Buddha the Pug

He's gotten big

2008-05-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

My landlord saw Buddha yesterday for the first time in a number of months and said, "Wow, I barely recognized him. He was a lot smaller before.."

Buddha has gained a few unnecessary pounds and I am trying my hardest to get them off. We go on 2 long walks a day, plus 1 short walk. He eats 2 balanced meals a day and only a couple snacks. I always told myself that I would never let my pug get overweight, and now he is (a little bit) and I feel guilty.

lounging around

odd way of sleeping

sexy

The Birthday Party

2008-02-02T16:38:00.001-08:00

I threw Buddha a small little birthday party at home. He loved it.

Buddha's peanut butter birthday cake, from Three Dog Bakery.

I let him lick the cake for awhile. Then I took it away and cut him a piece. He was so happy.

"You all better stay away from my cake!

Chomping away on his cake

Buddha's birthday boy hat. Grandma had to hold him still in order for me to take this picture. Apparently, he doesn't like strange objects on top of his head.

Yes, I adore my dog.

I got Buddha this rubber chicken toy. Her name is Henrietta and she has a hormonal problem. Everytime you squeeze her, she makes this terrible noise. Buddha was confused and wasn't sure what to do with her. Grandma liked Henrietta more than Buddha did.

Happy little birthday boy!

Buddha turns 1!

2008-02-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

Today, February 2nd, is Buddha's FIRST birthday!

5 weeks..

2.5 months..

4 months..

6 months..

1 year!

My little angel is all grown up!

sleepy face/curly tail

2008-01-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

he loves the KONG

2008-01-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

one of Buddha's favorite things is his Kong. i fill it with peanut butter before i go to work in the morning. he gets so excited about it that he doesn't even notice me leaving!.. which is nice b/c i hate seeing his gloomy face.

New Sweater!

2008-01-19T16:35:00.000-08:00

Buddha & I got our prize from the Pampered Puppy Photo Contest in the mail yesterday. It's a sweater from Boutique of Paws. Buddha always gets a little wild when I put clothes on him, and the sweater was no exception.

So handsome!

the morning routine

2008-01-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

Idea copied from Panda!

Most every morning, I wake up around 7:30-8am. Buddha usually wakes up with me. Sometimes he is too exhausted, so he stays in the bed by himself while I get ready for work.

When he decides to wake up with me, he insists on sitting in the bathroom while I take my shower. He just sits there patiently on the bathroom mat, waiting for me to get done. Sometimes he falls back asleep. If I don't let him in the bathroom while I do this, he freaks out and may potentially wake up my roommates.

As I get ready to head out, Buddha turns his "somber face" on and does not stop staring at me. He knows I'm going to leave. We take a short walk, I give him a peanut butter Kong, and then I leave. Luckily I don't work too many hours each day (3-4) so he's not alone too long!

Winner!

2008-01-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

Yay! A picture of Buddha won 4th place in the Pampered Puppy December Photo Contest! We win a sweater (which we really really need!) Check it out here

Scrub a dub pug

2007-12-19T14:47:00.000-08:00

Buddha loves running water, and he loves when he knows it's time to take a bath.

"Lemme in!"

"Ok.. this isn't as cool as I thought it would be.."

"Get. Me. Out. Of. Here."

Winter Party

2007-12-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Buddha went to a pug meetup in Freeburg, IL (about 45 min away from where we live). It was freeezing cold outside, but it was lots of fun. There were about 11 pugs there. Everybody dressed in their best holiday attire.

Buddha was so shy the whole time! He hid between mine and Mike's legs and would barely play with the other pugs!

Santa Ollie

Buddha came out of his shell a little and pranced around in the snow.

This is Ray Charles. He is blind and has the most amazing face. He's a very sweet guy.

Trying to keep warm in the garage!

For the party, everybody brought a gift bag and then we exchanged them. Buddha got a bag full of toys and was very happy!

Picture with Santa!

2007-12-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

I took Buddha to Petsmart and got his picture taken with Santa Claus! Everybody just loved him.

Buddha's First Christmas

2007-12-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

Buddha turns one year old in February. This year will be his first Christmas. He is so excited.

We decided to have a little photo shoot on the red futon.

Unfortunately, he doesn't like the Christmas collar I bought him. There were little bells on each end of the red & green things, but he pulled all but one off.

turkey day

2007-12-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

this past thanksgiving was fun. after much begging, i was given some turkey.

i was so happy.

i hate clothes

2007-12-03T18:12:00.001-08:00

from halloween

2007-12-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

2007-09-03T10:21:00.001-07:00

I love my mom

2007-09-01T10:14:00.001-07:00

She's the greatest.

R.I.P. Garland

2007-09-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

My friend, Garland the Guinea Pig, passed away recently. It is true that I was pretty jealous of him, but I really did love him. Garland was 5+ years old and lived a very nice, pampered life. This is a picture of him and I a couple days before he went up to guinea pig heaven. He was a great guy.

