Last pug post for a while - I promise

No more pug posts after this one, I promise. But my brother sent me this adorable video this morning and I can't resist.

For folks who are unfamiliar with the ubiquitous pug head tilt, let me explain. The head tilt, which occurs when you offer these muzzle-free dogs alluring goods or services, empirically proves that pugs actually have a working brain. This is important because when they're not tilting their heads, they're sleeping. Or eating. Or whining. That's it.

Check out this trifecta of pug head tilts. It's a complete hoot.

Wacko Pugs, installment four: albino pugs!

Welcome to Wacko Pugs IV where today we feature albino pugs. Yes, they do exist, as evidenced below:

Look at those sweethearts! You know you want some.

I never thought I'd see a white pug with blue eyes. Kind of strange, but he's still a darn good looking dog. How interesting that the following albino pug gave birth to a fawn pup - evidence of the recessive albino trait.

But a pug is still a pug, and they all sleep their lives away - they're worse than cats. Don't look at this picture too long or you'll starting zzz-ing, too.

To learn more about white pugs, visit the Pugs of Pedroia and WhitePugs.com. And check out my other wacko pug posts: Installments 1, 2, and 3.

Wacko pugs, installment three

It's been a while since I've chronicled God's most creative creatures, which I lovingly call Wacko Pugs. What is a wacko pug? Simply a great dog who is a conglomeration of pug and some other pure-bred canine. The result is truly a one-of-a-kind pup. Of course, all dogs are one-of-a-kind, but these guys are really something else. (Check out Installment 1 and Installment 2 to see other pug mixes.)

Today, let's begin with an unlikely pair: pug and poodle. Pugs are the burly halfbacks of the dog world, even when they're girls. In contrast, poodles are prissy little things who prance. Join the two together, and you have this honey-colored beauty. She looks less prissy and more halfback to me - perhaps she's a quarterback???

Speaking of feminine dogs, how about this little doll? She's a chow chow/pug mix who looks like she belong in Paris Hilton's bag. This one is definitely a girly-girl, red hair bows and all. I'd love to know if she's got a black tongue, one of the chow's distinguishing characteristics.

Next, a shih tzu/pug mix who just begs to be loved. Who could deny this sweet thing whatever he wants? I'd spoil this wacko pug until he was completely insufferable (kind of like my dog!).




And how about this built-in lifeguard of a dog who can signal storm warnings with his contrary ears? He's an Eskimo dog/pug mix, a combo I never thought I'd see.



I can't imagine anyone saying "hit the road, Jack," to this adorable Jack Russell/pug pup. I bet he's nothing but trouble, but he's a real cutie.

And I'll end this installment of Wacko Pugs with the wise, knowing eyes of this pomeranian/pug dog. He is undoubtedly an old soul who would cuddle up with you just to let you know that everything will be okay. Like the rest of these unique creations, what a great dog.

Wacko pugs, installment 2

My beloved brother and nephew have declared me a lazy blogger - and they're right. To repent for my sins and to celebrate the universe's diverse design sense, I offer Round 2 of Wacko Pugs. (You might also want to check out Wacko pugs, installment 1).

First up, we have a cute pug/beagle mix, otherwise known as a puggle:



Next, a pekinese/pug combo that looks like it has some shepherd mixed in as well, but I might be wrong:



Our third unique creation is actually a two-some whose parents are Brussels griffon and pug:



Next up, a beautiful, blue-eyed (or is it just a blue version of red eye?) black lab/pug mix:



And finally, here's something I bet you'd never see: a crocodile/pug mutt!

Wacko pugs, installment 1

I once edited Wacko Pugs, an online photo album of pug mutts. I posted pictures of pugs who had been purposely or inadvertently been bred with some other sort of dog. For example, many folks like puggles, or pug + beagles.


Well, over a couple of months, my Wacko Pugs site spread like the flu in a February kindergarten class. People from all over the world visited the site and 99 percent of them thought it was great.



And there there was the other one percent who believed I was:

1. Stealing pictures of their beloved pugs
2. Making fun of their beloved pugs
3. Purposely breeding their beloved pugs with other dogs (?!)


So these numbskulls started sending hate mail to me and to each other. That sure whipped them into a frenzy, so they posted my site to the dog rescue message boards and OMG! They were a pack of ravenous dogs and I was the limping gazelle. They called me every name in the book and threatened my life and guaranteed eternal damnation and ensured all manners of punishment until I finally called uncle and just shut the whole damn site down. Which was really a shame because all it was was just a bunch of pictures of really cute dogs.

Being the contrarian that I am, I am reviving Wacko Pugs in this forum for your and my enjoyment. I'm going to post these pretty pooches when I get tired of pouting everyday and don't have anything nice to say (like today - like lately!). I hope they make you smile.

Tom's sweater

I went down to Tom's on Friday and finally got a picture of him in the sweater I made him for Christmas. I'm particularly proud of this garment because it fits him so well. He's tremendously tall and has these crazy long-ass arms, so I was was afraid the whole thing would ride up and look dorky. Worried, I had every tall dude I know try it on while I was making it. Smart idea, because it fits him like a glove. I knitted it in Patons SWS which is strangely 70% wool and 30% soybean! It's nice and soft though.



It was a great day down in Southern Maryland, as you can see. I made dinner for Tom and Michael, creating to-die-for fajitas with all-fresh ingredients and homemade guacamole. OMG. That's all I can say, it was so good. Better than any Mexican restaurant by far. The only thing missing was the pitcher of margaritas. Next time...

Moose enjoyed his day in the country. I hope he didn't come home with fleas - I ordered the Frontline but it hasn't gotten here yet. Moose the Apartment Doggie likes being able to run around on Tom's property without a leash. I never thought he'd ever be a farm dog, but given how much fun he had today, I think he might like playing one on TV!

Have you ever heard a pug say "I love you"?

Now you have!

A divine template?

I am the proud owner of a perfect pug named Moose. Or I should say that Moose is the proud owner of me, because he's definitely the one in charge around here.

I got Moose six years ago after my gynecologist announced that I not only would never get pregnant (despite years of expensive and fruitless fertility treatments), but that I also needed an immediate hysterectomy. Her nurse then suggested that my more-than-apparent misery would best be cured by getting a dog. I have three cats, I replied. She averred, "You need to get a dog."

So I did. Boy, did he cure me of any need for an infant. It was tough enough chasing around after an errant pug. What would I have done at 42 with a baby? Coped, I guess. But I still took it as evidence that sometimes God smiles on you and doesn't give you what you pray for.

Anyway, I love this dog more than life. He is my constant companion. During the day, he snores quietly beside me. He doesn't sleep on the floor like any other canine. NO... he sleeps up on an upholstered pedestal of a desk chair. What do you think he is, a dog?

Moose is a dog, but is certainly not a Moose, although that is his name. Which is sort of why I bring all this up. Today there is an interesting story out about an entirely new species that is somewhere along the evolutionary scale between fish and humans. It's got legs, my friends, and eyes that face forward like a person. It doesn't swim; it crawls.

And I think it looks remarkably like my dog - if you squint or something. You may not see it, but I think if you took away the zebra stripes and gave him some hair and removed his gills, you'd have Moose. Sort of anyway.

And then I started thinking about baby seals and how they look like Moose. What? Did God use a template here? I'm a designer; I know all about templates. It seems to me that God just adapted his pug design for other species. Cut and paste, make the change, save as. Story of my life.

As further evidence of my divine template theory, I think my dearly departed cat, Pachelbel, looked like an owl. See what I mean?