tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33558701311642582182024-02-21T18:52:40.011-08:00A Puggle in ParadiseThe life and times of raising a puggle in Westwood ParadiseBarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-14821514617425673872012-02-27T15:42:00.000-08:002012-02-27T15:42:10.234-08:00Dog Park Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqaDwmW3CH-irA37aCB9H2qlCEm0A-jb5Dmb26JUms3xHqZYd7cpuJV6Xz3QfJJRDaf3JZ0uiOct9DMpSzGX9Ih9Bzv-5WVjv8skGfIDWh-JICIl0WZDtbLxXN1dWiBQoTfk1IayIhMk/s1600/IMAG0807-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqaDwmW3CH-irA37aCB9H2qlCEm0A-jb5Dmb26JUms3xHqZYd7cpuJV6Xz3QfJJRDaf3JZ0uiOct9DMpSzGX9Ih9Bzv-5WVjv8skGfIDWh-JICIl0WZDtbLxXN1dWiBQoTfk1IayIhMk/s320/IMAG0807-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've had Oates now for just over 3 years. In that time, he's managed to escape to freedom no more than 5 times. He's tried to escape more than a million times... he's a runner, he's a sniffer, and the two mixed together are probably the reason he was found roaming the streets in the first place. <br />
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We have an urban dog park about 2 miles from our house and in the 3 years I've had Oates, we've never been! I'm always been afraid that he would somehow find a way out (even though it's completely fenced on all sides), or he'd play too hard with another dog and get in trouble. Most of all, I was worried because even after 3 years, I can't get the little guy to come to me when I call him outside. Inside - yes. Outside - different story!<br />
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A few weeks ago, I finally bit the bullet. Mommy and Daddy took Oates to the dog park. Luckily, they have two separate areas, and one is for dogs under 35 pounds. This was perfect for Oates. I could see him from anywhere, and if he acted up, I could just go up and grab him. I even worked with him on coming when he's called, and he did it!! <br />
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I don't know why I waited so long. He loved it, and I loved giving him time to run around and play with other dogs. I went again this past weekend and there were several pugs and even another puggle! I'll be going back many-a-time as the weather gets nice. (Can you spot Oates? He's on the left in the brown harness.)Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-9446112056334144672012-02-05T16:11:00.000-08:002012-02-05T16:11:37.901-08:00Birthday Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD39uYHLpyFZeWKiSs3t8vDBof6Sb9DveOYNY8nGj47OdHL0HHbIsKCkDyqLatX4B_TE5sXGeVZs78FWFBNoaCNb73O2JGrBH6iTOzRRy5P1chGyJ86uzBU_BHWLYKRydfdwlHgmfYH4w/s1600/DSCN5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD39uYHLpyFZeWKiSs3t8vDBof6Sb9DveOYNY8nGj47OdHL0HHbIsKCkDyqLatX4B_TE5sXGeVZs78FWFBNoaCNb73O2JGrBH6iTOzRRy5P1chGyJ86uzBU_BHWLYKRydfdwlHgmfYH4w/s320/DSCN5924.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Happy 4th Birthday to Oates!</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-169508985109782312011-08-02T11:30:00.000-07:002011-08-02T11:30:34.429-07:00<a href="http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/125687/voteable_entries/26959054">VOTE FOR OATES</a><br />
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Oates wants to go to Ft. Lauderdale with mommy and daddy and be in a commerical for 1800PetMeds! Help him win by <a href="http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/125687/voteable_entries/26959054">voting</a> for him once a day! It will make him very happy in this hot hot weather.<br />
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<img closure_uid_kjr5j8="283" height="400" pageoffsetid="_off_0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoWjAxKy5204DLkxV_n9Ba1Wf6jp2uB5WsESqqtE-0WMObFrH4DLORvSzn3XH9ktSLuP0joac2ePqwGY6SH3p-S3TeFxR0seDfENKWF4uDMqgBRgjQkwdWDD8TKi_8SasKC4gYSTDPvg/s400/IMAG0039.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; height: 640px; left: 535px; top: 9px; width: 383px;" width="239" />Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-32605816984032654552010-07-26T14:02:00.000-07:002010-07-26T14:02:01.171-07:00A Heavy Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3ZOftX-Ipjuba5kZRR5d6aw7s7ugMlDqha2eAbtkFDOr9mfdzWE8CFvFVUobbnkbgVlIi0KqbEExkd7EAyMiGIi8aaWSxU6VAzmeAUXoFCVwjlfnK_rF4AZuAW4kf3gRKZ2mbl-UCDU/s1600/sad+oates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3ZOftX-Ipjuba5kZRR5d6aw7s7ugMlDqha2eAbtkFDOr9mfdzWE8CFvFVUobbnkbgVlIi0KqbEExkd7EAyMiGIi8aaWSxU6VAzmeAUXoFCVwjlfnK_rF4AZuAW4kf3gRKZ2mbl-UCDU/s320/sad+oates.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>Oates and I are very sad this week. It's with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of not one, but two of our very close doggie pals. We have had to sadly say goodbye to Colby the Lab and Chester the Boxer.<br />
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<a href="http://puggleinparadise.blogspot.com/2009/08/oates-n-friends.html#links">Remember when we got to have Colby for the weekend?</a> Colby was about the same age as Oates and as you can imagine, we are pretty heartbroken by it. He was taken from us too soon, and was always a good loyal dog to his mom, <a href="http://web.me.com/shannonbix/Storybook_Photography/My_Blog/My_Blog.html">Shannon</a>.<br />
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Chester faced a battle with lymphoma and hard as he fought, did not win. He was a lover, and a slobberer and his mom and dad even taught him how to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRCxHkuCKyE">fetch a beer from the fridge</a>. I hope there is beer in heaven for him to fetch! What a good boy...<br />
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When things like this happen to your friends, you see and feel the heartbreak. I cannot imagine a life without my little Oatesy... We all fall in love with our pets, and they are family to us. Oates and me send out our best to Colby and Chester's families. We are there for you when you need us! You can get through this, and your loveable pups will always be loved and missed.Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-54339925826630687932010-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:002010-07-08T19:57:50.936-07:00Movin on Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ5lKuqmritWl71S8QTzf5_qGJ0SfbcFuIBhCf_u7DhsQzIP8n25P4amLnF0ZOgiwoAlES3WchyNP06UTAVaI7Etesmu_BzO51LyiTY9uxtMxUyJSO5Awyp5TMyUQOPagAzKtJbZb2Ek/s1600/100_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ5lKuqmritWl71S8QTzf5_qGJ0SfbcFuIBhCf_u7DhsQzIP8n25P4amLnF0ZOgiwoAlES3WchyNP06UTAVaI7Etesmu_BzO51LyiTY9uxtMxUyJSO5Awyp5TMyUQOPagAzKtJbZb2Ek/s320/100_1083.JPG" /></a></div>This puggle no longer lives in Westwood Paradise.<br />
