one that includes two very shelter-heavy breeds, pit bull and chihuahua. You can find traits of each of his breeds that apply to his personality: stubbornness, affection, loyalty, friendliness and being headstrong. He is the perfect mix!

Penelope is incredibly smart. She picks things up quickly, and is very observant. I am convinced she gets that from being a Russel terrier. She is super feisty and vocal, like a chihuahua, but is also incredibly weary of strangers and other dogs, much like her shih-tzu ancestors. 

Sweet Margot is a unique little dog. She doesn’t even weigh four pounds but has so much personality she could be a Great Dane. She is incredibly affectionate, always fighting to get on my lap. She is super playful and a crack-up to watch when she’s feeling active. 

I love that all of my dogs share that they have some chihuahua in them but they are all so unique in their own way!

DW: Tell us about the volunteer work you do:

H: Back in 2018 I knew I was ready to adopt another dog for my family. At the time, it was just myself and my 14-year old chihuahua, Mollie. After some searching, I found the dog I was looking for through a rescue based in Beverly Hills: Deity Animal Rescue. Throughout my life I have volunteered at local humane societies and donated to different rescue groups, but I was always looking for a more sustainable and meaningful way to give back; I just hadn’t found it yet. Once I met the two women who run Deity — Ellen and Lindsay — I knew this was what I had been looking for. 

I kept bugging them for volunteer opportunities and offering ways I could donate my time and skills to them until they just couldn’t get rid of me ☺️… In 2019, they offered me a seat on their board of directors and I thus began the journey of what has been one of my greatest joys. I currently help Deity in any way I can, whether that’s cleaning out and organizing our donated storefront, setting up events (my main job with them!), brainstorming fundraiser ideas, assisting with marketing and PR or fostering. I get to work my regular job and then, on the side, I get to help grow this amazing organization whose chief aim is to save dogs. It’s the coolest thing ever! 

“I currently help Deity in any way I can, whether that’s cleaning out and organizing our donated storefront, setting up events (my main job with them!), brainstorming fundraiser ideas, assisting with marketing and PR or fostering. I get to work my regular job and then, on the side, I get to help grow this amazing organization whose chief aim is to save dogs. It’s the coolest thing ever!”

Deity is a foster-based 501c3 non-profit dog rescue. It is women-owned and run, and a very small operation. Ellen and Lindsay are the boss ladies, and Amanda works to manage everything behind the scenes. We are a group of women taking over the world and saving dogs all over California!

DW: What are your pups' favorite activities?

H: Oliver just wants to sleep. He loves taking quick naps, long naps, short snoozes.. you name it. And he snores... loud. He loves to snuggle but only when he’s sleepy, and he really likes treats! He also has so much fun on walks, but because of his bad joints and arthritis, he goes very, very slowly so, lucky, Ollie gets to do most walks in his bright red stroller. What a treat! 

Penelope’s favorite thing of all time is playing. She loves when I play with her or when her sister Margot plays with her. She has a huge basket filled with toys but her favorites are her Christmas Llama, Roller Llama, Lamby and Shamrock Lamb. She has torn them all to pieces but still chooses them over any others! 

Penny loves going on walks when we go fast; slow walking is distracting for her and she tends to have trouble focusing. She is a great cuddler and really enjoys snuggling in bed with me. Margot loves to play with her sister; they have so much fun together. I’ve never seen anything like it! She is also such a love bug and is happiest in my lap, curled into a little cinnamon swirl. Margot is probably the best eater out of the bunch so she’s always thrilled to be enjoying a meal, and just like her siblings, she loves going on walks. 

DW: What are your pups' favorite foods and snacks?

H: Oliver is on a lot of different medications and gets to eat them with pieces of sliced turkey which he LOVES. He is very particular about what he eats which I think is so weird, seeing as to how he was a stray dog, but it is what it is. He also can never get enough water. Weird little guy.

Penny is fairly picky but not as bad as Ollie. She loves all of the different treats from Just Food for Dogs, especially their chicken jerky... She also loves to sneak some of Oliver’s turkey while I’m not looking. 

Margot is by far my best eater — she likes pretty much anything. Because she’s so small, she can usually weasel her way into whatever the other dogs have if they’re not eating fast enough, no matter what it is. She is an equal opportunity snacker. 

DW: What are some fun facts about your pups:

H: Penelope’s tongue is ALWAYS out! I have no idea why, truly. Sometimes if it's not out, she’ll sit there and stare at you... then stick it out. It is bizarre and adorable and one of my favorite things about her.

I call Oliver my problem child and refer to myself as a helicopter mom in general, but especially when it comes to him. In addition to the normal vet, he also has a dentist, cardiologist and physical therapist… He started physical therapy fairly recently and goes twice a week. He hates it, but I keep telling him it's for his own good! 

Margot came to me with scars all over! She has a big one on her head and one of her ears looks like it was bit into, there’s a notch of missing ear on the side. She’s also missing some hair, but I’m seeing it slowly start to grow so I’m confident that, with love and affection, she’ll really start to shine!

