Pugsley: aka, the Sausage.
Lori: Loves Pugs. Writing. Food and Fashion.
The Sausage turned 14 today….
The Sausage celebrated in a special way…
The Sausage got yellow roses that he loves to smell…
The Sausage got kisses on his pug nose and forehead as well..
The Sausage had birthday cake made from peanut butter and carob…
The Sausage is a wee bit grayer this year but still has the face of a cherub..
The Sausage ate frosty paws ice cream and got happy birthday phone calls too…
The Sausage opened presents and played with toys old and new
The Sausage enjoyed a birthday bully stick
The Sausage stopped chewing it and decided to lick
The Sausage got ogled from tail to muzzle
The Sausage got his mama’s heart and many special nuzzles…
Happy Birthday Sausage!
Love Always,
Mama
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:54 PM permalink Comments (13)
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:19 AM permalink Comments (7)
That Sausage is still ravenously hungry on the prednisone even though I’ve weaned him down to half a pill once a day. Maybe it’s not even the meds at this point. Maybe he has just learned hunger and now it’s a part of his daily life. Food is always on his mind. If he is awake, he wants to eat. As a result, he is constantly getting into things now. It’s like living with a toddler. I can’t leave him out of my sight or he will be into something that isn’t good.
I can’t cook in the kitchen with my pantry doors open anymore, for easy access to my spices, etc. or his pug head will be in there in milliseconds trying to pull food out. The other day I was at the stove and left the pantry door open for 30 seconds, I turned around and caught him pulling out a packet of hot cocoa. His right paw stepping on one end as his teeth were pulling back the paper on the left end while the powder was spilling all over the floor. I caught him red handed pawed. He licked some of the powder before I was able to pull him back.
This weekend I was in the bathroom and didn’t see him at the door so I ran into the living room and caught him with two paws up on the coffee table with his head in the candy dishes. He ate two chocolates before I could get to him. Luckily it wasn’t enough chocolate to make him sick.
Now all of those sneaky things were minor compared to what he did to me last night. After a long day of running around doing errands and an intense work out in the gym I wanted nothing more than to collapse on my cushy couch and eat a warm bowl of chili. I settled in with my piping hot bowl, side of tortilla chips and mmmm was it good! Pugsley always sits on the couch and watches me eat. He’s been doing this his entire life without incident so I thought nothing of it. What I couldn’t believe though is for the first time in almost 14 years he lost control and lunged at my food, diving head first into my hot bowl of chili! He was lightning fast too... I never even saw him going in. When I pulled back on the bowl he lifted his head up and his entire white beard was covered in red sauce. A big glob of chili got all over my down blanket that I had just washed too so that was a mess. Dinner was a bust.
Today he hasn't been quite as mischievous but he was crafty enough to find an old piece of chewing gum under the dryer and dig it out with his claws. I was half expecting to see him blow bubbles at me when I caught him in the act. It's something new now every day.
Of course I blame it all on the cancer and his medication. I find myself making endless excuses for his naughty ways. “He didn’t mean to do it”, “He couldn't help it! He must have slipped and accidentally fell into my bowl”. Yeah, I know it’s not true but it beats getting mad at the little sausage and then feeling guilty later on. Because really, he can do no wrong right now.
I’m just so happy that he’s still so spry and cunning. It’s part of his charm. And it’s reached new heights.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 10:01 PM permalink Comments (5)
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:02 AM permalink Comments (4)
Remember what I said about spoiling Pugsley too much? Of course I realize that effort is futile, senseless, impossible. Especially with the holiday season now in full swing. He is pug, he shall be spoiled. Most rottenous. Let the wild Christmas rumpus begin.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:39 PM permalink Comments (2)
There was a time not too long ago when my emotions and empathy convinced no over ruled my better judgment and I listened when they told me that the best thing to do for Pugsley given his age and cancer prognosis is to spoil him rotten for all the remaining days that I am blessed to have him in my life.
I was wrong.
Once again, it's a case where my heart got in the way of normal brain functions that know better. Damn I hate when that happens…..
But just look at this face and tell me how you could resist the same temptations? Let's just say that big brown eyes have always been a weakness of mine, then add on a curly pug tail and pink belly rolls and you have Trouble with a capital T.
At the time it all seemed so harmless and innocent. I mean, what’s the big deal if he gets bully sticks every week? What harm could it cause if I feed him first so he’s always eating before me? What could it possibly hurt if I leave him with his dog nanny (my mother) when I’m out so that she can spoil him rotten in my absence and he never has to be alone or want for any one thing….
Cut to a year and half later and we have one spoiled little pug monster on our hands.
Now he wants to be with his dog-nanny all the time. He totally snubs me unless she isn’t around to take care of him. I’ve been demoted to second fiddle position in the pack.
