This Dog Owner Profile is a part of our series featuring local dog owners in San Antonio, and is sponsored by Broadway Bank.
Name: Amanda Gentis
Occupation: Owner and Director of All The Things at Alamo City Moms and Maker at Soiree Swag
Dog’s Name & Breed: Margot, King Charles Cavalier
How did your dog become a part of your life?
We have two dogs – 13 year old German Shepherd Brie and 1 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Margot.
We welcomed Brie after we’d been in our first house for about 6 months. She was my husband’s “dream dog.” She came from a breeder in town who bred for the Military Working Dog program and she 100% did not pass the temperament test. She loves everyone and is the least scary or intimidating GSD that literally ever lived.
Margot has been my dream dog for about 10 years and I finally pulled the trigger this year after a traumatic and hard 2022. She’s the funniest, sweetest dog I’ve ever met.
What makes your dog unique?
Although Brie is about 100lbs and looks intimidating, all she really wants is to get a cuddle and an ear rub. She’s so sweet natured with people—especially kids—and has won over several ‘non-dog’ friends. I love that she’s been a good ambassador for her breed. Brie is however, not the most intuitive and would make a terrible therapy dog.
Margot is (jokingly but not) the world’s best therapy dog. She comes to my studio with me, greets friends and customers alike, and is a velcro-shadow-tag along-dog. Her funny personality and cute looks just add to her charm.
What’s your favorite way to spoil your dog?
Brie is currently an old lady in GSD years and she gets spoiled with smoked salmon, salmon skins, and a glucosamine additive (that’s more expensive than a good bottle of wine!) to her food every day.
Margot’s ultimate treat is snuggling in bed—about 5am every morning she goes out to potty and gets an hour or two of in-the-bed-time.
What’s the most rewarding thing about being a dog owner for you?
It might seem silly, but I love that dogs just are who they are. We lost our 15 month old son in January of 2022 and it was a tough time to navigate.
Brie was still Brie. She still expected her life to be the same—which honestly helped keep us going. Her personality didn’t change, she didn’t treat us differently, or walk on eggshells… she still chased squirrels, expected to have breakfast at 7:00 on the dot, and every now and then get a couch cuddle.
No matter what you’re going through in life, it’s comforting (to me) to know that your dog just is who they are—an old grump, a social butterfly, a cuddler… just themselves.
Tell us about your favorite thing to do with your dog in San Antonio.
Brie doesn’t go out much anymore, but she used to adore going to the Farmer’s Market at Pearl as a younger dog. She’d beeline for a toddler and hope they dropped whatever they were eating so she could snatch it up. We also visited just about every dog park with her because she’s a social butterfly.
We’ve just discovered Texas Dog Co. (after a First Birthday Pawty) with Margot and she *loved* sitting on the bench of the picnic table greeting everyone who walked by and waiting to be told how cute she was.
I have a feeling we’ll be venturing to more dog-friendly restaurants with her in the future.
