puppies, poop & the inevitable. Happy National Puppy Day! The story of how I met Bandit. The short version. Late 2009, I was mid way through my Dog Trainer training and I came to the conclusion that I should have a dog of my own. I had grown up with German Shepherds and Labs so I wanted something small. Just to check the grass of it. I was originally looking at getting a Maltipoo. For those of you who aren’t aware, it’s a mutt. A cross between a Maltese and a Miniature Poodle. I had one picked out, she was somewhere north of Toronto. However, my mother refused to drive that far for a puppy, me being way too socially uncomfortable to go on my own. I sulked about it for some time while I endlessly searched Kijiji ads. Then one magical day, my life changed. I was teaching a new obedience class, waiting in the parking lot talking to clients, when this little old lady rolled up on a Harley Davidson complete with a custom dog seat. In that dog seat sat the baddest little pug you’ve ever seen, goggles and all. Picture a cartoon character whose just seen their dream, eyes large and full of love. Glistening. Or when Tina imagines herself frolicking with Jimmy. That look. I thought to myself. “I’m going to be as cool as that lady. I need a pug!” I quickly found some puppies that were local. My mother and I went to look at them and there were only two left. A boy and a girl. The girl came right up to us and was sweet but the boy, he walked over and took a huge poop in front of us and ran away. Ugh. My heart. He also pooped in the carrier on the way home. To this day he can’t be in a car for more than a minute before he has to poop. Gawd love him. I brought him home Christmas Eve. The best Christmas present in the history of my world. Thus was Pugsley ‘The Bandit’ Malone, my heart and soul. Although I don't know if you'll ever catch us on a Harley... maybe. Probably not. - N & B Bandit Born 10/23/09. Scorpio. Lover.
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travel diary: Adventure Time featuring BMO! I try very hard to make my dog more than a priority, his life should be just as important and full of adventure as mine. Some of my days are ten hours or more working at the vet and I never want him to feel alone or neglected. So we adventure every chance we get whether it be an actual adventure or figurative one taken through film or word. As long as there's a cuddle or two involved. And of course treats! Today we had a little tag a long for our adventure. My mother's pug Baby joined us! For our outing we headed a bit deeper down the bumpy back roads, windows open, classic rock flowing, and let them lead us out to Lincoln. We found ourselves at Louth Falls within the Louth Conservation Area. While we had a great time, the trail and sights are beautiful, this is not one that we will frequent. The top path which runs parallel to the falls has no barrier and is a straight drop down to the rocky water below. The other trails are very rocky and I had to carry these two munchkins through a couple spots (Just casually walking over boulders with a pug under each arm, goofy smiles and all). Mind you they both were more than willing to navigate the terrain on their own. If you didn't know, pugs are stubborn! Bandit especially. He'll be sore and limping one minute and the ripping over logs and over rocks the next. Then he'll sleep for five days. Bear cub. Given both their disabilities this trail wasn't the best fit for them and their energies. They like to go fast when they're together. Baby has one eye and isn't always aware of her surroundings, she often runs into me or Bandit. Bandit on the other hand has pins in one of his front legs, as he broke it in two places when he was about three months old. I will say it was the first trail we've been on lately that didn't have anyone else around. Just me yelling at them alone in the middle of the woods. Talking to them like they're people. You know, normal dog mom things. We've had some truly beautiful weather the last few days. The sun bright and the sky blue. While there's still a bit of a nip to the air we've worked our way down to t-shirts instead of our heavy winter coats. Dog wise. I still need a coat. I really did love this trail though. The forest is littered with moss covered rocks and boulders, ferns crawling around the gaps and tree bases. The sound of the falls fills the air around you. It felt like a place fairies would gather. I can't wait to head back once spring is in full swing and the forest is truly living and lush. Maybe with just my man, he's much chiller when it's just the two of us. - N & B shop this postBaby's tee is a few seasons old and no longer available. travel Playlisttravel diary : Beachy Keen.On this radiant Sunday Funday, being the weekend warriors that we are, we headed out for a scavenge hunt on a peaceful beach in Charles Daley Park on Lake Ontario. We walked up and down it's shores in search of drift wood and smooth stones, maybe some sea glass for the old witch hiding inside me, or the small child in me. Still in absolute awe of nature and a sucker for a serene landscape. Bandit trudged about peeing on every log, stump and uplifted root system he could find. The water and the air were brisk but that didn't stop him from running through the little waves coming into shore. Such an adventurer. It was such a perfectly clear day we could see the Toronto skyline across the lake. We sat and watched the waves roll in and a fishing boat saunter about looking for a spot for a while. Bandit the Mama's boy he is, had to sit in my lap for it. Little over the shoulder kisses. I forgot my backpack so I was left stuffing sticks and rocks into my pockets, looking like a crazy person I'm sure. At one point I had to stuff Bandit's Tee into my pocket as well. It's cute but not practical, it occasionally falls down his neck and over his shoulders to the point where the lower hem falls over his little man. He then pees in it. We need to re-hem it for him. I keep forgetting. I always learn the hard way. So he eventually ran free and naked all over the place. Maybe rolled and dragged himself through some mud and grass. There's no such thing as a dog walk/hike that he comes away from clean. Neither does my SUV. Oh well. Just look at that smile! Totally worth the sand in my seats. - N & B shop this postTRavel PlaylistOn repeat!
