So I’ve got huge news for everyone: I just celebrated a pretty big milestone with Good Dog. Believe it or not, it’s been six glorious months since I swooped in and graced this place with my presence. That’s six months of new friends, treats, front-desk naps, belly rubs, barking, playing, more naps … I just can’t believe how much I’ve learned since my first day here! Actually, the information I stuff into my little doggie brain every day can get pretty overwhelming, but one thing always remains clear: I most definitely own this place!
To give you a glimpse into my management style, as well as some of the changes I’ve implemented during my tenure here, I’ll need to walk you through a day in my life – and let me tell you, it’s a busy day. First things first, I always strut into the lobby just before we open, usually after spending the night with someone from my Good Dog family. Those nights are crazy fun, by the way. You might see me taking a lot of naps at the front desk, but when I’m home with one of the family dogs, I’m an out-of-control noise machine. My playing style can be likened to a chubby Tazmanian devil who runs out of breath pretty quickly but keeps playing until he passes out from complete exhaustion.
Sleepovers aside, most of my work day is spent manning the front desk, where you’ll find me greeting your dogs and occasionally getting sassy with the big guys (some say it’s because I have an inferiority complex about my size, but whatevs). What you might not know, however, is that I often pop into daycare for quality-control inspections. I keep the daycare staff on their toes by making lots of unnecessary noise, and I mingle with the dogs to ensure everyone is getting enough water, toys, playtime and attention. Honestly, I love my mingling time, especially when I get to rub elbows with celebs. Just the other day, Blue 2 and I were discussing Butler’s basketball prospects for this year … we think it should be a fantastic season.
Last but not least, there’s my daily stroll through the Hotel and One-on-One Room. Mostly I just check to see what movie is playing in the hotel, and then I make sure all room-service orders have been delivered (I can’t live without my peanut-butter Kong during overnight stays). Since I don’t want to interrupt another dog’s one-on-one time, I might only peep in to check on things. It’s fun to see dogs getting love and treats from Mr. David. If I’m ahead of schedule, I might take some time to listen to his oldies music and cut a little rug while I’m there.
Really, there’s only one thing I don’t like about running the show at Good Dog: this job requires me to stay clean and presentable. That means a bath or groom every other week, which I consider to be a grave injustice. I protest this injustice in several ways, first with some simple wailing and screaming during haircuts and nail trims. But the really big show takes place afterward, just so everyone knows how truly miffed I am. My post-bath demonstrations are pretty simple — I tear through the lobby like a banshee, jump on multiple chairs, burrow into each one to wipe away the cleanliness, give puppy eyes to anyone watching, and cry a bit for attention. These protests haven’t really kept me from getting baths, but they have been caught on video. If you want to check out my after-bath behavior, click here… I promise you’ll be entertained.
Regardless of my post-groom behavior, my overall management skills must be effective because my customers and employees are always giving me lots of positive reinforcement. And being popular has earned me a slew of nicknames, most of which I don’t understand. I’ve been referred to as Teekster, Tiki Monster, Tiki Tock, Tiki Torch, Tiki Taco, Troublemaker, Monkey, Chunkey Monkey, and Bubbles. The only negative feedback I ever receive always pertains to my breath, but that really isn’t my fault. I mean have you ever met a dog with minty fresh breath?? Oh, and there was one more thing … Someone once thought my underbite was a sign of aggression — like I was showing my teeth in anger — but we all know that’s not the case. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of control over these things protruding from my jaw. It’s more of a dental issue than a sign of aggression.
So that’s the lowdown on Good Dog. It’s been a great six months, and we’re only expecting things to get better and better. The mood around here has been positively joyful since I arrived, and I hope our customers are equally happy. Remember, I give my stamp of approval on pretty much everything that happens around here, so if you ever have any suggestions, comments or feedback, just let me know and I’ll make sure to stay on top of it.
