Bella The Blogging Boxer

Meet Eve, A Very Special Dog

I’m a lucky Boxer, and I know it. That's why I've used my book to give back what I can to help other dogs in need. Not that there's anything left over, mind you. Breaking even is a long way off. (I am contemplating writing a sexy-Boxer-meets-handsome-vampire-slash-werewolf novel for young adults since that's what seems to be hot these days. What do you think?!).

Still, I am committed to using the "Bella Gives Back" program to help as many rescue groups as I can. Starting this month, I'm going to set aside 72-hours during which 30% of all book sales will go back to a designated organization. This month, it is Adopt a Boxer Rescue ... a great group of people helping Boxers in the Northeast.

Take Eve, for example....

Eve was found on Christmas Eve as a 5-week old stray puppy. She barely weighed 2 pounds and was in dire need of help.

Luckily for her she found her way to Adopt A Boxer Rescue which saved her life, gave her a loving forever home, and made her its unofficial mascot. And even though Eve lost a leg in 2010 (after several unsuccessful surgeries to repair a torn ACL), she never lost her spirit—she still doles out wiggles and kisses wherever she goes!

Unfortunately, Eve also suffers from a condition called megaesophagus, or mega-E, that affects her ability to move food through the esophagus and to keep it in her stomach once it gets there. She’s been very sick over the last few weeks, and has lost a tremendous amount of weight due to her disease – in addition to the heartache, the financial costs are huge (the vet estimate is over $5,000). (Visit Eve's Facebook page to learn more.)

That's why between May 17 – 20, I’ll give back 30% of ALL paperback and e-Book sales from my website at www.BellaTheBoxer.com (and Amazon and BN.com) to Adopt A Boxer Rescue so they can continue to help Eve and dogs like her. 

So, spread the word, buy a good book (and devour every word, ha, ha), and let’s help this sweet girl get better. 

With gratitude,

Bella The Boxer

Giving Back to Northwest Boxer Rescue: Won't You Help Me Help the Boxers of WA, OR, ID and CA?

I’m a Northwest dog, through and through. I love hiking, going to the beach, watching episodes of Portlandia and drinking cups of good, strong coffee (okay, so I’m not really allowed to drink coffee which is okay since I’m pretty jazzed up on life already…).

Unfortunately, not all Boxers here in the Northwest have it as good as I do—at least, not until they make it to Northwest Boxer Rescue (NWBR). Started in November 2011, NWBR is already making a HUGE difference in the lives of Boxers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. (They recently transported 17 dogs from high-kill shelters in Southern California up to Washington, with more transports planned soon!)

NWBR wants nothing more than to see wiggle butts out of shelters and into warm houses, snoring on the laps of loving family members. All of NWBR’s dogs are in foster homes, with volunteers who dedicate their time and love to Boxers and can’t bear to see them in kennels, cages or shelters.

The downside? There are always more Boxers needing help. That’s why I am donating 50% of every book sale from my website during the month of April to Northwest Boxer Rescue. So tell your friends that now is the perfect time to get their paws on their very own, "pawtographed" copy of my book Secrets of a Working Dog, which Publisher’s Weekly called “delightful and insightful.” That’s $10 per book that goes to helping Boxers in need. And guess what? Shipping is free in the U.S.!

Please remember to order at www.BellaTheBoxer.com to ensure that NWBR gets the giveback.

Also, check out Northwest Boxer’s website and Facebook page for more about the history of the organization, the story of its founders, and the dogs that have been helped and those that are still looking for their forever homes. Boxers like Thor (below). I have a BIG FAT CRUSH on Thor because, seriously, who can resist a manly man who has a pink blankie?

Woofs, wags and wiggles ~ Bella

How to Network Like a Dog: Dig Out What's Different

Want to know how to create long-lasting, meaningful connections in work and life? Take a tip from my book Secrets of a Working Dog and practice thinking like a dog. Woof, woof!

I love driving out to the country with my humans for a chance to chat with the locals...the cows, the horses and the deer (but never, ever the skunks). They don't always appreciate my efforts, but I always try.

The key to making friends like a dog is to always be curious. Never pass up an opportunity to meet someone new just because they don't walk, talk or look like you. Dogs know that mutually-beneficial partnerships come in all shapes and sizes, and they have no problem looking past (or searching out) differences that most humans would think were too big to ignore.

Have you reached out to someone new today?

Self-Promotion, Or When It’s OK to be a Hot Dog

Mmmmm, hot dogs. My favorite food group (the ones not made out of plastic, that is!).

Anyway, I digress. This is a post about effective communication…

Dogs don’t question their own instincts. If we believe in something, we go for it; we don’t need to drum up interest or support with what people call dog-and-pony shows (honestly, the terms they use!). And even though I believe in the “less is more” philosophy, I also know that the times they are a-changin’. Sometimes, you just have to put yourself out there and strut your stuff!

Why? Because a degree from puppy kindergarten, even if it’s Ivy League, is not enough to get you noticed anymore. As big companies slash jobs and all the “traditional” places of employment start to disappear, it doesn’t do you any good to be the strong and silent type. In the modern working world, you have to be your own best marketing machine. Nobody can, or will, promote you as well as you promote yourself (unless you are a Beverly Hills Chihuahua, with enough pocket change to hire your own agent).

Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about strutting around town and bragging about being the biggest or fastest dog at the dog park. Instead of talking about your own accomplishments, self-promotion is about letting people know that you love what you do and that you do it better than anyone else. It’s about sharing your ideas so others can learn from you and be inspired to take action.

For instance, animal behaviorist and veterinarian Dr. Ian Dunbar didn’t invent positive reinforcement training, but he was the first to popularize it for most people. His books, videos and training sessions have helped millions of humans turn away from dominance training and communicate with their dogs in a fun and positive way. Dr. Dunbar's dog-friendly methods have influenced many dog trainers—and, through them, people who live with dogs.

The bottom line? You can’t share your message or your ideas with the world if people don’t know who you are or if they take you for granted. People like to be around other talented, confident people because those are the people most likely to recognize and appreciate talent in others. So don’t be afraid to engage in self-promotion when it’s well deserved and appropriate. Just make sure that you have something to say and that you say it well. And follow Franklin D. Roosevelt’s advice and “be sincere; be brief; be seated.”

For Dog’s Sake, Play! What Your Sweetie Really Wants on Valentine’s Day

When I was a puppy, I couldn’t get enough of the rosebushes in our backyard. As soon as the blooms popped up in late spring, I’d munch them off and run crazy circles around the yard with my ears flopping in the wind and the soft, velvety rose petals flying out of my mouth. Eating roses was pure, unadulterated fun — and definitely worth the occasional thorn. 

I’ve outgrown my taste for rosebuds (though a nibble now and then can’t hurt). My greatest joy these days is spending a few hours with my humans playing in the park or at the beach. Judging from their grins, I’m sure they feel the same way, too.

So why don’t more people stop and smell (or taste) the roses?

Well, part of the problem is that humans are working more than ever. “Time-saving” gadgets are getting sleeker and smarter, but they’re also piling on the pressure to get more work done. A dog on a six-foot leash has a lot more room to wiggle than a human tied to the office via an invisible digital leash. (Which, if you ask me, is a lot like the retractable kind my humans use when we go hiking in the woods. One minute you’re free, and then —whammo! — you get reeled back in.)

So this Valentine’s Day, I’d like to encourage my four-legged friends to nudge their humans off the couch and out the door for a day of play. It’s better than a box of chocolates and might be the beginning of a happy and healthy habit.

Woofs, wags and wiggles,

Bella

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue…Have I Got a Valentine’s Contest for You!

A few days ago, I received the following compliment on my book:

“It really makes you appreciate the smaller things in life.”

I was over the moon! Comments like these are what keep me motivated. I even did my happy Boxer “kidney bean” dance (picture me wiggling my little stub tail while dancing sideways across the floor like a crab).

Now that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about the small, everyday things that make life so great.

For example, Mom never forgets to tucks me in at night. It doesn’t matter how late it is, how tired she is or whether I get up in the middle of the night for a drink of water (she gets up and tucks me in all over again). As for Dad, I can always count on him to sneak me a morsel (or three) of whatever he is cooking up in the kitchen.

I could go on and on and on…yet I'd rather hear from all of you.

What are the small, everyday gestures that you share with your four-legged friends that make life sweeter?

To keep things fun, I will randomly select two winners on February 1^st each of whom will receive a “pawtographed” copy of my book, Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success (makes a great gift for you or your Valentine).

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Contest Guidelines: To be considered, please write your comment in the “comments” section of this blog post. On February 1^st, I will use a random number generator to randomly select two winners (at 5 PM PST) and I will announce their names here (in the same comments section). Please check back on February 1st so that I may contact you for your mailing address!

Loosen the Digital Leash and Work Better, Live Better

I’m a lucky dog, and I know it. Why? Because my humans know that time away from e-mail, phones and the Internet is the best way to recharge and refocus. Happily, they almost always take me along on their adventures (well, except the time they left me behind to go to Antarctica. I'm still upset at missing my chance to conquer the last continent).

Still, they spend way too much time tethered to their computers which is why they’ve resolved to do a better job of “letting go of the digital leash” in the year ahead.

This means that I, too, get to spend some quality time outside of the office. Here's a video I made to encourage all my 2-legged and 4-legged friends to enjoy the great outdoors:

 

Remember, friends: Creating a life of passion and purpose is no small feat, but the lesson for humans is that jobs come and go, relationships strengthen and weaken, businesses boom and bust, and today’s emergencies are usually meaningless tomorrow (if not, then almost certainly by the end of the week, at least if you are a Boxer).

How will you take the time to refresh, reflect and refocus on what’s really important?

Unclutter and Unplug: A Dog’s Advice for Saving Money and Finding Sanity

First, let me acknowledge the obvious: I am a dog. I am a dog that enjoys helping humans work smarter and be happier—which, for most people, includes having a nice little nest egg to fall back upon (or, better yet, to draw upon when they wish to spoil their loyal four-legged friends!).

