Pugs Without Borders

Rest Period

Todd and I would love to have rescued a pug. But because our back yard has a pool, rescue groups (rightfully so, in most cases) won't let people with unfenced pools adopt.

Barkley and Augie--aside from NEVER being allowed outside unsupervised--do not care for the pool. To them, it's like a giant bath--something they don't fight, but if given the choice, wouldn't volunteer for it. However, we think that it's important to regularly remind them of this fact. So each summer, we put them in the pool with us, give them a refresher course in where the escape ramp is, and for the rest of the year, they ignore it. Well, Augie ignores it. Barkley walkes along the edge of the deck that surrounds it like a tightrope walker.

Oh, and just for the record, I'm not proud of this photo. But I will say that an excellent way to hide a bathing suit you don't care for is to put a pug in front of you. :)

Heads and Tails

I'm told our dogs actually do get exercise at daycare. No, really.

Say "Cheese Biscuit!"

I love the picture of Augie that's at the top of this blog. It's one of my all-time favorites. I also love this picture of Barkley in his leisure suit. They were taken by an amazing photographer here in Columbus--Lydia Stewart. She came out to our house on Barkley's first birthday for a photoshoot, and the following year for Augie's first birthday. Each time, we ended up with a cd of over three hundred shots. I go through them every once in awhile, and wish that I could take pictures of the boys like that.

But, I guess that's why I'm a writer, not a photographer.

Summer School

Barkley and Augie go to doggie daycare three days a week. To some, it might seem extravagant, but since we both work full-time, we thought it was important to give the boys both exercise and socialization on a regular basis. Plus, as we like to say, our neighborhood has excellent schools. The daycare the boys go to has a separate area for smaller dogs--with a grand total of six pugs now--and in the summer there's a little plastic puppy pool to cool them off.

Now...don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see they take breaks from playing and that they aren't getting too hot. But when I received this picture from the owner at the daycare, I have to admit, my first thought was that my kids are the slackers at school.

I mean really. That's Augie in the middle, Barkley on the right. And their friend Daisy Pug on the left. Don't stress yourselves out too much, kids. Wouldn't want you to, er...overheat. Do they realize what tuition costs these days? Jeesh.

Happy Father's Day!

Barkley and Augie pulled their allowances together, and got Todd a little something for Father's Day.

(So I didn't feel left out, I got a similar one for myself.)

To all the other Pug Dads out there (and Dads of any sort for that matter), Happy Father's Day!

Sending and Receiving "Pee-mail"

On our evening walks, it's customary for the boys to stop at several of their favorite street signs to "check their pee-mail." They sniff to read, and...leave other "messages" for their friends.

For example:

"Dear Augie: How are you doing? Are you having fun on your walk? Maybe when we get home, our people will let us split a Frosty Paws treat. Love, Barkley"

Sombrero Outtakes

While Barkley is a ham when it comes to taking pictures, Augie is much less cooperative. Barkley will do anything for the camera. Augie is a bit of a diva.

Case in point: the sombrero photo in the last post was originally intended to be a shot of Augie-doo. But as you can see from the "blooper reel" below, it just didn't work out. Sigh.

Wish You Were Here

Well, after a crazy couple of weeks, included a last-minute work trip to Canada for me, we're off for a week's vacation! The house sitter is booked, and the puggies...well, the boys are off for a week at "camp." Sure, it's the same daycare they usually go to, but they like to think they'll be eating s'mores (carob, of course) and making macaroni art, so who am I to spoil their fun.

Have a lovely week, everyone! Many more puggie adventures when we return.

Pugs in the Park

This weekend, we got the weather we've been dreaming of all winter--mid seventies and not a cloud in the sky. Barkley and Augie were very excited to go to the park, and even more excited to see everyone out and about!

Barky Bark and the Puggy Bunch

While I was home from work with a migraine, the puggies stayed home from school to look after me. By the time I was up and about, it was mid-afternoon, and I soon realized I'd missed out on a really beautiful day.

When the boys finally got to go outside, they let the whole neighborhood know about it. Augie ran to the fence and started yelling for Rita. She was outside too, and stopped by to say hello, but it wasn't enough for Augie. He stayed by the fence pestering her (and her person) for about ten minutes.

Meanwhile, Barkley decided that the kids playing baseball in the park behind our house had it too easy. He woof-ed and woof-ed for them to toss him a baseball until he realized that if we went back inside, he could probably get a doggie cookie.

Ah, the sound of pug barks in the springtime...