The Bark of the Charles

ery October, thousands of athletes and spectators descend on the Charles River for the Head of the Charles Regatta, filling the riverbank with cheering crowds and the water with racing boats. However, long before the crowds accumulate, a different group of regulars can be found around Harvard’s boathouses.

They have four legs, plenty of personality, and absolutely no interest in picking up an oar.

Among them is Eloise, a seven-year-old miniature schnauzer belonging to Elizabeth “Libby” Hughes, the new head coach of the Harvard-Radcliffe lightweight crew team. Weighing just 20 pounds, Eloise may be one of the smallest regulars at Weld Boathouse, but she is hardly the quietest.

“She’s like this little tiny spitfire,” Hughes said. “I don’t know how she’s got so much energy.”

Eloise accompanies Hughes to the boathouse about once or twice a week, where she spends much of her time following her owner around and greeting familiar faces. Once she gets comfortable, however, her reserved demeanor gives way to bursts of energy as she races around the building.

She is also particularly vocal, as Hughes noted that Eloise loves to bark.

But despite her energy, Eloise is not necessarily the type of dog to run up to every person she meets. In fact, Hughes compared her personality to a cat’s.

“Once you get in with her, she loves you forever,” Hughes said.

It can take Eloise some time to warm up to unfamiliar people, but Hughes assured that earning her affection makes the relationship all the more special.

“Once you do, you feel really special because she’s like, ‘I’ve chosen you, and I like you,’” Hughes said.

Hughes believes that Eloise’s hesitant personality stems from her early years. As a puppy during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had limited opportunities to socialize with other dogs and people. Hughes said that the relatively isolated experience made Eloise more sensitive to large crowds, even as she has grown comfortable with the familiar faces around the boathouse.

That sensitivity also means that Eloise’s attendance at Head of the Charles is far from guaranteed. While she is a regular visitor at practices, the large crowds that accompany the annual regatta could prove overwhelming.

Hughes said she would consider bringing Eloise if the environment seemed manageable, but she does not want to put her in an uncomfortable situation.

For now, Eloise seems happiest in the boathouse’s quieter routines, where she can follow Hughes around, visit the rowers, and occasionally let loose with a burst of energy.

However, Eloise is not the only dog making appearances along the Charles.

Another familiar four-legged visitor is Randall, who belongs to Linda Scherer, a boat builder with Harvard-Radcliffe’s women’s lightweight rowing program. According to Hughes, Eloise and Randall have recently begun getting to know each other, and their friendship is still a work in progress.

“They both have very similar personalities, very strong personalities,” Hughes said.

With neither dog particularly inclined to back down, Hughes said their early interactions required some careful supervision. Luckily, the pair is slowly learning to get along, adding another layer to the social dynamics of the boathouse.

While the rowers spend their days practicing starts, perfecting technique, and preparing for competition, Eloise and Randall have their own relationship to navigate.

For Hughes, Eloise’s visits have become part of the regular rhythm of life around the rowing program. Whether she is following her owner through the boathouse or greeting one of the rowers who has earned her trust, the miniature schnauzer has found a place in the community.

As Harvard prepares for another Head of the Charles, the attention will soon turn to the athletes racing down the river. Eloise may or may not be there to watch, depending on how she handles the crowds.

However, in Weld Boathouse, she has already established herself as a regular, even if her favorite way to move fast has nothing to do with rowing.

—Staff writer Tamar H. Scheinfeld can be reached at [email protected].