Leroy and Roxie!

Happy Friday Everyone!

It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I'd drop by and put up something fun and cute for you. :-) The video was taken by clients of my fabulous dogwalker, Nickey, when she was boarding Leroy for a few days. Leroy LOVES to play with the big dogs, but I rarely get video of it... so here you go :-)

Meet Diva! Fabulous Foster #5

Meet DIVA! My newest foster pug!!
Diva is a 4-month old owner surrender. She was surrendered because her previous owner's mean landlord wouldn't let her keep Diva.... What kind of awful person could resist such a face?!? Oh well... His/her loss is my gain (for the moment) and someone else's gain forever!

Diva is a super playful little gal. She and my Leroy get along fabulously. Like all of my other female fosters, little Diva totally dominates Leroy....
She likes to steal all of his toys and hide under the futon where he can't reach her...

When he tries to go in after her she tells him off!

With all his toys quarantined under the couch, poor Leroy is forced to play with plastic bags :-(
Sometimes Leroy tries to get the upper hand by stealing HER toys and jumping up on the couch.
That didn't stop Diva... Note the look of fear/annoyance on Leroy's face :-p

Overall they play really nicely and love to engage each other in a game of tug-of-war with the fleecy toys! See we can all get along!

Diva is a super cutie and I think she knows it.... She is definitely ruling Leroy, but I suspect he kind of likes to be dominated by the ladies.

So that's Diva! Unless I steal her and run off to Bermuda with she and Leroy, I hope she finds a great new home!

Puggie pug... the worlds quickest foster...

Hey Everyone! Meet foster number 4, Puggie!


Puggie came to me on Wednesday night and he will be going to his new foster home tomorrow morning... He only spent 2 days with me but he definintely made an impact.

Puggie came from a shelter in NJ. He was "supposedly"a stray who was between 3-4 years old.... The shelter said he was housebroken, friendly, and playful so the rescue thought he'd be a good little foster sibling for my Leroy. Well turned out the shelter straight LIED to us. LOL Puggie isn't 3-4... he aint even probably 5-6... When the volunteer originally went to pick him up she thought he was 10 years old... and the shelter staff even chuckled a bit when they told her that Puggie was 4 years old. Either way, Puggie came home with me and after a very stressful and anxious first night for him, he's been a real trouper and a perfect angel.

Puggie, at least it seemed to me was in really bad shape... most of his teeth had fallen out, or were in the process of falling out which causes his tounge to chronically hang out of the side of his mouth. His breathing was really laboured the first night... So much so that I thought he had pnemonia or some other serious respiratory problem. He's skin and bones and it just seems like moving around is a bit of an effort for him. He has a cataract on one of his eyes, impairing the visit in that eye, and hyperpigmentation bluring the vision in the other. He's not neutered. His ears haven't been cleaned out in YEARS.

It just makes me angry.

I just don't understand how someone could let their dog, a living creature, go on living like that for years. You didn't see his teeth falling out? You didn't notice that he was walking into things, and that there are large black scars on his eyeballs? I mean WTF

Despite the obvious years of neglect, Puggie is a total angel and mushball of love. He took to Leroy right away following him around the house, trying to hump him, or just lick on him. He tried so hard to play with Leroy on the first night, but he kept on losing his breath and I had to keep them separated because I thought he was going to keel over. By the 2nd night, Leroy and Puggie were sleeping together in Leroy's crate!?! I couldn't believe my eyes. LOL Leroy hates sleeping with other dogs... and doesn't love his crate. I've never seen him snuggle up to another dog in that way.

Puggie is so good natured with Leroy... here's a pic of him lying on Leroy's bed while Leroy is chewing it and trying to shake Puggie off...

Puggie doesn't really make much noise or make many demands. Most of the time he's been here, he's hung out in his crate... which I decked out with a new pillow and pillowcase for him, or he's hung out on one of Leroy's beds in the living room. After the initial burst of interest, Puggie hasn't really wanted to play much with Leroy, but he's incredibly good natured and ignores Leroy's crazy outbursts, or sits and just watches him... Puggie sleeps... a LOT... like most older pugs. As I type this Puggie is sleeping on Leroy's folded up crate liner with his little tounge just a hanging out of his mouth... content as can be.

