In this fun and heartfelt episode of Discussing Dogs in the D, Christine and Gail imagine what their dogs would say if they could text. From demanding snacks and coffee runs to complaining about personal space and singing at the mailman, the episode dives into the hilarious personalities of their beloved pets — Kipper, Bosco, Mollie, and Joshua. Along the way, they talk about how dog owners naturally create voices and personalities for their pets, the strong emotional bonds they share, and the quirky things all dog parents seem to have in common. The conversation also touches on Christine’s recent rescue photography adventures across Metro Detroit, including photographing adoptable dogs at local sports venues and shelters, and the rewarding experience of advocating for homeless animals. The episode blends humor with meaningful discussions about rescue dogs, shelter life, barking stereotypes, dog personalities, and the joy of giving shelter dogs a chance. They also read listener mail about difficult nail trims with a Shiba Inu, highlighting how common grooming struggles can be for pet parents. Overall, it’s a cozy, relatable episode celebrating the deep, funny, and emotional relationships people have with their dogs — and imagining the hilarious texts those dogs would probably send every day.
Send us listener mail! Email us at dogsinthed@greatlakespet.org
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Follow Kipper and Bosco's adventures on Instagram: @breakfastschnauzers
https://www.instagram.com/breakfastschnauzers/
Joshua has his own Instagram and it's VERY NEW: @justjosh_in313
https://www.instagram.com/justjosh_in313/
If our dogs could text....
00:00:00 Speaker: Hey friends, welcome to Discussing Dogs in the D podcast where Detroit's dog lovers come together. Hi, I'm Christine, and whether you're a rescue volunteer, a pet parent, a shelter supporter, or just someone who can't pass a dog on the street without saying hi, you're in the right place. Let's talk about all things dogs and how they change our lives and how we can possibly change theirs.
00:00:22 Speaker: Hey, friends. Welcome back to another episode of discussing dogs in the D and tails with Gail. anytime I have Gale on the podcast, we're definitely gonna be talking tails, and all things fun, happy, you're meant to be my, my Zen, my happy, my, all the things that are positive in metro Detroit, Michigan related to animal welfare. We're going to do something fun today. Not, you know, kind of thinking outside the box of, but I think it's not really outside the box because I bet everybody does this. I'm sure they do. They we're, we're going to be taking the voice of our pets. And more specifically, we discussed that, what would they text us during the day or or if they had a phone and thumbs? Yes, yes. So just to recap, you have two dogs. Yes. About Kipper and Bosco. Yes. Yeah. They would, they would totally be texting me all the time. Bark bark to text. Yeah, I like that bark to text. Right? Yeah, right. Although Kipper. Okay. So kipper's the the head in the clouds dog. So I think he would be wondering like, well, how do I do this? He would be the one that would not totally figure out how to use technology. Bosco would have to show him how to do it. Oh, the younger brother would be like, bro, this is how you do it. Yeah. And and, and barking at him and telling him like, not not asking, but, but telling him. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He is good with his opinions. Oh, I love that. I love that when we, when we, I think it was Chris that said or know who said it that you would have like that inflection of a different voice that Chris would know. Yeah, your kipper's voice versus Bosco's That blew my mind when Chris told me. My husband told me that. That yes, when I speak for Bosco, I have a different voice than when I speak for Kipper. And so then when I talk for the dogs, he knows which one I'm talking for. And I think it's so funny, I thought that I had I knew I didn't have my own voice, but I thought I had the same voice for both dogs, but I don't. Slightly different inflection. Yeah. Well, it's easy for us because I have. I have a boy and a girl. Yeah. And and Molly's got the. Is it for me, please? You know, and then Josh was the deeper huskier. That is mine. I'm gonna take that, you know. So like, obviously it's one or the other. Yeah. and since we lost Boomer, my voice for Joshua is very. But Tom even said, it doesn't sound like you're Boomer anymore. It sounds like it's. Joshua has his own. Yeah, it's kind of a dorkier Dopier version of Boomer's voice. You know, like, it's kind of funny how we do this, but I didn't. I thought Tom and I were like, the only people in the world that because we don't have kids. He's our dogs are kids. And I'm like, I am the voice of my, you know, like we're doing this. And other people have said they do the same thing. Like, I'll joke about it. I'm like, sorry, guys, I'm being dumb here. They're