Tupper’s Top Five Reasons to Love October

OMD! It’s Jess Kline ’14. And she’s so happy to see me!

This article originally appeared in the October 29, 2015, issue of The Archway, Bryant’s student newspaper.

Good old October. The leaves begin to turn vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. Or so they say. I mean, dogs aren’t really colorblind in the way you’ve heard we are. We don’t see as many colors as humans, but we can see them. So I see browns and yellows instead of red, orange, and yellow. Learn something new every day, don’t you, humans? #TheMoreYouKnow

Besides the fact that it’s pretty, there are a few really pawsome things about October. Well, this list refers to THIS October.

I present to you “Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Reasons to Love October”:

5. LEAVES. They get really pretty. Then, the best part, they fall down. It’s so fun to sniff under each one of them, attack the rake when Ma’s trying to put them in a pile, and then run through the pile until it’s all spread out again.

4. HALLOWEENIE. In October, all the little boys and girls dress up like their favorite superheroes and go door to door, collecting hot dogs. I don’t enjoy wearing costumes, but if I got a bag full of hot dogs, I’d consider it. As long as I didn’t have to walk around the neighborhood. Oh…..Ma says it’s just “Halloween,” and they get chocolate….which I can’t have on account of it being poisonous to dogs. I miss all the good stuff!

3. REUNION @ HOMECOMING. WOOHOOO! A lot of my old friends come back for Alumni Weekend. And they scratch my bum and hug me and tell me how much they miss seeing me. Sigh. It’s tough when the kids grow up and leave the nest.

2. PARENTS & FAMILY WEEKEND. Every year, the parents seem more excited to see me. Apparently, they follow me on Facebook and Twitter and they already know ALL about me. They kiss me and take my picture and tell me how handsome I am….who doesn’t love all that for 4-5 hours straight?

And my number one reason to love October is:

1. TAILGATING. Food on the grill. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, sausages…oh my! And everyone wants to feed me. Now if I could just get Ma to let me have some of that food. Quick, someone distract her!

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Reasons to Love October. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. Get at me! I’ll see you soon. ’Til next time…WOOF!

My Top Five Favorite Summer 2015 Events

Ma! MA! Can you turn the AC up, please? It’s “gettin’ hot in hrrrre”…BOL!

This post originally appeared as a Tupper’s Tidbits column in the September 23, 2015, issue of The Archway, Bryant’s student newspaper.

I’m not going to lie – summer is, like, the WORST time of year for me. I know, I know: You humans LOVE summer. Hot weather, beer, pools, vacations – all the staples of well-enjoyed human summer.

But put yourselves in my paws for a few minutes. Hot weather can kill me in 5-10 minutes because of my smushed-in face. We dogs cool off by panting, but if we have no snouts, we have less ability to cool off. We sweat through the pads of our feet…which are on pavement…which boasts temperatures upwards of 125°F in the summer. Beer? Ma won’t share. Something about it being toxic for dogs. That’s what she SAYS, anyway.

THIS is how I feel about pools.

Pools? Fuhgeddaboudit! Bulldogs sink like stones. We can’t swim. Too much – ahem – MUSCLE densely packed. Most of us. Some bulldogs can. I don’t like water at all though. Won’t even go in the kiddie pool Ma got for me. Vacation? Try again. Ma says she can afford bulldogs or she can afford vacations, but she can’t afford both. So we stay home. That’s even worse for me!

Anyway, even though summer isn’t my favorite season, I enjoyed a few things this year. I present to you “Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Summer 2015 Events”:

5. DAD HAD SURGERY. Now I know what you’re thinking: Tup, that’s terrible! But hear me out…he needed those new knees…and I got to spend a few weeks with the Momma because she was lonely. AND THEN SHE TOOK ME TO WORK EVERY DAY! So much fun.

4. BOXES. A lot of stuff gets delivered to Academic Records in the summer and that means I get to shred the boxes they came in…I HAVE CONQUERED CARDBOARD!

3. CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION. Yeah, sure, we had to take a lot of detours to get to the office, but more construction equals more construction workers equals more people to pet me because I’m so awesome.

