Ask Bruce

If you would like to get input or advice from Bruce, please email him by clicking here. Select entries will be added to this "Ask Bruce" column.

Hi. My name is Bruce. According to my parents, I'm a "Keller" hound and they say that I'm blind and deaf. I don't really know what that means but they tell me it makes me extra special which makes me feel good. They call me an ambassador to all dogs in need and asked me to give a few barks on life and saving doggies. I'm not sure what I know about life since I'm still young but so far I've tried to be happy, play a lot and get lots of comfort, cuddles and attention from my family. I didn't use to have much confidence since I was never allowed to explore the world but my Mommy and Daddy have really helped me explore my world. I love exploring so much now that Mommy and Daddy are worried that I'm too confident! Isn't that silly? While I'm talking about my Mommy and Daddy, I want to tell you about a really neat thing they do. They help out doggies in need and try to find them their own families. I can tell you, being at they shelter without a family of your own is really scary. I try to help out too. I make sure all of the doggies I get to meet have some fun and mischief!

Mommy and Daddy bring new friends around for me to meet regularly. They call them fosters but I call them friends. I try to make them feel at home and I like to play with them as much as possible. When I can't find my Mommy or Daddy, I REALLY start to play with my friends and I get into all of the GOOD toys like lampshades, remote controls, firewood, the mail, trash and best of all, Mommy and Daddy's dinner! We have so much fun! I'm not sure why Mommy and Daddy get upset with us but we are all smiles and don't let that slow us down. In fact, about the only thing that slows us down is when Mommy and Daddy run a neat machine that vibrates the floor a lot and they say it is cleaning the floor. They move around the furniture while running this machine and sometimes forget to put it back in its original place. It smarts a lot when I dive into the coffee table from the couch instead of the dog bed that is usually there. I really like it when I get to go outside with my friends and run all around the yard. I love getting muddy and digging up rotting nuts and roots. It is a great thing to do with my friends. The friends currently staying with me have helped me dig down to new smells and Daddy said he hopes I find oil. I didn't like it when he tried to teach me to smell oil using the old lawn mower for scent training. That was not as much fun as the DIGGING! He said something about putting my nose to good use.

Anyway, I've barked enough for now. I've got to go sniff out my foster friends and have a good wrestle. Daddy says I'll get to bark more later.

WoooWooo!
Bruce

I got a letter from one of my friends today. I love letters!!! I thought I'd share this one:

Hi Bruce,

It's Alex, remember me. I just wanted to say what I good time with you at the Pet Expo in Chantilly. It was great to see you and I am glad you remember me, you always remember everyone. I am so glad you finally got to meet my mommies too. Life has been great in my new home. I have a new sister and she is a blast. She let's me play all the time with her. Want to hear something really cool? I have learned all of my commands in Japanese! I am getting pretty good at it. One of my mommies taught me how to roll over when she says "where's your belly?" That's my favorite. I have grown up a lot and am still growing. I am a lot taller than my sister now and weigh about 15 pounds more than her. I just wanted to let you know I had a good time with you at the Pet Expo and just miss playing with you all the time! You were my favorite friend when I stayed in your home, but don't tell anyone that. I think we won over a lot of people at the expo and helped raise a lot of money too for the rescue. I sure did get a lot of belly rubs and a lot of attention that weekend. I know when I got home, I was worn out. I slept a lot! I enclosed a picture of us taking a nap together at the expo too because we were tired there. We were on our best behavior and it paid off because we got to give a lot of kisses to people and kids too. Well I just wanted to say what a blast I had and I look forward to playing again in the near future. Take care!

Your friend,
Alex

Dear Bruce,

You don't know us, but we wanted to write to you and tell you how special you are. Your Mom told our Mom all about you and we sure hope we get to meet you one day. We could have lots of fun, because we love to play and wrestle, too!

Our Mom told us that your Mom is really awesome! She helps so many dogs and does so many good things for pups less fortunate than those of us with loving families.

Well that's about it for now. Mom needs to use the computer now.

Lots of happy tail wags from your friends,
Reno, Shelby, Rocky, and Keona

Hi Gang!! Let's get together and PLAY!!!! I've been told your Mom is pretty awesome as well. Aren't Moms GRREAT?!

WoooWooo!
Bruce

Dear Bruce,

What is the secret to happiness?

Thanks,
Buddy

Dear Buddy,

Always greet everyone like a friend, explore even when you don't know where you're going, and sit next to my Aunt Glenda when she's eating steamed crabs.

Smiles and smooches,
Bruce

Dear Bruce,

My Mommy and Daddy keep stopping me as soon as I get into something fun like chewing on the things I find on the counter and hunting down leather shoes. These things are sooo much fun! I really want to continue doing them but my Mommy and Daddy are really good at catching me and seem to get upset. How should I handle this situation?

Your in mischief,
Willy

Dear Willy,

I completely understand where you are coming from! I try to be as quiet as possible while hunting down shoes or counter surfing. Noise seems to attract my parents. I also try to sneak away from my brothers and sisters since they always give my mischief away. My final bit of advice is to perfect a look of complete innocence and purity that you can use when you get caught. If perfected, this look should reduce your parents to putty and allow you continual enjoyment of your mischief.

Mischief-minded,
Bruce

Dear Bruce,

I really want to get my Mommy and Daddy to play with me more. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Playful Poodle

Dear Playful Poodle,

I'm going to share with you my 100% guaranteed, tried and true, flawless method of getting humans to play with you. This needs to be shared with everyone. We need to band together and get the silly humans playing more!

So here is my method:

• Step 1: Find the human you want to play with (this may sound silly but for those of us who are blind and deaf, it can get challenging as the humans tend to want to move around).
• Step 2: Let out a warning "Woo Woo".
• Step 3: In one fluid motion, jump up and bounce off the human with your front paws.
• Step 4: Hop back and let out another "Woo Woo".
• Step 5: Hop forward and nibble on their thigh.
• Step 6: Go to step 2 and repeat until the human plays with you.

Hi everybody! I've been asked to post a poem written by my alpha, my queen, my Delilah. She wrote this before I was born but her obsession with the ball still remains.

Enjoy,
Bruce

Peace by Delilah

Ping pong the ball bounces
And rolls under the bed.
Bark, bark the shepherd yells
Blood rushing to Beth's head.

Run, run the shepherd sprints
Bounding after the ball.
Click clack goes the door lock
Leaving the dogs out in the hall.

"A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing, since adventures come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world and has something to give in return." -Sarah Orne Jewett, from "River Driftwood" (1881)