like, no, we do that too at home, right? Yeah, but it doesn't just like we all give the special toys names. And we thought that we were the only ones that did that. And then one time Chris was talking about it with his coworker and, and he just like said it out of the blue. And the coworker said, of course, of course you name all of your toys, the special ones, maybe not all of them, but of course the special dog toys get names. I love that, I love it that it's like this universal thing, you know, we especially the those of us that like, well, I mean, we don't have children, human children, and our pets are just so intertwined in our lives. And they like you. You take them everywhere you walk them. You actually drive them places to walk them almost every day. Almost every day. Yes. Yeah. And you're there's a huge part of like your I feel like our identity. Right? That. Yeah. And we have this relationship with them and then we create their voices and yeah, it's kind of a funny thing, but yeah, for, for Molly and Joshua. Joshua is definitely not as bright as and I, I mean that in the nicest way possible. Yeah. He, his voice would definitely be these dorkier and always questioning. I don't know what that is. You know, whereas Molly's like in Molly with Boomer used to not be the bright one. So now she's always like, I had a smart one now, you know? So it's like this funny thing that we're kind of like pivoting and she's like this more intelligent dog. You know, she's been around the block around the house now. So there you go. Yeah, yeah. Boomer was just so smart, though, that it's hard to like. He set that bar so high for intelligence and dogs. But anyway, I digress. So if you. So we're here right now. Mhm. What is what are Kipper and Bosco texting you right now? So this is Chris home right now. Yeah he is. Yes. But I absolutely know that Kipper would be texting me saying, mom, are you getting coffee without me? Because he loves the coffee smell. And every time I. I shouldn't do this as often as I do, but most mornings I go out to Starbucks, I have my favorite Starbucks. I go get coffee, bring it back. He gets upset with me when I leave. He watches me. And you get to see that look in his eye, like, are you gonna go get coffee? But then he's there. When to greet me when I get through the door and he's happy to see me, but he wants to smell the coffee. He loves the coffee smell. So interesting it is. I worked in a coffee shop when I was, in college, and this was before I actually drank coffee. I didn't drink coffee until I was older. I remember I just loved going to work. Mhm. Because I loved the smell of that coffee. You know, just like the brewing or the espresso and. That's funny that dogs like he needs that sniff. Right. Exactly. Isn't that you cheated? Yes, yes. So he's texting you right now, Mama. Yeah. He went for coffee without me. Yep, I know it. I can feel it in my bones. I love that. Yeah, Bosco would probably be texting, saying I've been quiet for, like, two whole minutes. Where's my treat? Where's my reward? Oh, he expects it. He likes they. Both of your dogs are very like treat very treat motivated very treats. Yeah. So he was just like, yep. Where's the snacky? Why aren't you here giving me snackies? I have not barked in anything. Yes, for two minutes, for two. Whole minutes. Maybe a minute and a half. We'll just round up to two minutes. It's dog time, right? In in dog minutes. I've been quiet for. I didn't bark at the wind gust. Maybe. Or maybe. Well. Oh that's. Yeah yeah. It's interesting. Joshua. we haven't had him a full year yet, but when we first got him he wasn't really a barky. Now he is, uh, any little weird noise now I feel like he's super protective of us now. if he were texting right now, I think he would. Well, I think he'd be wondering if I, you know, where did you go? What dogs are you meeting? I you smell like dogs every time you come home. Yeah. just because of the nature of my job. Yes. and then I think Molly would be. Are you bringing snacks back for us? What snacks will you be bringing back for us? Joshua? Like snacks too, but like, he's definitely more interested in, And like Velcro. I need you with me right now. Come back home, please. I need to snuggle. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And you cheat on them a lot. I do like this. Last week you had a lot going on with a lot of dogs. Yeah, I was thinking about that. I told Tom, I think, and you've been at almost every event that I've done these last two weeks. In the last two to three weeks we have photographed almost sixty five. Oh wait, you were in at Oakland County. But either way, I, I was thinking sixty five homeless animals that we have photographed that we're trying to get It's I still think about like the, the journey of life and how, how did we get here? And how did I get to this moment where I have the best job in the world and I don't know, just being able to do what I do and how fortunate I feel to have met one all