Another interesting article

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/03/24/dog-tail-chasing.html

So this article is the most recent research on dog-tail chasing and how this behavior might be linked to high cholesterol. Naturally, most of this research has been based on human studies but it's interesting nonetheless.

I'm not a tail-chaser myself. HA! At least not in the way discuss in this context, teehee! My own tail doesn't interest me. Although sometimes mum thinks it's hilarious to place things on my back and watch me run in circles to try to remove it. It makes me feel funny when I run in too many circles so I don't do it much. After reading this article I could conclude that I do not have high cholesterol, hopefully.

The last time I went to the vet they took blood from me with this contraption that hurt a little. I was super angry. Mum told dad she asked them to because I had put on so much weight since I was adopted. I tried to tell her it's only because I love my new life and I'm a pug. All of my weight goes around my waist. In other words, I'm apple shaped, not pear or stick shaped. Did she listen to me? Of course not, I'm not a professional. In other words, I had to endure pain and agony that she PAID for only to hear the same excuse I gave her from a doctor. Sometimes she is a stubborn lady, just ask my dad. It's ok though, she take good care of me the rest of the time.

SF SPCA

Since my last blog about "quote" Smartest Dogs "end quote" I've been thinking about my heritage and genealogy. I've been pawing over all kinds of info on my genetic make up and how I ended up in San Francisco. I have no idea where I came from. All that my parents have told me is that I was surrendered at a shelter somewhere in the country, Yolo County to be exact. They joke about me being scared of San Francisco because I grew up in the boonies. Well, I'm proud to say, I'm all city now people!

I really don't remember much about my time before San Francisco. I remember being taken to the SF SPCA where I was cleaned, fed and different people took care of me by taking me out for short walks. They were all really nice but I was so confused! I also remember the vet gave me shots, cleaned me and then put me in this glass room with some other dogs. Those dogs were so annoying! Both were chihuahuas, one was Rocky and he traveled all the way from San Jose. The other one was a girl named Missy but I can't remember where she came from. There were glass rooms all around us filled with other dogs and people would walk by all of the rooms and look at all of us. There were so many other dogs in other rooms. Some were babies and others were much, much older.

Rocky and Missy irritated me. When they weren't barking at every person, toy, shadow and movement they would try to get me to play with them. Listen fools, if you're nipping my ear and I don't get up, chances are I don't want to play. DEAL WITH IT.

It had only been 2 days in the room and one morning I saw this lady walk by and point at me. My two idiot room mates were yapping at me for not playing, I finally had enough of their chitter chatter and got up from the bed I was in, walked across the room and settled onto another blanket. I think I remember the lady shriek when I did that and pull the man next to her to come and look at me. The next thing I know, I was being taking out for an impromptu walk. It was so EXCITING!! Not only did I get to escape those loud chihuhuas, but this nice lady was paying all of this attention to me. I like attention.

After the walk, they came into the room with the man that worked at the SPCA and I immediately put my paws on her knees because she sounded nice and smelled fantastic. She kept rubbing me behind my ears and on my head and she turned to the man she was with and this was what was said:

Lady: Aw, sweets!! He's the one! Look at how cute he is. He's got one floppy ear and one straight one, OH! and the sweetest eyes, and look how much he likes me!!! Plus he's a pug!
Man: Uhh... what's wrong with his eye?
**[I have a cherry eye condition but that's for another post]**
Lady: I'm sure it's nothing serious otherwise he wouldn't be here.
Man: Are you sure this is the one you want? We can come back on another day and look
Lady: It's my birthday and I think he's perfect. Don't you like him?
Man: I guess if you like him that's all that matters. But that eye....
Lady: I want him... what do I need to do to get him home? That's ok right? You're still cool with getting a dog because you have to like him too, ya know.
Man: Like what I think is going to matter in this situation (points to me smiling at the lady)
Lady: I LOVE YOU!!!

It was 2 more weeks until I saw them again but it was my mum and dad. That was the first day I met them and I knew they were the parents for me. As much as I give them a hard time about not paying attention to me and such, I always remember how lucky I was to have them walk in when I was at the SPCA. It's pretty sad because some of the other dogs don't get that type of immediate attention, especially if they are older. There are some dogs that come from the worst homes and they have horrible tales to tell about what life has been like for them. Lucky for me, I only remember the good times.

So, if you're seriously considering getting a dog, don't get one of those super expensive posh dogs... save one of my pals at the SPCA. Here's their contact info: http://sfspca.org/

I call shenanigan's!