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Sad. I know.<br />
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When Oates heard we had to move, he was pretty angry at us. The house he grew up in. The house he loved to try to escape from. The house he called home.<br />
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And when we moved in to the new place? He was as shaken as I was. It's no fun.<br />
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Seriously mom... where are the wood floors and the upstairs that I can sneak up!? You actually think I can live here?? What about your blog?? You'll have to change the subtitle!<br />
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Mom and Dad kinda felt the same, but things are working out. Yeah, we don't have wood floors, but Oates has a great new backyard with a deck so we can hang outside with him now. And yes... I will have to change my subtitle... but what's in a name? Oates will always be the Puggle in Paradise, now matter what neighborhood it is. <br />
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Tonight, Oates and I went on our first adventure into the neighborhood and it was great. Yeah, there is no park at the end of the street now, but there are plenty of dogs around and all the streets have sidewalks! Tonight we met a black lab, and what looked like a red puggle. They were friendly and cute. Then we met another dog on our own street that was a chow boxer mix... which made me realize that the red puggle looking dog from before was probably a chow boxer too. Very cute - very puggle looking.<br />
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Are chow boxers common? Is that weird to see two within a block and 5 minutes of each other?<br />
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We had a fun walk, and our neighborhood now lets us walk past lots of shops and restaurants for some fun new socialization. There's lots more flowers around here too it seems. (Very paradismic!) It's crazy the difference a mile can make.<br />
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We will miss the old place, but we're settling in just fine. And after plenty of elbow grease and some new paint, we'll be good to go, and Oates will be making this face in no time! Paradise has found a new home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4N4AEoIjFf5mUhGrNVS-f4Nl8WxPISh3bGnRQ_mhYwBJqamd1LsnVKgihSEM3O4hqBP3gArlveqi7YKS5qgu4wAEoaHjDXaaacfLg_xBmULsrFhMfyk77TkjoJSA4oEOW3A8BJPdYbI/s1600/100_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4N4AEoIjFf5mUhGrNVS-f4Nl8WxPISh3bGnRQ_mhYwBJqamd1LsnVKgihSEM3O4hqBP3gArlveqi7YKS5qgu4wAEoaHjDXaaacfLg_xBmULsrFhMfyk77TkjoJSA4oEOW3A8BJPdYbI/s320/100_1084.JPG" /></a></div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-63512085424514145072010-04-05T15:28:00.000-07:002010-04-05T15:28:20.862-07:00Puggles and Geocaching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRP0PYlOVcsNjvJZUA5HnrikeaZjYvYG_Jjec1-4q4XhPSHzBKsyi2HRJFIgVbdcG_tDGKhBaehi2tcE3HUKmaXHPgNgs3d_kxE33Y2OxRO1o8G5hICLyPOyVo00d6NdiIBAr8QQZ9iE/s1600/DSCF8760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRP0PYlOVcsNjvJZUA5HnrikeaZjYvYG_Jjec1-4q4XhPSHzBKsyi2HRJFIgVbdcG_tDGKhBaehi2tcE3HUKmaXHPgNgs3d_kxE33Y2OxRO1o8G5hICLyPOyVo00d6NdiIBAr8QQZ9iE/s320/DSCF8760.jpg" /></a></div>It was a beautiful Spring Saturday this weekend, and my boyfriend and I decided to try out this Geocaching thing that seems to be all the rage! A perfect day for a long walk in the sunshine, and a great opportunity to wear out a rambunctious puggle.<br />
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We had a rough start trying to calibrate our <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/product/hero/overview.html">Google Hero</a> phones to be the perfect GPS location devices. After unsuccessfully trying to make Oates sit with his leash on in a park full of dogs across from where we live, we headed up to a local coffee house for less doggie interference, some iced coffees and geocaching tutorials.<br />
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Being the tech genius he is, David figured it all out and we were headed off on our adventure. Our first stop, we were total rookies. We looked around so much we got the attention of the homeowner (a big geocaching no-no), and then still couldn't find the cache after he directed us right where to look! Soon a group of neighbor dogs decided to bark at Oates and he went a little berserk about it. He doesn't really bark back, it's more of a loud whine and extreme pulling. Trying to make an exit, we scuffled down the sidewalk and managed to rustle up the neighborhood even more when 3 more dogs peered over a tall retaining wall and began barking. Goodbye cache... Maybe we'll come back for you without the dog in tow.<br />
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Things got more calm after that. We ran into a few people on our journey but not many. Oates did his best to heel (which he never does a good job of), but his geocaching skills seemed a little subpar for an animal that follows this nose everywhere! Maybe if there were treats in some of those caches, he'd be more inclined to help us find them... <br />
