And the incessant howls...

And erratic behavior...

But she has now entered a new phase - Marking!

Never before did she mark in the house. Never before have I even heard of a female dog marking in the house... and now she keeps going around to all the rugs in the house (not the bare floors mind you..... only the rugs) squatting, and trying to pee even though her bladder is mostly empty, squeezing out just enough of her "scent" to attract male dogs.

I assume this is a mating ritual dating back to the ancient days of the wolf clan.

You would think a 21st century pampered pug would have outgrown this type of ancestral behavior over the thousands of years of breeding down - but apparently, not so much.

Between the never-ending blood stains and marking in the house this weekend I decided I had no choice but to try getting her into one of those $12.99 doggy diapers again even though she almost took my hand off the last time I attempted it.

See, Plum has some sort of irrational fear of humans touching her tail and unfortunately the only way to get these doggy diapers, or pup pants, or bitches britches or whatever-you-call-them on is to pull the dog's tail through the hole in the garment.

Apparantly the makers of these textiles have never encountered a dog like Purdy before, with tail phobia.

I lit some candles and waited for a calm energy time as some friends had suggested...just me and her, The plan was to gently persuade her to trust me enough to touch her tail.

As soon as she saw the diaper in my hand - Her little body tensed up and all of the fur on the back of her spine stood up like porcupine quills and she started savagely growling and snapping at me.

But I persisted. And I did something I have never had to do before in my 15 + years of pug dog rearing and experience... not even when I cleaned her ears...I went into my pug supply station and took out the emergency pug muzzle.

It's a special muzzle designed specifically for pugs that covers their eyes and mouth and just has an opening for their nose to poke through so they can still breathe comfortably.

I don't think I have to tell you that the calm energy plan had gone awry.

My sweet little Purdy now looked like a scary canine version of Hannibal Lecter and I was sure that given the single opportunity, she would eat me.

Her body relaxed a little with the muzzle because she became disoriented. I was able to pull her onto my lap long enough to get the diaper under her. She was kicking and trashing wildly but with her mouth and eyes covered I had just enough edge I needed to strap it on tightly, securely......and eventually coax her tail out of the peep hole.

Alas, success!

I got the diaper on properly, took her muzzle off, and told her what a good girl she was!!

But it was too soon to celebrate my coup..

Almost immediately, she started dragging her bottom on the floor and hunched over into the dreaded poop position.

I had become so fixated on trying to diaper this 17lb pug, what I hadn't considered in all of this was the simple question of what I would do once she messed the diaper and I would have to put another one on.

She continued to hunch and strain, and there it was...she pooped in the spanking clean diaper it had just taken me 40 minutes to get her in.

Mind you she hasn't pooped in 3 days ever since I switched her to a high lean protein diet so I never saw this coming.

And then the guilt came...holy shit, I literally just scared the crap of my dog.

Tears started welling and I felt so bad.....

Until...

I immediately removed the diaper and she not only continued pooping.....she had a piece dangling that she couldn't push out so before I could get to her ...from the other side of the room I saw her scooting across my floor, dragging the hanging poop down onto my carpet in one long giant skid mark.

Now if there's one thing any of my friends will tell you about me it's that I excel at being persistent. I don't care if a goal takes me a decade to accomplish, once I set my mind to something I will not rest until it happens, one way or the other.

This is how I felt about getting a diaper on Purdy....or as I now like to call her, Hannibal.

So I pressed on knowing that no other living breathing creature had ever tried and tested my patience as much or as often. But as the alpha master I could not let her get away with it. I had to show her who was in control.

After a brief rest and trying to reassure her that all was well and I wasn't angry....after getting down on my hands and knees Sunday afternoon and scrubbing the pee and now poop stained skid marks off my carpet with resolve carpet cleaner while all of my friends were out lunching and partying, I took the muzzle out again and repeated the entire process over from scratch.

She was much more calm this time and accommodating. It only took 10 minutes the second time around to get another diaper on her. Once I had it secured I removed the muzzle once more and offered high praise so she would know for next time and next time and eventually allow me to do it without the muzzle or irrational tail phobias.

Ah, success!

After I cleaned up the floor and threw away the crappy, bloody diapers - I was ready to begin the 4 hour process of making her home made dog food in the crock pot.

For new readers who have not been following along, my very high maintenance little rescue girl is allergic to commercial dog food. The additives and preservatives kill her. When fed anything in a can or bag she literally tries biting her toes off and gets horrific ear and skin infections. So I have to cook all of her meals!

I was midway through loading up the crock pot with her human food when I started hearing her barking at me, almost like she was barking orders.

I turned around and there was the little goblin smirking at me - her white snaggletooth protruding over the top right side of her black lip, in a mocking glare.