Travel Diary : Two little pugs.Our spring faded back into winter. Nature has, like most of us, declared 'Namastay in bed!' as she tucked herself in under a fresh layer of heavy snow. I don't blame her. I'm not a morning person, yet I like to do as many things as possible before noon. Contradictory, I know. Bandit is also not a morning person. He's a dog (Sorry, couldn't resit). He's more than willing to sleep all day. Most mornings I have to carry him out because he's still in bed whilst I've been awake for over an hour and have made the bed around him.
Today we headed out for a late afternoon walk to accommodate him, I had also worked all morning. So with the sun low and our spirits high we set out for our favourite spot (Swayze Falls within Short hills Provincial Park) with a little monster in tow. My mother's pug Baby. She's a seat hog. Bandit hates it. It was quite cold so the little ones were bundled right up with their hoodies and jackets. Bandit always looks like a tank in his, it pushes all his neck skin up. You'll see. Imagine walking through the most pristine wood, the snow crunching beneath your boots, all is silent and still. Then, two little pugs come trodding up behind you snorting and grunting as the rip past and up the path. A dream if you ask me. Like Snow White with a few less dwarves. HIGH HO! - N & B Travel Diary : We're Going on an adventure.Today was such a perfect day. It’s rare that I have two days off in a row so I knew I wanted to spend at least one of them with Bandit. We started our adventure at Petsmart to try on harnesses. Prime walking season is upon us and It’s no longer too cold for little paws. Like the rest of nature we are slowly waking from our winter slumber. Long cold night a short dreary days. Bandit’s like a little bear cub. People look at him the same way they would look at one too. With an eagerness to cuddle behind their gaze. Maybe that’s just me. I would want to cuddle a bear cub. Walking into Petsmart with Bandit is also like walking into Cheers because everybody knows his name and just like Sam Malone he walks in with the same gruff and heads straight for the bar, actually the girl at cash with the treats. Even though he never eats them. He just likes to take them and hoard. A little bear or maybe that’s more of a squirrel? The many sides of Bandit. Naturally, he got all the pets while he lovingly started at me to make sure the stranger touching him was cool. He made new friends while I struggled with his awkward pug body. All chest. You will only understand if you’re next level crazy like me but it is so hard to find clothes that fit him! We love Roots’ Beaver Canoe brand but their harnesses are too small. Ultimately, we went with an ED by Ellen full wrap harness because … Well they’re cute as hell and they fit! Thirty Three plus tax though… My dog wearing all the latest threads while I shop at Old Navy on sale days. After buying some toys and some treats we headed to Starbucks. I don’t know about the rest of you but I love when the people in drive through get all excited to see a dog. Bandit loves it. Everybody’s happy. No I didn’t get him a Puppuccino. That’s a treat he would of gobbled but they’re only for really special occasions like his birthday because a cup of whipped cream isn’t the best thing for him. He’s down to a healthy 24 lbs from a whopping 35 lbs. Thirty minutes and a few heartfelt serenades later we arrived at our destination. Short Hills Provincial Park. I’ve been hiking here since I was a kid. I don't know why you’d bring a kid hiking? I know personally I was always on a leash when out in public because I was a little shit. Not like a rebellious one though just the same anti social type. The type that takes off in K-Mart only to be found, after the place goes on lock down, in a shelf of stuffed animals reading. READING. I’ve always been cool. So I can’t imagine child me in a forest. Probably crawling into tree dens and burroughs. Bandit on the other hand is a great kid. He is also anti social but he doesn’t like to be alone so he never leaves my sight or usually my side. He doesn’t even acknowledge other dogs or people. He just trudges along with his little wobble. Like a little hobbit following his human leader. If we could just find the talking trees we’d be set. His main concern is avoiding the big mud puddles or looking to me to carry him through them. I also have to carry him up steep hills, or push him up them. We often emerge from hikes with me covered head to toe in mud. I’ll look like I rolled through a puddle for my dog’s well being. I’d also kill a man for him. Just saying. Should the situation call for it. Today’s hike was next level. We only saw a few people and one dog. A dog an old lady warned me about in passing because he “looked mean”. First of all, no dog “looks mean”. You’re projecting your own personal ignorant beliefs about dogs onto a living being you’ve never met. Breedist. Second that “mean dog” was an absolutely adorable Neapolitan Mastiff puppy out working on his heeling abilities. Just trying to be a good boy. His owner was also a good friend of my dad’s so we chatted for a bit. Bandit stood behind me smelling a bush. During our hike it on and off snowed. The type of soft big snowflakes that just sort of drift and float down. It was like a fairy tale or a scene from a movie. The forest was quiet and it felt like we we’re the only ones alive. The whole forest to ourselves. Me and my little bear squirrel hybrid. He certainly sleeps like a bear because that’s all he did when we got home and the following day. I wrote this to the ambient sound of him snoring. Such a chill dog. Totally down to take on the world, to follow me to the end like the little Pikachu to my Ash or the Samwise to my Frodo, except I’m a lot nicer and no ring would come between us. He’s also totally down to watch all 22 hours of Harry Potter. Bandit: seriously the best decision of my life. -N SHOp this post |
Scorpio. Pug.
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