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We had a successful day finding 5 caches around our neighborhood. I guess not too bad for our first try. Oates was happy to make it home, lap up some water and curl up on the couch for a well deserved nap! Mission - successful!Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-61415602135495985792010-04-02T15:14:00.000-07:002010-04-05T15:27:55.020-07:00For the Sake of Research<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACRVXYJ4o1ZIGgXuffYN07go8SxU5d_TFeEB71SsBSkHVZb4rDcV3pnVrNnOZVcyU8WJdKsFgw_6Yeo1rrWZuxEiapPKCZ1HmaezyeQUaq0olH84De8jKL7nB6F3Kd0SbAJsy57zh1yc/s1600/DSCF8753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACRVXYJ4o1ZIGgXuffYN07go8SxU5d_TFeEB71SsBSkHVZb4rDcV3pnVrNnOZVcyU8WJdKsFgw_6Yeo1rrWZuxEiapPKCZ1HmaezyeQUaq0olH84De8jKL7nB6F3Kd0SbAJsy57zh1yc/s320/DSCF8753.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is my neighbor, Anthony, age 12. We had a fun evening with Oates a few days ago to help Anthony with a science experiment. We talked about hypotheses... and helped him set up everything with timers and toys.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The test was about dogs, and the types of toys they choose. He had a variety of toys in 3 categories to set up. Some were play alone, some were interactive and some were especially textural. The test was to give the dog 2 minutes to seek out the toy of its choosing from a basket, and log which toy got the most playtime the most amount of times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After three 2 minute rounds for each of 3 sets of toys, Oates decided he liked a stuffed squirrel, a stick and bright yellow stuffed bunny most! It was really fun watching him be overwhelmed by the selection, sniffing and biting to find just the right thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did somewhat of a tie-breaker with the favorites, and I wasn't surprised to find out that Oates' absolute favorite was the stuffed squirrel. He just kept going back to it. There is something he loves about stuffed animals that squeak! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How adorable... both human and doggie! Anthony has a toy poodle named Belle. Her favorite was the red ball. Typical. :)</span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-57016548685014017042010-03-12T11:14:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:14:28.750-08:00Put a Puggle to WorkEver thought of having a business that involved your precious puggle? (Or other breed I suppose...) <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/garden/11bedbug.html?pagewanted=1&ref=garden">Here</a> is an article about a bedbug sniffing puggle. I warn you, there is a gross part about feeding the bedbugs... but the second half of it talks about how Cruiser the puggle works to help people with infestations. Go Cruiser!<br />
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I'd love to have a job where I get up and go to work with Oates everyday, but I don't know if i could feed bedbugs to do it. My boyfriend had a bedbug bite once - it was not fun for him.Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-82234896582368069592010-03-11T08:50:00.000-08:002010-03-11T08:50:36.180-08:00A Talk on Puppy Training<object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/IanDunbar_2007P-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/IanDunbar-2007P.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=328&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=ian_dunbar_on_dog_friendly_dog_training;year=2007;theme=how_we_learn;theme=animals_that_amaze;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;event=EG+2007;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/IanDunbar_2007P-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/IanDunbar-2007P.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=328&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=ian_dunbar_on_dog_friendly_dog_training;year=2007;theme=how_we_learn;theme=animals_that_amaze;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;event=EG+2007;"></embed></object><br />
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I just found this this talk from a TED conference on the Friday Puppy <a href="http://www.fridaypuppy.com/?p=4522">blog</a> i follow. Well worth a listen for all us dog people out there. I've always meant to check out these TED conference videos and info. <br />
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As a side note, if you dig the <a href="http://www.coalesse.com/products/293/8/Lounge%7CLobby/Sidewalk_Lounge%7CMobile">furniture</a> on the stage, it's the stuff that i get to space plan with a lot, and that chair is one of my favorites called "sidewalk." I work for a Steelcase furniture dealership. Steelcase provides all of the furniture for TED conferences. Pretty cool!Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-67857122263303949112010-03-05T07:10:00.000-08:002010-03-05T07:13:34.668-08:00Friday PuppyI read a fun blog called <a href="http://www.fridaypuppy.com/?p=4421">Friday Puppy</a> and decided to enter Oates' picture this week. He made the cut! So please go give him your heartfelt votes. His fragile little ego could be damaged otherwise. You know he's just a shy little puggle, so modest...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LLVLtY3iyi1NZ6SZDWIXXRC2G4GPRi7M-kh5ZZB5r7KSa5Q_tZyN8mR4lTaDw2fXsRLUxxUC8lMSbBKr3SAVJzRSY_-HA_e7k-1u7rRdh0-MG6sBBCFKd8_q8NijdD9_VmeF9sDATfo/s1600-h/oatessleepy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LLVLtY3iyi1NZ6SZDWIXXRC2G4GPRi7M-kh5ZZB5r7KSa5Q_tZyN8mR4lTaDw2fXsRLUxxUC8lMSbBKr3SAVJzRSY_-HA_e7k-1u7rRdh0-MG6sBBCFKd8_q8NijdD9_VmeF9sDATfo/s320/oatessleepy.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click <a href="http://www.fridaypuppy.com/?p=4421">here</a> to check out the blog post and and vote for Oates from the poll that is listed on the right! Oates thanks you.</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-15679052563489896972010-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:002010-02-22T10:30:07.554-08:00Pets on Furniture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/storage/pets-on-furniture/0222monachair.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1266718544111" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/storage/pets-on-furniture/0222monachair.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1266718544111" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This isn't my precious puggle, but I happened to come across her cute little face on a blog I follow called <a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/2/22/mondays-pets-on-furniture-part-1.html">designtoinspire</a> . They do a Monday feature called "pets on furniture" that is usually pretty adorable, and some great design pieces in there too! It's a great break from the typical Monday dull-drums. Check it out and enjoy!