Vicki and Company

This dog loves people and particularly people who do not like dogs. She will find those who do not like her and attempt to charm her way into their hearts. Her attempts fail because some people do not appreciate the efforts she makes. She'll nap for a few minutes then will have a burst of energy and run around to those most frightened by her.

We know her breath stinks and try to give her doggie breath mints. The stinky breath is persistent. Time to get a toothbrush and some yummy toothpaste.

She also had her rabies shot at the animal control centre which is located near Hong Kong Dog Rescue. We went to visit her old stomping grounds and she was ready to just go back in with the other dogs. It was heartbreaking to me that she would think she'd have to go back. One of the employees there enthusiastically came out to greet Vicki and Vicki loved it.

She was also a hit at the pet shop where I proudly showed her picture and the girl immediately recognized her from HKDR website! Our Vicki is a bit of a Hong Kong celebrity.

Vicki Has a Bath

One thing about pugs, as with most dogs, she's stinky. We gave her a bath last night and she was really great. We put down her pink rubber mat to ensure her paws didn't slip in the tub and pulled out her very own fluffy pink towel. She loves the shower and of course the scrubs with shampoo. As she got out of the shower she bumped her head on the vanity. She is not the most graceful dog. Earlier in the day on one of her walks she was sniffing around a fire hydrant, heard a noise and blingo! She hit her head on the hydrant. She was stunned for a brief moment but quickly recovered. She is quite intelligent but not that graceful.

Vicki's Namesake

Any similarities? We like to think of Vicki as our beloved. She may not be thin and beautiful but in her own way she's our glam girl.

It's Not Just Us

There's something about Vicki that draws attention and she loves it! Took her to the vet's for her booster shot. People generally love her. The staff makes a big fuss. Even other dog owners look at her with wide-eyed wonder. When they weighed her she was 14.5 kilos. Maybe, maybe the skipped meals and 4 or 5 walks a day are doing some good. Some people are blunt, "Whoa, she's fat!". Other people are more diplomatic, "Oh, she must be a sweet one to have so many treats." Our standard reply is that she is a rescued dog and we are working on getting her healthy.

Vicki and Augustus can stay in one room without barks and hisses now especially when attention for both of them from us is involved. Augustus has been really great throughout this transition. We have to keep his food off the floor but he doesn't mind. Having Vicki around keeps him on his paws. We can hope that one day they'll be friends.

Power Snoozes Goooood!

If there's one thing our girl loves to do aside from eating it would be sleeping. She takes these little 3-5 minute naps (well, longer than that sometimes too). Yes, even while sleeping we are still aware of her larger-than-our-home-like presence.

We are headed to the vet's office today for a booster shot. This will be a different vet from the traumatic ER weekend visit. Let's see how she fares.

So Happy Together

Hard to believe it was just a week ago that Queen-sized Vicki joined our household. Already we have gone through a lot with her. This weekend began with the trauma of an emergency trip to the vet for her bleeding nail but ended Sunday evening relaxing and listening to Vicki's loud as a human snores.

Although Augustus and Vicki are not BFs yet they do, for the most part, tolerate each other now. She still barks sometimes but usually I can figure out what she's attempting to communicate.

She's a great watchdog and always alerts us when there's someone outside. Vicki barked as I clicked the leash on for her walk yesterday and lo and behold there was a person sitting on the stairs near the elevator. Her senses are very keen.

We end up talking to people a bit more while others scurry off in terror. I think Vicki is anything but scary while some people I guess are altogether afraid of dogs.

Here's to another exciting week of getting acquainted with Vicki though Augustus probably doesn't think thats' so exciting.

Vicki the 15.1 KG Sized Pug!

We had Vicki to the vet's office yesterday and she weighs a whopping 15.1 kgs or just over 33 lbs. Of course, the vet whipped out the product they sell which is a high fibre, low fat woodchip. She will not go for that, come on, after five years of mauwing on caviar who would go for hamburger? Yes, I would probably eat beef or pork if you starved me for a week too. Instead of caviar, we are trying to reach a compromise that we can all live with, and canned food is it. I know kibble is great. It is super convenient. It is wonderful. We had our previous dog on kibble (even the diet kind) and she loved it. This dog will not eat it and this transition needs to be as smooth as possible. One day we hope to mix the kibble and wet food together but for today she eats wet food.

I'm sorry I traumatized Vicki by trying to cut her nail. I do feel terrible about putting her through the whole ordeal. I will not cut her nails again ~ end of that story. "People make mistakes but dogs have accidents."

Feel Like a Heal

Well, today I tried to cut Vicki's nails with pet nail clippers. Yup, you probably guessed it. I clipped only about 1/4 of a centimeter and it started to bleed and bleed and bleed. We tried to bandage the bleeding nail bed up but it would fall off. We tried rubbing alcohol, baking soda and finally thought, "hmmm, maybe we should just leave it alone." It has stopped bleeding after half an hour and that seemed like an eternity. I'll now leave the nail clipping to the vet and groomer.

