VMCVM Pet Spotlight: Beamer Dotson
What’s your name, and do you think it’s as awesome as you are?
Beamer, like the awesome football coach not the car!
Who is your human and what is their role at the veterinary college?
Carli Dotson, Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department Executive Assistant
What kind of critter are you, and what makes your breed (or mix) totally pawsome?
Long-Haired Dachshund- we are feisty yet loveable all wrapped up into one long dog!
How many candles are on your birthday cake this year—or are you keeping that a secret?
April 30- 8 candles!
Where did you find your human, and what made you pick them?
My humans found my sister, Ginger, on craig's list and immediately fell in love with the dachshund breed. Mom said Ginger needed a friend so they found me through a breeder in Lexington, KY!
How would you describe yourself: a snugglebug, a wild child, or the boss of the house?
I'm the largest weenier in the house (I have one brother and one sister) but I'm also the biggest scaredy-cat. When someone walks by our house, I alert the family but if someone comes in the house, I'm running behind my mom! My favorite spot is the big bed upstairs. I wait until the tiny humans are asleep and then I get to cuddle mom all by myself, until my sister comes along and takes my spot.
What’s your signature move to get attention—puppy eyes, zoomies, or something else?
If I need attention I will grunt at my humans and then aggressively sneeze at them (yes, I know it sounds ridiculous but it works).
Do you have a favorite toy that you’d fight a dragon to keep?
No really, but I like my space. When I'm really to spread out as long as I can on the couch, I get really aggravated if my siblings or tiny humans bug me.
What’s your go-to snack, and how do you convince your human to hand it over? (Do you have a secret trick?)
I'm a picky eater! Usually dachshunds eat anything and everything but most days my humans have to bug me to eat my food.
What’s the most epic adventure you’ve had with your human?
I'm not big on car rides. It stresses me out! But during the pandemic my humans needed to get out of the house so we all took a car ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway!
What’s something you did that left your human totally speechless—good or bad?
I have an impressive vertical. When I get spooked by something (even if nothing is really there) and I jump straight up and it's pretty funny to my humans.
What’s your best “I’m too cute to handle” pose for the camera?
I'm an expert at the puppy dog eyes!
Describe a day in your fabulous life. Do you work hard or hardly work?
Hardly work for sure. My parents carry me out to the back yard so I can do my business, I come inside and dodge the tiny humans or if I'm feeling fun I will lick their faces. Then I chill out on the couch while everyone rushes around and eventually they leave so I can get some peace and quiet! I like to look out the window for humans and squirrels in the neighborhood. Once the family returns I go back outside to play and then it's dinner time! My favorite part of the day is after the tiny humans go to sleep and I get my parents all to myself.
Do you have any rituals with your human, like belly rub o’clock or snack time at sundown?
Definitely cuddles in the bed at bedtime!
What’s your relationship status with other animals? BFFs, frenemies, or “it’s complicated”?
Depends on my mood. I can be territorial but once I warm up to you, I'm usually fine!
Do you have any party tricks that wow the crowd?
I can sit, give paw, and spin!
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To teleport myself to the bed whenever I wanted.
What’s one thing your human should learn from you?
How to relax and just take a break.
What’s the best thing about being your human’s sidekick?
My humans are pretty great and treat me like the king I know I am.
Anything else you want to bark, meow, chirp, neigh, or squeak to the readers? (This is your moment!)
I just want to say thank you to the pawsome doctors at the VTH who helped me when I needed back surgery! It was so scary and I hated being away from my people but everyone was so nice and took great care of me!.