The Athlete in Me

Me doing my best PUG imitation

When you think of a pug what do you see? I am guessing you see a slightly pudgy couch POTATO. Am I right? And for the most part, you are right on. 

BUT, once in a while, you will find that a PUG is much much more.

A PUG can also be an ATHLETE!

There are pugs in SHOWS

There are pugs in ACTION MOVIES

There are pugs in AGILITY

AND there are pugs like me . . .

Champions of the NEIGHBORHOOD WALK

I totally ROCK it, don't I?

So I Was THINKING . . . . .

Wouldn't it be nice if -

• Everypuggy could just be FURiends
• Food was free and always available and available everywhere to everyPUGGY
• The sun always shined during the day
• The rain would only be at night and enough to keep everything nice and green
• There was real PIE IN THE SKY
• Every morning there was a pile of PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
• We could communicate ONCE A DAY with our Furiends and Family over the Rainbow Bridge
• Rainbows occurred at lease ONCE A WEEK
• It was always a comfortable temperature (about 74 degrees for me)
• My water bowl was always filled with cool clean water (it usually is)
• Music drifted on the wind so we could always hear a tune
• Memories would pop up all the time and make us smile for no apparent reason

Excuse me - I think I will just lie here and mull this for a while. . .

Sigh . . .

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft!

Tongue Out Tuesday
Not really my THANG
Thought I'd give it a try tho'
And see where it HANG

My Tongue won't go
Where others' might BE
Up to my NOSE
Is the limit for me

What About Dave? #chewyinfluencer

Mommy was talking about some dude named DAVE the other day and I totally did NOT get what she was talking about. I mean - I don't know any Daves, Davids, or Daveys. So how was this relevant to me and my total PUGness?

It turns out that Dave's is a private label pet food which is found at Chewy.com. This food, created by. . . um . . . Dave (?) . . . is wholesome, grainfree and DELICIOUS - according to the label. At this point, I had not tried it. But it was on Chewy.com's September list and Mommy thought, WHY NOT? She is like that. Always willing to jump in with both feet (or paws, in my case).

So that's how we discovered DAVE's Dog Food 95% Premium Chicken.

But the story does not stop there. I did some research on this so-called DAVE. Turns out he is a REAL PERSON and his company grew out of his exsisting business, his pet feed store. And even today it is a small family run operation that ALLOWS DOGS AT WORK. That's not all, the company is very active in hurricane relief efforts (this is certainly a big need this year with Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria. . .); AND they are also active with pet rescue. You know me. . . I am a sucker for a company with a CAUSE.

So we got the canned dog food*, chicken, of course. . . Mommy figured I could use it as a topper because I still like some crunch in my diet. Molly could eat it as  a stand alone because she prefers (and her toothlessness demands) soft food.

When it arrived, it looked just like the cheap brands on the shelf what we walk on past. Really, Dave does not put a whole lot of GLITTER and GLOSS in his labels. Now I find that totally endearing. At the time I thought. . . hmmmmm.

The Mommy opened the first can. It smelled A'IGHT. Well, it smelled more than that. It smelled downright delicious. It looked mushy and a bit like Alpo (which I never get. . . I saw it in an ad. . . or something. . .). Mommy went HMMMMM and I went HMMMM and Molly went "Gimme!"

This is how my bowl looked when Mommy finally dished it out. Pretty appetizing, huh? Turns out the food looks a little Alpo-ish until you scoop it out. Then you see it is really REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS chicken ground up. Oh My Tomato!!!! It tastes so good.

I am drooling as I write this review because I just think of the rich flavor and good-for-me recipe and the way it feels in my mouth. Mommy said when I first tried DAVE'S Dog Food, I even stopped and SAVORED the food for a millisecond. That is UNHEARD OF in this pug's life.

But it isn't just the flavor that won me and Mommy over. Look at the ingredients -
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Agar-Agar, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid.