</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-67918822067977300402010-02-05T16:24:00.000-08:002010-02-05T16:25:13.140-08:00One Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-On1r5pDR25xrbBA5rCK5Q7F63ZfmwACGBaaCC29WJn8d8f-ZuTlkrHAW_e02w63RVAwX76WYdp0SgtF4FodZkK4dedr4kOG_d1Pk3r_d8i2KlF2NGawQArQe9ZcHRLPOxmX3N-LHIGA/s1600-h/DSCF8334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-On1r5pDR25xrbBA5rCK5Q7F63ZfmwACGBaaCC29WJn8d8f-ZuTlkrHAW_e02w63RVAwX76WYdp0SgtF4FodZkK4dedr4kOG_d1Pk3r_d8i2KlF2NGawQArQe9ZcHRLPOxmX3N-LHIGA/s320/DSCF8334.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz9FzWFrlYymUmOhmfLUwA2sVxBtBF0aAdDzKc0C00obLjhi69wMS7rre1MD2t3L451fJuRk0-AJo7WhO6OfEm0_P2zWlrdFQ66wl5_0e9lZi4Ovz2FR4eZGoFsOP8hvYQuaXHn0DbX8/s1600-h/DSCF8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz9FzWFrlYymUmOhmfLUwA2sVxBtBF0aAdDzKc0C00obLjhi69wMS7rre1MD2t3L451fJuRk0-AJo7WhO6OfEm0_P2zWlrdFQ66wl5_0e9lZi4Ovz2FR4eZGoFsOP8hvYQuaXHn0DbX8/s320/DSCF8335.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One year ago today, was the day we brought home our darling little puggle! Back then, they called him Marvin... This is how Oates came to be mine...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a cold February as I sat at my computer researching dogs. I'd do this often wondering what kind to get, where I'd get it from and what it'd be like to finally have a dog of my own. Growing up I had newfoundlands, and they were outside dogs. Too big for my small humble home, and I wanted an indoor dog.</span><br />
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I thought about yorkies, I thought about pugs, I thought about long haired chihuahuas, but some way or another I stumbled upon puggles. A dream come true! I have always said I wanted a dog that looked like a puppy forever, and I felt like a puggle was pretty much the closest thing too it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I started researching and watching petfinder for puggles. I also really wanted to save one from a shelter, but i worried about finding that "perfect" one. One day at work, I got a random email from a friend saying that she knew someone who knew someone who knew someone that found a puggle without a collar roaming the streets. They had found a foster home for him, but the person keeping him could no longer handle him in his small apartment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I immediately emailed the guy to get a picture, and when he sent it moments later, I was smitten. He only lived a few blocks away from me, so I made plans to go over and look at "Marvin" that night after work. I had no idea I'd be a dog owner in a few short hours. I had planned to wait until spring when the weather was warmer, but fate happens, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When my boyfriend and I get there, the door opens and Marvin greets us with a happy jump and a lick. He was excited, but no over the top. Shortly after we came in, he calmly laid down on the floor. I was amazed at how fast he just chilled out with us there. After a few questions, I politely asked Marvin if he wanted to come home with us... He promptly tilted his head and wagged his tail in typical puggle fashion. I was immediately sold. "Can we take him now then??" I asked. And we did.<br />
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No kennel, no dog food, no leash, no nothing - and I was a dog owner, just like that! One year later, I couldn't be happier! Of course we changed his name to Oates, being that he had to have a much smoother name to be a resident of Paradise... and he loves it here. And we love him too! Life wouldn't be the same without him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As an anniversary gift, I got him his first coat for outside playtime in winter. He managed to break it in with a good sniff into the snow, and even a good roll!</span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-19903103239750499662010-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:002010-01-13T12:15:37.689-08:00How Cute is Your Puggle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOoaHYVnzWOG9S-0Bu6kBqw_i1JZp0z9MecMUm_U6irNN5wtUol2cdkfxcEUOwEAqkk3l7oZykgdvQmF2GRu7zc8SgeID0MaCq3_z34K3yktmUJLLso9w-e1lPCjTivC1-18169g8KWM/s1600-h/DSCF4022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOoaHYVnzWOG9S-0Bu6kBqw_i1JZp0z9MecMUm_U6irNN5wtUol2cdkfxcEUOwEAqkk3l7oZykgdvQmF2GRu7zc8SgeID0MaCq3_z34K3yktmUJLLso9w-e1lPCjTivC1-18169g8KWM/s320/DSCF4022.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been almost a year that Oates has been a part of the family. He's been there in good times and bad. He's been good, and he's been bad, but we love him all the same. Shortly after I got him I entered a <i><a href="http://www.snapfish.com/">Snapfish</a> </i>pet photo contest and my photo of Oates won honorable mention out of hundreds of entries!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We really wanted to win the home stereo system and blu ray player... well... I wanted the stereo system... Oates really didn't care. But honorable mention was awesome out of so many entries! And I happened to win a blu ray player at my boyfriend's company party this year anyway, score! <br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What a handsome little puggle... </span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-19117743208436192482010-01-11T18:44:00.000-08:002010-01-11T18:44:04.138-08:00Doggie Bed Triumph<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxnCBZK6eaDcfvbNgeqTxuKp-WvDlsqNOWrgDheCbfeGEWqIt6TuTmxAq8WA-O-GCDUlK2TPFeCFvs9NtTr3mCpf3BhbmoUdxlQrtOR3bPpZjklgLIhGc9PUfTTDYltprVcpRBF_XebA/s1600-h/DSCF8042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxnCBZK6eaDcfvbNgeqTxuKp-WvDlsqNOWrgDheCbfeGEWqIt6TuTmxAq8WA-O-GCDUlK2TPFeCFvs9NtTr3mCpf3BhbmoUdxlQrtOR3bPpZjklgLIhGc9PUfTTDYltprVcpRBF_XebA/s320/DSCF8042.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I think this is something like round 4 or 5 with the deal of a dog bed. At $5.99, I told myself that I wouldn't care all that much if it got chewed up, but then I changed my mind because hey, that's 6 bucks! Might as well save however I can, right? So I decided the dog bed would be a new addition to my junk room, which I have been slowly but surely turning into a home office. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've got things set up enough that I can comfortably work on my laptop and other things, and Oates definitely needed a place to chill out in here with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So i laid a small rug down, and then put the doggie bed on it. He has been introduced to it a few times in here, had a treat in it, and sat in it. One day I left the door open and he appeared in the livingroom with it in his mouth, bad dog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So tonight I decided to work in the office some, and he needed to come with me. I gave him a treat, and then slowly but surely, the miracle happened. He decided it was a cozy place to sleep! He may be a little big for it, but he looks pretty comfortable to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Goes to show you that patience will pay off. He also has been going potty outside like a good boy, but it's also no longer zero degrees or negative out there... </span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-89833620902741416882010-01-07T13:56:00.000-08:002010-01-07T13:56:36.760-08:00No Mas Poo Poo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwOOp0G0qVfUJKvD8gYxDYavysZiBRmvL9gw5sDz9OKsKjbGkSzdQ9jn0Qb98Nv92RUHGiG0NrLbSo-am_GRuhoA-KirgWS5mrH4epXzj9QQq8xBiFewQXfmw0rmOalwY4n08icmvKH4/s1600-h/DSCF8013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwOOp0G0qVfUJKvD8gYxDYavysZiBRmvL9gw5sDz9OKsKjbGkSzdQ9jn0Qb98Nv92RUHGiG0NrLbSo-am_GRuhoA-KirgWS5mrH4epXzj9QQq8xBiFewQXfmw0rmOalwY4n08icmvKH4/s320/DSCF8013.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Snow, snow, snow, and more snow. Cold, cold, cold, and more cold! I say, no more!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think woudl Oates agree with me that a few inches of the powdery white can be fun in winter. I'm sure it's fun to frolic in the snow and sniff after bunny tracks in the backyard, but what happens when the depth of the snow becomes greater than the height of your puggle?<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No more poo poo. That's what.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can I blame him? I suppose not. Is it a problem? It sure is turning into one! Not only are we contending with all this snow, it's also subzero. Single digits and negatives are not good for little puggle paws, and we can't manage to stay outside long enough to get the full tour of duty done on a single trip. This photo is of Oates begging to let me back inside at the gate after only going number one. I told him not until you number two! <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, my heart is not at cold as this weather, and I just can't leave him out there for long. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few days ago I discovered something horrifying. Secret Poop Land. At some point, not under my watch, he has jumped the baby gate at the stairway and decided that our entire upstairs is his pooping palace! "Why go out in that cold snow when I can stay warm and go up here?" he must be thinking. Can I blame him? Of course not. Is it a problem? Of course it is!<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm not sure I'll figure out a resolution to this problem until we start to thaw out. It's going to be awhile so says the weatherman, so I better just prepare to poop scoop my house when it's all said and done. Gross!</span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-38249641656560857782009-12-31T13:25:00.000-08:002009-12-31T13:26:07.105-08:00Christmas Naps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvCyoKA5358fUM5SBrPYGAHF-FiJXVPoWVsKGXkPkMJlL7dbrf_F5X5NiYqQ87YzEiTQhvMapQCOSi7HpqD7-L0b-saNzGtB42hJRJ8MS0MPLRlymc0LD7R4s9FafkHHqtkugCLwCa70/s1600-h/DSCF7815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvCyoKA5358fUM5SBrPYGAHF-FiJXVPoWVsKGXkPkMJlL7dbrf_F5X5NiYqQ87YzEiTQhvMapQCOSi7HpqD7-L0b-saNzGtB42hJRJ8MS0MPLRlymc0LD7R4s9FafkHHqtkugCLwCa70/s320/DSCF7815.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a successful Christmas back home for Oates' first Christmas with me! There was a lot of exploring at my mom's house, sniffing here, there and everywhere. There sure is a lot more stuff to get into at grandma's! Luckily, we made it out with nothing destroyed, and also with a very exhausted puggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 8-12 inches of snow made for interesting trips outside to potty, and a few moments of getting stuck in a tall snow drift, but we all made it home safely, and had a great holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now Oates gets to have a few days with his pal Snickers, the dachsund corgie mix while mommy and daddy head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for New Years! (If we can ever get out of here!). Here's to a wonderful 2010! *Cheers! <br />
</span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-10459049767421587362009-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:002009-12-14T12:47:25.637-08:00Snuggle for a Puggle<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jQsNmdIvLKZe6K4megyVxbl7oHNTuDncDF1DKUTem8kVqpsTiTDEeGVeGLgbERyL6aR-0TkzekSfcw-DMur4eabUk3Pd7JbIR7ld71bX6PvqKSLiZ1pRbqL2XojOyNyUoMYIivwjfy4/s1600-h/DSCF7705a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jQsNmdIvLKZe6K4megyVxbl7oHNTuDncDF1DKUTem8kVqpsTiTDEeGVeGLgbERyL6aR-0TkzekSfcw-DMur4eabUk3Pd7JbIR7ld71bX6PvqKSLiZ1pRbqL2XojOyNyUoMYIivwjfy4/s320/DSCF7705a.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The snow has begun to fal li paradise, and Oates officially took his first trip out into the wintery backyard last week.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This being his second winter, there was a certain puggle curiosity about the snow, but it didn't take long for him to remember what it's like to romp and run through the mounds of white! He let me put on his sweater without trying to eat it first, and he ran circles through the yard at full speed.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It usually takes him awhile to find 'his spot' when it's cold and snowy, so when we finally came inside, he was practically a puggle popsicle! I decided it was time to pull out the new fleece doggie bed. I found it at the hardware store for only $5.99! I thought it was a great deal to try it out.<br />