On those rare occasions when he is alone, even if it’s only while I’m in the shower I almost assuredly come home to find something mischievous he’s done to let me know that he was displeased at the lack of attention. Could be something as little as tissues taken out of the waist basket and torn to shreds or a puddle of pee on the floor even though he just peed an hour earlier so he clearly is only lifting his leg out of spite…
The other day I came out to find two paws up on the coffee table and his teeth sunken into a bag of sealed treats I had left there…he thought he’d just help himself.
Still, every sign of a possible new lump or look into his big brown eyes would be cause for more doting and more spoiling…
But then the relentless greed and lust for more began escalating to a whole new level..
Now if I go to heat up my food before him, he will bark at me demanding to be fed first….and even as I’m preparing his meals he stands at my feet and barks at me because I’m not moving fast enough for him…
Do any of your pugs do that or am I alone in this alpha power play asserting his dinner time dominance?
When he doesn’t have a bully stick to chew on he sits and stares me down with looks of disgust for hours which ultimately culminate into full on pug pouts or chin rests and loud sighs of disapproval when he finally gives up..
It was all so cute and endearing at first and I was resigned to the fact that despite all my best intentions, it seemed that whatever I did would never be good enough. And just when I thought he couldn’t possibly get any greedier….yesterday he went into the spare room where all the Christmas presents are wrapped, tagged, boxed, and bagged. Lo and behold while nobody was looking he took one of the gift bags off the couch and proceeded to unwrap it. Luckily it was nothing he could get hurt eating. It was kind of funny as crafty and cunning as I imagined him to be; sniveling off into the gift room, tip toeing so as not to be heard. Ears presumably laid back so his sense of hearing would be more keen and alert enough to hear anyone coming to catch him unwrap things….whomever said that dogs don't "think" or file things away in memory for later use have clearly never met MY dog. Oh he must of plotted and planned it carefully right down to the timing and detail of the heist like a scene from Oceans 11, there is no doubt in my mind...
And even after getting into trouble for the gift unwrapping incident... later that night he did it again to a different gift bag and this one was full of chocolate, which is toxic to dogs!!
I got smart then and gated off the door to the present room. Thought I had fixed him once and for all, but when he disappeared this morning I immediately ran over to the present room and saw to my horror that he had taken a big old dump on floor.... right next to the gate that was blocking him from getting into the room with all the Xmas gifts.
If all that weren’t bad enough when I rounded the hallway corner with a wad of paper towels to clean the mess....I could see that he was smack dab in the middle of trying to eat his own shit! In protest or out of spite, in a vengeful act to thwart my desperate teeth cleanings attempts to cure his bad breath, or maybe he was just plain trying to hide the evidence...I can’t be quite sure which was the motivating force to cause him to ingest his own crap…but something tells me it was yet another defiant act of spite, greed and malice.
And I know it’s all my fault. I've created the way he has become. Give a pug an inch and he will take a mile, is the lesson of the day.
The scary thing is that he doesn’t even reach his full holiday season greed potential until the Christmas tree goes up and the stockings are hung…I am sort of scared to see what mischief and antics ensue over the next 30 days.
I am open to suggestions on how to control this unruly behavior. Or is it just too late to teach an old [spoiled] dog new tricks?
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:40 PM permalink Comments (5)
Spooky
Over the years I’ve dressed up humiliated Pugsley in numerous Halloween costumes. See the kids on the block come each year and expect to see him decked out in some sort of get up…okay, so maybe this is how I rationalize the annual event. Funny thing is, he doesn't try to rip the costumes off. He is quite content to sit out on the front stoop in whatever attire I put him in and greet the trick or treaters as they come to the door...it's like his thing where he gets to ham it up, and he owns it.
There was the Freddie Mercury Pug one year...
Then there was ET Pug …..
The Bat Pug
Then the Three Musketeers Pug
the Skeleton Pug
and perhaps the most humiliating of all.... the Bumble Pug
Poor Sausage.
