Buddy the Puggle

Possessive Pig

2012-01-11T11:44:00.000-08:00

No one ever told me that hormone shifts can affect your dog...

Buddy is generally a pretty possessive pig. I am his mama and you [the general YOU] should not mess. He will be subtle in letting you know at first...but push it and he will be much more intense about it.

Apparently, I am at the age where pre-menopause is imminent. Hormones shift and you can have many different results and symptoms. For instance, we thought for about three weeks that I was pregnant, and as it turned out, it was just pre-menopause symptoms. It did not pass by Buddy though. Not one bit.

He started barging into the bathroom to stare at me multiple times in the morning as I got ready for work. What I can only assume was him "checking up" on me. He was glued to my side even more than usual, and every night slept right up on me in bed. None of this was an issue until twice in one week he decided it was necessary to demonstrate his ownership of me by making a large piss puddle right smack in the middle of Randy's side of the bed.

Needless to say, no one was happy either of those evenings. He seems to have tapered off from that kind of acting out. We started walking him more and playing with him more and it seems to have helped.

Let's hope once we are pregnant he's not like that every day!

When he misses me...

2011-07-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

After work yesterday, I went and had dinner with my siblings. After dinner we did a little shopping...hung out...and it was pretty late when I got home.

Buddy met me at the door, as usual, and after my shower, we snuggled up in bed. Mr. Pig was super generous with the kisses...to the point where I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe! One after the other, until my face was all doggy slobbery.

Once he finally settled in next to me, I thought for sure he would lay for a while until I fell asleep and then go to his own bed. No chance! He stayed curled up against the small of my back all night. I guess this pig missed his momma.

I truly feel lucky to have such a great dog.

The death scream...

2011-07-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, Randy and I order delivery. When we do, we know we will have to hang on to Buddy once the knock on the door is heard. If not, he runs, barking, to the door and not everyone likes dogs. The thing is, as of late, when I hold him while Randy pays the delivery guy, Buddy lets out this kind of growling, whining, scream. It sounds like someone is beating the hell out of him, but as anyone can clearly see, he's just sitting right next to me with my arms around him. It sounds awful though. He never did this before. He's become such a vocal dog! I am trying to figure out how to get him to stop using the death scream, because frankly, it really bothers me, and I am certain it freaks out the neighbors...
Goofy pig.

The love of a pig...

2011-06-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

I think each and every one of us could take a lesson from our dogs about love. It doesn't matter what I do...how long I have been gone...where I have been...or what mood I am in. My dog ALWAYS loves me. He is always happy to see me. He nearly NEVER turns down an opportunity to snuggle. He is my little furry joy.

Sleep on or shred?

2011-06-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

My Puggle likes nothing more than to be with his people. Every evening, as per our routine, he gets "happy pig time" as we call it. This is that time after we have eaten and are watching tv, and before bed, where he snuggles up between us on the couch and gets his love on!

When we go in the office, however, he would generally stay out on the couch...sullen and sulking...until NOW!

When I was last out with my friends Anna and Nikki, I saw this bone-shaped dog bed at HomeGoods...only $7, and I thought, maybe he will stay in the office with us if he has something comfy to lay on. (S-P-O-I-L-E-D rotten) I brought it home and put it on the ground before him. He was very excited.

He looked at me as if to ask, "Toy or bed?" which I read as "Shred or sleep?" I immediately started with the "lay down" commands and saying things like, "Oh, Buddy...how do you like your new BED?" After a minute or two he figured it out...although he did look a little disappointed.

This photo, taken merely two days later, shows just how very comfy he has gotten now that he can be with his people.

I suppose you can tell a dog is getting older when he so quickly decides that perhaps sleeping is better than shredding.

Buddy the poo roller

2011-06-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken POST-roll-in-the-poo, at my brother Joel's house. Judging by the look of him, you'd never knew the little fart had, not 20 minutes before, rolled himself in a nice squishy pile of Sammy poo. Gooey and matted into his fur as well as his collar, I had to immediately stick him in the washtub and give him a full bath. STINKY!

I get it...the whole "let me disguise myself and sneak up on my prey by smelling like his own poo", but really?!? It's SAMMY...your friend!