Being only a few bucks, it's not the best bed in the world, but since there is a pretty good chance Oates might decide it's a plush toy and destroy it, then, no harm, no foul really. It wouldn't be too big of loss (unlike some of the <a href="http://puggleinparadise.blogspot.com/2009/08/itsybitsy-massacre.html">other items</a> that have perished, now including some tools, more shoes, a few irreplaceable christmas ornaments and two strands of Christmas lights - not plugged in thank god.)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Round One: Puggle grabs bed, growls and runs around tripping over it and thrashing it around. -- Mom has to put it back into hiding for another time.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Round Two: Gentle interest at first, followed by more grabbing, biting and thrashing.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Round Three: Puggle is fast asleep. Mom sneaks new bed out of hiding and gently places sleeping puggle in it, treat in hand for possible good behavior.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This actually worked... for about 10 minutes. Once he woke up and realized the gold mine of fun he was sleeping in, he went back into attack mode. So for now, the cute doggie bed will be put away again until the cute doggie can be trusted and trained, just like everything else!</span><br />
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-58001770651167329542009-11-30T15:14:00.000-08:002009-11-30T15:16:45.041-08:00When A Puggle Goes Rogue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdkUjQm4JGSKcEtcLx8nNp7Au8cYfDztorg3QddaZjKld6kE1V7ERjHx_RUTNO66ERmwMHL5QlAyO87pZSOnr1Rx0hHRbczaXdBtS8cQS8DjR_atu1ON-AvI6Cn9h0OeTcI4EZ6mMkgc/s1600/DSCF7500a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdkUjQm4JGSKcEtcLx8nNp7Au8cYfDztorg3QddaZjKld6kE1V7ERjHx_RUTNO66ERmwMHL5QlAyO87pZSOnr1Rx0hHRbczaXdBtS8cQS8DjR_atu1ON-AvI6Cn9h0OeTcI4EZ6mMkgc/s320/DSCF7500a.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ever have those late Friday nights out on the town when you can't necessarily give your 4-legged friend the utmost attention he/she may need after work before you go out? Yeah, me too, and here is what can happen....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are those days that all Oates gets is a quick backyard bathroom break, hug and kiss, dinner, and then swiftly gets ushered back to his house for the night. It happens. That's life.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">These nights usually end up in me getting home past 1am or later, quickly letting him out one more time, and then quickly falling asleep on the couch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oates is a lucky puggle and gets to sleep with me. Rarely does he have to sleep in his kennel, but perhaps on nights like these, he should. As I fall asleep on the couch, he's got other plans in mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is his chance. Ultimate freedom he thinks. Mom and Dad will never wake up, no matter what i do! His mind must be racing as he pretends to fall sleep, sweetly curled up next to me. Little do I know that he is scheming his inevitable destruction of something valuable in the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Did I learn when I woke up and found my laptop cord chewed up? Did I learn when I woke up to the dvd remote destroyed? Did I learn when he tore off a corner of the couch cushion and decided to de-fuzz it like one of his plush toys? Apparently not... This time, it got personal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Of all things... my cute little puggle in paradise destroyed our palm tree, Walter. As you can see, he chewed the roots clean, and as you can't necessarily see, there was absolutely not a lick of dirt left in the pot. Yes, he got every last bit of dirt out onto the floor, under and in the chair and heaped up next to the stairway. Knocking over the magazine basket was just a bonus, I'm sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was lucky to be able to salvage my 2009 Ikea catalog out of the rubble, but my last issue of Dwell was not so lucky. Doused in wet mud/dirt, it went straight to the recycling bin. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another obviously causality was our Majesty Palm. It was so big and grand before... now all that remains is a single palm. Lonely. Beaten. Traumatized. Surprisingly enough, it has not yet died, and has a few new palm sprigs coming up... but only time will tell if it can survive until spring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next time? Oates gets to stay in his house all night. He just can't be trusted.</span><br />
</span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-28561108364282483452009-11-08T17:36:00.000-08:002009-11-20T07:20:39.432-08:00Sweater Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMamY5BzQPOojfVEAz4LFQJdC-JPxtcXx8zqW7MayeEuqBs4JDVmTwiG5fTvq7NodXAIE16Y52-qY5AMC1Sw2KbrmHuIPxwM6MLDq9JKW83BSIQua4bESlDDGgi2eQU67eJ9GPKBX64/s1600-h/DSCF7083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMamY5BzQPOojfVEAz4LFQJdC-JPxtcXx8zqW7MayeEuqBs4JDVmTwiG5fTvq7NodXAIE16Y52-qY5AMC1Sw2KbrmHuIPxwM6MLDq9JKW83BSIQua4bESlDDGgi2eQU67eJ9GPKBX64/s320/DSCF7083.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>"What's Monica's biggest pet peeve?"<br />
"ANIMALS DRESSED AS HUMANS!"<br />
<br />
It was only $5.00. It matched his fur. It was cute.<br />
<br />
I bought my dog a sweater. I really didn't think I'd ever be that person, but I brought it home, and called Oates to the kitchen. He gave his new clothes a sniff, and was a little reluctant as I pulled it over his little head. Once I was pulled his legs through, he seemed to be ok with it. He was so cute! He strutted around the kitchen with a new gait and then hopped up onto his usual spot to look out the window, secretly showing off his new outfit to the world. Later he curled up on the couch all warm and toasty. <br />
<br />
