You have discovered the PorterHaus!

Start by checking out my story and a few of my adventures.  Share them with a friend or two!

Then, tell me a story about your dog (“Talk to Porter”).  I’d love to hear from you.  You can get the latest updates by following me on Facebook or Twitter.  I love fans!

My story…

I was born on a chilly morning in the Pacific Northwest into a human family that didn’t want me. Along with my brothers and sisters, I was given to a kind woman who ran a small animal shelter.  I was scared and thought my life was over before it had even begun.

And yet, it seems I was marked by destiny. Even as a newborn puppy I felt there was something different about me, something unusual, exceptional.

You see, I have a sixth sense. It’s as if I can look inside the soul of any person or dog. Troubled souls, like those of my first human family, are dark—a gunmetal grey. But a soul filled with love shines light. To me, dogs give off light like the noonday sun, but for a while I wasn’t sure humans could emit more than a few weary sparks.

Then one day a couple came into the shelter. They shined. With my eyes I pleaded, “Pick me.”

That’s how my luck changed. My new human parents were almost like dogs! Their unselfishness and enthusiasm changed my perception of people.

I realized then that my gift had purpose – to discover the glow and passion of others and share their stories with the world.

I created In the PorterHaus so that I can relate my journey of discovery to you.

How can you join in?

Share my story with your friends and share your stories of adventures with your dogs. Together we can change the world.

An enthusiastic greeting goes a long way.

I like to be the first to say hello and to greet others with enthusiasm, usually with a tail wag and a few licks right on the face. This wasn’t always true for me though. When I first arrived in this world I received a dark, damp greeting and I worried that, despite my sixth sense, my enthusiasm for life would fade.

Everything changed when I saw the light beaming from my new family the first time I met them. Their spirit and love simply demand a proper greeting, so I gave it to them with more kisses (slurp!) and hugs than they probably wanted.

Still today, every time they come home, no matter how long they’ve been gone, I make sure to show them love and appreciation. Belly and ear rubs usually follow……for me of course, not them.

*Next time a dog greets you, notice the tail wagging enthusiasm and how it makes you feel.

(Greet a fellow dog-lover with Dog is Good Greeting Cards)

Watch Porter show love in this dog video.

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It is hard to do something you think you won’t be able to do.

I like land. Land is where my dog bowl is. So when my family took me boating for the first time, I protested politely. (Okay, I howled and did the stiff-leg, drag my toenails thing.) Once on board, my puppy friend, Rufus, and I flopped down in the bottom of the boat.

From up above we heard the sounds of laughter and splashing. We looked at each other and whined. How dare they have so much fun without us?

Then my instincts kicked in. My nose began to quiver and my ears to flap. Despite my fears, I clambered to my feet. It seemed like a long journey, but once I reached the prow of the boat I relished the feel of the wind rushing across my nose.

From now on this boat would have a captain (and Rufus as a first mate). Bravery never felt so good.

*Notice how dogs follow instincts to try something new.

(Got a story about your dog taking a chance? Share it with Porter here.)

Watch Porter’s adventure on the boat in this dog video.

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Nature can be a healing experience.

After being stuck inside all winter my family took me for a hike in the spring. Everything smelled different – new, fresh, fun. I noticed every new flower, fern and mini waterfall that surrounded us.

But my family seemed oblivious to all that I noticed, and their usual beam of light seemed dim. I tugged at the leash and playfully pulled them down to the creek where I rolled around the damp grass nearby and splashed around in the water.

Then, I heard my family laugh, glance around the riverbed and take a few deep breaths. Light restored.

*Note the joy your dog finds in those walks at the end of the day and weekend hikes. How does it make you feel?

(Want to take your dog for a hike? Find a hike here.)

It can be hard to relate to others you don’t fully understand.

I don’t claim to know why other dogs do the things they do, and I know my family has a hard time understanding why I do things that I do, but we still love spending time together.

I am used to playing with big dogs. Then, I met Beau and Arrow, two little Dachshunds. At first I could not understand their hyper energy and tiny jumps. I tried my best to relate to the tiny dogs and I could tell they did their best to relate to me.

As soon as we put our differences and misunderstandings aside, we were able to play, snuggle and chase each other around. Life was good.

*Watch dogs meet and play for the first time. See how they adjust their own behavior for each other.

(Want to make sure your puppy is well-socialized? Find out how here.)

Watch Beau and Arrow play with Porter in this dog video.

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A best friend is hard to be.

My puppy buddy Rufus and I love to play tug, chase, and anything else that involves getting dirty. In dog land this is how we stay close friends. But, Rufus prefers solid ground, while I like adventure.

Recently we ventured to the lake together with our families, and as we set out to explore the dock and grassy marsh by the lake I noticed Rufus starting to get tense (tail up, hair raised kind of tense). I left him standing on the grass, just before the dock and trotted toward the marsh alone, not expecting him to follow.

Rufus proved me wrong. He timidly walked down the dock and eventually hopped into the marsh to follow me. He hated it. I could tell he hated it, yet he stayed there and played with me and looked after me while I explored.

I thought I was the one who was to teach him how to be brave. As it turned out, he was the one who taught me that true friends show up for you, stick with you and don’t let differences get in the way.

*Notice what your dog will do in order to be close to you.

(Find out where to take your dog for an adventure at Bring Fido.)

Watch Porter and Rufus play at the lake in this dog video.

Balance can be difficult to achieve.

Hard work is highly valued in my house. My family works hard every day and I work hard….to get attention. But we make time for play almost every day (well, I make sure we make time for it). I notice how energetic my family seems after a game of tug or fetch.

One evening, after my family came home from work, I sensed a darkness that wasn’t there before.

They were tired, still dwelling on what must of have been a hard day and thinking of the nightly chores. My greeting didn’t lighten their spirit, so I brought my favorite fetch toy and playfully dropped it at their feet.

After just the first throw things got brighter and energy levels rose. Smiles eventually crawled across their faces and I knew my job was done. Balance restored!

*Play with a dog, have fun and let their enthusiasm rub off on you.

(Find games to play with your dog here.)