Part 3: A Three-Pug Site
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As I hop around the grounds of Arrowhead Gardens, I am invisible to most people, but the dogs who live here see me just fine. Dog owners, you may have noticed your pets suddenly staring straight ahead and sniffing, and wondered why they are intrigued by something you can’t see.
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As I hop around the grounds of Arrowhead Gardens, I am invisible to most people, but the dogs who live here see me just fine. Dog owners, you may have noticed your pets suddenly staring straight ahead and sniffing, and wondered why they are intrigued by something you can’t see.
Well, it’s probably me, Harvey. For years, I have observed a pug named Brummbar, totally black, walking in and out of Building D with her Dad, Tom. But then, a lady named Elaine moved in with her pug, Evie, this one totally white. Lately, another pug, named Mesa, a bit more brown in his coat, has advised Pat and Doug to choose Building D, since he wants to be close to the two females of his kind.
We all finally got together for a photo op. I had a bit of trouble herding them into a space where they could be photographed. After all, they are dogs, not sheep. Getting them all to sit together perfectly still and facing my photographer, was a dream that just would not come true, but they did enjoy sniffing each other and tangling their leashes.
They each told me their story. Brummbar has a lot of responsibility. She is Tom’s social secretary. He consults her before he commits to an appointment or date, so she can check her calendar. They often go out together, but when she just wants to sleep, he is allowed to launch out on his own for a few hours. Brummbar loves treats, and recognizes the humans who carry them around. This is a pretty universal phenomenon, I have noticed, with dogs of all breeds. Brummbar is an impressive package – a shiny coat of black and a stocky body. She is named after a German tank, which is quite fitting for her.
If for some reason Tom leaves without her consent, Brummbar lets him know with her special vocabulary: “Wowl, wowl, wowl,” a combination of a woof and a howl. It’s very effective, and Tom vacillates between feeling guilty and amused, when he listens to her plea.
Evie has two loves in her life: Elaine and doggy treats. In what order? That is unclear. Evie’s social life has greatly improved since moving to Arrowhead, because she not only gets fed, but petted and massaged by many hands. She has learned that not all humans are dog owners, but many are “wannabes,” who carry treats in their pockets.
She also loves going home, however, with her beloved Elaine, whom she seldom lets out of her sight. She guides her human to the elevator, and once arriving on the third floor, she waits for Elaine to toss a Kibble down the hall. She chases it, waits for another, and then runs home, so that Elaine will know which door to open. If, for some reason, Elaine leaves without her, which is almost never, Evie sets up a pitiful cry that tears at the heart of anyone within earshot.
Mesa is an old, wise, laid-back dog – totally mellow. He is rather quiet, but when he wants to say something, his comments are musical and expressive. He has not been here very long, and has not caught on completely to the endless treats cornucopia. He is more slender than the girls, and this may be why, although there could be another reason. Mesa gets to choose his food. His devoted owners, Pat and Doug, provide him each day with a smorgasbord – three dishes, and amazingly, Mesa will zero in on one meal, and it might be different each day, because he seems to like variety. He will chow this down completely, and then be perfectly sated and content. Tom and Elaine were amazed at this, telling Doug and Pat that their dogs would eat all three meals and not quit until they either finished them or exploded.
An exploding pug? I’m trying to wrap my mind around that: not be a pretty sight!
But Mesa may have a really good reason – he needs to be handsome and desirable to the two ladies.
I have been intrigued by our pug residents, and I’m glad to get to know them better. If any other pug-owning humans move into Arrowhead, I hope they will choose Building D.
Harvey – as told to Mieke Tazelaar
They each told me their story. Brummbar has a lot of responsibility. She is Tom’s social secretary. He consults her before he commits to an appointment or date, so she can check her calendar. They often go out together, but when she just wants to sleep, he is allowed to launch out on his own for a few hours. Brummbar loves treats, and recognizes the humans who carry them around. This is a pretty universal phenomenon, I have noticed, with dogs of all breeds. Brummbar is an impressive package – a shiny coat of black and a stocky body. She is named after a German tank, which is quite fitting for her.
If for some reason Tom leaves without her consent, Brummbar lets him know with her special vocabulary: “Wowl, wowl, wowl,” a combination of a woof and a howl. It’s very effective, and Tom vacillates between feeling guilty and amused, when he listens to her plea.
Evie has two loves in her life: Elaine and doggy treats. In what order? That is unclear. Evie’s social life has greatly improved since moving to Arrowhead, because she not only gets fed, but petted and massaged by many hands. She has learned that not all humans are dog owners, but many are “wannabes,” who carry treats in their pockets.
She also loves going home, however, with her beloved Elaine, whom she seldom lets out of her sight. She guides her human to the elevator, and once arriving on the third floor, she waits for Elaine to toss a Kibble down the hall. She chases it, waits for another, and then runs home, so that Elaine will know which door to open. If, for some reason, Elaine leaves without her, which is almost never, Evie sets up a pitiful cry that tears at the heart of anyone within earshot.
Mesa is an old, wise, laid-back dog – totally mellow. He is rather quiet, but when he wants to say something, his comments are musical and expressive. He has not been here very long, and has not caught on completely to the endless treats cornucopia. He is more slender than the girls, and this may be why, although there could be another reason. Mesa gets to choose his food. His devoted owners, Pat and Doug, provide him each day with a smorgasbord – three dishes, and amazingly, Mesa will zero in on one meal, and it might be different each day, because he seems to like variety. He will chow this down completely, and then be perfectly sated and content. Tom and Elaine were amazed at this, telling Doug and Pat that their dogs would eat all three meals and not quit until they either finished them or exploded.
An exploding pug? I’m trying to wrap my mind around that: not be a pretty sight!
But Mesa may have a really good reason – he needs to be handsome and desirable to the two ladies.
I have been intrigued by our pug residents, and I’m glad to get to know them better. If any other pug-owning humans move into Arrowhead, I hope they will choose Building D.
Harvey – as told to Mieke Tazelaar
Copyright 2016 Mieke Tazelaar All Rights Reserved
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