2. HOME MAINTENANCE. Ma had a few things done around the house. Of course, they all fell in love with me. And asked for me so they could pet me. Ma’s favorite was when the pellet stove cleaner came and ran his industrial vacuum for two straight hours…and I angrily barked at it for the full two hours. Fun!

And my number one favorite event this summer was:

1. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM STUDENTS. Folks, this master’s degree program is challenging. They needed me all summer for pet therapy. Which I gladly provided. I’ve never felt so loved over the summer! So glad Bryant started this PA program!

 

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Summer 2015 Events. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. Get at me! I’ll see you soon. ’Til next time…WOOF!

Three Stages of Leaving Campus

It should come as no surprise to any of you – I LOVE BEING BRYANT’S MASCOT!

What’s not to love? Adoration. Scratches. Treats. Scratches. Bacon. Scratches. Hot dogs…

When you’re “Big Dog On Campus,” it’s really challenging to go home, where your family may not keep you up on that pedestal that your students, faculty, and staff have had you on all day. In fact, I’m treated like ALL THE OTHER DOGS in the house! Can you believe that? Me? Mascot royalty!

Understandably, I’m often reluctant to leave campus. Okay, not just “often.” I’m ALWAYS reluctant to leave campus. Here are my three stages at the end of the work day:

1) No. No, I will not go there, no, I will not obey.

This is a total shock to me. How could you ask me to leave?

2) HA HA! I’m under the desk…you can’t make me move.

You’re an old human and incapable of moving my strong bulldog body.

3) Oh, SHOOT! I forget how strong you are, Momma T. And smart, to put me in this rolling chair and save yourself the aggravation of getting me to move three steps at a time.

They see me rollin’, they hatin’…. Nice to see you finally recognize my royal stature. Walking is for plebes.

It takes a village: Raising a University mascot

You may have seen my recent post that I received the 2015 Bryant University Spirit Award. Or, rather, my moms did.

“The Spirit Award is presented to a team that enhances the quality of life at Bryant by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive and quantifiable values and traits. They go above and beyond what’s expected in serving Bryant University.”

They got the award for taking care of me because I am an integral part of the Bryant community now! And they do it as volunteers – they don’t get paid to do so…they just love me because I’m family. I remember May 2010 like it was yesterday…I was a little, 20-lb nugget being introduced during Commencement and carried across the stage to receive my degree in “Character and Obedience,” honoris causa (that means “honorary degree!”)

It took a couple of years before people knew about me. But thank Dog for social media!

Bryant's mascot > any other mascot #TUPPER pic.twitter.com/mk1DJY4xnz

— Logan Ribeiro (@LoganRibeiro3) January 14, 2015

@BryantTuppy thanks tupper for a wonderful 4 years…I’m going to miss seeing you around campus. You’ve been a terrific buddy to me.

— Ashlee Burke (@ashleeburke23) May 17, 2014

I couldn’t have received this Spirit Award without my Uncle Ron and Auntie Kati Machtley, who had the vision to understand that a college needs a proper, live mascot. They searched until they found my moms – Claire and Tina Senecal, mother and daughter and long-time Bryant employees – who agreed to give me a home (or two).

Thank you to those who work in Academic Records for helping to watch me, entertain me, scratch me, and fetch me when students come in the office to get pet therapy before class or after tough exams. And thanks to those in University Relations who scratch my bum when I come in for a visit.

Auntie Kristin helping the tailor with my fitting

Special thanks go out to my Auntie Kristin and Uncle “DP” Penta. When she first started working here, Auntie Kristin fell in love with my squishy face. Over the years, the Pentas have supported me in many ways. They donated my stroller to me, they watch me when Ma has to do something “real quick,” they asked their tailor to make my official jersey, and Uncle DP built a “throne” for me to use in the basketball stands so I don’t have to sit on Ma’s lap. She’s not super comfortable. I know Ma appreciates all they’ve done, too!

And, of course, thank you to the students, alumni, parents, staff, and faculty who find me “irresistabull.” The ones who invite me to their events and appreciate my representing this fabulous university. I’m thankful that you appreciate me and that you understand when I can’t attend absolutely everything I’m invited to (even though I’d love to be able to go to everything). Gratitude to all my friends on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Vine who have no connection to Bryant but who continue to support me and share my posts. It means the world to me!