I love my dog, but sometimes they are SO GROSS!

the death of a squirrel

2011-06-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

I just can't resist giving him new toys to chew on...

and he LOVES this new AKC squirrel.

First thing to go was the squeaker in the tail, and then the ears. (I suppose I killed you too quickly last time, a mistake I do not mean to duplicate tonight!)

I wanted to play keep away with him, or at least fetch, but the new squirrel was so soggy with his doggy drool that I was having none of that.

He didn't even care about the flash on the camera in comparison to this new-found furry delight. At any given moment, all I have to say is, "Shake him!" and he takes the little fur ball in his teeth and attempts to shake the life out of it. Rather entertaining to watch.

He knows where his squirrel is at all times too. All I have to do is ask, "Buddy...where's your squirrel?" and he is off like a shot to get it and bring it to me. I think this is, by far, his favorite toy.

The only question now is how long will it last? Will he get $9.99 worth of play out of this furry fiend. In the end, I think it doesn't matter, as I have certainly gotten more than $9.99 in entertainment value out of the deal.

basement shennanigans

2011-05-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

Every so often, we try again to get Buddy to go down the basement stairs. We don't like being down there and working on stuff and leaving him upstairs all alone, so we have been trying different ways of getting him to come down.

Click here for: Buddy's reaction to going down the basement

His favorite duck jerky treats don't work...and as you can see in the video above, neither does asking nicely. Randy tried carrying him down once and was promptly peed upon. I find the whole thing super entertaining. For me, I am content to have him sit up there until he figures it out. Randy on the other hand really wants him to learn. He can now carry him without Bud peeing on him...he just saves it up and pees on the floor once Randy sets him down. Somehow I ended up cleaning it up though...not sure how that works.

So the question remains, is Buddy a chicken or a pig?

The pig of entitlement...

2011-05-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Our dear pig has recently gotten rather sassy, even for such a pig as himself. Yesterday, I went into the kitchen to give him his Greenies toothbrush, as I always do when I get home from work, and as I made him do a little dance for it, that snot jumped right up and snatched it out of my hand! Were that not enough, when I commanded him to come back and "give". He instead wolfed the entire thing down as he slowly moved toward me. By the time he got to me, he had devoured every bit, and just sat there licking his lips and smiling at me! As cute as he was, I had to reprimand him. I can't just have him taking things out of people's hands at random! Sheesh! Someone is feeling awfully entitled!

Mr. Low Ears

2011-05-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

I can always tell when Buddy is not quite feeling right. The most sure sign is that his ears are low. Usually they are perked up and you can see every wrinkle in his forehead, but not so when he is sick.

I recently changed dog foods on Buddy, having been recommended a similar brand that cost about HALF of what I had been paying. After almost two weeks with this new food, he's still super gassy and things just don't seem to sit right with him. As a result, he looks like this:

Don't let the wiggly tail fool you. Mr Low Ears is NOT feeling well. Poor pig! I am going to give it to the end of this bag, and if things don't improve, back to the expensive stuff we go.

The pig has his people back...

2011-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

After a long week of having Sammy as a house guest, Buddy the Puggle was very happy to have his people back. This look of utter relaxation and restful sleep says it all!

With a little of that jealous complexion...

2011-04-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Well after a few days with Sammy in the house, I think Buddy is growing ever more concerned that he won't ever leave. He's taken to shredding the toys he was previously only burying in the couch, and just last night he lashed out at Sammy for sniffing near one of the ones he has buried. I had to pull him off, snarling and barking. I have never seen Buddy like this. He's gotten very jealous and protective of me. Basically doing everything he can to tell Sammy, "MY mama. MY toy. MY bed."

It's funny because they genuinely have a good time playing together, but somewhere along the line, Buddy doesn't seem to have learned how to share. I guess my lesson from this is to have only one dog at a time, or to socialize them more with other dogs when they are younger.

I do know this, as much as we love and adore Sammy, we are used to things being a certain way around our house...and Buddy is taking it much harder than the rest of us.