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22063/68520-boy--world-s-ten-smartest-dogs

I found this article on the Yahoo! homepage yesterday and when I first read it it pissed me off but I didn't think much of it. I tried to sleep last night but I couldn't shake the feeling of anger. TEN SMARTEST DOGS?? This is straight discrimination and here's why:

1. They only consider purebred dogs. Hello? This is a dog world littered with idiots because they've been mated with their family. Yeah, you can find a breeder that knows all the different families but more often than not, the incest leads to dumb dogs.

2. PetMD. Who is PetMD and why does he/she think they are the authority on another species? They aren't even dogs!

3. Herding dogs. This is what they're meant to do. Sure, I can follow the instructions of any human, but I CHOOSE not to, bitches.

4. Border Collie favortism. This all came about with Lassie. It has nothing to do with the breed, it has to do with that old skool series that made Americans fall in love with that dog. In fact, the only toy dog even recognized was the Papillion - have you ever met a Papillion that didn't bark at you from 20 feet away? 'Nuf said.

Mr./Ms. PetMD, you are on my shit list.

Oh yeah

Hola, I know I've been missing in action but the weather has been sunny. All I do during the day is sit on the window sill and sun bathe. My fur gets all warm and my eyes get super heavy so I drift off to sleep and have the best, fuzziest dreams. When I get too hot I slowly wake up and watch cars and the bay bridge.

My parents have been giving me a bonus too. I own this green ball that has a hole in the top and they put treats in it. It's really fun and frustrating at the same time because I can smell those delicious, soft, moist, chicken nugs but it's like a puzzle. I have to roll it, bite it, sqeeze it, toss it with my nose in order to get one little treat. It's a serious workout that I like to participate in when the sun is no longer hitting the window at the right angle. I LOVE sunshine, it really makes me happy.

So until the next entry, ADIOS AMIGOS!

Jenny Craig here I come!

I'm not the type of dog that is easily wound up. I like to think of myself as a laid back, quiet kind of pup that just lets the water roll off his coat, but today I was insulted!!! It was raining (what else is freaking new?) and mum was taking me out for my morning walk. The elevator that we normally use was broken so we had to go out the main entrace of our apartment block. It's pouring and it sucks out. I'm getting wet and mum is trying to keep things upbeat by telling me "Good boy, Bugs!" everytime I lift my leg. We round the corner on Townsend Street and she notices that the loading dock with the smelly garbage and big elevator is open. She decides to take the short cut through there rather than making me suffer in the weather. She really is the best mum in the world.

Anyway, there's this big truck with men loading stuff on and off of it. While we're waiting for the elevator one man comes up and is speaking Spanish. Now, I'm half chihuahua so I could understand a few things here at there. They were just standard "Buenos dias! Como esta?" Mum was trying her best to carry on a light convo but it was pretty clear she was rusty. Anyway, while she's yapping to this fella I walk over to smell his shoes - What? It's the best way to tell where a person has been, honest! - Well, the guy notices I'm sniffing and bends over to pet me. I'm a little shy when strangers try to be nice. Luckily the elevator arrived and it was filled with stuff but we could all fit. So all of us headed in there. The same guy starts speaking Spanish to me because I'm still trying to smell where he's been "Awww, so cute!" he says. Then, he bends over and pets me on my sides with both hands and says.... "Ay, GORDITO!!"

Excuxe me? Pardon? Que? I had to shake my head to make sure I heard him right and he said it AGAIN. I heard you call me a little fatty the first time, Senor. Enough! By that time I realised mum was trying to drag me out of the elevator and she was chuckling at what the man had said. My feelings were hurt. Of course, right when we walk into the house she makes me breakfast. I felt like too much of a lardo to eat... well, I mean eat in front of her. I just plopped myself on my big pillow and pretended to sleep and after she left for work, I ate my breakfast.

Mark my words, people! My diet starts today. No more pupperonis for sitting when I'm told. No more nawing on bones out of boredom even though they taste so delicious. Liver treats? NO THANK YOU. I'll just walk to my water bowl and gulp it imagining I'm eating one of those chickens mum brings back. Goodbye Gordito!

Comics!

It's still raining out so I started to sift through some of my mum's papers that she leaves out. Dad is always trying to clean up after her but she's like a walking mess when she's at home. Anyway, I came across a couple of comics from a calendar that I got a good "WOOF!" over them and thought I'd share. They're sooo true! It's nice to sneak in a good laugh in gloomy weather.