With so many wonderful people here, I’m honored to call Bryant University my home. Woof!

Hanging out on my throne in the stands at the half, waiting for some scratchies.

Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Basketball v. 2015

Hanging out on my throne in the stands at the half, waiting for some scratchies.

This article originally appeared in the March 5 issue of The Archway, Bryant’s student newspaper.

To say that I love basketball is an understatement. Well, if I’m being completely honest, I love all sports in which a ball is being thrown around and might come tantalizingly close to my jaws.

You may have noticed that I often walk around with some sort of ball in my mouth. If you mentioned that fact to my mom, she might have told you that I refuse to move WITHOUT my ball. Hey, everybody’s got their “thing,” right? Someone who’s insecure about their intellect might always talk about grades…someone who’s insecure about looks might post, like, a THOUSAND selfies a day.

Me? I KNOW I’m smart and beautiful. And charming. And humble…BOL! Some people speculate that I like to suckle on a ball because I was taken from my bulldog ma too soon, but that’s definitely not the case – I lived with my bulldog mom till I was 16 weeks old. That’s twice as long as most puppies! Most of my bulldog friends (I got tons on Twitter, IG, and FB!) like to suckle on blankets or stuffed animals, too.

Anyway, Bryant Basketball isn’t ALL about the ball. I present to you “Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Bryant Basketball”:

5. BASKETBALL. I know I said it isn’t ALL about the ball. But it’s a little bit about it! I love to watch the players run up and down the court bouncing it. It’s mesmerizing. Still waiting for someone to bounce it my way.

4. DRIBBLING. Glad to know I’m not the only one who does this. Dribbling, I mean. Oh…Ma says it’s a different kind of dribbling. Wait…so I’m still the only one drooling at the games? Ma says other people might be drooling figuratively for different reasons, but I’m the only one who does so literally. That’s cool. I’ve always been a rebel.

3. POPCORN. Sometimes, I’ll drop the ball when someone lets their kid carry his or her own popcorn ‘cuz that stuff goes EVERYWHERE when little kids try to walk and hold onto it at the same time!

2. MY THRONE. Do you see my throne in the picture? My Uncle DP made that for me. And he brings it to every game I go to so that I have someplace to sit because the benches are too narrow. Hey, my legs are too short to anchor me. It’s a ruff life being the mascot sometimes…BOL! My Uncle DP and Auntie Kristin are awesome. They are not only MY fans – they’re fans of all Bryant athletics and huge supporters.

And my number one favorite thing about Bryant Basketball is:

1. PEOPLE. Tons of people and most want one thing: To scratch my bum. I approve.

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Bryant Basketball. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. Get at me! I’ll see you soon. ’Til next time…WOOF!

Study break!

Okay, the semester is ALMOST over…Or maybe it’ll be over by the time you read this.

Take a little study or work break and check out my #TBT video. This is me, my brother, and two sisters on the occasion of my moms coming to check us all out to see if one of us had the stuff to be the Bryant University mascot.

My first human dad, Lou, trained us all to come to the song “Reveille.”

I was first.

I’m the smartest.

I’m also now the Bryant University mascot, and the most beloved English bulldog in New England.

Luckiest one, too.

Enjoy!

Tupper’s Tidbits – Top Five Reasons For Giving Thanks

This article originally appeared in the November 15, 2012, issue of The Archway.

Less picture-taking, more belly rubbing!

I have been around the block a couple of times now…I know that the third week in November is a special time of year. When it comes to students, they’re most grateful for time off from school. And the rest of you humans are grateful for time off from work … don’t deny it; you know you are!

Well, I don’t have to take mid-terms or write papers or give presentations. Nor do I have deadlines and schedules. When I go to campus, it’s all about strutting my stuff and getting scratches for being so darn adorable. I LOVE IT!

One thing we can all agree on, though, is that we may sometimes take things for granted and this is possibly the one time we all take a moment and think about how lucky we are. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I present “Tupper’s Top Reasons for Giving Thanks”:

Bulldog Buggy!