Nothing on that list is manufactured or fake. It is real food and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. All good stuff. And because it is CHICKEN and CHICKEN BROTH, mostly, it is high protein but low in calories. So I can eat a full serving (not a DIET portion) and retain my svelte pug figure. And best of all -

Dave's has the QUALITY of high priced food but the PRICE of the cheap stuff. So it is affordable for families on a budget, like mine.

Chewy.com sells Dave's Dog Food in 12 can cases  AND at a very reasonable price. I suggest you stock up today. Once word gets out about this great and affordable food, there will BE A SHORTAGE, I am sure.

Oh! I forgot to mention that DAVE'S DOG FOOD come in more than one flavor. Pick your fave from

• Beef
• Turkey
• Chicken
• Beef & Chicken

Dave's also has 3 other formulas of dog food as well as cat food - there is something for everypuggy!

We give this food 8 paws and smaller 4 Cat paws because Sunshine begged to try it!!!

*We received , free of charge from Chewy.com, sufficient food to try, test, and develop an opinion of. We received no moneys at all for the review nor were we told what to say. All opinions are those of the owners of this blog which is really owner - me - noodles the pug.

Sometimes It Is SO FUN to Be a DOG

I am a PUG. You will not often find me referring to myself as a DOG. Because, I am a PUG. I'm a little different, as any one RULED by a PUG will attest. 

But I am also, reluctantly, a CANINE and so I do enjoy some of the perks of being a D-O-G. Perks such as

1. Orating at 4 am from the backyard fence
2. Peeing outside and anywhere I choose
3. Wandering around naked - although I do enjoy an occasional dress-up fete
4. Enjoying little to no responsibility or repercussions because I'm "Just a dog"

Last weekend I got to INDULGE in another of those perks - a park festival especially for canines called Bark in the Park, San Jose. I gotta tell you - it was so much fun and I am really grateful to Cousin E and her BF J for taking me, Molly and BF J's pooch Tiny.

Tres Caballeros - Tiny, Molly, Noodles

It was a park FILLED with fun things to do and booths with neat-o freebies. There were also vendors with food to buy and pet-related wares for sale. So much to see and only 1 day to do it in.

Because it was a BIG venue and a kinda warm day, Molly and Me got to sit in Molly's stroller. I have a wagon but it is a little more unwieldy for Cousin E's car. I go with the flow - just as happy on the end of the leash as I am in a stroller. Note my new favorite harness - the Kurgo Safe Harness.

This BIG FRIENDLY pooch is the MASCOT of the festival. I liked him A LOT and sat a long time just chit chatting. Molly and Tiny did not  like him so much. I'm not supposed to show you, but here's a picture of Molly trying to get away from him.

See the panic in her eyes?

There were also ACTIVITIES for us other than shopping and eating. I attempted the obstacle course. Well, to be HONEST, I pretended to attempt the course. . . because

Hahahahah! See what I did there? I totally PLAYED the system.

There weren't A LOT of pugs there but I did meet one - If I remember correctly, her name is EMMA and she is older than me. I enjoyed sharing pug wisdom with her and we parted promising the meet again soon.

What is with all of these giant FAKE dogs?

Anyhooooo. It was super fun to spend mid-morning at Bark in the Park and I look forward to going to it again NEXT YEAR.

Sisters

www.blogpaws.com

Is CRAVE Cat Food CRAVE-ABLE? #chewyinfluencer

Hello. Sunshine the Cat here with another scintillating review of a product from Chewy.com. I know, I know. How come a CAT is doing a review when we all know cats are very picky eaters? Well, who better than a picky eater to review a FOOD? I mean, if we like something then you KNOW it is good, right? Not like that PUG in the house - she likes everything. . . and I mean everything. I cannot think of anything she did not like. Even if the FOOD does not agree with her - she likes it. Sheesh. Don't get me wrong, I love her like a sister. But she has no refinement in her taste for food - at all.

