Since starting the blog, we’ve interviewed many members of the hospitality industry, and one constant among the interviewees has been a profound love for their pets. We thought it would be great to share this love with our readers.
That’s why we launched an ongoing feature called “Wag Wednesday” to showcase industry peeps and their pets. Know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at bark@miamifoodpug.com.
This week, we’re featuring Chris Nolte, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Per’La Specialty Roasters, and his doberman/pointer mix Malo.
Your Name: Chris Nolte
Your Pet’s Name: Malo
Sex: Male
Age: Five
Breed: Doberman/Pointer Mix
How did you come to own your dog? What drew you to him?
My wife Vanessa and I had been married for a year and came across an adoption day at a local PetSmart. We decided to stop in to see the dogs, having zero intention of getting a dog at the time. I had never had a dog before but always wanted one; we had talked about getting one prior to having kids but had yet to pull the trigger.
When we first met Malo, he was completely boring. His sister was dominating him, biting his ears, sitting on his head, and trying unsuccessfully to get him to play. We took a few other dogs out for walks that day, but none of them felt right and we left empty handed.
Next week rolls around, and we just happen to be in the same area of town where the PetSmart is; we go inside and are greeted by Malo, who is a completely different dog. He was playful, full of energy, and as soon as I sat down on the ground he sat right in my lap. After a very brief discussion, my wife and I adopted Malo and he became the first member of our new family.
What’s the story behind your dog’s name?
We had the name picked out before we even had our dog. Malo, which means “bad” in Spanish, was chosen for humor and is even funnier today when you see him chased around the house by our boys (ages 3 and 1).
Of course, in the future if we get a female dog, we will have to name her Buena.
How would you describe your dog’s personality?
He’s a great family dog with all of the characteristics that come along with it: loyal, lazy, active, excited, athletic, mischievous, protective and spoiled. He also has a great taste in food, so you always have to be careful what you leave on your plate as it may not be there when you return.
How has owning a pet made your life richer?
Completely. Like I mentioned earlier, I had never had a dog growing up so this was the first time I’ve gotten to experience life with a dog. Prior to starting Per’La, I worked out of my house and Malo was always under my desk keeping me company. He’s a great running companion and the unintentional comedy he provides is a huge bonus.
It’s said that dogs reflect their owners and vice versa. How does this apply to you and yours?
For sure. When he is with me or my wife, he is usually pretty relaxed, calm and playful. He’s always good with the kids, even when they try to annoy him.
The funniest relationship he has is with my mother in law, who spoils him relentlessly and watches him when we travel. She essentially lets him do anything he chooses, which is fine because isn’t that what being a grandmother is all about?
Tell us a funny story about you and your dog.
Malo, despite sometimes looking a bit intimidating, is a bit of a crier. He cries for everything but especially for things that he is excited about: dogs he likes, dogs he doesn’t like, cats, squirrels, my mother in law, and in anticipation for parts of our walks where he knows something fun is coming.
It throws people off at first when they hear him crying but we explain that no, that’s just his way of saying he’s excited to see you.
Are you involved in any pet organizations or philanthropies?
We donate our time and money to rescue charities both nationally and locally. We adopted Malo from Paws 4 You, so that organization will always have a special place in our hearts.
We follow a lot of dog social media accounts like Doug the Pug, Rocco’s Contemporary Life, and Menswear Dog. Do you? Which are your favorites?
Miami Food Pug, of course, along with a few other Doberman-centric accounts.
See past editions of Wag Wednesdays here.