Tug's big day

Mama took Tuggums to a larger sized pet chain today. He made instant friends with a baby Shar Pei and a young Doberman...our Tug- making friends??

He charmed the other dog owners and the store clerk even though one of the owners picked up a soft, squeaky toy and Tug grabbed it from her hand. Knowing he had a "prize" he started prancing away on the end of the leash. Tug has double wishbone suspension- the front and back move independently so when he prances it's an "awww, how cute" moment. The store clerk gave him a biscuit so Mama felt she needed to buy the toy as it was now covered with Tug slobber and food bits! :)

He just had the best time and sashayed out the door with his new toy. Someone sitting in a truck nearby cheered him on and called him "Killer." (Ha!)

lick monster

On the Fourth, my sister came over to eat an indoor picnic (the best kind- no ants). Tug was worn out from the firecrackers and fireworks over the preceeding weekend and nights before plus some storms. He just doesn't like the noise- he's not afraid and doesn't go crazy- it just tires him out. Mama had even bought him a new bed to put in different places to entice him to nap. Well, whenever we're at the table the "lick monster" appears. Tug is either saying "aren't I pitiful, won't you love me" or "I love you, isn't this comforting" or "I'm pitiful, I'm sorry" or "please notice me." We've never figured out which it is, actually. So, Tug went into the crate for dinner so we could eat in peace. Later, we gathered back at the table to play a board game and the "lick monster" returned. What sort of worked was to put this new bed on the laminate floor between my sister and me so one of us could reach down and pat his head frequently. (If you ask him to "sit" and you're standing on laminate he'll back up until his hind paws hit carpet and then sit- with his butt on the carpet.) This allowed Tug to be off the laminate, in between us and part of the action. Finally, after a long round of watching us play, he finally lay down to half doze/half sulk. He's great at guilt trips that way but, in reality, he's very well loved and cared for so we don't totally feel bad and sometimes we just laugh. If this poor boy understood how cushy his life was he'd learn to make breakfast and feed US in bed!!

the great escape

Tug is a nudist and doesn't wear his tags/collar inside the house. Friday afternoon, for some unfathomable reason which she can't even remember, Mama opened the front door and left it open long enough for Tug to walk out onto the catwalk and down the stairs- no collar, to tags, no leash...Now, Mama's trying not to panic and startle him by yelling at him so she starts calling to him to come back up and get a "treat." Usually, it works but this was the great outdoors and poor condo-inhabiting creature he is Tug just loves to be outside. Tug walked down thee sidewalk and Mama just kept calling to him- actually trying to close the front door without locking herself out- and he stops and looks at her like "come on- what are you waiting for" and walks out to the grass by the street. He relieves his bladder and, by the time he's done, Mama is able to get down the stairs and to the street to pick him up and carry him back upstairs and inside.

I don't know why I'm conflicted that he's such an idiot he didn't realize he was free since it means our little boy is back inside safely...LOL