A Better Day

August 21, 2009

Well, things are looking better. Vicki has learned that a mini-bite doggie treat is good. No messes in the house for about a day and a half (one very small pee on the paper yesterday). I bought a book called New Dog. The advice seems very sensible. Though I may not use all of the advice, it has already been helpful. She’s still barking a bit mainly at the cat and or she needs to walk. Our helper, Norie, left a note after yesterday morning/early afternoon.

“HA HA.. Miss Vicki make fun of me and scared me. First. She hide behind the curtain w/out any sound. Even when I call her. Second she pretend to be very weak...she is not moving just lying so I hold her to stand, but she keeps to be in her lying position.”

That is the personality of our Vicki! She knows how to ham it up for us humans!

Right now she is snoring by my feet at the computer. It is nice to have some company as I type. In fact, it is difficult to feel lonely at all in the house with her around. She fills the space with her exuberant personality.

A Bit Discouraged but Still Hopeful

August 19^th

Today my heart is just not in this. Vicki is continuously barking after I have walked her, fed her, scratched her and gave her toys. She barks at Gusty’s kitty condo (he’s not there, he’s in the kitchen on top of the wine fridge).

Can understand barking at strangers at the door but this barking for no valid reason stinks. Pugs aren’t typically barkers, so why is she? I try to distract her with toys and scratches or even giving her a firm “no” but she runs back and barks incessantly.

Am more concerned the neighbours will complain and she will have to go so I hope this is not habitual. She sits at the base of the kitty condo not allowing Augustus to climb up to the top where he feels safe. She peed on the kitchen floor and continues to beg and bark. I know she is a dog and this is what they do. We all need time to adjust. I want to love her with all of my heart but right now it is a challenge.

We walked her at least four times yesterday yet she pooped and peed overnight in the house. Today has not been a great day for housetraining and barking. We did manage to bathe Vicki and we also started her on treatment for ear mites. My husband Greg and I say we are sure she has the potential to be a great pet. She is a dog after all, and well, dogs do pee and poop and bark a bit.

Left Vicki alone for the first time yesterday (well she did have Augustus). I locked the door after she tried to escape with me. She barked and she whined. I really thought I would have to cancel. She continued to bark for a few minutes and then it subsided as I made my get away. This time, I was the anxious one. Felt like I was leaving my child to the babysitter for the first time. She was on her own for a couple of hours and did okay.

She got her pet bed yesterday and she slept in it last night. People food would be her choice but we will not do it. I left kibble down for her but after two days she would not eat it and would rather eat tissues. I found a type of canned dog food she really likes. The food somewhat resembles people food. I also found a few toys and she has taken a strong liking to a small, pink ball. She does not want to play toss but would rather hold on to the ball and strip it of the fuzzy coating.

She is adapting as we are. She has the common problem of ear mites. She shakes her head and scratches mostly her left ear. We found dried blood and other telltale signs. Today, we'll get some medication for her scratchy ears. We need to set some boundaries but not be too rigid. After all, dry kibble seems like eating cardboard. We’ll slowly introduce a mixture. A few accidental pees can be expected. Vicki is a loveable pug. If only we could convince Augustus of how loveable Vicki can be.

Day Two of Vicki's (and our) New Life

August 18, 2009

Today is day two of our new life with Miss Vicki. Fortunately, I was able to spend the entire day with her. She is not eating her food. Have tried dry kibble, then kibble mixed with a little wet food and water and then straight wet food. After reading up on the “my newly adopted dog won’t eat” searches most agree dogs will eventually eat what is given to them. She ate some of the canned food in the after noon but when we ordered pizza for dinner she turned her nose up at her own food.

She had three walks yesterday with lots of attention. We live in an area with many joggers around – some must think, due to her size, I am a terrible pet owner! Oh well, we hope to dwindle her down to a svelte size. Is that even possible with pugs? We’ll see.

A few other things: she snores; she pees in one spot of our home; she goes wherever we go.

One of the volunteers at HKDR called her a Mission Impossible but after one day we will see what is possible.

Vicki slept well last night and peed on the newspaper we put down for her. I was beginning to think she was not housetrained at all but she did her business on her morning walk today. Little things can make us feel really proud and happy!

Vicki's First Day Home from Hong Kong Dog Rescue

August 17, 2009

I’m not sure what to think as I sit listening to poor Miss Vicki trying to breath with such difficulty.

Did we really take on more than we can handle?

In my heart I believe the answer is of course not. She is just anxious. What a week she has had. Her previous owner surrendered her to the Hong Kong Dog Rescue with no reason given. She lived at HKDR for a brief week with a group of other dogs. She’s very sociable really. The taxi ride was terrifying for her as she futilely tried to squeeze her queen-sized girth under the seat.

Now, we are home. The cat is ominously quiet and resting on top of his kitty condo. Vicki aka Exel has flopped with her legs splayed out behind her and breathes like an asthmatic. Will she calm down? She is a sweet dog but she is not amused with her new surroundings or with me yet.

I put on some music and started dancing while Vicki stopped breathing heavily for a while and was even wagging her tail as if to the beat of the music.

Broke out some humous and carrots and she nearly tackled me for it. She’ll have to learn begging for people's food is not allowed here! Oh, and The Emperor is not amused..