Snuggle for a Puggle

The snow has begun to fal li paradise, and Oates officially took his first trip out into the wintery backyard last week.

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.

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.
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 other items 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.)

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.

Round Two:  Gentle interest at first, followed by more grabbing, biting and thrashing.

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.

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!

Itsybitsy Massacre

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...

I'm learning this the hard way. From memory, Oates has destroyed:

DVD remote control
1 pair of old navy flip flops
Corner of a couch pillow
A puppy crate
One of David's hats
A Makeup Brush
A Hair brush
Banana Boat tanning lotion bottle
No less than 6 sets of window blinds
My cell phone

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!

Maybe you've been to my website 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.

Wrong.

Kitchen counter? Probably safe.
Fireplace mantle? Probably safe.
In spare bedroom behind a closed door? Definitely safe.
In the middle of my bar height kitchen table? Probably safe you might think...but no...NOT SAFE!

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.)

Five Itsybitsycutes must now be remade and re-listed on my etsy store.

How did he jump atop my bar height table? We don't know.
Why did he go straight for my box of itsybitsys? We don't know.
Will he destroy something again? I'm sure at some point i will let my guard down and he will strike again.

Has your pet destroyed anything precious of yours?