Thursday, December 25, 2008

I like Joe!


Joe made an awesome blog: www.mojoe-man.blogspot.com.Visit it soon!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Kennel time coming up

I will miss the 'boat dearly over the holidays, but three dogs is a bit much for my sister, who's hosting our family. With her dog, that makes four. (Three plus one is four, right? Hey, I'm a journalist--a word person, not a numbers guru.) Tugboat also is set to have his nails cut. I'm not sure if they have to hog-tie him, but they are starting to curl. Anyway, his nails are not easy to cut.
But Tugboat should have a merry Christmas anyway. And Happy Holidays to the thousands of BullDogmatic readers!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Bulldozer season

Tugboat doesn't mind the snow much. In fact, he likes to push his flat face in it and eat the white stuff. When not consuming snowflakes, he plows right through it. It's easy sometimes to follow in his footsteps as he's blazed a snow trail for me. Yes, Tugboat is quite the bulldozer or snowplow.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Heating vents

Tugboat's not going to help me win any energy-conservation awards anytime soon. He likes it when hot air from the bathroom heating vent blasts on his belly, and will grumble until I crank up the thermostat. However, I save energy elsewhere.
He also prefers to swill water from the outside spigot (even in the dead of night in winter) as opposed to the water dishes on the more comfortable (for me) kitchen floor.
Ah, the things I do for him!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Oh, the pain, the pain...

I have a headache. Do bulldogs get headaches? I think Tugboat's head is larger than mine, not that it would make any difference.
BTW, the above headline is in reference to Dr. Zachary Smith's often-used lament in "Lost In Space." And yes, I'm dating myself.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Bulldogs in general

I am very thankful for Panalog. Not only does it keep Tugboat's ears clean, especially his dirty-icky-brown one, it keeps his nose-to-mouth fold clean. Otherwise, it clogs up with the nastiest dark junk whose composition is a complete biological mystery.
He does have a continuing problem with a crusty nose. I can add Bag Balm, but I have to keep it up, and Digby tends to immediately lick it off him. Besides, you really need a some sun to bake the Bag Balm into Tugboat's mud-flat nose. However, the vet told me it probably doesn't hurt him. It's just unsightly. That's OK. Tugboat's handsome otherwise.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Tugboat/Cat in the Hat scenario

What does my boy do when I'm away? Ride on some sluppalumpp thing out of Dr. Seuss? Sleep? Wish he were eating? Wish I were with him? It would be interesting to install a Webcam or videocamera to see Tugboat Home Alone (With Digby). I bet there's not much action, though.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tugboat at Monday's dog park outing

I think it's called the Northern Tail Dog Park, but whatever — Tugboat, Digby, Sassy (the new foster) and I had a good time Monday. We went after work, which apparently was a hot time as the place was hopping, literally. A young collie, an Airedale, a beagle and other canines filled the park. Tugboat mostly went up to people to get his bum rubbed, but Digby and Sassy engaged in more active pursuits, such as chasing and being chased.
We will try to go again today.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Tugboat at Aviation Day

Tugboat had a good Sunday, or at least it's what I think should have been a good Sunday. I took him to Aviation Day at Mason Jewett Airfield, where he enjoyed mingling with the crowd, sharing a steak dinner with me and lying down and panting by a soybean field. I wish he could have taken a helicopter ride, assuming it could have gotten off the ground!
Later in the day Tugboat, Digby, foster Sassy and I went to the East Lansing dog park where there were two other bulldogs! Both were much smaller than Tugboat. He showed interest at first, then was indifferent. It might have been too hot, but there was plenty of water and shade around.
Later at night at home when I was trying to watch the Olympics, Tugboat showed his gratitude by annoying me and barking almost every time I sat on the couch to relax. I didn't take it well. I feel bad when I become angry with him, but dogs are like kids. You love them, yet they have the propensity to annoy at the worst times. Well, we all settled down at last.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Wild at night

Just when I think Tugboat is really slowing down, he doesn't, especially some nights when I'm really slowing down for the day. Our biorhythms aren't always in sync, but we make adjustments, especially when I yell "Shut up!" Then I feel guilty. I like it when Digby can get him to play. But I must remember that someday when he's gone I'll miss being pestered. Maybe not every single time, but I'll miss rubbing his wrinkly forehead.
I think I will have to give him a forehead rub when I get home from work.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Tugboat with new foster

Sassy is a 10-month-0ld border collie/terrier mix that has weasel-like tendencies in that she can squeeze through a 5-inch gap in the door and run away. Tugboat can't catch her, but doesn't try anyway. Therefore I have to go after her.
However, she is good at getting Tugboat to play and can be rougher than Digby. It's good for Tug's big heart!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Tugboat is home from the kennel

Tugboat loves the kennel, aka doggy camp. He was treated to two belly rubs this time while I visited Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Tugboat would have liked Lake Superior, but I wasn't up to bringing along dogs). I picked up Tugboat and Digby Monday, and promptly got a flat tire as I left the kennel. A call to AAA and I was on my way, although I had to buy four new tires. Something new that Tugboat can mark if he wants.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Tugboat on the Fourth of July

We opted not to go for the fireworks in Mason, Michigan this year. Since they were out of town, I decided I didn't want to wait the hour and a half. Maybe next year; last year was fun.
Anyway, Tugboat was a big hit at the Fourth of July parade. I spoiled him with cheeseburgers and bottled water, and he got to lie down in nice sod, or at least grass that's a lot lusher than our lawn.
He also only barked a few times during a cannon rededication ceremony.
As usual, people stopped me to ask about him. Since the mascot of Mason High School is the bulldog, kids made note of that.
I take Tugboat to as many of these events as I can (cheeseburgers and a cool sidewalk are a bonus).