I am also a big believer that aside from dogs, the happiest creatures in the world are those that make it their business to be happy. These same people often live modest, moderate lives (does the name Warren Buffet ring a bell?). In other words, they don’t need to surround themselves with a lot of stuff.

Now, I admit that I like the finer things in life. Things like a fluffy dog bed and premium dog food to keep me fit and healthy. Unfortunately, too many of my human friends are drowning in their own junk. Could this explain why it’s easier to spot a self-storage facility than it is to find a fire hydrant? (I may be a dog, but I’m not making this up. The United States has more than 50,000 self-storage facilities with 2.3 billion square feet of storage space. That’s a lot of money going toward the storage of stuff…money that could surely be invested otherwise.)

Stuff doesn’t just take up physical space, it also occupies precious mindshare. Whether you want a lawn mower or a new living room sofa, humans have a dizzying number of options to choose from. Gas or electric? Leather or upholstered? Once you’ve figured that out, you have to bring the thing home, find space for it and take care of it. Then when it breaks, wears out or gets clogged with dog hair, you have to find a way to get rid of it. Just thinking about all the steps involved is exhausting—and expensive!

Do you know what else is exhausting and expensive? Negativity! The kind that newspapers, magazines, television and radio deliver into people’s lives on a daily basis (and for which they pay a premium).

Let me share a personal story. A few years ago, I started putting on the pounds. Much to my chagrin, my humans started rationing my food, and soon I slimmed back down to the svelte Boxer you see today. Similarly, when my dad discovered that his rich media diet was pumping him up with negativity, he vowed to cut back on his consumption. He stopped listening to the radio in the morning. He canceled his subscription to cable television and the local newspaper. He limited the amount of time he spent surfing the internet. As a result, he went from a self-described news junkie to a happier, more productive person with some extra change in his pocket and extra time to spend with the people (and dog) he loves.

Now, I’m all for being an informed, educated and involved citizen of the world. But too many humans like my dad gorge on a media diet that saps their time and makes it hard to maintain a positive outlook on life. An “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality guarantees that a good chunk of what you see, hear and read paints an unnecessarily grim, unbalanced view of the world. Since the media serves as one big echo chamber, we all end up hearing the same soul-sucking stories over and over again.

So what is a media-saturated human to do? Start by shaking off the salacious and sensational headlines like a dog in the bathtub shakes off water. You may not be able to avoid negativity entirely, but you don’t have to absorb it, either. It’s as easy to fill your head with positive things as it is to fill it with garbage, so focus on the positive.

My advice is this: Clean out your doghouse. Simplify, streamline and unclutter. Take a look at what you have and decide whether adding more is a wise investment of your hard-earned dollars. Cancel your subscriptions to negative news outlets.

By following these suggestions, you’ll not only save a lot of money but also gain back some time—which you can then use to spend with your happy, four-legged friend!

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By Bella the Boxer, adapted from her book Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success. 

 

Seven Secrets for Creating a Doggone Great Life

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‘Tis the Season: Staying Positive, Making a Difference

I haven't wanted to seem greedy by asking Santa for presents for myself. And yet, with Christmas just two days away I knew that this would be my last chance to capture the jolly fellow’s attention before he dashed off on his sleigh. So, here goes:

Why do I still feel guilty? Being the digital dog that I am, I spend way too much time online—which is both good and bad.

Good because I’ve made thousands of new friends around the country, including people who’ve dedicated themselves to making the world a better place for my fellow four-legged creatures. With their help, I’ve used my book to raise nearly $3,000 for dogs in need.

Bad because the stories of animal abandonment and cruelty are never-ending and heartbreaking (what is it about the holidays that brings out the worst in some people?). Reading these stories, I feel fortunate and blessed. I also feel overwhelmed and inadequate. After all, I’m just one dog, with one voice. How can I possibly make things better?

It’s enough to make a sensitive dog like me want to run to the backyard, dig a hole and bury her head.

So what’s the secret to staying motivated when things seem bleak? I call it the “kibble principle.” In other words, the key to tackling any complex issue or challenge without becoming overwhelmed is to take small, kibble-sized bites. It’s what Mimi Ausland of Bend, Oregon did when she created Freekibble.com to feed hungry shelter dogs when she was just 11 years old.

To date, Mimi and Freekibble.com (and its spinoff, Freekibblekat.com) have donated millions of good, healthy dog and cat kibble to shelters, rescue groups and food banks around the country—one piece of kibble at a time. Mimi demonstrates how a single, positive change can quickly set in motion a chain of events that make the world a better place.

The truth is that the problems of the animal world and the human world are gigantic. Sometimes, they make it difficult for anyone, dog or human, to feel like they can make a difference. My advice is to focus on the things that you can do yourself right here and right now, no matter how small. As for me, I’ll continue to search for creative ways to partner with rescue groups while spreading a message of happiness and hope to anyone willing to listen.

I also know how important it is to take good care of myself, which includes making time to unplug and unwind (so you see, Santa—that little pink ball is more than just a plaything. It’s an important form of therapy!).

Here’s to staying positive and making a difference in 2012 and beyond!

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You can read more about staying positive and motivated in my book, Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success.