This year I think we may par it down a bit to an orange bandana or something a little "less" to give him back his dignity. As for me and my adult Halloween party this year...I’m planning on going as a Hooters girl. I’ll let you know how that works out.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 08:26 PM permalink Comments (4)
Pug + Bully Stick = happy boy
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:29 PM permalink Comments (5)
In addition to Sausage and all the other staple nicknames used for the appropriate occasion -- Pugsley gets a new nickname about every month. Actually, the nicknames sort of evolve each week with his personality and varying levels of cuteness from point A to point B. For instance, a month ago I was in the “Puggie” phase which slowly evolved into “Wuggie”. About a week later I started calling him “Nuggie”……Nuggie stuck for a while but eventually it morphed into “Nugget” but he’s only a Nugget when he’s been crafty or naughty and then he is a “Nugs” when he’s really calm and when he’s super sweet he becomes “Baby Nugs” in a little girly voice... and when he’s really super sweet and a little bit sad, he’s a “Baby Nuggy Pie”. Yesterday though I just looked at him sitting frog legged on the kitchen floor begging for a piece of cheese with this silly hopeful look on his face and suddenly he became “Nugalicious”. That’s what he is now, Nugalicious.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:04 AM permalink Comments (2)
Why is it that everytime pugs poop they twirl their bodies around in a circle a bunch of times before they let it fall? Is it just Pugs? I've never seen another breed do this. Pugsley's twirl can go up to 14 times when he's feeling spry. I count.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 06:58 AM permalink Comments (8)
Pugsley likes to hang out with his buffalo or as we like to call him......his tatonka.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:17 PM permalink Comments (3)
San Francisco was a blast, but it's good to be home.
Sausage missed his mama! He promptly pinned me down and smothered me with stinky wet puggy kisses!
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 08:56 PM permalink Comments (6)
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:03 PM permalink Comments (3)
Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar.
You're gonna go far, fly high,
You're never gonna die,
You're gonna make it if you try;
They're gonna love you.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:24 PM permalink Comments (5)
Supplies you will need:
Q Tips
Cotton Balls
Hydrogen Peroxide
Two towels
Dog or Baby Shampoo
Vaseline
Dog Toothpaste
Slip on finger dog toothbrush
Baby Wipes
Lavender oil and olive oil drops (optional) mixed together in a Dixie cup
Blow Dryer
Step One
Run Luke warm bath water adding in a couple drops of lavender oil. Coaxingly, call for pug and attempt to trick him to come to you. Clever pug will hear bath water running and he will hide under furniture and in closet with ears laid back. He will cower as you come towards him and his once erect double curled tail will unravel into a droopy blob of flaccid extremity now tucked between his legs.
Step Two
Capture Pug. Note the facial expressions under surrender are sad and precious all at once and greatly exaggerated -- as if his cuteness is his last line of defense. Revel in holding the defeated pug on the long walk to the bathroom which to him feels like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
Step Three
Gently place pug in quarter filled tub of tepid water. Using a plastic pitcher, scoop up water from the bottom of tub and wet down pug.
*Warning – Pug will look very disgruntled and may squirm about or shake and attempt to jump out of tub. Be firm but gentle and always reassuring.
Using baby wipes, gently wipe smelly pug face loosening up wrinkle dirt and crusties for the deep wrinkle Q tipping to follow. You may also use another baby wipe to pat pug rear and pee pee (save for later when you don’t have to directly touch those pug parts with your bare hands during the lather phase). Dip Q Tip in lavender and olive oil mixture. Gently swab into the facial folds being careful not to get any in pug’s eyes. Repeat on inner and outer wrinkle folds.
Step Four
Wet down Pug body again. Massage shampoo in a gentle lather. Rub into pug's back, neck, tail, belly, underarms and under legs. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
*Note - at this point Pug will shake his entire body attempting to make you as wet and uncomfortable as he is. Always keep spare towel on lap to block pug body shake.
Step Five
Place dog toothbrush on right index finger and dab on doggy toothpaste. *Note it’s important to perform this step while pug is still in tub and is vulnerable and unable to escape. Flip back pug jowl and insert finger, brush along the gum line, tongue, and roof of mouth for as long as pug will tolerate. Usually, one pass is about all he will allow.
Step Six
Pick Pug up out of tub and cover him in a towel. *Note, attempt to cover him in the towel before he has the chance to do another body shake. Have towel ready for when pug hits the floor. It will be a race between the two of you to see who wins.
Gently towel dry pug until the towel is damp. Cloak pug in second towel and sit him down on toilet. (lid down of course).
Dilute a cotton ball with Hydrogen Peroxide and water. Lift Pug ear and gently insert into the outer ear canal. Be very careful not to push the cotton in too deep. Using Pug ear, pull down gently and make a flap, pressing ear flap into the side of pug cheek. Hold and massage back and forth and in tiny circles. Lift pug ear and using same cotton ball, wipe up any brown wax that is visible. Get second cotton ball and repeat on other pug ear.
Step Seven
Towel dry pug for a second time alternating with a blow dryer on cool setting and keeping the dryer 12 inches away from pug body.
Place a dollop of Vaseline on pug nose and rub it in to keep nose from getting dry.
Open bathroom door and watch excited pug run pugtona laps around house, stopping at the treat station because he feels he has earned it.