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Tugboat and fireworks?

Tugboat still isn't his usual perky self, but maybe taking him to a Fourth of July fireworks display will help. Last year he wanted to attack those little fountains that people set off in the parking lot. It might have stressed him a bit, but he likes the company of people. And I think he will enjoy Mason's Independence Day parade as well, and people will enjoy him. After all, the mascot of the local high school is the bulldog.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

A tough couple of days

When Tugboat can't keep down his evening meal, something's wrong. That's what happened Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately, Wednesday was fine. However, he keeps hacking at night...wheeze, wheeze, wheeze, HACK! I hope it's just a temporary thing, like those insidious "bugs" I catch now and then. You never can tell with bulldogs.
However, we sat out at dusk at the end of the driveway, just the 'Boat and me, like the good old days when it was just us two. Tugboat seems serenely happy in these moments. Plus, only a mosquito or two dive-bombed me. I think mosquitoes leave Tugboat alone, or he just likes the attention and ignores them. And yes, he's on heartworm medication.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Another bulldog tale

http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/home_garden/19625844.html

This is a very heartwarming story. The things we do for our bullies!

Monday, June 9, 2008

A Tugboat moment

Getting ready for work this morning, I looked down and saw Tugboat sitting by the bathroom vent, one of his comfort zones in my house. I decided it was time for a forehead/ear rub, so I obliged. Tugboat then gave me one of those eyes-closed, highly appreciative looks, which made me kiss him on the lips. Sometimes he makes a soft sigh or I-like-this grunt. Anyway, I hated to leave him this morning.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The household gets a new addition

Sherwin the cocker spaniel is our latest foster dog. He has an old-man face and a summer haircut, which I plan to let grow out. Sherwin used to be called Flame, but that name, to me, more aptly describes a flashier breed, or at least one with a red coat.
Sherwin is very friendly, but is an incessant whiner and barker, and I'm not always sure why. He's a bed hog, though, so that means Tugboat probably won't be sleeping with me anytime soon (three dogs and a human are a tight fit on a twin bed).
I plan to work on the whining/barking, but it might stop as Sherwin gets used to his new digs.
Tugboat and Sherwin each is a bit on the alpha side, but Tugboat usually wins. Make that always wins.
More later ...

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Tugboat comes home

Tugboat and Digby just came home today from a four-day stay at their "doggy camp," a nearby country kennel. Tugboat was treated to two "extras" — sessions in the Belly Rub Club, of which he should be a charter member.
Digby was less certain of the place when he got there; I had to take off his leash instead of making an employee do it. However, although he was extremely glad to see me today, he eventually warmed up to the staff.
Even though I'm pretty certain Tugboat loves me, he doesn't always want to go home. This leads me to suspect he gets extra special treatment at the kennel. That's OK by me. It's hard to love the 'Boat too much.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A sad day

I volunteer for the Animal Placement Bureau as a foster mommy. It's very rewarding, but the sad part is when a foster to which you've grown attached (and really, is there any other kind?) is to leave your home for its "forever home." Today I will say good-bye to Augie, a mix of Lhasa Apso or Shih Tzu and something else. Augie was a sweetie, a cuddly Ewok-type dog that simply enjoyed being in the same room with me. Not everyone can say that!
Tugboat and Digby seemed to like him except for the occasional skirmish over food and couch rights.
I will miss him but plan to visit.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Tugboat-of-War

Tugboat gets into all sorts of trouble with his propensity to hanging onto things, preferably swings. He flipped out a mother and her dogphobic girl a few years back by jumping onto her swing (the SWING, not her), which resulted in Tugboat having his mug shot taken by the police. (However, the officer took one look at him and laughed.) Anyway, I have to keep him on a short rope in the company of swings.
Last night we visited our neighbor's fenced-in backyard, which has a swingset. When Tugboat's in the vicinity, we keep the swings out of jowls' reach. However, he got a hold of one swing and hung on so much the other neighbor thought he was caught on the swing. Although Tugboat would have loved that, I had to get him back down so he wouldn't tear the swing.
All this, I presume, comes from bulldogs being raised way back when to hang onto bulls' noses during a fight; that's why they were bred with folds--so the bull's blood would stay out of the dog's eyes. Yuck. And why they have flat noses.
This was barbaric, but it resulted in the breed being the mutated blob we all love so much today.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Tugboat begins the month of May

Tugboat is all caught up with his heartworm medication (which I have to hide in his food bowl). His eyesight failing, one of his greatest joys is sitting in the front yard watching what little world he can see pass by. Since I don't have a fenced-in yard, I have to be out there with him.
He's not to be trusted, though, since he has been known to waddle off down the street. However, since the weather's getting nicer (albeit slowly in Michigan), I don't mind being out there with him for the most part (unless there's a Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox or Tigers game on TV inside).

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Hey this really works!

This blogging stuff is fun. Maybe I can get Tugboat to make an entry. A hunk of cheddar cheese would be a good bribe.

Welcome to Bulldog Days

Greetings to you. You have either accidentally stumbled upon this, my inaugural blog, or did a search for "bullldog" and found it that way. Either way, welcome.
I am the owner of Tugboat, a bulldog who's been on the planet for 8 1/2 years. Bulldog years are more like computer years than dog years. They aren't the longest-lived of breeds, given their plethora of health problems, so making it to double digits is more than swell.
Tugboat passed through the doors of my former apartment at about 7 weeks old, resembling more an overgrown rabbit than a bulldog puppy. He also soiled my bed right away. No surprise there.
We clicked right away, though, and it's been an enjoyable, if somewhat exasperating at times, journey.
More later on the 'Boat.