Canadian Penny is the premier historian among the Dogs of Twitter.
There are a lot of niches among the Dogs of Twitter, and the title of “expert historian” goes to Canadian Penny, a rescue dog who shares interesting fun facts about Canada each Monday.
She can be followed on Dog Twitter at the handle @CanadianPenny1, and is a member of various canine clubs on there. She’s also a big sports fan and proponent of frequent walks, opposed to the existence of squirrels, and is working on her dogtorate in napping studies.
She is good friends with fellow Ontario rescue pupper PeytonReads, and recently made a guest appearance on Puppy Book Club.
We got the chance to chat with Canadian Penny via email earlier this week to learn more about her life and research.
Dog O’Day – Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Canadian Penny – I’m an 8-year-old rescue dog who lives in Canada’s capital city, which is Ottawa. One of the things I love about Ottawa is that we get the full four seasons! This means it’s nice and warm in summer and in fall, winter, and spring I get to wear my snazzy hoodies! Also sometimes when I’m happy my tail makes full circles like a helicopter – I love to make hearts flutter with that one!
So you were a rescue dog; why should more people look into that route when looking to add a dog to their family?
Rescue dogs are so grateful to have a second chance, that they give their family so much love in return. Every day I make a point of showing how happy and relieved I am to be in my forever home! Rescue dogs can also be very unique – my DNA recently revealed that I am part Beagle, Poodle, Border Collie, Irish Setter and Westie! So you never know what surprises you might get!
How did you get your name? The Canadian penny was discontinued a little before you were born, right?
The last Canadian penny was struck in Canada in May 2012, and the penny meant a lot to my mom. When they adopted me at the shelter in June of that year, my name was Sweetie…I think that name was fitting, don’t you think?! I have copper spots on me, including one the size of a penny on my back, so my new family decided to name me Penny as a tribute to the Canadian coin. I even have one of the last 2012 pennies on my collar, for good luck!
Canadian Penny is famous for sharing cool facts and history about Canada, but she’s still a normal dog at heart.
Dog O’Day – How did you get the idea to start doing fun facts about Canada, and where do you research to find good subjects?
Canadian Penny – Last September, I tweeted a photo that had a bag of milk on the counter. All of a sudden, followers from all around the world were asking questions about it, surprised and even bewildered that Canada sells milk in bags. Canada is full of unique and fun facts that I decided then to turn it into a weekly series, every Monday. I also include a fun photo!
We have lots of Canadian history books and Canadian trivia games at home, so we flip through those and also check out sites online. I try to cover the country from sea to sea – did you know that Canada touches three? I feature a variety of subjects like sports, history, food, entertainment, geography, literature and science…Canada is so cool and I love sharing it with my followers! Happy Canada Day to everyone – Canada turns 153 years old today! Let’s all have some cake!
What are some of the best parts about Dog Twitter? Why should humans check it out if they aren’t familiar?
There is so much going on in the world right now – these are uncertain times, it’s even scary some days. Dog Twitter is an escape from all of that…dogs are innocent and we just want to make people smile. And we’re funny too! We laugh out loud at some of the silly posts!
I’m also friends with other animals on Twitter – cats, birds, rabbits, turtles, horses, and even a pet pig! Humans who want to focus on something cheerful online should check out Dog Twitter today!
How do you like to spend your time most days?
These days are a little out of the ordinary…my parents have been working from home all day every day for three months! It has really interrupted my schedule of napping the days away! They are constantly in work meetings, which is very loud! But aside from that, my favourite thing to do in the summer is to lie out on the back deck in the sun! In the winter, it gets so cold here, sometimes down to -39 degrees Celsius [about -40 degrees Fahrenheit], so I spend the day huddled in blankets in my crate (which I call my “Bat Cave“).
While Canadian Penny is a famous Dog of Twitter, all dogs are goofy, and she’s no exception.
What are the best parts of being part of clubs like the Zombie Squad HQ or the Ruff Riderz?
I have made friends all over the world by being part of these fun Twitter communities – you can’t beat that! They also take me out of my comfort zone to try new things – like riding a motorcycle in Canada’s Rocky Mountains or being a pirate on a ship with all of my friends! We look out for each other, celebrate together, and grieve together when a friend passes away. It’s like being a part of a family.
Without thumbs, how do you type?
My personal assistant (mom) helps me out with that part! You’d be amazed at what I can tell mom with just one look – that lady is definitely a mind reader!
What are some of your favorite snacks or treats?
I love sweet potato dog treats! Those are my favourite daily treat. When it comes to human food, cheese curds (the ones that make squeaky noises while you chew them are the best!), whipped cream and bacon are my go-to. I also have tasty a family tradition; “help” my grandpa carve the Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys. I take that role very seriously, because the reward at the end is well worth it!
Do you ever watch any dog sports or dog-centric shows on TV?
I watch the Puppy Bowl every year, which is on Animal Planet a couple hours before the Super Bowl. Sports are big in our house. There is always baseball, hockey, golf or tennis on, so it’s always on in the background while I play or nap. Maybe I should try watching movies with dogs in them, I might find it interesting!
Are you on any other social media besides Twitter?
According to my mom, my Twitter account is all we can manage at the moment! I know Instagram is huge for dogs, so maybe I will dip my paw in at some point!
Again, Canadian Penny’s adventures can be followed on Twitter at the handle @CanadianPenny1, while Dog O’Day is on Facebook at Daily Dog and on Instagram at the handle @DogODayFS.
If you’d like to sharpen your journalistic writing/blogging skills by joining the Dog O’Day pack as we cover the worlds of canine sports, entertainment and lifestyle, we’d love for you to apply! Though we’re an American-based site, contributors from international locales are welcome to apply as well. Contributors are currently a volunteer position, though it could lead to a paid position on one of our FanSided Network sister sites.