Brush pug when fully dry
Breathe in the fresh pug scent that only last for 2 days.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 08:40 PM permalink Comments (7)
How is everyone doing with their Christmas shopping this year? I've got about 5 more gifts to get and then I'm done. Cards have been mailed, tree is decorated, cookies are baking. In my travels this weekend, I couldn't resist picking up these toys for the Pugsley, an iPaw and Pugg boot.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:53 PM permalink
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:01 AM permalink Comments (4)
So apparently I’m not the only one in the family who gets asked to write fashion reviews. The good folks at Barkslope sent Pugsley a harness from their wonderful selection of harnesses and asked us to review the product. Seeing as though Pugsley has no opposable thumbs, I am doing the writing and his job is to do what he does best, look cute.
The Freedom harness is the perfect choice for older dogs or dogs that tend to pull hard on their walks. It is also priced right at a very reasonable $24.00. The lightweight breathable materials make it feel like they aren’t wearing anything at all. The harness is made using a combination of stretchy mesh and faux suede materials. The polished hardware is super lightweight and fully adjustable for maximum comfort and a sharp fit. The harnesses come in toy dog sizes X-small – X large. As the largest of the toy breeds with his barrel chest and sausage body, Pugsley fits snugly into the size extra large. The sizing charts on the website provide a useful guide. Overall, I think this is a great harness for Pugsley. I am especially pleased that it’s very gentle and light on his neck and back, which are sensitive areas for him.
Be sure to check out Bark Slope this holiday season for that special little dog on your shopping list! Going on now, they are offering a $5.00 flat shipping rate on all orders.
Here is the Sausage sporting his new Freedom Harness in black. *Pictures are best viewed while humming the tune “I’m too sexy” by Right Said Fred.
Front
Back
Side
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:20 PM permalink Comments (3)
I ask you – how many other pugs do you know have birthday gifts mailed to their house, addressed specifically to them from their own personal bevy of internet admirers? Pugsley, that’s who! Thanks to Lauren at the Gizmeister Chronicles for remembering Pugsley and sending a big old braided bulls penis and honking pigs ears too!
As you can see, he's a VERY happy boy.
Hmmmm, Nobody ever sends me a penis in the mail for my birthday..... My life is officially sad now, the dog gets more action than me. And he's neutered.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:47 AM permalink Comments (1)
*****Update*****
Opening Presents
Killing squeaker in the new toy
Feasting on a ginourmous Baked Pigs Ear
Begging for more but too pooped to party....
Happy Birthday to the Sausage who turns 12 years young today!
How does a truly spoiled Pug spend his special day one may ask?
In a gluttonous display of canine debauchery with Bully sticks and pigs ears, wrapped toys and treats, special crumpets for dinner served in his martini bowl and perhaps a Frosty Paws ice cream followed by some light serenading to the tune of "You are my Sunshine", soft belly rubs and gentle corn chip kisses to cap off the evening festivities.
All this and he'll still want more. It's good to be the King.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:20 PM permalink Comments (16) | TrackBack (0) |
Pugsley had his annual check up at the vet this morning. It was all good news.
1) He didn’t need shots because the rabies and distemper now last for 3 years and he just had them in 2005.
2) The lump on his leg that I found and didn’t tell anyone about but have secretly been worrying over turned out to just be an age wart, doesn’t even need to be removed.
3) His heart and lungs are still going strong.
4) His fecal exam, Lymes check and heartworm were all negativo.
5) He got his nails trimmed and anal sacs emptied at a complimentary no charge!
6) His teeth look good and don’t need to be cleaned.
7) Now that I have pet insurance, I can submit a claim for the bill and wait for a check in the mail. Giddy up! We just received his insurance card the other day..
There was one minor thing, he weighs 26.5 pounds which is too big for him, so he does need to go on a diet. The sausage is not too happy about this development.
Now I'm off to a weekend of catching up with old friends, hanging with the fam on Sunday, then I'm in the city for work on Monday. Have a nice weekend and Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's out there!
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 12:38 PM permalink Comments (6) | TrackBack (0) |
Pugsley is so delicious and yummy that I think of him in terms of food. He has these juicy ham hocks and chicken legs in the front and drumsticks in the back. And his little pink belly and curly tail reminds me of a piglet so I like to call him Puglet. I won't even get into his freakishly human expressive face that sometimes makes me forget he is canine. At the end of each night he sits and waits for me to pick him up off the couch and carry him into the bedroom like a king to his throne, and I oblige. In fact it’s my favorite part of the day. And when we wake in the morning and I lean over for a kiss, he smells like a giant corn chip and it always starts my day out with a smile. I could eat him up I Love him so. My Pork Chop, My Butter Ball, My Sausage.. it's pure organic Love. What I imagine a mother must feel for her child.
Just when I think I can't love him anymore, he will flash me a look or do something so silly or way too brilliant and tricky for a dog mind to conceive and I am putty in his paws all over again. I'll study his face and graying whiskers recalling vividly how he looked so long ago and I can't believe its been almost 12 years and how sad but sweet it is in the winter of his life. After everything we've been through, still together. Forget about cloning and cord storing and stem cells -- they need to invent a pill or something to make dog’s live longer lives. I will never have enough time with him. Never.
