About the project
raised for their
fur by the Coast Salish
Discovering Guemes Island was affectionately referred to as Dog Island made us curious to learn about the Coast Salish, and how they intentionally raised a particular type of dog for its high-quality, weavable fur. Guemes was among several islands in the Salish Sea used to raise these dogs, and though they have been extinct for over a century their history is rich, and we're starting a fun project to share their story.
Sharing knowledge is always the right thing. Right?
This is a near and long-term project to learn and share more of the backstory of Guemes, provide information and resources, and at the same time, have some fun with our current four-legged island community.
The book won't be final until winter, but we plan on roughly 40 full-page "hero" shots of local dogs, each accompanied by a short personality profile. To create these profiles, we've adapted the Proust Questionnaire (an interviewing tool) into a series of questions, discovering what makes each dog special.
Otus' Example Questionnaire
Otus' duty as your concierge means he's first to fill out the questionnaire, to make sure everything is working correctly. Here's his personality profile after registering.
Does Otus have a nickname? Scrotus
How old is Otus? 6
What size is Otus? Medium (30-60 lbs)
Tell us briefly about Otus's history, breed and personality. What makes Otus unique? He's fast, sleek and easy on the eyes. We refer to him as a Norwegian Derp Dog, but really, he's a shelter mix of Pittie/Boxer/Greyhound/Belgian Teruvian and comes from the Yakima Humane Society. Otus' enthusiasm is what makes him unique and infectious, especially with kids... he especially likes making them squeal as he cleans out their ears. Otus loves modeling for pictures, and a friend refers to him as George Clooney in a gray fur suit.
Is Otus nervous or skittish around strangers? No, Otus would gladly go home with strangers
Does Otus become frightened or agitated in strange environments? Would the flash of studio lights make them nervous? No, Otus is relaxed everywhere, never freaked out
Is Otus motivated by treats? Yes, Otus would gladly repark our car for a cookie
What kinds of small treats should we use to keep Otus’s attention during a photography session? Cheese cubes, preferably Tillamook Medium Cheddar (he's a low-rent snob)
Is Otus reactive around other dogs? No, Otus sees every dog as a friend and playmate
What is Otus's favorite activity? Where is Otus happiest? Otus loves nothing more than "couch time" between his people, or that rare moment he's clean and allowed to get on the bed with humans (he gets very stretched out). A close second favorite would be long rides somewhere new in the van, when he gets to ride shotgun.
What is Otus's greatest love? Might be his human, Michael, but he's pretty crazy for Karin too.
What human quality does Otus have? What is Otus's greatest talent? Otus is that guy at the party who finds something in common with everyone, and after 5 minutes knows your story and has you convinced you have a friend for life. He's also a pro at striking poses for the camera, and we refer to him as Zoolander, especially when he does his Blue Steel.
On what occasion will Otus try to deceive you or others? He'll convince you he's just been bathed in order to score time on the couch, even when you can smell him from the other room.
How does Otus express happiness? How does Otus express regret? Otus grins with his entire body; tail up, ears out and a really infectious grin. He's been known to make dog-people swoon.
What is Otus's most or least favorite word? What is Otus's most or least favorite sound? Favorite sound is a two-tone whistle that means someone is hiding and he has to find them (sometimes with a jump-scare when he does). Least favorite sound is his sister's shrieking when she spots a small dog she wants to meet.
What does Otus fear or loathe (other animals, sounds, objects)? Otus has no enemies. He's really curious about cats, but has given up on the idea of chasing — especially the ones that aren't afraid of him.
What is Otus's most prized possession? He's not really possessive. Might be a piece of bamboo he loves chewing to dust.
If Otus were to come back as person or thing in the next life, who or what would that be? I'm sure he'd be a high-level diplomat, working to solve the Middle East conflicts. That, or maybe an middle school counselor.
If Otus is competitive, what is their greatest achievement? Not so much competitive, but he's an athlete, able to clear six feet vertically while jumping and known to wow the kids at the park when he "porpoises" across the grass.
If Otus could have a profession, what would it be? If Otus currently works, what job do they do, and is certification involved? Otus is training for his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certification, with a goal of doing volunteer work and visitations at the VA near our home in Seattle.
If Otus could choose a superpower, what would that be? Maybe flight? He already jumps higher than his people and it makes him very happy.
What is Otus's motto, and how does Otus make Dog Island a better place? Be good, be kind. Otus likes the idea of being an ambassador for Holiday Hideaway, but his friend Finn is already the mayor, so he'll have to be the studio dog who shows the guests how to model for the camera.
Finalists will be selected from the most compelling profiles. From there, we'll schedule a shoot this summer and distill their bio into a paragraph for a feature page. We're looking for a wide range of pups, and the best way to make the cut is to be extra clever in describing your dog's special talents.
Silly, of course this is... who does such a thing?
We'll add a web gallery to share with our Guemes neighbors once photos are done, along with research and links we find on the Wooly Dogs. Does this sound like fun?
Who's behind this project?
Michael and Karin divide time between Seattle and Guemes Island, and they're dog people – the types to jump off I-5 at exit 215, just to visit pups at NOAH. They're joined by Otus and Gitzo, two rescues who soak up the Guemes vibe like their people.
Michael is a commercial photographer/creative director for Futurist Juice Consortium, a Seattle-based agency working with technology and legal clients, and a fourth-generation Skagitonian. Karin is a former art director and current trademark licensing manager for University of Washington. Together, they've designed and published books, most notably the 25th-anniversary coffee table book for Microsoft, InsideOut: Microsoft — In Our Own Words.
Soon after purchasing a play/work space (eventually a full-time home) on Guemes, they stumbled across the story of Wooly Dogs raised for their fur by Coast Salish First Peoples. Something clicked, research ensued, and this project seemed an appropriate way to narrate a story of past and present four-legged residents, and use existing skills, tools, and resources in a fun way to contribute to the Dog Island community.
This seems like a lot of work;
how do I know you won't steal my dog?
Why do this?
Certainly not for money. Or glory.
While setting up our studio, we thought this could be a creative exercise, resulting in a short-run, self-published book and website. Once the book is designed, we'll set up a link (probably Blurb) where anyone can order a copy, and in the meantime, we're sharing a web gallery for our neighbors here.
The only cost involved for anyone is time — time invested in writing exceedingly clever things about their dog and about an hour for a photo shoot for those selected.
The way we benefit is by getting to know so many more neighbors while having fun showcasing our expressive and character-driven canine community.
Oh, and we're not into stealing; we'd rather play with your dog for an hour.