~Buddha

Goodbye, manhood

2007-09-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday, little Buddha got neutered. He spent all day at the vet and I picked him up around 5pm. He was walking funny and looked (and smelled) like he had just been through complete hell. I felt so awful.

When we got home, I kept Buddha as calm as I could. We hung out in the living room and watched movies. He couldn't sit still. He was so ancy. He made two potties in the house, even though he is potty trained (he is even off his puppy pads!). I think he wet in the house because he was so disoriented. The next day there were no accidents. His bathroom behavior went back to normal.

Buddha woke me up a few times during the night. His sleep schedule must have been thrown off due to the anesthetia he received for his surgery.

The day after the surgery, Buddha was back to normal. I gave him a nice bath and I could tell he felt great. I think he forgot all about his scary day of surgery.

One misconception I had about neutering: The dog will stop humping things.

NOT TRUE.

Buddha has been humping his stuffed animals ever since Wednesday (the day after his surgery). He is doing it even more aggressively than he used to. I've been researching why this is. Apparently, it's just a dominance thing. And also, the hormones aren't completely out of his system yet. It usually takes about 6 weeks post-neuter.

Anyhoo, Buddha is doing great. He's the same happy little energetic boy he was before the surgery!

2007-08-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

hello all. i am turning into quite a handsome young man. mom and i just moved into a new house with 2 of her friends. i really enjoy peeing on our new shower curtain and mom can't understand why! oh well. i try to be a good boy.

2007-07-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

mom takes lots of pictures of me. the flash goes off, i keep sleeping. i'm such a good pug.

my first MEETUP

2007-07-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Cosmo's Fourth of July Party
i had the time of my life and met so many friends!

there was a pool.. that's me in the red and white stripes

everybody was swimming!

hahaha

very patriotic

my new pals and i getting crazy

this dude tried to steal my food. he thinks that just because he's jet black, he can do whatever he wants.

me and cosmo. cosmo tried to hump me later on, and i had to explain to him.. "i don't roll that way.." he was a little heartbroken but he got over it.

i had a crush on daisy..

and she gave me a kiss..

boy, was i happy.

more pictures

Those I Love

2007-07-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

my grandpa

my mike

my cindy

my doll

and of course, my girlfriend

New outfit

2007-06-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

when mom went to the store, and came back with this outfit for me, i was pretty mad. it looks like it's for a girl!

i wanted to run..

but actually.......

i think i look pretty cute..

I love the creek!

2007-06-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

mom took me to Castlewood Park today. i love swimming! and i was able to swim in the deep end on my own!

here i come!

splishin and splashin

i'm outta my mind with happiness!

okay mom, i'm ready to go home.

restin' up

i'll just chew on this Pringles lid.

Sup.

2007-06-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Like Father, Like Son

2007-06-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Today, after taking some pictures of Buddha, I really noticed how much he looks like his dad, Bandit.

They've both got those extreme wrinkles. They both exude confidence.

Buddha has been doing very well. He gets motion sickness while in the car, though, so I have to find some remedy for him. Other than that, everything's great. I would really like to get a playmate for him. It's not a good time right now.. but probably in 6 months or so.

2007-06-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

I look sexy.

whatchu want?

shirtin' it up

2007-06-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

i'm famous!

2007-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Below is the beginning of a play written by Brooke, based on the picture.

ACT ONE of "BUDDHA AND ME: A LOVE STORY"

SETTING: Probably takes place around 1940. That's why it's in black and white.

CHARACTER SKETCH: CINDY is a well- educated musician hailing from the South Dakota farmland. She studied at Yale and Harvard, and is well-versed in Czechoslovakian lore. BUDDHA speaks, thinks, and acts with a Scottish accent despite his Eastern descent.

CINDY: Well, it's just you and me, kid.
BUDDHA: [silence]

To be continued...

End scene.

2007-05-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

hey all! buddha here. life has been exciting. i start out every morning at 7-7:30am when i lick mom's face until she wakes up. she takes me outside to go potty. i'm getting a little better about going outside. i still go inside but i can't help it (the doctor says i have a little bladder infection). on mom's days off, we go to castlewood park and play in the creek and run around. it's awesome.

i'm happy to report that i have found a girlfriend. here's a picture of us:

i know she's not much to look at, but we have a deep spiritual connection. mom keeps telling me that she's not a real dog. that she's stuffed full of cotton. she just says that because she thinks i'm too young to be in love.

well, i'm gonna go take a nap now. with grandma.

fun with polaroid

2007-05-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

yay!!

devious and defiant

2007-05-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

the older i get, the worse my manners. mom tries to train me, but i still continue to poop and pee wherever and whenever i darn well please. i realize that i am supposed to go outside, and i do, but i go inside as well because i feel like it. i also continue to bite and nip constantly. i do what i want!