Easter is a special day for us. It's the day 4 years ago that I almost lost him. When he had the mini beanie baby stuck in his small intestine and nothing could go in or come out except vomit, a lot of vomit. Green septic bile vomit that was pouring out of his nose the poor baby was so sick and backed up. Fucking vets didn't know jack, treating him for Pancreatic disease and stomach infections for a year misdiagnosing until he was hours away from death on Easter Sunday 2002 with nary a VMD in sight.
It was the one year in all of my mortal earthly existence that I didn't watch the Ten Commandments from start to finish. I was too busy trying to keep Pugsley alive. That meant staying up with him all night whispering calm, soothing words so he wouldn’t give up. I still believe that made all the difference and why he's here with me today. It meant holding his IV bag and adjusting the needle every time he moved so the drip could get into his veins and keep him from dehydrating and going into shock which he probably wouldn't have come out of. It meant trying to get him to sleep while he was in so much pain that his entire body was trembling and praying to Jesus Christ on the day of his resurrection that Pugsley would wake the next morning. And he did. It was a miracle that he did.
This Easter after all the wedding hoopla, I'm looking forward to a quiet evening on the couch with a puggy and his mama. With Charleton Heston, Yul Brenner, and Anne Baxter, the way it ought to be. It’s our own little celebration of being healthy and content, the crosses we bear, the struggles and plagues we’ve survived and all that has passed over. So let it be written. So let it be done.
A Very Happy Easter and Passover to all our friends.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:55 PM permalink Comments (9) | TrackBack (0) |
So when I was transporting Pugsley the Eagle Pug down to New York on Saturday I stopped off for lunch at the Cracker Barrel. Mmmmm. If anyone out there is doubting my steel resolve and discipline, consider this – how many of you could dine at Cracker Barrel and not consume any carbs?
I am here to tell you it was no easy feat but I did it. Instead of my all time favorite mashed potatoes, I ate turnip greens and a salad as my 2 sides to go with my pot roast that was so tender it flaked off the fork. I’m like a freakin’ warrior when I want to be.
Those of you familiar with Cracker Barrel restaurants also know that they have a very cool retro gift shop where they sell things like moon pies and 5 and dime candy, 50’s nostalgia and memorabilia. Fresh off the rescue, I must have been feeling like I wanted to spoil my Pugsley even more rotten that he already is -- because in their dog section of collectibles I found this ceramic dog bowl shaped like a martini glass.
Around the rim inside it says “It’s Mutt-tini Time! And on the bottom is written “It’s been a Ruff Day!” It came with a placemat that looks like a cocktail napkin and a stuffed green olive toy that squeaks. They also has Cosmo-Paw-Litan martini bowls but they were pink and too girly for Pugsley. He's all boy.
Now before you go thinking he is too spoiled – keep in mind I am only letting him eat out of it on special occasions. For Sunday dinner I gave him some heated Little Champions wet food served in his Mutt-tini glass in celebration of the Oscars. But he probably won’t eat out of it again until Easter. After that, not until his birthday.
In other news – I am scratching my head trying to figure out what to wear to my brothers pending nuptials. What does one wear to their brothers wedding in mid-April when it could be warm or it could be cold? Also, he has informed us that it will be a casual affair. Right, but it’s still my brothers wedding and I want to look nice. Here is what I have swirling around in my head so far: It has to be sweet, simple, and understated. Maybe something 50’s style a la Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line, something halter’ish (if it’s warm enough) with stripes and an empire waist. I like empire waists. Something like this little Charlotte Russe number that I have my eye on at Ebay --brand new with tags, current auction price $1.50 with a couple hours to go! Maybe a frock with a little South American flair since my new sister in law is from Brazil and it would be a way to honor her. I am thinking vintage.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:34 PM permalink Comments (8)
This is so Funny -- Thanks to a reader in South Africa for sending this one along. It shows exactly why Pugs are so cool, crafty and calculating!
This funny video is from a Japanese TV show. A little dog steals food from a big dog. This little guy is very slick when he steals the food.
http://www.guzer.com/videos/food_thief_dog.php
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:29 PM permalink Comments (2)
I was invited to participate in Weekend Dog Blogging, let's see dogs and blogging -- two of my favorite things, how could I refuse?
Here is my contribution -- a little animation of Pugsley unwrapping his Valentine's Day present. It's a white stuffed duck that he likes to chin rest on and use as a pillow when he sleeps :)
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:10 AM permalink Comments (4)
Pugsley snuggles with his Curious George when he sleeps :)
Awwwww
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 06:56 AM permalink Comments (5)
Great news! Pugsley's biopsy results came back negative. The lump was a benign cyst. Hip-Hip Hooray!! We celebrated with a Bully Stick....Well -- Pugsley did anyway :)
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, For he's a jolly good fell--ooooooooow -- Which Nobody can deny!