of these amazing animals and that we can be their advocates. And I don't know, it's it's an incredible feeling. But we we did photos at the studio of Michigan Massage and Wellness lent us their yoga studio. We did a bunch of photos there. We went to Keyworth and did the Detroit City FC theme, which is still one of my favorites. I love the pictures. I can't wait to start. I mean, I've already started sharing those photos, but I want to I want to just share them all at once. But I don't want to overwhelm people with all these adoptable animals. Right. And then, we did. Jimmy. Well, it's not Jimmy John's field anymore. It's. It'll always be Jimmy John's, though. Well, Tom, everyone knows what we're talking about, though. Jimmy John's field. United Wholesale Mortgage fields, W.M. we did the baseball theme there, and then I photographed him, his almost forty dogs in Oakland County. And then just yesterday, we're recording this on a Thursday, Wednesday, the, I think the director of the Royal of Leprechauns. Mhm. We only, we only photographed four dogs there, but I wanted to get a feel for that stadium. And gosh, it's cute and fun and local. I'm excited to go there having three. bark in the park events this summer. the, the tickets for that are really affordable and it's like up close and personal baseball. I think that's gonna be fun. But they met me out there. I got some leprechaun jerseys, so I can't yes. I can't wait to share those photos too. But but you're right. Every time I come home. So yesterday I get home and it's the sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff. Because I'm not just photographing these dogs. I'm petting them and loving them. And, you know, and there was one, especially yesterday, Aggie from Bark Nation. she was just kind of like this little piglet. Oh. And it was. And then she was like, right up, you know, and just wanted love. And it was like, oh my gosh, girl, I love you. Why can't I take you home with me right now? Oh, yeah. But I know they smelled her. I know that they're like, where, where did you go? Yeah. What did you do? Well, and then they got to come see you in practice. Like they tried to, to go to work with their mom a little bit. Yes. So we, I asked Tom because we met Joshua last year at our photo shoot at Jimmy John's field. And he someone noticed, I think it was Mandy that noticed that he was limping and I was able to get the rest. One of these rescue peace loving paws to pull him and we fostered. We ended up keeping him and I thought it would be a full circle thing to take him back and photograph him again in the Utica Unicorns jersey. So Tom brought him both and I think, and the voice and, you know, they're texting. So this is where you go when you're not with us. You know, that's exactly what they're messaging me. You know, when they get home. Exactly. Daddy brought us. That was cool. It's nice to see where you go. You know, now you come home, too. Yeah. Yes, exactly. That was so much fun. To be able to full circle with Joshua. And he did so great. He's just such an easy dog. it was more vocal now, but that's fine. I think he's just very protective of his pack and he's comfortable. I think when they get comfortable, they get a little bit more vocal sometimes. Yeah, yeah. I always tell people dogs in the shelter that are shut down, they're either emaciated and they haven't had regular meals or they start, they start getting regular meals. And then we realize, you know, these behavior things are going on, when they're shut down and they're just so locked in of like, this is my space. And I'm just, I, you know, terrified, anxious or whatever. But the minute you get them into a home, you start seeing their personality, right? It's unbelievable. It's just night and day that they act so differently. And he is just such a great dog and happy dude. And he's awesome. And yeah, very proud of him. Yeah. There's a woman that was at Macomb Animal Control where he came from. her name is Shakira. She she still messages and asks about him. Loved him, but he apparently was a dog tester. He's so good with other dogs. She would use him. I mean, she was sad that he was gone, right? I'm sure, but she would use him to dog test to see if other dogs were. Because he was only. Yeah, because he was just like, okay, yeah, I'll play with you. Oh, I play with you. I know. He's he's that dog that doesn't mind. Anyway, it's just. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. And maybe he's even texting me right now. Uh, are you gonna bring another doggy home? You know, because he he loves he has other animals so much, You know, he loves, he loves. He loves meeting the neighbor dogs. He loves children. He's so good with children. That's great. PSA for this episode. Give a shelter dog a chance. Yeah, yeah, they deserve it. But anyway, I think okay, so something that you said made me think that I think one of one of my dogs, both of my dogs would probably text me at any point during the day and just say, mom, calm down, chill out. Oh, because I think that what we get worried, especially for our dogs, like if they do bark and, and we are somehow we're in this society where we think that our dogs have to be perfect at all times and they can't talk, but they're going to talk. And I think that that's perfectly okay. Sometimes our dogs have to remind me that it's okay because I, I feel like everything has to be perfect and they have to be quiet, little gentleman, but I think that they would just I can even see it in their eyes if they were not texting. If they were with me, they would give me that look like mom. We're fine. We can talk. Yeah, yeah, we're being good still. We're not, we're not. Keep calm coffee on mom. Exactly, I like that. That's awesome. They would. Well, for for people that aren't dog people. I think we worry about are we offending, you know, with how barky they are. Yeah. You know, but people are allowed to. We have to remember that that if our society is loud, you have loud vehicles, you have loud people, you have loud other wildlife. So so I think that dogs, you know, like they just see that and they think like, well, we can talk once in a while. I mean, obviously it shouldn't be in certain situations. But so but in general, though Schnauzers Kipper isn't as barky. He's he's quiet. I think all the schnauzers we know like lucky Lily pepper. Pepper when she's with her people isn't barky. No. But then when other dogs and people come around, she gets barking. What I think is really interesting when you talk about let's talk about this for a second. Our Schnauzer group, Okay, so we have a group on Facebook Schnauzer Palooza Michigan. And if you're a schnauzer owner, we do meetups But when we decided to start doing our Schnauzer meetups, I remember all these different dog moms, and it was the moms that were stressed that their schnauzer would out like, be too barky where everybody. And then our first meet up, it was like everyone felt so seen and heard. Yes. Because their schnauzer wasn't the barky schnauzer, you know, it wasn't the barky stuff. Yeah. Well, like Leigh with Lily. Yes. I think she was just so stressed that like, oh, she's gonna bark at everybody. And then she's like, what? What is this freedom of like, you know, and they're just all. And what's wild is that at a certain point, they weren't, none of them were barking at all. Absolutely. Because it was like, I've got my friends here and we don't have to bark at each other, right? They all have that same mindset and they felt comfortable with each other. And yeah, it was wonderful to see. Yeah. I don't think lucky, uh, Janet's dog lucky is, is I think she's a little more quiet, isn't she? She is. Okay. Well, but she's spunky. She she will give Bosco a run for his money. Oh, I love that. Yeah, I love that. Good for her. That's what made me love schnauzers in the first place. Was because when I was a teenager, after I grew up with a Dalmatian. But then. And he lived to be sixteen, so we got a good long life out of him. But when he passed away, then my parents didn't want to get another dog. But I really wanted to get as many dog moments as I could, so I would just babysit. Actually, I babysit whatever animals came my way. I had birds, I had cats, I had dogs, so there was a schnauzer that her parents would go to Arizona every winter, and I got to babysit her for like two months at a time. And she was a girl schnauzer and she was spunky. And I think that's what made me really love schnauzers, because you get that that tomboyish spunkiness with all the measures. Yeah. So you've always had boy schnauzers. Pancake was a boy, right? Okay. Do you think you'd ever get a girl Schnauzer? Bosco was supposed to be a girl. Because when we got Kipper from the breeder. Okay, we put down a deposit for Bosco, and he was actually, we wanted a girl. We thought, oh, it'd be cute to have a boy and a girl. And pancake had been a boy. So we. That was going to be our first girl. And then Bosco litter was, um, was born and it was a small litter. It was only four pups and they were all boys. So we had to pivot. And we we got our pick of the first boy. So Bosco was the only black one. So he was kind of like the still kind of like the different one of the group. But yeah, I think now I'm kind of stuck. I remember you told me, you said like, yeah, I think you're a boy. You're a boy, mom. Yeah. You're, I think you're gonna always be a boy. Mom. I think so too, I think. Well, and I mean the, the two of them as brothers. I can't imagine it any other way. I mean, obviously, yeah. You know, it could have been different, but I just they are so like bros, you know. Yep, yep. They're. So what would they text each other what would they if they were like even across the room. You know, how sometimes we text our spouses and it's like they're just in the other room? Hey, honey, can you grab this and bring it to me? Yes, exactly. What would they text each other? Okay, so so this