He kept it on all day, loved it. He even did just fine going potty, making sure not get any on his new favorite sweater. I'm not sure what I've started... But if Oates likes to wear clothes, then I want to make him happy!Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-34708320144836882382009-08-31T18:05:00.000-07:002009-08-31T18:36:01.177-07:00Oates 'n Friends<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Oates has had a few summer sleep-overs lately, a must for any young doggie I'd say. Colby the yellow lab, and our neighbor Belle the toy poodle have come over to stay recently.<br /><br />It could not have been more night and day between the two...<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS7OE6FjqMHSG0Z-rAXu5qCeALiwTPT5vgNUBrPvhxYdskngOjR-MhyphenhyphenC7iGaGWuisyaiq1AURA8DzLUaEjV_tAR4DYRozSjaLjNBNQTl9vUduAHFYiScJs-c0nq_IvlTCkQksHvfkrJQ/s1600-h/DSCF6225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS7OE6FjqMHSG0Z-rAXu5qCeALiwTPT5vgNUBrPvhxYdskngOjR-MhyphenhyphenC7iGaGWuisyaiq1AURA8DzLUaEjV_tAR4DYRozSjaLjNBNQTl9vUduAHFYiScJs-c0nq_IvlTCkQksHvfkrJQ/s320/DSCF6225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376299911819204322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Weekend one: Colby the Lab. He's just about Oates' age, and despite the massive (nearly 100 pound) difference in size, these two got a long like ice cream and cake! They'd play chase and keep each other company in the backyard, and Colby was totally ok with it when Oates continually lunged for his neck. It was doggie brethren bliss... like brothers from another mother.<br /><br />If given the chance, I could see these two getting into some serious doggie mischief together.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ELkGpJxiB9LWxe4zUrGYETI26w-5kz192qIU89Blpckai8b3qOZPQuUIdSbp6GPNxTG53-TEhTSW5T_PrQjqErcr0-nnJZQk09l8OSsG4geUC3v6h443IfbNkUVE-tu3nB12oXI9Ob8/s1600-h/DSCF6322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ELkGpJxiB9LWxe4zUrGYETI26w-5kz192qIU89Blpckai8b3qOZPQuUIdSbp6GPNxTG53-TEhTSW5T_PrQjqErcr0-nnJZQk09l8OSsG4geUC3v6h443IfbNkUVE-tu3nB12oXI9Ob8/s320/DSCF6322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376303144595819042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Weekend Two: Belle, the Toy Poodle. Oates already knows Belle from living across the street. She's small and cute, and doesn't really like to play like Oates likes to play... She doesn't go for neck biting and wrestling. She prefers perching on the couch next to a human and generally being dainty.<br /><br />As I type this, Oates is laying next to me gnawing the crap out of his paws for fun... this is the type of crude behavior that Belle does not participate in.<br /><br />When Oates would try to play, Belle would take cover behind me on the couch. When Oates would try to lay down next to her, she's yap at him until he got farther away. We eventually found a happy medium between the two, but Oates is definitely no prince to the princess.<br /><br />All in all, there were good times, and there were bad times... but the doggie comradery was there. An important part of any dog's life - visiting other dogs.<br /><br />It has made me think though, how much of a handful is my little Oates to dog-sit? The mere fact that he enjoys running away would be enough to deter any potential dog-sitter I'd say. Runner or not, I love the little guy.<br /></span></span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-5687102282972255202009-08-05T07:22:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:07:51.887-07:00Itsybitsy Massacre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3DXN_nKH-r5fRkiUNLEdPnj2ugXH8Ceuw-EcV_Pa3xmCGAnWX5RGEwYJb-CuXax4pKUkkPOt-vQL5BIp12vK_Xofvzt-ks8S6TAqFrX3oAC4AWo3t-jhkuf63xkzRJCLXIVf3inGHlo/s1600-h/DSCF6267.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3DXN_nKH-r5fRkiUNLEdPnj2ugXH8Ceuw-EcV_Pa3xmCGAnWX5RGEwYJb-CuXax4pKUkkPOt-vQL5BIp12vK_Xofvzt-ks8S6TAqFrX3oAC4AWo3t-jhkuf63xkzRJCLXIVf3inGHlo/s320/DSCF6267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366525578031962882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">You think that after having a dog for 6 months (and today is actually the 6 month anniversary of getting my cute little hellion), that you'd learn that certain things have to be picked up and away from a puggle's grasp...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm learning this the hard way. From memory, Oates has destroyed:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">DVD remote control<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">1 pair of old navy flip flops<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Corner of a couch pillow<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">A puppy crate<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">One of David's hats<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">A Makeup Brush<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">A Hair brush<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Banana Boat tanning lotion bottle<br />No less than 6 sets of window blinds<br />My cell phone<br /><br />For the most part... these things are replaceable, and/or not of much value (except the hat - i know David misses it), but recently, Oates has taken his seek and destroy scheme to far!<br /><br />Maybe you've been to <a href="http://www.itsybitsycute.com/">my website</a> before, and if so, you're aware that in my spare time, I sculpt miniature figurines. I keep these precious and fragile cuties in a small wooden latch box. It's not unusual for someone to ask to see them, so the box is typically in various 'out of the way' places that would seem safe from a little puggle.<br /><br />Wrong.<br /><br />Kitchen counter? Probably safe.<br />Fireplace mantle? Probably safe.<br />In spare bedroom behind a closed door? Definitely safe.<br />In the middle of my bar height kitchen table? Probably safe you might think...but no...NOT SAFE!<br /><br />Oates was under David's watch when it happened. He'd left the house for only a few moments when he heard a CRASH! He ran inside and saw my little wooden latch box toppled to the ground, surrounded by the carnage of many dismembered itsybitsycutes! Shock, horror, anger... Oates new he was in trouble. David, the eyewitness, says that after getting severely scolded and warned that mommy would be very upset, Oates went willingly into his kennel and laid down. (the new kennel we're borrowing b/c he ate through the old one.)<br /><br />Five Itsybitsycutes must now be remade and re-listed on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7347645">etsy store</a>.<br /><br />How did he jump atop my bar height table? We don't know.<br />Why did he go straight for my box of itsybitsys? We don't know.<br />Will he destroy something again? I'm sure at some point i will let my guard down and he will strike again.<br /><br />Has your pet destroyed anything precious of yours?<br /></span></span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-55603726717275464452009-07-13T12:42:00.000-07:002009-07-13T13:46:50.474-07:00Who needs Mr. Miagi?