BFF's

2011-04-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

After an unexpected phone call over the weekend, it was decided that my brother Joel would bring his dog Sammy over to stay with us for a week while he and Melissa are in Florida. That's great news for Buddy since he loves a sleepover, and he REALLY loves Sammy. As a matter of fact, any given time of day if I even mention the name "Sammy" in a conversation to Randy or anything, his ears perk up and he starts to bark and whine, as if to ask, "Well...where is HE?"
Finally, after a little bit of teasing (I could not resist), Sammy showed up yesterday afternoon, much to Buddy's delight.

Every time they get together, it is literally a "pissing contest". Sam marks Bud's territory, and Bud re-marks after him. They go in circles in the yard, lifting a leg...even after there's no more liquid left in them. It's quite a riot to watch. Even funnier is Sammy, who is about 2/3 the size of Buddy, trying to establish his dominance. They scuffle a bit, but nothing serious, until I remind them that I am the pack leader and then they fall back in line.

Throughout the evening, Buddy would come running if we even talked to Sam, let alone pet him or tried to cuddle him. VERY jealous! Although at one point, later in the evening we were finally able to get Buddy to snuggle up on my lap and Sammy to snuggle up on Randy's.
By this morning they were walking side by side following me and Randy around the condo, just seeing what's up and being pals. They even sat in the bathroom on a comfy towel watching me put on my make-up before I left to go to work.
I am expecting an uneventful week. Hopefully that is the case.
I sure do love those boys.

Poop 'n' Scoop

2011-04-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Buddy likes to sit at the edge of the bathroom and watch me do my make-up and get ready for work.

In the new place I can always here him coming as his toenails make a clicky noise on the linoleum.

Sometimes I like to come at him with the hairdryer turned on just to see him pull his lips back from his teeth and back up and away from me. I have yet to capture a photo of it, but it totally entertains me.

Today he kept bringing me his Kong toy, or his "baby" as we refer to it. I kept throwing it out into the hallway and listening to the toenail skidding sounds on the floor as he tries to get to it before I do.

There is not much as entertaining as this pig.

He's adjusting well to the condo now. A bit at a time. Today we clean up his yard and put out his stake.

The notorious P-I-G

2011-04-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Buddy, our personality-laden Puggle, has begun to show a sassy side we have not seen before. It began with Randy teaching him how to speak and went downhill from there. Now, whenever we ask him to do something he doesn't like, he "speaks" at us. It's more like a howl, and as he howls, his head goes up like Snoopy in the cartoons and he automatically backs up. I am pretty sure he can't howl and NOT back up at this point. It cracks me up completely.
Since we have moved, Buddy has found things about the condo a bit disconcerting. For instance, he has never really liked stairs, but these stairs are painted wood and he will not go anywhere near them. I have tried to bribe him with food, treats, Greenies...nothing works. He just howls loudly and keeps backing up across the linoleum. Quite entertaining to watch.

All the new noises in the condo are keeping Bud on his toes too...the garbage man...the lady with the riding lawn mower...the garage door opening. Last night I swear he was so tired from worrying about all the noises that he didn't even lay on the couch with us and have his people time! He hopped off the couch and went off to bed without us.
It would seem the notorious P-I-G has got a little independent streak going...

spoiled rotten dog

2011-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

While I am certain that HE likes being in charge of the house, I am pretty sure I am not a fan of the Puggle being ruler of the roost. Since the addition of my pet-loving boyfriend to the mix, Buddy has been getting more and more spoiled and has been listening less and less. Now, I cannot blame Randy entirely for this...Buddy is, after all, a very sneaky pig...but it is getting rather out of control.

You can see it in his face...the defiance...the stubborn streak a mile wide. He is his mama's dog. He is also a complete whore for affection. Always time for a belly rub. Flops on his back, paws in the air..."Come on, mom! Rub my belly!" I try, but even I cannot resist. I suppose I am just as much to blame as his dad. I was the one who gave him his own Facebook page.

Well, one thing is certain. He does know he is loved.

Burying the Christmas bone

2010-12-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is Buddy. In his mouth is his Christmas toy.It says, "It's hard to be good". Watching him, I realize that for him, it is absolutely true.

The first stuffed toy Buddy ever got was from my friend Julie. It was a reindeer head with rope coming out either side of it. It was his first Christmas.