would be even closer if they were actually in the same room. Kipper would text the Bosco and say, stop touching my. The hair on my pinky toe. I love that as much as they are so close to each other. Like emotionally, he does not want Bosco to cuddle with him at all and we can do anything to. Is he is he is Kipper a cuddler or. No, he is with us. Okay, cool. I mean, he likes the space too. He's definitely like the older brother. He likes to just, like have his space. And. But he does like to cuddle with Mom and dad. We can do anything to him. But if Bosco comes even like he can do it by accident and just touch his back foot or his front foot, whatever. If he does, then it's just like, you know, I need my space. Get away from me. So yeah, so he would text Bosco and say, like, give me my space. But why are you so close to me right now? Bosco would text Kipper and say, can we sing now? Can we see now? Like, is this the right time to sing? Because he loves the sing with them and they do. They do get a good song going, like when the mailman comes. Oh, they both do it. Yeah. Oh, I love it. And schnauzer singing like when they actually sing and not just bark. It's cute. It's. You need to get a video of this. I will do that. Do you I mean, you might already have some, but I want to see. I feel like I need this in my life. Yes. And you need to put it on. For reals? Okay. Yeah, yeah, we'll do that. Yeah. Get a video of them singing to the mailman. And then, um, Mr. Postman and maybe even overlay that. Hey, wait a minute, Mr. Postman. Anyway, but like, but do that and like, because I need this, I need to see this. I feel like that would be some schnauzer therapy. It'll wake you up. It's not a, it's not a beautiful song, but it's a fun song. No, I would love it. I would love it regardless. There's so many different ways dogs communicate like Boomer used to, if there were sirens, he used to siren and try and match, he would move. Yes. You know, and match the Yeah, the sound of the sirens. and my dog before that was a hound, and she kind of would do, but lower key kind of. He was so high pitched. Oh. It's interesting. Yeah. Your dog. Yeah. And but in Mollie No, no howling. She's this very. I was astonished when she barked for the first time how loud and like low and guttural her bark is. And it's like she really means it. And she's only barking when she really feels like doesn't bark. Never barked as much as Boomer. Wow. But when she barked, you could feel it. Yeah, like it would get your attention. Yes it did, but yeah, I think that, it's so interesting how. just their communication style, And if they were texting, us while we were at Keyworth. Mhm. It was rainy. It was cold. Yes. I think Joshua would probably have been checking in on me and been like, momma, don't get sick. Come home and snuggle Joshua. Get warmed up, you know? And Molly would still be like, are you bringing Snackies? You're not bringing another dog home, are you? Don't don't take another dog home from this event, too. We already have. We already have too many dogs here. Joshua's one too many. Anyway, we always joke about her being, like this is like Tom is her favorite. Tom and Molly are like. Like that's her favorite human ever. We always joke in her voice that Mama and Joshua can leave and, you know, like, it's just, I love daddy. Daddy forever. I joke that she sees only him, you know, and they're just buddies. And Josh was definitely my dog. Uh huh. Joshua loves everybody, though, but I do feel that he definitely is more protective and alert when it's just me at home and doesn't really nap as well. He loves to nap, but he like, if it's just us, unless we're all napping together. And that's probably his favorite. Yes, midday nap, like twenty minutes. We'll go. Yeah. And it's the two of them. And then he's fine. Uh, but if if daddy's not home, he's definitely like, daddy. What are you getting home? Mama needs protection, you know? Yeah. If they had a favorite song. What was your favorite? What would their favorite song? Oh Mollie I don't know. Now we could have them, you know, creating their own playlists. Like, what would they do? Oh my gosh. We next. Next episode. Yeah. Let's, let's go over our dog song playlist. That's a, that's an interesting question. Yeah. Because I think Joshua's playlist would be punk rock and party music. And I could totally see that anything about snacks and Molly would just be like, I don't know. I love, love, comfort, love my daddy. You know, like, I don't know. Let's find those songs. I'll find those. I know, I have no idea. I think punk for basketball for sure. Oh gosh, that's so funny. Yes! Yeah, dude, Josh was a punk rocker. Yes! Yeah. Okay, so they could party together? Yeah, they're both black dogs. Yeah. Okay. There might be something to that. Yes. Yes, they they definitely party together. Yeah. I don't know. Super. I'd have to think about. I feel like he's a slow jazz kind of guy. Oh yeah. Yeah. somebody asked me a couple years ago