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpaG388ows6n-VQn3X9cMX9Km-fByc9gGUcBzdiyL3x84bIdPRRS1Q7Ywg0xAX5wiw62NQJYIV64MFuuRhXQBefNT73nscLKraB4kwcJph7OrDKDTCoRqVSvzb2A6IJj0fEkjd3F4xg8/s1600-h/DSCF4033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpaG388ows6n-VQn3X9cMX9Km-fByc9gGUcBzdiyL3x84bIdPRRS1Q7Ywg0xAX5wiw62NQJYIV64MFuuRhXQBefNT73nscLKraB4kwcJph7OrDKDTCoRqVSvzb2A6IJj0fEkjd3F4xg8/s320/DSCF4033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358039519824178034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm not sure if it's common puggle trait or not, but Oates has a special talent... for catching flies. Bare mouthed! No chopsticks necessary. I've seen him do it 3 times now; his agility is superb, taking mere moments to catch his prey in mid-air. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">He must like the way it feels in his mouth too because he doesn't just swallow it, he's got to play with it for awhile. Spitting it out - looking at it - tossing it back around in his mouth, and finally, he'll eat it. Maybe he learned his skills during he street days. However he learned it, it beats having to chase them around with a fly swatter, and no carcass clean up!</span></span>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-30324287005447573252009-06-15T20:11:00.000-07:002009-06-15T20:35:30.152-07:00Runaway Puggle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y5Ce9VTYU7pLKsyHQlK6XulURD3VWIVUDgYZ5XV3SlHBBIsWpNZ26dgAu85hSZXTFF-QWDWchPfsB69qsQolY1-_9WYig4MTJymfDvhdtuE6sH6UmdDHo01mApeElYgckka5IW3nPVo/s1600-h/DSCF5423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y5Ce9VTYU7pLKsyHQlK6XulURD3VWIVUDgYZ5XV3SlHBBIsWpNZ26dgAu85hSZXTFF-QWDWchPfsB69qsQolY1-_9WYig4MTJymfDvhdtuE6sH6UmdDHo01mApeElYgckka5IW3nPVo/s320/DSCF5423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347761155117529650" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Oates does get some freedom in the front yard… but not much; he just can’t be trusted. It’s the beagle in him. Loves to sniff, loves to dig, loves to run.<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">During our front yard parties in Paradise, he gets to be on a short tieout. He can reach everything he needs to reach, although he doesn’t think so. He’s always stretching the limits and tugging at the cable.<br /><br />This particular day, I was excited about getting my old bike fixed up and ride-able again. With the help of David (the boyfriend) and the neighbors friend (Bradford), I was ready to blaze trails on my old Trailblazer in no time.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Seems that Oates was also excited to blaze some trails this day… It was late afternoon on a Saturday. We had gathered a small crowd of friends in the front yard for brewskies. I gave them a wave as I headed down the street, and quickly realized that one handed bike riding was not a good idea. I grabbed hold tight and looked ahead. I only went a few houses down and was about to turn around when I heard some yelling from the direction of my house. In no time I saw a blur of fawn furn and floppy ears bolt passed me toward State Line Rd. It gave meaning to "faster than a speeding bullet." </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It only took seconds for me to realize that Oates was loose! I cried out for him and almost passed out as he zipped past me full speed toward the busy street at the end of our road. Of course he didn’t even hear me (or want to). In fear that I would crash if I rode my old bike down the steep hill, I ditched it (maybe in the middle of the road, I was too panicked to remember) and took after him on foot (thank you new <a href="http://www.teva.com/ProductsList.aspx?g=w&categoryID=426&page=1">Teva Mush</a> flip flops, you were comfy and I could run with you on!). He ran into the street and narrowly missed two cars passing by, and thank goodness made it into the park – still – full speed. As I crossed the street into the park with tears in my eyes and sweat on my brow, David (the boyfriend) comes cruising awkwardly after me and Oates on my girl bike. A sight to see – his knees to his elbows and bowed out so he could pedal.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We chase after Oates as he comes to a brief pause at a tree for sniff. Calmly, I call for him, but as he sees us approach, he obviously thinks we are playing chase with him and he takes off toward the jungle gym, again – full speed.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thank goodness for the warm and sunny Saturday – the park was littered with all kinds of people. Oates was interested in excitement coming from the jungle gym, and this is where his freedom finally came to a stop. He ran off toward the kids, and approached an older lady. We yelled for her to “GRAB HIM PLEASE!!” as we made our way over, out of breath. I scooped up the 20 pound assailant and trudged him back up the two major hills to get back to our house. David decided to stay on the bike, and proceeded to lose balance and fall off of it while we were still in the park. Another sight to see!</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We got back to the front yard to find 2 cold brewskies and some friends waiting for us, not to mention the broken tieout (Advertised to contain up to a 30 pound dog; FAIL). Oates got to spend some quality time in his house for the afternoon, and hasn’t been allowed to hang in the front yard since. He got a stern talking to, and he better not scare me like that again! Goodbye freedom, hello leash!</span></p>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355870131164258218.post-26487659599225003002009-04-29T19:54:00.000-07:002009-04-29T19:59:02.840-07:00Coming soon...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwpYOJ0kffuf9y4xy9ZdboZpTaYbBZdFqOy2nJqjTsbCI4xEVqjN_1ABEnlpx3UoMyi2T9D1M3lDlKt1tKNH8_d2LqmyVsjy1UyiVytFqNo2jcjXRJNOF6x6_iOiVsKBtociZmscEwg0/s1600-h/DSCF3960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwpYOJ0kffuf9y4xy9ZdboZpTaYbBZdFqOy2nJqjTsbCI4xEVqjN_1ABEnlpx3UoMyi2T9D1M3lDlKt1tKNH8_d2LqmyVsjy1UyiVytFqNo2jcjXRJNOF6x6_iOiVsKBtociZmscEwg0/s320/DSCF3960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330312867764382098" border="0" /></a>New puggle in paradise post - coming soon!Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17156984465195795841noreply@blogger.com0