Henry now at twelve years old.

Still Life with Pug

I have lived with pugs now for over 16 years and cannot imagine life without a pug by my side, schnuffling along, smiling up at me with that goofy frog dog grin, big brown eyes bulging with joie de vivre.

A happy healthy pug is a most amusing companion, filled with opinions and observations. When out walking they tell you where they want to go and can be very bossy if you decide to go in a different direction.

Henry stops in his tracks and glares at me, as if to say “How dare you? I was headed that way!” If I insist and try to be the alpha sometimes he will just give in like “Oh well”. Other times, he will dig in and refuse to come with me so that I either have to drag him, pick him up or I give in. Louie was even worse in his bossy behaviors because he was a chest thumping alpha male with attitude up the ying yang.

I am actually shocked at how bossy and controlling Henry has become over the years. But its also hilarious because the little dude only weighs 15 pounds for crying out loud. I mean…he honestly thinks he rules the world! And he knows he rules mine.

I have never been able to dominate my pugs. I give into them because I am a giant and they are small. Or is that I give into them because they are giants and I am small? Yes that must be it. They are forces of nature. Because they are animals and much closer to pure being, they are very powerful.

Add to that natural power those astonishing human faces and cobby little fat bodies reminiscent of the cherubim, and I am just a puddle of powerlessness. I do what they say. Which is usually: FEED ME. It really is a wonder I have not overfed Henry and made him fat. The other thing they say is: LAP TIME! I have spent a huge chunk of my life trapped underneath pugs.

And that is as it should be. If you are going to bring a pug into your life you owe them the best of everything because they are breathtakingly precious and fierce little beings. Like all dogs they are superior to us lousy human beings.

Moishe at the beach.

Eli and Farmer the Pug Frenchies.

Handsome couple with their handsome kids.

Pug Alert? No. This time its Pug-Frenchie Alert!!

Today Henry and I met some folks in the neighborhood who have rescued two Pug/Frenchies. So that is correct…yes….a mix of Pug and French Bulldog!! Apparently they are “designer dogs.” The brindle is a female, named Farmer, and the little tan guy is Eli. They are extremely sweet and well behaved.

Oh I love these precious little ones!

Mr. Cranky Pants Hates Rain in June!

We took a trip up North to the Mendocino Coast with little Henry in tow. We found a nice hotel that would accommodate doggies and spent only one night away. But the truth is, Henry was miserable!! He hated being out of his routine. 

We assumed that Henry would be fine because he was with us. We who dote on him, adore him, anticipate his every need, abjectly worship his little highness. 

He moped around with his tail down the entire time, unless he met a “person” of course. (He lives for “people”.) Then he would come to life and his adorable personality would return for a brief moment while they pet him and talked to him.

Afterwards down would droop the tail and he would look so sad. We don’t count, I suppose, as “people”. No, we are the ever present, all enveloping pug mamas who don’t count and can be taken for granted on road trips.

He also refused to poop the entire time we were gone!!! He rarely peed, but of course now and then he would have to, much to our stressed out relief. We spent so much time begging him to do his business it was just ridiculous.

In spite of Henry’s difficulties we did have a wonderful time because the weather was glorious and Mendocino is just magical and mystical. Very romantic. Even with a grumpy Pug waiting back in the hotel room.