I think he's even had a good influence on Leroy, who has been a little calmer than usual this evening.

Puggie is leaving me tomorrow to go to another foster home. I'm not sure if I have the stamina to be the kind of long-term foster home that Puggie will probably need. He was only with me for 2 days, but I've already kind of started falling for him... in the same way that I did for Bruno and like I probably will for any other old pug that comes into my path... I just can't believe someone sent this big lump of love to a shelter and I'm so glad that he's going to be going to a great home.

Oh Leroy...

This video was taken about 2 weeks ago. I was dogsitting my friend's Maltese, Lenox, and Leroy was... "excited" about meeting him. Lenox and Leroy had met one time prior to him coming to stay with us. Lenox wasn't terribly excited about Leroy, but they seemed ok.... apparently Lenox forgot about that meeting... and Leroy forgot all his home training.

Just makes me chuckle, hopefully you will too!

2-week Doggie Boot Camp!

Leroy, my crazy little pug creature is a year old now. He's a super sweet boy and well behaved, for the most part, but I think I've been a little indulgent with him since he was so little when I got him and since he's so freaking cute!

How can you not love that face!

But I digress....

My lovely parents are coming in a few weeks and I'd really like to have some of Leroy's behavioral issues under control before they get here. I love my parents, but they aren't the same type of dog person as I am. They aren't really going to love Leroy jumping on the couch, licking their faces, and running around the house like a spastic beast. Also my parents are going to be here during the week, so it would be great if his walking was under control so he'll be able to walk nicely with my parents even if I'm not here. If Leroy's behavior doesn't improve I fear it will be a long week behind the gate for him.
So in order to save Leroy from a week in pritchen (heh heh that's prison and kitchen together) Here is what I'd like to work on...

Goal 1: Staying off the Couch. Leroy is not allowed on the couch until after the 'rents leave. Amy instructed that I was to have Leroy sit/lay down on the floor when I sit on the couch and give him a treat and a toy. She also said I should keep the squirt bottle handy... I assume for when he jumps on the couch. I'm not sure if I should physically take him off, or just squirt him, or if I should say no. I'll have to follow-up with her.

Goal 2: Greater impulse control- Leroy must sit before we enter, leave, when we hit every crosswalk. He also must sit every time someone pets him. If he sits when he's petted he gets a treat. If he doesn't sit then we leave.

Goal 3: Less distraction/sniffing on walks- according to Amy, I should just bring a squeaky toy with me on walks and squeak every time he gets distracted with sniffing or picking things off the floor. I kind of want to squirt him with a water bottle... but I'll try Amy's method first. :-p

All of this starts tomorrow. I think the hardest thing to be consist with will be the couch... I don't mind Leroy on the couch at all... in fact I like cuddling up with the little stinker but it'll be better for him in the long run if he's only on the couch when invited.

I just informed Leroy about our plans.... he obliged me by calmly laying on the floor (good boy!), but he looks a little dubious...

I'll keep you all posted on our progress!

Leroy's Hamptons Getaway!

It really is a dog's life. While I was stuck riding a bus up to DC last weekend, my dog Leroy was having a fantastic beach weekend with the East Coast elite (my friend and fellow Curly Tail Pug Rescue Volunteer Anna) in the Hamptons. Anna and her husband Scott have 2 adorable pugs, Roxie and Bernie, and they were kind enough to add Leroy to their beach brood for the weekend.











Here is the entire crew, pretty Roxie (in the pink) and Handsome Bernie... Bernie and Leroy got along fabulously... but Roxie didn't seem too impressed...















Bernie had a special... "affinity" for Leroy... apparently he likes the boy dogs better... Who can blame him! Leroy is a pimp! He even walks with a lean :-p















They did a little running along the beach... See pugs DO run!














Leroy seemed a little skeptical of the water at first... little pug... big waves..















But Leroy isn't known for having fear (or good sense...) so into the water he went!















Leroy had such a fantastic time on his beach vacay! Thanks Scott and Anna (and Roxie and Bernie) for putting up with his crazy @ss for a while 3 days!

Puppy Love?