what they would do as professions if they had professions. And I thought of this spur of the moment, and I stuck with this because I totally believe that Bosco would be a social influencer. For sure he would. He has opinions. He likes to share his opinions. He would love it. Kipper is absolutely the starving artist where he is the dreamer. He would love to create art. He wouldn't know how to put a price tag on anything. So he would he wouldn't be starving, only because he's so darn cute that everybody would be giving him snacks. He would get snacks, but he wouldn't. He wouldn't know how to ask for it. So many people would definitely be paying him the cheese tax. But yeah, I could see him listening to the jazz while he's creating his art, or thinking of his poems or whatever sort of artistic endeavor he would choose, but he would. I could see that. Yeah, yeah. He is definitely the the artistic brain. Joshua would probably be a construction worker. I feel like he, he would have to do something that is physical and like strong. He's so strong. Yes. I think Molly, I don't know, she'd probably be a server or a waitress She'd be a barista. Yeah, she could be. I feel like she would be that nonchalant. What would you like to drink? You know, I'll go get you your beverage. Yes. Yeah, that would be Molly. Yes. None of them are artists. Neither one of them are creative. Yeah, but either way, that'd be. our dogs, by the way. I want to get into. We did receive some listener mail, so I wanted to share. Yeah. I'll put it in the show notes, the email address to email us if you want to share about our podcast, if you want to share, just information about your dogs, cats, pets in metro Detroit, you live in Michigan, you have an interesting story. Or if you, if you come for photos at Premier Pet Supply or you shop at Premier Pet Supply or any of the, you know, all of the things you just want to share a story with us, write us, tell us and we'll share it online or share it on the podcast. we did receive, this email from Antonio and it's pertaining to our Pedicured episode. So I'm just going to read a small part of his email. Tory, our Shiba Inu has always been very difficult with nail maintenance. He's referencing our Pedicured episode with Mary, and very often when we take her to get a bath, I find her nails were not properly trimmed or in some cases not trimmed at all. To be honest, I kind of understand it as a Shiba Inu. they make the process very hard. It is common for me to be ashamed in the pet store as Tori shouts and resists, as if somebody is cutting the full leg off. I think that I can relate to this because Molly will not let us touch her. We can't trim her nails. And, it is so difficult to. I mean, she doesn't scream or bark. She just gets really. They call it whale eye that she gets really wide, wide eyed. Yeah. And she just jerks her paws in and will run and hide. And I'm, I'm so sad that it's so terrifying for her, for the nail trims. So, but some dogs are fine, some are not. And sometimes they're even, veterinarians that have to sedate dogs to even get their nails trimmed. he went on to say that when his wife, when he and his wife tried to, trim her nails at home or requires me to grab Tori and pin her to the bed so she can't move while Dinak makes her best to cut the nails. It is a really difficult process and I look forward to checking out Pedicured, you know, team to see if they can handle her. But anyway, thank you for your email. I appreciate you so much. And for, writing in next time I see you, Antonio, we're gonna, I've got a couple bags of treats from Angela's treat stash for you and, a stuffy from fluff on tough. I appreciate you writing in and sharing that with us, because it's not just you. I think there's a whole community of people that will relate to that and feel that to their core because there are so many people that I. I truly feel like their dogs will. never be able to But anyway, Antonio, thank you so much for writing in. We appreciate you so much. and thanks for listening. We appreciate all the listeners. If you're, if you want to write in and share a story with us, we would love to share this on our podcast. We appreciate you so much. Anyway, should we give a shout out to, um, common roots? Common roots? Oh, yeah. We're meeting for our podcast episodes. It's common roots and this is Auburn Hills, right? Yeah. We're Auburn Hills. Yeah. Um, they welcome us. They let us sit here and, and record our podcast episodes. So we appreciate that. Very good and delicious coffee, very good avocado toast. Oh my gosh, I love their avocado toast. It's amazing. And if you're up for it, it's got uh, pepper flakes, the red crushed pepper, whatever. Oh yeah. Do you want you want a little spice? Yeah. It's delicious. But anyway, thank you so much, guys.
00:28:46 Speaker: I appreciate all of you for tuning in to discussing dogs in the D podcast. And until next time, stay kind, stay curious, and give your dog a cookie for me.