Hey, Dude

8/2/2023

As store owners get creative with increasing sales and retaining customers, one four-legged friend is all about making guests feel welcome. 

Dude, a Weimaraner, is the official greeter at Wild Birds Unlimited, alongside the store owner and Dude’s owner, Scott Knox. 

As a customer walks into the store, Dude happily and enthusiastically greets them, thumping his tail against their leg, begging for attention.

Knox says customers appreciate his presence in the store. 

“He’s responsible for customer relations,” he says. 

Knox found the dog from an online listing five years ago. The previous owners couldn’t handle his rambunctious disposition. The dog was originally named Duke; however, Knox didn’t like how the name reminded him of Duke University athletic teams, so he renamed him Dude.

When Knox’s dad was young, he had a Weimaraner as a pet, so Knox searched for the breed. Weimaraners are similar to a German shorthair but a little taller. They’re known as a hunting and pointing dog that needs a lot of stimulation. 

For several years, Dude stayed home in Norwalk, while Knox’s nephew let him out during the day for walks and potty breaks. Then his nephew’s schedule changed, and Knox decided to bring him to work. 

“He’s a high-demand breed. If his needs aren’t met, he acts out and goes crazy,” he says. 

On a typical day at the store, Dude settles in where he can see a car pull up in the parking lot outside the window. When one does, his tail starts wagging, and he runs to stand by Knox or points his nose up to the glass door.

Frequent customers like to shower him with attention, and he recognizes people as well. 

“He’ll roll over when they come in. It’s his way of saying ‘I know you.’ ”

Several customers come in just to see Dude. One woman puts a note on her birdseed container that says “take cheese” as a treat for Dude. He’s been recognized at dog parks as “that dog from the birdseed store.” Knox was at the airport awaiting an arrival with Dude late one evening when one woman shouted out, “Dude!”

However, Dude is not a fan of everyone. Behind the store is a creek and railroad tracks. “When he sees someone walking on the train tracks, he gets nervous,” Knox explains.

Inside the store, nature videos are sometimes played on the TV screen. When Dude sees a squirrel, he points at it and is ready to go after it. 

Dude doesn’t bother the birds at the home birdfeeder; it’s the rabbits that taunt him. 

“He sees a bunny by the birdfeeder and howls a ‘wail of longing.’ He doesn’t like the little guys,” Knox says.

Knox likes how the dog looks, and explains, “He’s a handsome guy. I think he looks like a dog should look like.”

When it’s time to leave the store, Knox says in a somber tone, “Dude, we’re going bye-bye.

“He always looks sad and rolls over for one last belly rub,” Knox says. ♦