I was so excited to give it to him...to see what he'd do with it. Within 30 seconds there was shredded rope and reindeer fluff everywhere. As a matter of fact, you could not even tell it had ever been a reindeer. I vowed then and there that I would never get him a stuffed toy again.

Obviously I went back on my vow...the proof is in the pic. I saw the toy at Target and just had to get it for him. Besides, he's an older dog now...maybe he'll be less likely to want to shred this one.

As soon as I removed it from the bag, he went nuts! It was as though I had brought home his favorite treats or something! I handed it to him and as he bit right into the middle of it...it squeaked! He dropped it in surprise and then dove back in biting and re-biting it, with it squeaking the entire time. Once he had the grip he wanted, he then started to run in a circle around the couch. 1...2...3...4 times he passed me. He had that look on his face like, "Oh my gosh! I need a place to bury this!" 5...6...7...8. He hopped up onto the love seat and looked desperately for which cushion to hide it under.

I always wonder why dogs bury certain toys and play with others...

Finally, he settled on the right hand corner and proceeded to shove it between the back cushion and the back of the couch. The deeper he shoved, the less of him you could see until only his hindquarters and his curly tail were sticking up above the cushion. With it buried, he then began pushing the "dirt" over the "hole" with his nose...vigorously...as though he were in the yard. With a sigh of great relief he finished, climbed down off the couch and looked at me as if to say, "What?"

I just shook my head and said, "Good job, Buddy. No one will ever find it there." :)

Pig in spaz mode...

2010-12-01T04:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure what was going on last night. Maybe Buddy was jealous that I had Anna over and was paying more attention to her than to him. Maybe it was because it rained and he did not get his walk. Maybe he walked to the corner store and got a 5 Hour Energy drink. Whatever the case, at 11:00 pm, yesterday, Buddy was bouncing off the walls. Whining, carrying on..."mama...PLAY WITH ME!"

He would not listen to commands, so he sat on his chair doing a pathetic little whine that was just loud enough to grate on my last nerve. Poor Anna...every two minutes I was reprimanding him. I am surprised we even got to talk. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as she left, he was quiet and well-behaved and laid down on the couch for a nap.

Sometimes I look at him and realize I could never handle a kid.

:)

Uncle Tim and the pig...

2010-11-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Buddy got to spend some long overdue time with Uncle Tim last weekend. This is just one of the bonding moments.

My brother Tim used to live with me, and during that time, he formed a very cool bond with Buddy. Every time they are reunited, Buddy remembers how much fun it is to play with Uncle Tim. I love seeing them together.

This boy is TOO smart!

2010-11-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am one of those pet owners who spends a great deal of money getting her dog the best dog food. All natural, no preservatives...with vitamin pellets in it to make him healthier. They are tiny little pellets and are mixed throughout the food. The lady at PETCO warned me that he may eat around them, but eventually he would eat them too. From day one it has been a struggle. I have tried everything from hand feeding him every single vitamin, to not giving him any new food until the vitamins are all gone. I don't have the time to hand feed him every vitamin, and it just seems cruel to make him skip meals, so I have tried various other things:

- roll them in a ball of all natural peanut butter

- bribe him with "toothbrushes" if he eats them all
- yell, fuss, cajole, threaten...

They all worked to a point, but the peanut butter ball was most successful.

Yesterday, after much prodding and no results, Randy thought we should try the peanut butter once more. Jokingly I said, "Watch, he sucks the peanut butter off each individual pellet and leaves them on the carpet like he always does."

Guess what he did. Yes. Exactly that.

I swear, not only does he hear me, but he knows EXACTLY what I am saying and the little shit did it on purpose. SO irritating!

So, until I come up with a failsafe way of getting good old Buddy to eat his vitamins on his own, I am going to be using the meal skipping route. Grrrr.

Buddy gets a toothbrush

2010-07-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Randy and the bear...

2010-07-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Since Randy came into my life, Buddy has gotten a HUGE list of new nicknames. I have decided to list them for a few reasons...one, so I can try to remember them all when I am old and senile...and two, so others may get a little giggle of the display of affection of a man for his dog.

