Greyson rides again: Celebrity greyhound returns with finale calendar
Celebrity greyhound returns with finale calendar
A round of “a-paws” goes to Jason Dunkle of Washington and his 11-year-old Italian Greyhound, Greyson, for the 2027 Old West calendar featuring the local celebrity pooch as Mad Dog Greyson, the treat-smuggling bandit.
Photographed at Wild Gals Old Time Photo in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the clever costumes Dunkle had custom-made showcase Greyson as a southern gentleman, a cowboy, a pilgrim and a gangster, among other characters, while Dunkle plays the role of Sheriff Jason “Quick Draw” McGraw in the year-long story line.
The 12-by-12-inch wall calendar includes historical facts related to the theme of the month as well as interesting facts about Greyson’s life. Each calendar ordered will include Greyson’s personal “paw-a-graph.”
Greyson, who is known for his elaborate costumes and character impersonations including the Grinch, “Mutt Meyers” and Elvis, has garnered a local following over the years, winning the Woofstock costume contest in 2023 and 2025, and appearing on the covers of Pet Connections Magazine and VetPet’s 2025 calendar. He’s a frequent furry visitor at the Washington County Italian Festival, and he’s been on “tour” as Elvis at numerous area nursing homes.
“Whether he’s competing in a costume contest, attending a community event, visiting a nursing home or simply walking through town, Greyson has a way of making people smile, and quite often, someone already knows his name,” said Dunkle.
This is the sixth and final calendar for Greyson, who will turn 12 in October. His goal was to create a keepsake, something that went beyond just a calendar that people could enjoy.
Dunkle’s first Italian Greyhound, Roxy, started the journey of costumes, calendars and adventures in 2009. A heartfelt tribute to Roxy, who passed away in 2021, is included at the end of the calendar.
Roxy had her own calendar created by Dunkle in 2015 and then the two pups posed together for calendars in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dunkle has donated prize money and a portion of calendar proceeds to animal rescue causes.
Proceeds, after shipping and printing costs for the 2027 calendar, will be donated to the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation. Proceeds from Roxy’s first calendar more than a decade ago were donated to the same rescue.
“It feels like the perfect way to bring this journey full circle,” said Dunkle.
In June, Dunkle returned to Pigeon Forge, the location of the 2019 calendar.
His plan was to just take some pictures of Greyson again with the Old West theme.
“I had no intention of creating another calendar,” Dunkle said, but after seeing the photographs and thinking about how special the experience had been, “I decided there was one more story to tell,” he said.
In the storyline, Greyson is wanted for a long list of offenses that include escaping from “Barkatraz” and smuggling dog treats across state lines.
“I don’t want to reveal how the story ends, but readers should know there is an ending, and then there is another ending they won’t see coming,” Dunkle said.
Most of Greyson’s costumes for the calendar were custom-made by Little Milo’s Closet in Towanda, Ill.
In fact, Dunkle has a storage unit full of dog costumes. His girlfriend Mona, who has been mom to both Roxy and Greyson, has told Dunkle he needs to stop buying outfits for the dog, Dunkle admits.
“It’s so much fun for me. It’s like I’m reliving my childhood or something, getting to dress up in costumes,” Dunkle said.
The calendar is saddle-stitched and professionally printed. Dunkle worked with a designer in Florida who spent 28 hours on the calendar and donated a portion of her fee to Dunkle’s chosen charity, Dunkle said.
Indeed, Greyson is an exceptional model, and even seems to know when to pose. Dunkle trained Greyson himself, and there is definitely a bond between man and dog.
“He’s such an awesome model,” Dunkle said. “I’m telling you, people just stare at him in awe. They can’t believe how good this dog poses.”
For a further look at their adventures, the two have an Instagram and TikTok page for fans, @JasonandGreyson, or follow them on Roxy’s Facebook page: Foxy Roxy the Italian Greyhound.
To find out if Mad Dog Greyson slips through the sheriff’s hands or is caught “red-pawed,” the calendar can be ordered for $40, which includes shipping and a donation to the Italian Greyhound Rescue. Checks can be made payable to Jason Dunkle, P.O. Box 443, Washington, PA, 15301; Venmo: jasonmdunkle@gmail.com or PayPal: jasondunkle81@gmail.com. Please include your name and address for shipping.