So this month's selection included CRAVE by Crave single serving twin packs in a variety of flavors. I chose chicken because - well I prefer chicken. And really smelly fish like snapper. I like that a lot. But that is another story for another time. I chose the Chicken Pate High Protein Grain-free Food Tray. 

Let's talk packaging for a minute. Isn't this the best packaging you have ever seen? It appeals to my inner wildcat. This is exactly how I see myself when I look in the mirror. It grabbed my attention and made me want to try the food. Aces on the packaging CRAVE.

Crave Chicken Pate High Protein Grain-free trays provide just what cats need - protein, and lots of it. Also included are the vitamins and minerals that round out a good feline diet. The soft food is nestled in a savory gravy for added flavor - not too much, just enough to keep it moist. I think this is a good touch. The smell is amazing and the appearance is appealing. The portions are just right for a meal. As an elder citizen, I need to mind my weight. It's better for my joints and my heart. Crave helps in this regard. If one chooses, and occasionally I do, Crave can be used as a topper. Just take out a smaller portion and wrap the rest. The metal lid can be used as a loose seal - or a bit of cello or aluminium wrap will seal it well.

Crave Chicken Pate is made with Chicken, Chicken Liver, Pork Broth, Chicken Broth, Chicken Heart, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Carrageenan, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Tomatoes, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Tapioca Starch, Salt, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Taurine, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Copper Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K Activity). 

I underlined and bolded the first five to show THIS IS REAL FOOD,

I like this food. I really do. But not a lot. There are some foods I will eat every single day and never get bored. CRAVE is not one of them. After the past two weeks of eating it, I am a little tired of the Chicken Pate. It might be the chicken-ness or it might be something in the food. I can't say. I am just a CAT. 

So to answer my question in the title - no, I don't think Crave Chicken Pate High Protein Grain-free food is CRAVE-ABLE. To my tastes, it is okay but not great. I would give it THREE PAWS UP because it hits almost all points for being a good food. It just is not crave-able which would make it great - for me.

Chewy.com offers this food in 6 twin-packs which is a relatively small amount to order. And right now it is on sale. This makes it a really really good time to give CRAVE a try and see if you like it. Like I said, having discriminating taste does not mean you can't occasionally try something new.

**Chewy.com provided me with sufficient food free of charge to try and assess in order to write a review. All opinions are mine alone. And I was not paid for my opinion.

I Was Hoodwinked!!!

That's a Banana in front of my nose - I did NOT
notice it

I KNEW something was up and yet somehow my MOMMYS totally pulled the proverbial wool over my EYES. My lovely liquidy eyes. . . Deceived.

First came the hushed conversation about plans and plots.

Then OUT came the suitcases . . . that is, all except MINE!

Finally there was a bunch of todoing about who's driving where and WHEN.

Then it happened. My Mommys left ME for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!

It was so unfair. So unexpected. I really had no idea.

Day one - I sat by Mommy #2's door waiting for her to come out. No, I did not see her go IN the room. . . but I was sure she would come OUT of the room.

Day two - I sat by Mommy #1's door and waited for a while. Then I went downstairs and waited. . . waited. . .  waited by the front door.

Day three - I slept with one eye open the whole night and for every little unusual noise I ran downstairs to greet my Mommys.

Day four - I was getting a little worried they were never returning. I moped all day with my tail uncurled and down. This is how you know I am really sad. I was not just sad, though. I was downright FORLORN!

Day five - I decided it was time to get on with my life WITHOUT my Mommys. So I hung out with Cousin C and made her my new best friend. . . until

. . . until . . . . . . . . . The door opened and My Mommys returned!!!

GUESS WHERE THEY WENT???????

I could not stop smiling the rest of the day. But something was STILL not right! Mommy #1 went straight stairs and got really busy moving this and putting that into plastic bins. I waited for an explanation. I got one the next day when My Mommys and Aunt B loaded up TWO cars and took off. Mommy #2 and Aunt B returned later that day but not Mommy #1. 

It was time. Summer is over and Mommy #1 returned to university.