5. I HAVE A ‘BULLDOG BUGGY’! Hey, let’s keep it real. The campus is 428 acres. That’s a lot of ground to cover. I see you guys moving around campus in your gas-powered buggies. My legs aren’t even 1/8^th as long as yours!

4. THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS! Tradition in the Senecal house: All the scraps left on people’s plates get redistributed into our doggie dishes. OMNOMNOM! Gravy makes me so happy!

Amaze-balls!

3. MY BALL SUPPLY IS RESTOCKED! You can probably count the number of times that you’ve seen me without a ball in my mouth on one hand. Momma calls it my “puppy pacifier.” Special thanks to Bryant’s Alumni Relations Office and the Student Alumni Association for keeping me swimming in balls… 🙂

2. I AM THE BRYANT MASCOT!  I can’t even imagine being a regular dog now! When I hear applause, I assume it’s for me (isn’t it, though?) Our students are the best. They dedicate a lot of time to community service, including about 300 of them recently writing “Thank You” cards to members of our armed forces overseas this holiday season. I love them!

And the number one reason I give thanks:

1. THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE ME! Whether it’s my Momma reading me a bedtime story, students rubbing my belly and high-fiving me, or (my personal favorite) people who show their love by feeding me, I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who love me. I’m not the only one, though. So are you…I guarantee it!

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Reasons for Giving Thanks. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook and Twitter. Get at me! ’Til next time…WOOF!

Tupper’s Top Five Life-Changing Summer Events

It’s a cruel (cruel), cruel summer…you’re leaving me here on my own…

This post originally appeared in the September 21, 2012 issue of The Archway.

If you’re a returning student, welcome back to Bryant! If this is your first year, I can’t wait to get to know you.

I’m your OFFICIAL mascot. Don’t be fooled by imitations. I’m the only real English bulldog mascot on campus who has a regular column in The Archway, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and a blog. Pretty sure I’m the only one, anyway…

A few momentous events happened to me this summer, and I want to tell you about them.

5. I got to have 9 sleepovers with the Machtleys. My Momma Claire went to London and Paris without me! I didn’t mind, though, cuz I got to have a whole bunch of sleepovers with Uncle Ron and Auntie Kati Machtley, who treat me like a king. Pssst…don’t tell Momma Claire…I like it when she feels guilty!

4. Speaking of my stay at the Machtleys’ house… So while I was having my sleepovers, I got into a little trouble…Auntie Kati stepped out for a bit, and I let myself out of my crate and went exploring. I got locked in the closet and had to bodyslam the door to let Auntie Kati know where I was (she was panicking when she couldn’t find me – you can read all about it on my blog post from this summer). Pssst…don’t tell Momma Tina I can let myself out of my crate!

3. I got lonely. When you guys leave campus, you go home to your dogs and cats and friends and I’m all by myself….sigh…it’s very lonely sometimes. I miss the love and adoration…and scratchies!

Yes, yes! All hands on Tuppy all the time! Now, fetch my ball, human, and we’ll call this a perfect day!

2. I got two new leashes. What? They can’t all be pearls of wit and wisdom…I’m a dog! Getting new leashes is very exciting to me. Special thanks to Patrick in the Bryant Bookstore for donating a Bryant leash to me. You can get one for your own canine in the Bookstore, too!

And the number one life-changing event that happened this summer is:

1. I tore my ACL. Yes, just like many elite athletes before me (Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, RG3), I have a partial tear in my cruciate ligament…so while I’m recovering, I get more time in my Bulldog Buggy! The dogtor says the prescription is bed rest and physical therapy…I’m not too sure I like being prescribed anything with the word “physical” in it.

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Life-Changing Summer Events. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook and Twitter. Get at me! I’ll see you at Homecoming. ’Til next time…WOOF!

Where in the world is Tupper? (Part 1)

Mini-Tuppers are pocket-sized….the perfect size for traveling!

Some of you may know that I recently vacationed with my Aunt Kati and Uncle Ron Machtley. I love spending time with the whole Machtley family.