(i can get away with anything because i am so adorable)

3 months

2007-05-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am 3 months old today!

purebred POWER

2007-04-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

my whole family history. i have famous relatives!

i want in!

2007-04-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

"hey, what's goin' on over there...?"

"garland's cage looks pretty comfortable.."

"LEMME IN!!"

I'm a good boy, I promise. Look at my face.

the great outdoors!

2007-04-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

i play in the grass. I like things green.

i am a lean mean puggin machine.

i run..

and i jump..

toward the lens.

the earth is my big doggy playpen!

i'm getting bigger!

2007-04-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

hey there!

i'm still around. haven't written in awhile. i'm too busy terrorizing mom and eating leaves.

I'm getting bigger by the day!

fun times

tomorrow i go to the vet again :(

Easter Outfit

2007-04-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

for easter, mom made me put this on:

she called me a FRUG and took lots of pictures.

i was not happy, so i did my "concerned head tilt".

after mom took the outfit off, i tried to chew it up but she wouldn't let me!

my meeting with a pig

2007-04-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

my first week at my new home, i've encountered many new things. one of them is Garland the Guinea Pig. when i first saw him, I thought to myself: "Who is this strange, fat creature who keeps hiding from me? Am I that scary?" i couldn't figure out if he was a dog, a cat, a horse, or a mouse. then i realized he is something called a guinea pig, and all he does is eat all day. that's why he is fat. after he warmed up to me a bit, he told me he gets whatever he wants, when he wants, and he is content with his life. he is not insecure about his looks. instead of thinking of himself as "fat", he says that he is "large and in charge." i respect that. i always want to play with him, but mom is scared that i will hurt him because sometimes i play really rough!

i love celeb gossip

2007-04-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

just like mom, i love those superficial celebrity gossip magazines that grocery stores tempt you with in the check out lane.

anna nicole's death really took a toll on me. i didn't know her personally, but she was pretty.

i prefer to chew on fingers and feet, but when those aren't available, i chew on this:

trip to the vet

2007-04-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

this week, i had to go to the vet. i behaved as best i could. one of the nurses held me in a dominating way. i hated it at first but then i got comfortable and fell asleep.

the woman holding me was very strange.

the vet was not fun but i loved all the attention!

guilty dog

2007-04-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

i like to chew on everything. hands, feet, hair, ears, pants, carpet, ribbon, wood, toys. EVERYTHING.

New Home Day 2

2007-04-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

i played a lot my second day at home!

i frolicked in the grass..

and i hid between pillows..

everyone keeps telling me how beautiful i am! (as they should)

First Day at New Home

2007-04-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

Today I came home.

And I slept..

And slept..

..And slept some more.

And then I woke up for a bit..

And then I found this comfy place, and slept AGAIN.

And then I woke mommy up 5 times during the night. 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am, and 6am. I wanted on the bed and it's too high to jump up.

footsies

Meeting Cindy

2007-03-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today my new human mommy, Cindy, came to pick me up with her grandpa. Mama Abby and Papa Bandit came to see me off. Here they are. It was sad to say goodbye.

mommy

daddy

lori's husband, daughter, and me!

my sisters and brother - going to their new homes too

they are saying, "what the heck is going on?!"

It has been a great day!

I have arrived

2007-03-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

I'm at my new home now! And I need a nap real bad!

Almost home!

2007-03-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! My name is Mickey but I hear that my name is going to be changed to Buddha. I guess I'll figure out why after I meet my human mommy. Right now I live in Bunceton, Missouri with my mom and dad and brother and sisters. A nice lady namd Lori is taking care of me.

My life began on a cold day in February. February 1, 2007.

Here's a picture of me as a newborn baby:

I look kind of weird, but what do you expect? I was surrounded by a bunch of other pugs, my brother and sisters, and I was a bit overwhelmed.

Here's a picture of me, trying to push through my siblings:

Here are my siblings:

Molly. She's going to Matt and Annie in Orchard, NE.

Madison. She's going to a woman named Jan in Watertown, WI.

Minnie. She's going to a woman named Laura in Rapid City, IA.

Milo. My only brother. He's going to Chanda in Jackson, WI.

I'm going to miss my sisters and brother, but I think that good times are ahead.

Here is a more recent picture of me, about 5 weeks:

I hear that my new mommy is a photographer. I guess I'll have a camera in front of me all the time!

Here's my daddy, Bandit:

Handsome, huh? Everyone says I'm going to look just like him. I hope I get his eyes.

Here's my mommy, Abby:

She loves to eat popcorn and I hear my new mommy loves it, too! I hope she lets me eat some.

Well today is Monday and I go to my new home in St. Louis on Saturday, March 31. I am nervous and excited at the same time! And I can't wait to find out why my name is Buddha..

(pictures by Lori)