And after all she had just put me through she now had the nerve to bark in my face and beg for food.

On the floor about 3 feet directly behind her lay the diaper that she somehow, after all of my struggles and despite all of my persistence .....had wriggled herself out of in the very brief amount of time it took me to get from my living room to the kitchen.

And just like that, I conceded and she won. I simply had nothing left to give, she completely wore me down.

I can in all honestly and without exaggeration say, as God is my witness and I pray for patience, that this has been the longest 2.5 weeks of my life.

Dear God, please let her heat be over soon.

Best Actress - Sandra Bullock, the Blind Side

Best Supporting Actress - Monique, Precious

Best Actor - Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay - Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious

Best Original Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow for the Hurt Locker - she is the one I'm really pulling for. She sooo deserves it and would be the first ever female director to win!

Best Picture - Avatar - although Hurt Locker could well beat it out, would be even more awesome because Kathryn Bigelow used to be married to James Cameron for 2 years about 25 years ago, what a twist that would be for her little indie film to kick the biggest blockbuster of the years ass, made by her ex!

Let's see how close I am tomorrow...hopefully I can stay awake to see it all!!

Here is a clip of Kathryn Bidelow's AMAZING work in the Hurt Locker:

For the past 2 days Purdy has been sitting at the back door howling the most sorrowful howls imaginable.

Howling at what?? There is nothing there.

I presume she is trying to alert some of the male dogs in the neighborhood that she is ready, willing, and able to go. It seems to be working too because there are strange new paw prints in the snow of my back yard.

Pretty sad when the dog is getting more action than her human.

Hmmm, I wonder if this could work for me. If I sit at my back door howling loudly enough and pitifully enough.....do you think some big strapping stud will magically appear?

Sometimes I do envy the life of a canine.

OW-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!

He totally mimics all of the Jennifer Beals dance moves and OMG the boy has natural rythym ....he even gets down on the floor and tries to break dance!

At 2 years old he has figured out how to put the DVD into the player by himself and watch it over and over..... but he has to fast forward to the musical scenes.. when the music stops he gets all upset and goes, "more? more? more?."

In one simple gesture with his chubby little hand reaching for mine to twirl and spin him to his favorite tunes.....the little guy made my entire weekend.

And it should be noted that I put this High above some other pretty awesome things that have transpired over the past couple of days.

I could eat him up I love him so.

Ok not to be gross or all TMI...but exactly how long is the bleeding phase of a female dog's heat supposed to last? We are going on day 8 with no sign of it slowing down here. She bleeds more than I do for pity sake and she only weighs 17 lbs..

I'm getting tired of giving baths, washing blankets and cleaning up spots on the floor. And I have white couches!!

I attempted to hold her down with the assistance of a 200lb man trying to strap on a $12.99 per package doggy diaper and she nearly took our hands off with the all of 5 teeth she has left in her mouth..... and the friggin' thing slid right off her ass anyway..

Not to mention the doggy mood swings.

Not to mention we are both pms'ing at the same time.

I just read online that some dogs can bleed the entire 21 days of the heat cycle...I have a feeling Purdy may be one of those.

I was sick with food poisoning the other night laid out on the bathroom floor in the fetal position and instead of barking for help or something to that affect she plopped her rear end down next to my head and starting licking herself.

Someone, please tell me it will be over soon.

Two of my favorite things fashion and pugs!

My favorite line from the film is when Valentino is in the final stages of completing his 45th year anniversary collection and under a ton pf pressure with a herd of pugs underfoot he exclaims, "I don't care about the collection. My dogs are much more important!".

I love it.

Of course Valentino would only own pugs, he is a man of exquisite taste, after all.

It has taken me a long time to understand that life is all about second chances and what you make of them.

Fact: a dog will never fall out of love with you.

There has never been a better time to try and fail. Who knows.....you might even succeed.

Dare to be different.

Challenge yourself. You'll feel more alive.

I don't care who you are or what your circumstance - nobody else is going to make your dreams come true, only you can make them happen.

Everybody has their addictions, passions, and obsessions - mine just happen to have 4 legs, wrinkled faces, and curly tails.

If we let fear stop us from going after the things we really want then we risk never getting them.

Anger only makes you weak. It's forgiveness that makes you strong.

Volunteer for a cause you believe in. It will do your body, mind, and spirit nothing but good.

You used to think I was crazy but the truth is I am probably the sanest female you know.

And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

You should honor and cherish the people who are always there for you, because someday they won't be.

Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they do make our lives more whole.

The more I give, the more I have to give.

I think the meanest thing you can do to a person is to say things you don't really mean, just to appease them, or yourself.

One shot of whiskey in hot tea will cure a sore throat. Try it, you'll see.

