Eunuch in the Harem

Help me out guys…I am really at a loss trying to figure out females. I live with one, and now two more. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but sometimes a fella’ just needs a little time out from all the drama. Maisie can be a really annoying little half sister and while I know she loves me to the moon and back, she never stops sniffing, licking, or chewing me. I am a pretty patient guy but there comes a point where I snap – not in a mean or nasty way – I just turn and give it back to her. And here’s the kicker, she loves this the most! So what do I do? All I really want to do for the day, and evening too, is nap – napping is good and I need a lot of it. Let’s face it, I am a lover and cuddler, not a fighter or athlete. If left on my own, I could cuddle and sleep away my life. At any rate, now that there are three females, I am beginning to feel sleep deprived.

Cecily really doesn’t interfere because she is deaf and blind, but what she does do a lot  is bark. I think I heard that Mason did that when he became challenged. She is a good cuddle partner though. Daphne, like I think I mentioned before, is a whole different class of dog. She doesn’t want to share space with anyone, prefers sleeping alone, and only plays with you when she is in the mood. We learned very quickly not to “poke the bear.” She is alpha dog with a capital A. We respect her and never overstep our boundaries. So you can see there are three very different personalities working on me.

Now, the most fun for Maisie and me is when Daphne decides she is ready to play, and believe me, she plays hard! She has this disgusting old deflated, ripped, and shredded football that she loves to chase and chew on. When she runs after it we run for her, barking with all our might and nipping at her since we know nothing can keep her from that ball. We feel so brave and strong doing this since we are safe from any retaliation. I know, we are wimpy pugs but it does so much for our self confidence and allows us to have some interaction with our boss. Sometimes, though, she will get so fed up that she drops the ball and comes for us, giving that growl that comes from deep in her chest. Let me tell you, when we hear that sound and see her muscles bulging, we scatter like roaches. I know I sound like a sissy but really I am just protecting myself from harm. Daphne’s jaws are really terrifying.

I’m not complaining because our days are actually pretty stimulating (probably more than I need) but we are a pack now, and as most of you know, pugs like big families. Grandma runs a fairly tight ship and she always has my back when there is ever an issue…probably because I am the only boy. She calls me “Philly Lou” or “Philly Gumbo” and I love it when she does.

I’ve attached a small film showing the football game…

Til’ next time,

Philly Gumbo

Pug Noir or The Black Pug of the Family

What a weekend of gastronomic indulgence and relentless attention! I, for one, am ready to tuck into my stinky red bed for some serious napping and quiet reverie; the breakneck pace of our travels overwhelmed Lizzie and me. We spent Wednesday and Thursday at Grandma and Grandpa’s on the Cape, left Friday for Vermont, where we spent Friday night and Saturday, and left for New York on Sunday morning.

I realize, however, that most of you are more interested in reading a report about the meeting with our new cousin, Cecily, than having me regale you with tales of ort consumption. While I have absolutely no interest in the acquisition of yet another pug, this one isn’t terrible…and by that I mean, she has no obvious or overt mannerisms that would put me off my food or cause me to react in a violent sort of way. She seemed welcoming (maybe even genuinely glad to see us) and appropriately deferential to yours truly. As long as I am accorded the respect I rightfully deserve, then I have no reason to complain. Lizzie, of course, acted the perfect idiot with a lot of wiggling, wagging, and sniffing. They seemed to connect on some primal kind of “I’ve experienced birth and know the pain”  female way, which personally, I find offensive. I also should mention, though it is of little consequence, that she is not unattractive. At any rate the three of us enjoyed walking on the beach and curling up on the couch for napping, so I would say that life was pretty much the same for me. I did note that by the time we left, Miss Cecily was developing a fairly strong fondness for me, not that I didn’t blame her. It certainly shows she has taste and the ability to recognize class and intelligence. So, as long as she remains deferential and obsequious, I will tolerate her presence in our family.

It remains to be seen how successful the next new acquisition will be.

Respectfully submitted,

Mason

For all of you girly girls, a portrait of Lizzie and Cecily. Lizzie says they're sister friends or some such mawkish drivel.

Here we are...three pugs on a Thanksgiving day beach walk.

Here Miss C. is in hot pursuit of yours truly.

I must admit, she has a pretty tight figure for having had two litters.

I apologize for this gratuitous “emo” shot, but I know how emotional you readers can be. From now on, the blog is about me!