- Mr. Booters
- Mr. Boot Scoots
- Pig
- Piggers
- Bear
- Mr. Bear
- Lumpy Dumps
- Pooter Scooters
- Boobers
- Bum Wiggler
- Mr. Wiggle Butts
- Boo Bear
- Pootins
- Pig man
- Budders
- Rumplepigskins

*added 9/28/10
- Bubba
- Guy Bubba

...and the list goes on. I will add more as they come to mind.
Who knew I could have such a sweet and loving little family? Me, my man and my puggle...

A new dawn, a new day, a new life...

2010-07-23T06:36:00.000-07:00

Buddy and I are getting settled into our new life and our new apartment. We are very happily living with my new boyfriend, who loves Mr. Pig as much as I do...he's completely smitten.

It's been quite a change for Bud. Walks on a leash instead of full reign over an entire yard...less area to run around in...but no more crate! He gets to roam free while his people are gone. He loves that. He has also now become one of the overly spoiled dogs that is allowed to sleep on the bed. Randy did this. I am still not too sure if I like it...but on those chilly winter nights, he does make for an awesome snuggle buddy...and a very hairy pair of slippers.

There is no way I would have made it through the amazing amount of changes in my life over the last couple years without my furry little bed warmer. There's no love quite like the love of a woman for her dog.

Man of the house...

2009-06-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Beginning Tuesday, Buddy the Puggle becomes the "man of the house". My husband and I have seperated and he will be moving out. Buddy officially becomes protector, friend and walking buddy. You will very likely see more stories, more pics and more funny little anecdotes about him. He is a very special dog.

Pig Pig

2008-07-07T05:18:00.001-07:00

My sweet Puggle has become somewhat the crazed lunatic eater...he has found some bizarre things in our yard recently and begun to eat each and every one of them.

Orange plastic hockey puck. Real, black rubber hockey puck. Garden edging. Mulch. Sticks. Tar that goes in the cracks of the cement...

I have found all sorts of sundry items in his mouth, chewed up and lying on the deck. When I attempt a reprimand, he just looks at me like, "What, mom? Did I do something?" The irritation melts away in a big squishy warm love feeling and I pick up all the pieces and throw them away.

Despite little things like this, I have needed Buddy these last few weeks...and the little guy has totally been there for me. Little warm fuzzy snuggled at my feet. Little cute tail wagging like a helicopter blade spinning as he greets me when I come home.

I can't imagine my life without Buddy. At this point, I would not want to.

The very best thing about Buddy

2008-05-14T06:21:00.001-07:00

I have never had a dog before. I have had cats and I have known people who have dogs...but until I got Buddy and fell head-over-heels in love with him, I had no idea what the big deal was.

If you come to my house for a visit, there is absolutely no question that Buddy is MY dog. I didn't plan this...didn't even know it could happen like that, but it did...and I am grateful.

There are times when I need him. There's a special love between a dog and his owner. When I am sad, he knows. He comes right to me, gives me kisses and then snuggles up alongside me so I know he's there. He's my soft, furry comforter.

When I get home from a long day of work, he jumps up and runs to the door to greet me...tail wagging like a lunatic...and he almost appears to be smiling. He knows it's me. He knows I love him and I know he missed me.

There's something so honest about the love of a dog. Nothing fake. Nothing false. He behaves as his nature has him behave with no holding back. Sometimes, most of the time, I wish I was more like him.

Buddy meets Sheldon

2008-05-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

We keep my box turtle, Sheldon, in the basement for a number of reasons. One is that some dogs think turtles are sushi.

We bring Sheldon up frequently to socialize and to walk around and get his exercise. I was so proud of Buddy. He just sat there and watched Sheldon eat his lettuce and apple, and didn't try for the turtle or his food.

Have I told you I have the sweetest, cutest, smartest dog in the whole world? I do. Nanner, nanner, boo, boo.

Weird dream about Buddy...

2008-05-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Last night I dreamt that a huge rat had gotten into my house somehow. He was big and chubby and very furry, but in a nice way. I needed to get rid of him, so we set a trap and it killed him. When I went to put him in a box to throw away his remains, I noticed it was Buddy I was throwing away. It made me so sad! I have no idea what it meant...I'm sorry Buddy!

