Peyton the German Shepherd mix is promoting children’s literacy with her @PeytonReads account on Dog Twitter.
Here at Dog O’Day there are a lot of things about our favorite furiends that we love. There’s also a lot of non-doggy things our staff members also love – some of which include Disney movies, reading in general (dog books especially), sports, superheroes and clever wordplay, which abounds on Dog Twitter. Peyton, a Canadian rescue dog who is a German Shepherd mix, combines nearly all of those through her account, which can be found at the handle @PeytonReads.
All Dog Twitter doggos are excellent boys and girls, but Peyton has an impawtant cause to go along with the fun and hijinks – promoting children’s literacy. She’s also a member of the Zombie Squad HQ (ZSHQ), an international club of loyal and brave canine protectors keeping the world safe from zombie invasions.
Following in Wishbone‘s pawsteps, she’s basically a canine version of LeVar Burton, hosting her own Reading Rainbow-style feature called the Puppy Book Club each week, where members read and discuss a picture book.
While we’ve done interviews with famous puppers before (see what Holland the Pup, Ovie the Bulldog, Rookie the Batdog, and Sir Winston Da Doodle all had to say), Peyton is the first non-sports related subject to be featured in what we hope might grow to become a recurring series.
We got the chance to chat with Peyton over email earlier in the week, where she talked her daily routine, why books are awesome, the reasons why Supergirl and Taylor Swift are amazing, and about the role of dogs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dog O’Day – You’re a German Shepherd, isn’t that right? What are some basic things we should know about you?
PeytonReads – Yes I am a German Shepherd/Husky mix. I am a rescue and I am 6 years old (I’ll be 7 in June). I came to my forever home when I was about 8 months old. I was very fortunate to find such a great home.
How did you learn to read, and what gave you the inspiration to start the Puppy Book Club?
Puppy Book Club began a few months after I arrived at my home. It started when my Aunt Sara began reading to me every Saturday. It was just our special time to sit and be calm. I loved it so much!!
Soon Mom joined and we started reading kids books just for fun. When I got my own Twitter account, I thought others may like having a few moments each week to relax and enjoy a good story. Reading is so important and super fun! I think everyone should have the right to enjoy the benefits of reading.
@PeytonReads is an account kept by Peyton the German Shepherd mix, who makes it her mission to spread good stories around the internet.
Dog O’Day – Do you have any favorite authors or illustrators, and if so, who are they and what makes them special?
PeytonReads – I love Dr. Seuss for the whimsy. Such fun wordplay, and the illustrations capture the characters so well! I also love A.A. Milne. Winnie the Pooh is so very sweet and the stories and poetry just make my heart smile. I am also a very big fan of Julia Donaldson. Room on the Broom is a favorite of mine but she has so many other great books. And she is of course very well known for The Gruffalo.
What are some of your favorite books or movies about dogs?
Funny you should ask about dog books…Julia Donaldson has a great book called The Detective Dog! It is about a dog AND a library!!! How great is that?! Of course P..D. Eastman’s Go Dog Go is also a classic. For movies I really like Balto and Scooby-Doo movies! That Scooby-Doo is so funny and I love how he has a bestest pal in Shaggy! We all need a bestest pal!
Without thumbs, how do you type?
I have people assistants who help with my Twitter account. Mom does most of the typing and Aunt Sara takes a lot of pictures. I think all of my doggo pals on Twitter need to have reliable help. I am super lucky to have the best staff.
When you aren’t studying up on what selections to make for the next book club book, how do enjoy spending your time?
When I’m not reading with my peoples or finding new books for Puppy Book Club, I really like going for walks or playing in my backyard. I also have two feline siblings who keep me on my toes. I also LOVE car rides. I love to sit in the back seat of our car and travel around my town.
What are some of your favorite snacks or foods?
I do love snacks! I enjoy dog cookies a lot. Mom will share toast corners with me for a treat. I especially love toast corners with peanut butter. I also love cheese for a snack. Sometimes Mom will cook plain chicken or hamburger for me on a special occasion.
Peyton also has some thoughts on why more humans should check into Dog Twitter if they need stress relief during this scary time.
Dog O’Day – According to your bio you’re a fan of all things Disney, Taylor Swift and Supergirl. Those are all pretty pawesome, but a little unusual for doggos. Why should more dogs (or peoples) give them each a chance?
PeytonReads – I think Taylor Swift, Elsa from Frozen and Supergirl are super sweet and strong role models. They bring a lot of fun energy but they are also smart and caring. I enjoy all of them because they inspire me. My family agrees. We will play Taylor Swift music and feel like dancing and having fun. We will watch Frozen and smile and laugh and escape to a magical world for a couple of hours. We will watch Supergirl and feel like we can do anything.
[For more on the latest Disney news or what’s happening lately with T-Swift and her cats, be sure to check out our FanSided Network sister site Culturess, and for the latest on Kara’s adventures as Supergirl, see our sister site Bam Smack Pow.]
As a ZSHQ member, have the zombies been out a lot with everyone at home more? Is the virus a type of zomb?
I am sad about the virus and all of the pain it is causing for people around the world. If it were a Zombie, I know ZSHQ would have beaten it by now so I think it is worse than a Zombie.
I am doing all I can to help keep my peoples and my neighborhood safe. We are staying home except for a walk or two. We are social distancing when we are out. I do keep an eye out for Zombies but I do it more from my backyard these days until things get better for everyone.
Lastly, what’s the best part about Dog Twitter? Why should humans check it out if they didn’t know about it?
The best part of Dog Twitter is the kindness. Everyone is so supportive and friendly. It’s more than positive…it is genuinely heartfelt care and concern. We gather and celebrate when someone is happy. We gather and offer support when some is sad. We become a social media family. I think if there are people out there who are looking for sincere Twitter friendships then Dog Twitter may be worth checking out.
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