The trip had been a diversion to take my mind off the FACT that Mommy #1 was not coming home for at least 3 months. THREE WHOLE MONTHS!!!

HOODWINKED!!

The Importance of Remembering

Some THINGS we should never forget like

• Where we live
• Where to do our BIDNESS
• Where the FOOD is kept
• The Day the USA was attacked

SomePEOPLE we should never forget like

• Who loves us
• Who looks out for us
• Who is our FURIEND
• Those who died during the attack on Sept 11

Some EMOTIONS we should never forget

• The feeling of being LOVED
• The feeling of a full belly (what's that????)
• The comfort of a soft BED
• The feelings Sept 11 exposed: vulnerability, fear

But one thing for sure we should remember is how wonderful it is when EVERYPUGGY gets together and help one another in time of CRISIS

Dream a Little Dream

Yeah, I'm dreaming. I am dreaming of F-O-O-D and all of the ways to enjoy it. It is my favorite pastime. And I am very very good at it - EATING, that is.

I am also dreaming about all of my Blogville furiends and how much they mean to me. This is a community I have been proud to be a part of for over 7 years. Can you believe it? Seven years and more than a thousand posts.

It saddens me that so many Blogville peeps have abandoned blogging. They are still around - on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But it isn't the same. It is short attention span theater where one buzzes in and buzzes out. It is hard to get to know anyone that way. It is even harder to maintain that sense of community and camaraderie so prevalent in Blogville. Times change, I get it. But it still saddens me.

Any of you in Florida, Gulf States, Eastern coast - please be safe and heed all evacuation orders. You are in my thoughts as all of these nasty hurricanes head your way. And Mexico peeps, I hope that terrible earthquake did not affect you. . . at least not much. They are scary - I know. I have been through a couple of small ones.

Just know you are all in my thoughts.

Have a safe and adventurous weekend everypuggy.

I Wanna Be PERFECTLY Clear. . . Without Uttering a WORD

Why That's . . . . Five THOUSAND Words. . .!

Hot Tamales!!!

It has been soooooooo HOT lately. I mean H-O-T. It was 109 on Friday, 106 on Saturday and 101 on Sunday. And Sunday added high humidity. I felt like I was melting. Actually, I am pretty sure I melted a little.

I tried to play it off a little by pretending I was in Hawaii. Know what? It did not work at all. I was (am) still hot. And there was no sweet tropical breeze to cool me off.

Lucky for me we have Air Conditioning. It ran overtime and will probably cost me every penny in my piggy bank. But it will be totally worth it. 

SERIOUS STUFF

Since I have been inside so much keeping cool, I have had a lot of time to ponder the current problems in the world. First of all - Hurricane Harvey. Harvey hit Texas, and especially Houston and the greater Houston area, very hard. There is widespread flooding and destruction. Plus there is the very real danger of toxic and/or compromised water, critters like gators and snakes in the waters, and once the water recedes mold. The cleanup and recovery is going to take a long long time. I don't want to list all of the help organizations here but will put a couple of links to a list of them. Help if you can. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/28/546745827/looking-to-help-those-affected-by-harvey-here-s-a-list

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/25/health/iyw-harvey-how-to-help/index.html

On my sidebar you should see Lucy Pet and Chewy.com. Both of these FANTASTIC companies are helping and have links for ways you can help.

Also Hurricane Irma has strengthened and is threatening Florida. This is an extremely powerful storm and even it doesn't directly hit Florida it could still cause a lot of problems there. Keep them in your thoughts.

Due to the hot summer here, there are a lot of Wildfires in the West and North West. Many people are being displaces or burned completely out. So be aware of the organizations helping them and give when and what you can. 

Sometimes a small gestures makes a BIG impact.

It's Hard to be The Princess

It's hard to be the PRINCESS - it takes a lot of time and fortitude.

and

Planning.

See me snuggled in this bed? What you cannot see is what is under the blanket.

These

These

and This

One MUST take care of the ROYAL TREASURE