It's Wednesday night and a battle is raging in Brooklyn....

The battle for COUCH DOMINATION!

What starts off as an innocent argument over remote control... control...





















Quickly turns into an all out brawl!

Fiona takes an early lead with a leap...





















and tackle!





















If you don't let me watch For the Love of Ray J I will tear off your face!!





















But Leroy would not be outdone... Sprawling Fiona on her back and going for the gut!





















"I WANNA WATCH ESPN, WOMAN!'





















Suddenly the human in the room moves toward the kitchen!





















ooooh what's she doing in there?





















oh, she's just doing dishes.... We're tired... let's cuddle





















The end.

Fair Fiona... Foster #2

So..... after 5 days of dealing with constant yipping, the "scratch scratch SLAM" of little pug bodies running across hardwood and sliding into the wall, and more vomit, pee and poo than I have experienced in.... months, and a moderate tear-filled breakdown, I am FINALLY able to sit down and write a blog about my 2nd foster puppy. As some of you may know, my first foster pug was Bruno, a distinguished calm, mostly blind, and very chunky old guy who stayed at my place for about a month last October. Fiona is nothing like that. Fiona is a 5 month old, skinny little puppy who has a digestive disorder called megaesophagus.

Fiona has been in foster care her entire life. She and her brother Cosmo (who also has megaesophagus) came to Curly Tail Pug rescue from a different rescue because our co-founders felt we may be able to help their conditions stabilize due to our experience with special needs puppies like our spina bifida puppy Sophia. Fiona is a TOTAL cuddly puppy, NOTHING like my Leroy who didn't really like to be held unless he was really sleepy. Fiona loves nothing more to be picked up and cuddled. It's helpful for her digestion if she's held upright after she eats, so I try and hold her for a few minutes after each meal and every time she curls up in my arms, puts her little head on my shoulder and goes right to sleep. If I'm sitting on the couch (and Leroy is constrained to another room), she will hope up next to me and calmly busy herself with a plastic nylabone.

Fiona HATES loud noises.... which is unfortunate for her because I'm a clutz and I cook a lot so there's always clanging and banging and sizzling... When I'm in the kitchen cooking she's usually hiding back by the bathroom. Fiona and Leroy are friends... for the most part. Fiona likes to play with him when she feels like it... Leroy is manically obsessed with playing with her. He's after her ALL the time... He runs her into walls and flips her over... it's a bit scary. She doesn't seem to mind for the most part

It's pretty amazing to me how different her personality is from Leroy's. Left to her own devices I think she'd be the perfect puppy... calm, cuddly, loving, submissive... all together perfect.

Her digestive disorder is preventing her from being adopted quickly, in my opinion... which is sad b/c it's totally manageable.

More to come of this little gal :-)

Leroy at the park

My friend Julian and I took Leroy to the park last weekend... we tried to play fetch with him. It didn't go so well. Here are a few videos

Leroy's weekend at the vet!

My dog is very cute....



Leroy and I were off to the vet last Thursday for Leroy's big surgery. GOOO castration... this is Leroy's before shot... I think he suspected something was up...











When we got to the vet, Leroy got a little overwhelmed and promptly peed on the floor while I was talking to the receptionist... I think he was stressed, the vet tech said it was because of all the dog smells... maybe because he knew his balls were about to be removed... here's a pic of him pre-surgery... More wrinkles and bigger frown... Poor Leroy

















Leroy made out of his surgery like a champion and he was bouncing around like his old self when I picked him up the next day. They didn't put a cone on him, so I unfortunately don't have any funny cone head pics.... oh well.

Leroy is not allowed to run or do anything strenuous for 10 days... He got a little bored at the apartment on Saturday and decided to create a toy out of my diet coke bottle. Such a creative little guy!















While Leroy was at the vet, the nice doctor found out that he still had wormies. He's had wormies before... we think he got them from his mother, because his littermate also has the same problem. Leroy has to take medicine by mouth for the next 4 days. Leroy does not like his medicine and does not always want to swallow it.

















Leroy had a very eventful weekend. He is still feeling a bit under the weather, but is looking forward to being able to go run about outside in a week or so.

Bye everyone!