Our Love Of Pugs!

The first time I saw a Pug I instantly fell in love!

I wanted one for a very long time.  I was so obsessed with them that I had coffee cups and calendars.  I read books on them to see what kind of care they required.  By the time I got Bella I already had her name picked out and knew everything that the books said she needed.

Pugs are loyal.  Pugs are loving.  Pugs are hilarious!  And they are the perfect dogs for me!

Check out My Page Dedicated to Pugs!

Like What You See? Bark At Me!

Thank you for visiting my site!

I hope you have enjoyed your time here and liked my articles!

Did you leave any comments?  I would love to hear from you!

You can also Email Me!

 

Vanessa

Love Your Dog? Visit Dogster!

If you love your dog and want to tell the world, there is a great service called Dogster.com.  You can set up free webpages for each of your animals for free.

You can even use Catster.com for your cats!  It is a fun, informative site that we love at our house!

Check it Out!

Thank you to all of our friends at dogster and catster with help in building this site!

Vanessa's Take On Dogs!

What Can I Say?

My dogs are my children!  I can't imagine my life without them! 

Being a responsible pet owner involves so many things.  The vet, their diet, their exercise.....mine require quite a bit of attention!

But, dogs are also affectionate, loving, and loyal.  You do for them, they do for you.  It is a win, win situation!

I hope the articles I have written about my dogs, and past experiences with others can inspire other dog owners or future dog owners!

At our house, it is all about the Dogs!

Woof, Woof!

Dog Nightmares: How Do You Avoid Choosing The Wrong Dog?

We have had our share of dog nightmares over the years.  This led to ruined carpet, chewed furniture and total chaos!  Asking the right questions when choosing a dog can help you avoid this dilemma.  We didn't know what to ask before getting a dog.  But, we do now!

How big will this dog get?  This is important.  By looking at its paws you can usually tell if the dog will be small.  But, don't let that fool you!  There are always exceptions to this rule!  Ask!  Nothing is worse than thinking you will have an average size dog, and you end with a mini grizzly bear instead!  If you live in a tiny house you want to make sure the dog has plenty of room to run around.  You don't want to be stepping on the poor thing all the time.

Does the dog interact well with children?  If you don't have children of your own you may not think to ask this question.  However, your neighbors, relatives and people throughout your neighborhood most likey have a kid or two.  How will the dog react to them?

How difficult will it be to housetrain the dog?  I personally don't like to clean up dog messes.  Some dogs are difficult to train.  If the dog is difficult by nature you can ask for some advice on ways to house train.  It helps.  And remember, the dog is NOT going to train itself.

What kind of genetic medical illnesses run in the particular breed?  How often do they require veterinary care?  If you have children or become attached to your pet and it is going to die in a few years from a genetic defect, or this is a dog who requires a ton of vet care and you cannot afford it, you might want to consider a different dog.

Some dogs needs to be fed a certain diet, avoiding all table food and need a strict exercise regimen.  Is the dog you are considering one of these?  Although doing thse things can prolong the life of some dogs, some people don't want the hassle.  Can you take the time to do for the dog?

What kind of personality does the dog have?  You have to decide whether you want the dog for protection or affection.  Is the dog usually hyper or more of a lapdog?  Finding out if the dog has a tendency to bark at everything is important to.

If you plan on leaving the dog alone all day while you are at work you definitely want to know if they experience separation anxiety.  You don't want to come home and have your curtains or sofa torn to pieces!

Some dogs require a daily walk.  Is this dog one of them?  If you know you are not going to have time for a dog with special needs keep this in mind when considering what dog you want.  Most dogs love to play, but some really need to play on a daily basis.

Are you planning on traveling with your dog?  You better ask if the dog has a tendency to get car sick!  Been there, didn't ask.  The vet has to come to the house!

Dogs are loyal and they are affectionate.  You just have to decide which one fits your lifestyle.  Are you fun loving and carefree?  A mutt might be a good choice.  Can you command a room?  A doberman might be for you. Can you tend to a dog that is demanding, yet totally loving?  Try a pug!  Whatever you choose, consider the needs of the dog. In the end, everyone wins!

Going To A Restaurant? Leave Your Dog At Home

I know.  You want to take your dog everywhere you go.  To the mall, to the car wash, to the drug store...Why not take them out to eat?  After all, the dog is your best friend.

I absolutely love both of my dogs.  But I don't understand why people would even consider taking a dog to a restaurant. This is beyond me.  Now if it is an outdoor restaurant well that is different.

First of all, the health violations alone should be enough to keep your dog at home.

What do you do when you find hair on your plate or in your soup at a restaurant? Personally, I send it back. No thank you. 

What about all of the barking? Who wants to eat while a dog is raging? Some dogs bark at every little noise. Forget a nice quiet dining experience.

What if your dog eats something that doesn't agree with them? Will they excuse themselves politely and head to the nearest bathroom? Nope, they will just puke where they are standing. That would be a great way to enjoy dinner together.

If your dog has to go to the bathroom, they are going to start squatting. Forget the stench, what about the piles of mess that you and others have to walk through? It would be like playing hopscotch!

Unless your dog is a service dog leave it at home.

What you do in your home is your business. If you want to have a meal together you can have a picnic or even set out the china and eat at the kitchen table. Restaurants were not made to cater to dogs and it is ridiculous that people even suggest this might be okay.

Your dog is a canine, not a human. Treat them as such.

I love my dog, but I guarantee I would never take her to a restaurant. She would be uncomfortable and undoubtedly would not use proper etiquette. Why should she? She is a dog!