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 08:29 PM permalink Comments (8)
Things are already looking up for the New Year. I was reading through my new hire docs and benefits package and I discovered that my new employer offers Pet insurance.
Pugsley will finally be insured.....Waaa-hooooooo!!
Now if only I could convince the government to issue him a social security number so I can claim him as a dependent...
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:28 PM permalink Comments (5)
And now a word from our sponsors…
Here in the Northeast this morning the temperature is a nipply 9 degrees. Whenever it gets below zero poor Pugsley starts limping in the snow, on the pavement and ice. Does this happen to your poor little pooch too? It’s because the pads on their paws burn from the cold and salt. So what can you do, you ask?
I will let you in on a little secret.
It is an extremely dense wax-based invisible barrier cream to protect paws. You just rub on their feet before letting them outside. It seals on a protective coating so their little pads don’t get frostbit. It’s what the sled dogs in Alaska use. Works in extreme hot or cold. Do your little pal a favor and get him some Mushers Wax this winter.
See, Pugsley waxes too.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:09 AM permalink Comments (4)
So I was sick all weekend, down for the count with some nasty stomach ailment wondering if I got the bird flu from my turkey. I’m guessing not since I’m the only one who got sick. My best guess is the non pasturized Apple Cider that I drank way too much of. Basically I just hung out on the couch with my heating pad watching the Good Times marathon on TV Land. I managed to get about 90% of my Christmas shopping done online. Turns out being stuck home sick was actually very productive for me. Got to Love the internet. In between shopping and trips to the Loo, I also rearranged my small living room to make enough space for my Christmas tree that will soon be arriving. I am thinking a Blue Spruce this year.
Another holiday tradition is when I go through Pugsley’s overflowing toy box and collect all the toys that he never plays with. I take them to the local Animal Shelter for the homeless dogs who don’t have any toys of their own. It also makes room for all the new toys the spoiled pug will get. Well, he spent the better part of the weekend pouting next to his "less full" toy box, flashing me dirty looks. He then proceeded to pull out every single toy from his basket taking inventory, letting me know he was neither pleased nor amused. He made me feel guilty. Like the Grinch who stole Pug-mas. Even though he hasn’t touched them in over a year. Oh, he’s very greedy. He also had bad gas from all the turnip and turkey that he ate.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:48 PM permalink Comments (2)
Wow, we woke to a White Thanksgiving here in New England!!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone....time to go start the turkey.
Wake and Bake..
First snow of the year on Pug Nose and Whiskers!
Pugsley in his red sweater
View from my Back Door
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:33 AM permalink Comments (3)
Do you own a Pug or do you know somebody who does? Are you looking for the perfect pug gift this holiday season? Well look no further. Allow me to introduce you to Bark Avenue. Owned and operated by Robyn, a super talented seamstress from the Green Mountain State. Specializing in Pugwear and accouterments. Homeade with love, superb craftsmanship and attention to detail. Pugsley is a happy customer. He gives 2 paws up and a double-curled tail!!
Stop by Bark Avenue's store today!
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:09 PM permalink Comments (2)
Pugsley likes to play dress up too!
Hula Pug
Getting Ogled by the Trick or Treaters
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Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 10:09 PM permalink Comments (7)
With my new Pug Screensaver. He has become convinced there is another pug inside the laptop trying to get out to lick him. He will sit and stare at it for hours if I let him. Sometimes he barks or makes those nervous low growl-whimpers trying to communicate with the other pug. Is it bad for a dog's eyes to look at the computer for long periods of time??
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 08:34 AM permalink Comments (5)
Pugsley would like to give a big shout out to Lauren over at Vegas Princess for sending him some Birthday goodies in the mail!! The package was even addressed to him personally c/o Me :) Inside was a tasty Greenies bone and a beef coated rawhide with a nice card too. Of course, the gifties were wrapped because she remembered how much Pugsley LOVES unwrapping presents...I captured most of the action on digital.
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Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:02 AM permalink Comments (3)
When Pugsley was around 6 months old prior to being neutered, he had a nasty little habit of humping everything in sight. The floor, his toys, my leg, but there was one thing in particular that he loved to hump more than anything, his pink rabbit. It was bigger than him and he liked to dominate it. It wasn’t just regular playful humping; it was a savage, forceful kind of humping. One of those sites you had to be there to appreciate it. But if you can imagine a 10 pound pug mounting this stuffed toy twice his size, clamping his jaws onto the neck and then ferociously having his way with it. It actually scared me how violent he became with his rabbit so one day I was forced to take it away. I stowed it high up in the closet, it was a very sad day for him.