I have faith that everything will work out the way it's supposed to.

I do believe that good things come to those who wait.

I have been missing you, have you been missing me?

Whatever is meant to be, will be. Trusting this and feeling it deep down in your bones is what will keep you calm and peaceful when life feels out of control.

Being successful in life may mean different things to different people. For me it means being able to master the fine art of balance between destiny and seizing random opportunities. It's like Forest Gump said at the end of the film, "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."

You should never knock someone else's dream - it might seem silly to you but for them, it may be all they have.

Remember when the people who are supposed to love you the most suddenly find you unlovable, it's most likely not because you have changed...it's because they have.

Perspective can be a deceitful little b*tch when you lose her....but when she finds her way back she will be your best friend on a dark rainy night.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. ~ Kierkegaard,

Are we really THAT different, you and I?

Physical beauty is fleeting, enjoy it while it lasts.

It's one thing to be nice and accommodating it's another to be walked on and taken advantage of. You should learn the difference.

When you're loved ones are hurting and you feel helpless, don't push them....send them gentle thoughts and let them know you are there. They will come around when they're ready.

You can't be everything and everywhere to everybody, sometimes the best thing you can do for others is to just be yourself.

Then last night we were chilling on the couch like normal, she was sitting next to me and I was gently petting her back as I always do.... and all of the sudden she curled her lip into a warning snarl! It didn't make any sense....one minute she was being extra cuddly and the next minute she snapped and started growling at me for no reason at all.

That's when it hit me....Plum is in heat AND she has doggy PMS!

Wow. I have no experience with owning female pugs until now, only males.

Being that she was a rescue and I have no clue about her prior history, I wasn't sure if she had been fixed. There is no visible scar on her belly and I have always suspected she was used as a breeder, so it makes sense that they never spayed her.

I didn't think it was possible for a dog of her age but apparently it's not like humans - unspayed female dogs can get pregnant their whole lives, and that could be very dangerous, even fatal for a senior girl like my Plumy. It could be equally as dangerous to spay her at this point.

I guess I'll know for sure if any male dogs start coming around the yard to "visit" her. Then I'll have to fend them off wielding torches and sticks.

Poor Plum! Sooooo many doggy problems and now puggy pms :(

I think if Pugsley knew Plum, he would have wanted her to be his girlfriend.

Is there really any question here?

Note to Westminster Kennel Club - the freakishly coiffed poodles are NOT in any way shape or form better than the awesomely handsome and adorable pugs.

I am so frustrated that the pug never wins the toy group at Westminster, but the froufrou poodles always do.

Clearly the judges are impervious to a sense of humor and lack good taste.

Since Rufus the little puggie is out, I will root for the French Bulldog to take Best In Show tonight. Frenchies are kind of like pugs, with pointy ears.

We want to thank everyone who came out to support us with a special thanks to Curly Tail Pug "Jewel" who patiently and lovingly sat in the pug kissing booth for 4 hours dishing out kiss after kiss. She definitely worked hard for the money!!

And special thanks to guest pug of honor "Sunshine" who also stole the show and captured the hearts of every human in the store, and a few dogs, ponies, and turtles too!
Thanks to her daddy Ken and big sister Emily the Biker Pug for coming out to share the love.

It was a special day in honor of Barry, one of our own who passed unexpectedly this weekend.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the day:

Curly Pug Jewel, Kissing Queen and all around Super Star!

Our awesome booth set up! We are a fine oiled machine

Curly Pug Honey (currently up for adoption) with her foster mom Jen

I finally got to meet Ken, Sunshine and Emily live and in person!

Eeyore gave the kids pony rides all day

Here is a slideshow of all the pics, enjoy!

~ Narrator, Babe.

The word is spreading that we will not tolerate the travesty of puppy mills any longer and retailers are listening. Together our voices are being heard - this is what education and affirmative action can do. Let's keep it up people!

ROCKLIN, CA -- Owners of a Rocklin pet store say they were flooded with e-mails and phone calls, asking them to stop selling purebred puppies. The requests started soon after a Roseville pet store which sold dogs closed last year.

"We won't be selling puppies anymore at the store, we just want to be a good member of the community and it's clear that people don't want us doing it," said Rocklin Family Pet Store owner, Dale Glazer.

Last December, Petland in Roseville closed down in the wake of a News10 investigation. The store allegedly purchased its dogs from so-called puppy mills, which are large-scale breeding operations where dogs are often treated inhumanely.

A protest was scheduled to happen outside the Rocklin Family Pet Center this weekend but has now been canceled by animals rights groups. Instead, the store will host an SPCA pet adoption event this Friday.

Other pet stores have also agreed to stop selling puppies as part of a pledge to the Humane Society of the United States: