Tri City Herald
August 19, 2007

"Pouring Over Pooches"
Canine companions become winery mainstays

Workers at some wineries labor for only food and board—literally. They spend long hours on intruder and rodent control. They greet every visitor, providing escort service from car to door and back again. They work like dogs because they are. They’re canines, and they live to serve.

The only compensation they ask for are brisk belly scratches and an occasional romp with their humans. They consider forklift rides a nice perk and the attention from winery visitors their due. And they deserve it. Ask their owners and you’ll hear that the dogs who live, work and provide comic relief at several Mid-Columbia wineries are almost as much a draw for visitors as their fine wines.

“Our dogs set the tone around here. We like the winery to be a fun place, and our dogs add a lot of life. A lot of people who are traveling come here to get their dog fix,” said Mike Dunham of Dunham Cellars in Walla Walla.

Visit Dunham Cellars in Walla Walla and a trio of border collies—Port, Maysy and Konnie—will make you welcome.

Port is the most famous. Eric Dunham, winemaker and son of the owners, Mike and Joanne Dunham, rescued him in 1994 from death by pitbull when Port was just a puppy. He lost a front leg but found a home with the Dunham’s.

Port was also the first Dunham dog to have a vintage named in his honor—the 2002 Three Legged Red.

“Younger, Port was a real athlete. Even missing a leg he was fast and fun to watch play.” said Mike Dunham.  He’s older now—12 years old—but still a character and has refined begging for treats into a fine art. “All three dogs beg when food’s involved but people are good about the “no treats rule” until Port goes into action,” he said. “He perches on his back legs, lets his one front leg kind of dangle, and wiggles his stump. They melt,” said Mike Dunham. “Port gets all the food he wants.”

Next to arrive in 1999 was Konnie, a border collie mix, who turned up at the winery, a converted airplane hangar at the airport. “We heard port growling at something under on of the desks. It turned out to be a little puppy about 6 months old,” he said. Skinny and dirty, it was obvious she’d been on her own for a while. Konnie adopted Joanne Dunham and soon discovered the joy of tennis balls. “Anything that moves, she’ll chase it until she drops. When people visit the winery Konnie brings the balls on and once that starts, she never stops. We have to intervene,” said Mike Dunham. You can see her on the winery brochure, but the Dunham’s have yet to discover just the right wine to become Konnie’s.

Maysy became a Dunham winery dog in March 2005. “We’d been looking at the Border Collie Rescue website and spotted this puppy. Her picture just jumped out at us,” said Mike. For a border collie, she’s unusual. Her coloring is striking, nearly pure white on her front half. “She has a really girly face with the most penetrating yellow eyes,” said Mike.  She’s also very mellow. “She could fall asleep in a car wash,” he said. Maysy’s the winery concierge, meeting every car escorting everyone inside. She’s also Mike Dunham’s special partner and has her own wine too, Four Legged White.