At the time, I was living with a guy; we’ll call him Gordy, Pugsley’s first Daddy. Gordy thought watching Pugsley savagely hump his toy was just about the funniest thing he had ever seen. I have to admit, it was pretty funny. So one day I’m out at the store and Gordy is home with some friends over. I come back and am horrified to see they are drinking beer sitting around hooting and hollering with laughter watching Pugsley violate his rabbit. It reminded me of that scene in the Accused, when the men were standing there cheering and clapping... I didn’t know how long it had been going on but Pugsley was panting very heavily and was WAY too excited. He was clearly out of control, the same way he got when I would give him a pig’s ear and he would carnally gnaw away at it and growl at me viciously when I tried to take it away. I couldn’t believe they were using my dog for their sick amusement…But you know how men, beer, and humping can often occur. I broke up their twisted little voyeur party and I whisked the pink rabbit away from Pugsley, which he did not give up without a fight.
I started to notice he wasn’t himself, he wasn’t calming down. He was huffing and puffing, hobbling around and letting out whimpers, the dog was in pain. Upon further inspection, I could see that he had a full-blown doggie erection that would not go back down. It hurt him and it wasn’t funny anymore. Of course these things only happy on Sunday afternoons when the vet’s office is closed. “Gordy!!” I balked at him, “Get the phone” Gordy was loaded and still cracking up behind a concerned facade, he was no help at all.
Almost 2 hours had passed before the Dr. returned my page and Pugsley still had a full-on dog boner, he was whimpering and walking with a limp. Dr. Howell called and I had to explain to him how Pugsley was humping his toy violently and could not get rid of his erection. “Hmmm, Yes, well, I see, well the animal is suffering but there is something you can do to help alleviate his discomfort”. I took a big gulp knowing this could not be good. “Do you have any table salt in the house?” “You mean like Mortons?” “Yes, you need to take some salt and rub it on his penis until the erection subsides. “ He said in a very professional and serious manner. “So, I...I just pour salt on it and rub it in? “Yes, pour salt on and gently massage it onto the shaft, do this and repeat as often as necessary until you see the erection begin to dissipate. Give it a try and call me back in a half an hour if it doesn’t work.” I hung up the phone in disbelief, was he for real? He wants me to rub salt on Pugsley’s pee pee?
“Gordy!!! You did this, you are going to rub salt on his erection, not me!” Gordy was now doubled over in laughter and not even functioning. With a steel resolve, I had to take over and act fast. “Get me the salt and hold him down!” Gordy pinned a squirming and squealing Pugsley down so his belly was up in the air and his erection was pointing straight at me. It was bright red like all the blood in his poor little body was concentrated in that one area. I opened the spout to the salt and poured it on. I squinted my eyes and half looked away. Instead of rubbing the salt in, I first sort of dabbed it on gently with my fingers and waited, nothing! The whole thing felt very wrong. More salt!! This time I was more determined, it was no time to wimp out. I rubbed the salt in and massaged it as the Dr. had instructed and I just told myself it was for his own good, for his well being. Pugsley was just looking up at me with Big Loving eyes. Gordy was near peeing his pants at this point, but I was just happy to see the erection was starting to go down and he was no longer suffering.
Who would have known that salt on a dog’s erect penis would make it creep back into it’s little foreskin shell. The next day, I snuck the rabbit out to the dumpster so Pugsley couldn’t see. I also had Gordy call to schedule Pugsley’s neuter. And when the day came I made Gordy take Pugsley in and pick him up so that he would never associate me with emasculating him. No, he would always remember me as the one who rubbed salt on his pee pee to save him from the most painful erection of his life. The things we do for love.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:30 AM permalink Comments (7)
A Pumpkin for my Pumpkin
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:46 PM permalink Comments (6)
Every October my Church has the annual Blessing of the Animals. Pugsley was sprinkled with Holy water and prayed over.
"Pugsley may you be blessed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May you and Lori enjoy life together and find joy with the God who created you."
Here is Pugsley waiting to be blessed by the Franciscan Friars
Here we are with the Friars after Pugsley received his blessing
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 02:52 PM permalink Comments (2)
Here is Pugsley pouting because he knows I am going out tonite. He sure doesn't make it easy to leave him even for an hour with these forlorn looks he gives me, LOL! This morning he went to the vet for his rabies shot and to have his ears looked at because I have noticed his hearing hasn't been as sharp lately. The good news is there is no kind of infection in his ears and the bad news is, just normal age-related loss of hearing. He is by no means deaf but he doesn't always hear things he used to like me rattling my keys in the door now when I come home so I don't get greeted by him every time like I used too ;-( For some reason he always seems to hear the word "treat" though...