Puggle, or PIGgle?

2008-04-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Our puppy has his very own doggy issue...he's well, a pig. I know Beagles obsess about food, but this is ridiculous. Shortly after we got him, Buddy started wolfing down his food so fast that he'd just vomit it all back up later...and usually on my carpet. This was very disturbing.

When I spoke to the vet about it, she suggested spreading the food evenly across the floor or carpet so he has to work to get it all. It worked like a charm! He doesn't get sick and we are completely entertained by what we call his "piggle-ing". We actually call him piggle sometimes and he even responds to it! It helps that he makes the pug snorting sound while he eats too...just like a piggy!

It's more cute than anything. Can't help but love him to pieces!

Sneaky, but sweet

2008-04-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

Well, here's our baby dog again...so cute, so sleepy. So sneaky! When we have dinner, we generally eat in the livingroom. To ensure no begging, we have trained him to sit in the kitchen...well, sort of...because when we aren't looking or paying attention he'll wiggle over the threshold and stare at us as if he's getting away with something...and very often we find him here. Asleep. Defiant. Just like this.

Can I resist him? Nope.

Chalk it up to enthusiasm...

2008-04-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that Buddy has a lot of energy? Just give him a laser pointer or flashlight "dot" to chase, a Kong to fetch, or something to play tug-o-war with and you have a total spaz on your hands.

Last night in the throes of an all out spaz session, I decided to play fetch with him and the Kong. Sometimes he gets too excited to give the Kong back, so I'll play a little tug-o-war with him. This time, he readjusted his grip (with his teeth) and bit directly into my thumb, right next to the nail.

OMG! It hurt so bad, and it bled like a faucet. You know he didn't mean it. You know he's a dog and was playing and has no idea what happened and you know for sure you can't punish him for something he didn't know he did.

So amidst the blood, the crying and the pain, I figured I should just chalk it up to enthusiasm.

Cutest when he's sleeping...

2008-04-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Who knew the sheer energy contained inside this small furry critter? Between chasing balls, digging in the yard, staying consistently under my feet while I am cooking dinner and being highly absorbent when he gets his bath (he takes 3 entire bath sheets to get the wet mostly off), this boy wears me out! I am grateful for the times I catch him napping on the couch or on a blanket.

I am even more grateful if he happens to snuggle up and nap right next to me. Nothing so toasty as your own warm dog!

What the fuggle is a puggle?

2008-04-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Puggle? Excuse me? I'm not sure what you're referring to...

My husband, Patrick, and I have no plans to have children, and we had noticed that there was a certain something missing in our lives. After much thought and deliberation, as well as MANY MANY conversations with friends, we decided to get a dog.

As we searched on petfinder.com for our "perfect dog" we found all sorts of cute dogs. It wasn't until about a month into it that I stumbled across the word Puggle. A half-breed Pug and Beagle mix. Apparently all the rage in the pet ownership world...

Now, I am not the designer dog sort, so I dismissed the idea of getting a Puggle almost immediately. We wanted a Pug initially, but my hubby had always been fond of Beagles. After repeated attempts to rescue a Pug and no response from the agencies we contacted, we started looking at local shelters and on Craig's List. We saw a listing for an 8 month old Puggle and Patrick suggested we go meet him. I wasn't going to call, but I did, and we were off to see him the very next day!

(Now, Patrick had been a proud dog owner most of his life. I, on the other hand, had never had a dog of my own or living in my house before. This was to be a life altering day!)

The lady who had the Puggle needed to move and could only take one dog. She had two. Her Puggle "Taz", was who we went to check out. Patrick loved him from the start. I was hesitant, but I would have been with any dog, I think. Within 45 minutes, we were taking him home.

I won't even blog about the first night of crate training as that is a memory I hope to one day forget. The sounds he made...as though being murdered in cold blood...ALL NIGHT LONG. Thankfully, he adjusted quickly, and now goes into his crate on his own when he gets tired.

After almost 5 months of learning each other, watching the Dog Whisperer, training and snuggling, our renamed "Buddy" is the cutest and most wonderful dog in the world. "Designer dog" or not, he's our Puggle and we love him to pieces!