The first trick Penny Lane ever learned was “spin.” She stands up and spins in place- it's super cute. Once she realized that by doing that she gets a treat, she became a monster. Any time she wants literally anything she will run in front of you and start spinning. It's ridiculous.

Penelope loves to dance! If I start singing or dancing (or even just bouncing in place) she’ll jump up from wherever she is, run over in front of me, stand up with her tongue out and wave her arms in the air. It is one of the cutest and funniest things ever.

When Margot went in for her spay and dental surgery, they found a mammary tumor on her; likely a result of her having not been spayed before. She came out of that surgery missing one uterus, eight teeth and one nipple! All of that, and she doesn’t even weigh four pounds!

Penelope has an instagram- @thepenelope.lane

For more information on Deity Animal Rescue, check out their website and Instagram @deityanimalrescue. 

Bear, The Pit Bull Mix

FRONT Ben & Skylar BACK Bear & Winston.

“I was inspired by all of the wonderful pit bulls that Ben and I have personally come to know and, after being around them, Ben was absolutely smitten with the playful personalities and blocky heads.” 

Skylar Wells loves her goofy, fun-loving pit bull and boxer mix, Bear, who is almost two years old. He’s deaf, but his ears still move around actively like he’s listening for something. This doesn’t go unnoticed. 

“Bear’s beaming personality makes him a popular pup at the local vet,” she says. “Anytime he meets someone new, there’s sure to be a comment regarding ‘those ears!’”

Skylar and her partner Ben closed on their first home in April of last year and, within the first few weeks of home ownership, received a call from Adopt A Pit Rescue.

“Ben had been actively applying to several rescues in the hopes that we could find the perfect addition to our family and, after months of searching, we finally received a match,” she says. 

That match was Bear, who was then six months old and in need of a forever home. They went to meet Bear, introduced him to their orange Pomeranian Winston, and realized they wanted Bear to be a part of the family. 

In her senior year of college, Skylar did a capstone project that required a deep dive into researching the pit bull breed. She discovered that, oftentimes, requirements for the breed were not being met by families because they weren't educating themselves prior to adoption. This education is vital and, when properly trained, pit bulls are friendly, lovable dogs.  

“I was inspired by all of the wonderful pit bulls that Ben and I have personally come to know and, after being around them, Ben was absolutely smitten with the playful personalities and blocky heads.” 

What she learned through her capstone project reaffirmed her love for pit bulls. 

We spoke with Skylar about what it’s like raising a dog whose breed is often misunderstood, and what it’s like to take care of a deaf dog. 

Dog Whisperer: What are some special pit bull traits?

Skylar: Pit bulls and boxers both possess high energy levels, paired with a high demand for affection and socialization. Additionally, both breeds tend to be quite trainable. They have a strong desire to please.

DW: What special measures do you take when raising a deaf dog?

S: To most people’s surprise, the day-to-day of owning a deaf dog — once you get into the groove of things — really isn’t all that different from raising any other dog. The biggest difference is that we used a vibration collar. This trains Bear to react to the vibrations by returning to us, which helps us keep him safe when he’s gone too far away or is out of sight. It’s our way of “calling” him back.

Other than that, it’s really just about being mindful and patient with him. We use hand signals to ask him to do certain things. We give him commands like "no," "good boy," “sit,” “come,” “stay,” “release / let go,” and ask if he’s hungry. Additionally, we ensure that we educate people before letting them interact with Bear. We always let them know that he’s deaf, and encourage them to remain visible, so they don’t approach him from behind and scare him.  

DW: What is your advice to someone who is considering adopting a dog that is deaf?

S: Do a good amount of research before you commit to getting a deaf dog. Make sure you are positive you want to take on the added level of responsibility, on top of the already significant responsibility of owning a dog. Think about the dog's wellbeing. If you don't have time to dedicate to the dog, let him or her go to someone who does.

If you’re educated, patient, want to understand how to communicate with your dog, and have the time necessary to build a strong bond with the pup, you’re ready for a deaf dog.

DW: What are Bear’s favorite activities?

S: There’s no debate: Bear’s absolute favorite activity is eating. Breakfast and dinner are his two favorite parts of each day. When it’s time to be fed, he’ll let you know either with a couple of eager grunts or he’ll climb entirely in your lap after pacing around his bowl! Some of his favorite snacks include ice cubes, peanut butter and the occasional dog treat.

His other favorite activities include chasing a laser pointer with Winston, playing tug-of-war with Ben, taking naps on the couch with me and taking long off leash walks through our local nature trails.

DW: Does Bear have any best friends?

S: Bear’s best friend is Ben, but Winston is a close second. Bear also spends a lot of time with his cousin, Binx the Shnoodle, and his neighbor, Koda the Goldendoodle.

DW; What are some fun facts about your pup:

S: Bear can chase his tail in a circle infinitely without giving up or getting tired. Usually he stops only because he’s been distracted.

Bear absolutely LOVES watching television. If a character is moving aggressively towards the screen, he’ll even flinch as if it’s going to burst through the TV and get him. His current favorites are squirrel footage on YouTube and Game of Thrones. The dragon scenes really excite him.

Learn more about raising a deaf dog here.