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:58 PM permalink Comments (1)
Words / Phrases Pugsley knows - Equivalent to about the vocabulary size of a normal 3 year old child or at least to a younger Coco the Gorilla ;-)
In addition to the following words, Pugsley also understands different tones of voice, some words in other languages, and a couple hand signals, Believe it or not, he even knows some of his toys by name too! I'm sure there are more, but these are the words I can think of offhand:
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Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 11:21 AM permalink
There is a lot to be learned by paying attention to a pug's tail. I believe it is a true indicator of how your pug is feeling. For instance, a tightly curled tail indicates a happy and healthy pug. The tighter the curl the happier the pug, I have found.
A pug tail that is at half-mast slightly droopey or unwound, may be a sign of indifference to a situation or possibly the puggie isn't feeling too well. Alas, if you ever find your pug unable to hold up his tail at all and it remains down for any length of time during his waking hours, you can be sure that he is either depressed, scared, or ill.
I have had Pugsley for 10 years now and have come to learn a lot about how he is feeling, his health, and well-being simply by observing his tail.
To demonstrate, I have taken some pics of Pugsleys tail at different times:
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Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 02:37 PM permalink
Us Pug-people know the "puggie odor" that can emit from the face of your little curly-tailed bundles of joy. A smell only true pug lovers can come to know and find endearing. Well those cute little wrinkles can easily become nasty seabeds of infection if not properly cleaned and maintained. Q tips and warm water should be applied once a week as a maintenance program, but if you wanted to take it one step further, I have a great recipe for cleaning pug wrinkles.
I have been noticing on my keyword searches that people are finding my site by Googling keywords "how to clean a Pugs wrinkles" so I thought I would share a wonderful holistic recipe I learned from Robyn who really knows her stuff on the subject.
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Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 09:18 AM permalink Comments (2)
Yesterday, I came home from work and was giving Pugsley his usual "Mama's home and missed you so much baby" hug and kiss, when I felt his normally velveteen ears were hard and crusty. Upon further inspection, I noticed dried blood on his neck fur. Immediately I called my mom (Pugsley's babysitter while I'm at work) to ask her what happened. First she said nothing out the ordinary, but then recalled that while on one of his constitutional walks over by the stone wall, he did let out a little whimper but seemed to be okay after that. As the wound looked like some type of bite, my first thought was that possibly he stepped on a snake that bit him. This was scary because we do have Copperheads in CT that are venomous and they have been known to hide in stone walls! We retraced Pugsleys steps where he had let out the yelp and there it was, A thorny bush he had lifted his leg on. Looking over each sprig of thorns where he peed, I did notice a little bit of blood on the branch. Luckily, it was a minor cut that I've been treating with some hyrdrogen peroxide and keeping an eye on to make sure it doesn't get swollen or infected. Mom was out with loppers this morning, cutting back the barbed culprit. As always, I had the digital camera on hand to document all the puggie-drama. Pugsley got a treat to make him feel better. It's not easy being a Pug.
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 07:12 PM permalink Comments (1)
I went to my fourth acupuncture treatment yesterday. They are using electrical stimulators on me now. I wasn't quite sure at first what to make of it but I haven't had any bad painful episodes since I've been going. Plus I get a lot of attention and treats for being brave.
I'm most interested in smelling the grass outside of the doctors office. I could spend hours just smelling that grass, all the different dog smells are like heaven to me.
Mama uploaded some pictures of my session - just a small disclaimer that if you are squeemish, proceed with caution and keep in mind, I like it, I really like it....makes me feel goooooooood! As evident from the smirk on my face.
Click Here to View My Acupuncture
Woof
Posted by Pugsley in What a Pug Wants at 07:55 PM permalink Comments (1)
What a Pug Wants, What a Pug Needs
(hummed to the tune of Christna Aguliera’s “What a girl wants”)
Things Pugsley Likes
-Treats
-Mealtime
-Going for Walks
-Getting Belly and Chest Rubs
-People Talking to Me
-Going on New Adventures
-Changes of Scenery
-Neck massage (right behind the ears)
-Toys, Toys, and more Toys!
-Opening wrapped presents
-Watching TV
-Sitting Outside watching the birds fly and airplanes
-Weekends! (it means Momma is home)
-Riding in the car
-Acupuncture
-Licking
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Things Pugsley Dislikes
-Being Left alone
-People not paying attention to me
-Going to the vet
-Hanging with Other Pugs (they steal my thunder)
-Being tricked or outsmarted
-Begging for food and getting none
-Getting my Wrinkles cleaned
-Judge Judy
-Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonite
-Getting Nails Clipped
-Being told “No”
-Baths
Posted by Lori in What a Pug Wants at 10:48 AM permalink Comments (2)