Those of you who know me well know that I don’t live on the Bryant campus with the Machtleys. I have a couple of homes, actually. I live with Momma Tina Senecal, a two-time Bryant alumna (undergrad and grad degrees), four days a week and with Momma Claire Senecal, a certified dog trainer, temperament tester, and pet-assisted therapy facilitator (and Tina’s mom) three days a week. They’re both Bryant employees.

I got to spend a week and a half with the Machtley clan because Momma Claire went to London and Paris. I thought for sure that they would take me, because, hey, who can bear to be away from me for that long? But I got a great vacation, too!

Momma Claire promised that she would take Mini-Tupper with her to visit all the places I wouldn’t have been allowed to go.

Mini-Tupper with Uncle Craig…the journey begins.

The first part of the trip was Momma and Daddy heading out to Jersey City, NJ (this state is what my friends refer to as “Dirty Jerz”) to visit with my Uncle Craig. Let us begin our trip from Rhode Island to England to France! Stay tuned for more blog posts…

P.S. Happy birthday, Daddy Del!

To Be Continued…

I do not understand why there are no photos of Tupper in the family photos area, Uncle Craig.

What I did on my summer vacation (as dictated to Kati Machtley)

Some of you may know that I was on vacation with Aunt Kati and Uncle Ron this past weekend.  Uncle Ron lifted my crate and me into the back of his car and off we went on Friday afternoon to a lovely coastal town. (I am a very good boy in the car, in case you wondered.)

After breakfast on Saturday, I was given a little “me time” when Uncle Ron went to play golf and Aunt Kati went to the Farmer’s Market. I was in my crate minding my own business while the fan beside the crate cooled me off. The next thing I knew, the door to the crate magically opened! I was free! What a great feeling!

What do you mean, “limited access to the house?”!!

Now what kind of mischief could I get into today??  Where did they hide the dog treats? What could I discover that would be good to chew on? I knew what I wanted: I wanted to find Aunt Kati’s slipper, which I had already absconded with a couple of days earlier. On Thursday I snuck Aunt Kati’s slipper into my crate when no one was looking. Let me tell you, she didn’t make it easy. She put it up on a bench, supposedly out of my reach…but she underestimated my bulldoggy determination! I got it, all right!

Hey…now, where’s that slipper?

Aunt Kati kept wondering why I wanted to go into my crate when they were eating breakfast.  Normally (when there’s food involved) I like to sit right on Uncle Ron’s foot and give Aunt Kati my paw at the breakfast table.

By the time Aunt Kati discovered that it was missing, I managed to chew a hole in the sole of her white terry cloth slipper, and I also slimed it. (Sorry, Aunt Kati.) Aunt Kati just took it, and put it in the laundry room to be washed. I didn’t even get yelled at! Being a mascot has its privileges.

Anyway….back to Saturday.  So there I was, sprung from my crate, snooping around, looking into every corner of the house where I wasn’t usually allowed. Then I managed to find a great, big closet. “Is this where they keep the dog treats?” I wondered. Well as soon as I got a good look at what was in there, I turned around to leave, and the door closed behind me.

There I was…stuck in the closet! There was nothing to chew in there, not even a shoe or a glove.  It was so boring and dark in there. But at least it was cool.

The next thing I know I hear Aunt Kati calling “Tupper, Tupper, where are you?”  Poor Aunt Kati must have thought that I was kidnapped since she looked all over the house for me for about 10 minutes.  Then she tried to call Cousin Erin to see if she had come over to take me for a walk.

What could I do to let her know where I was? I am not a barker, so of course I didn’t think of doing that.  But I know I’ve opened doors before with my hard head, so I figured that if I bumped the closet door hard enough it might open.

Bump…bump…bump… I kept bumping the door, and luckily she was right in the family room by the closet and heard me.  She opened the door, and boy was I happy to see her! Aunt Kati was so relieved to see that I had not been dognapped.  She checked me to see if I was all right and then gave me a treat, and took me outside for a nice walk (hmmmm…I may have to trap myself in the closet more often!). Then she gave me my favorite lunch, and we had time together in the family room.

So even though I got into a little bit of mischief, I am still having a good time.  Now I am back at Bryant, and by the way, it’s time to eat. Aunt Kati….Aunt Kati…where are you??