Monkey Girl

Waffles on the Porch of Bedlam Farm

Like I said before, I know a pug isn't a child, but sometimes they have a way of filling us owners with a parent's sense of pride or shame. Today, my new pug, Waffles, should have filled me with pride. We attended a three-hour luncheon and writers' meeting at Bedlam Farm, home of writer Jon Katz and his wife, artist Maria Wulf, where she was the epitome of decorum.

Waffles has not had much opportunity to get out and about, so I was a little nervous about her behavior. I needn't have been. She sat at my feet throughout the whole meal only stirring occasionally. "She's so good," everyone murmured throughout the afternoon and she was.
"She is," I replied, "as long as I'm here with her, but leave her alone..."

I don't think anyone believed me. They had been reading on my blog about the Great Pugdini, the escape artist and the Devil Dog, and here sat a perfect angel, tolerant even of the denim dress I mad her wear.

So instead of being proud that my little girl impressed my colleagues, I was ashamed she wasn't putting on more of a show. I tried to explain to them that only moments before our arrival she had been swinging around the backseat of the car like a monkey. I have two doggie car seats in the rear of the car -- one for Alfie and one for Waffles. The car seats are designed to allow the tiny pugs to see out the windows while also securing them in place by a hook attached to their harnesses. Waffles has learned that if she flings herself in the air and hangs she has a chance of freeing herself. Thus, I had to stop three times on the trip to lift her back in place. After the last try, I finally let her loose to sit on the front seat, not safe for her if there were to be an accident and the airbag deployed, but it kept me from slipping into the wrong lane as I tried to monitor her in the back seat.

Waffles, however, was not content with that solution and kept jumping to the floor and slipping under the gas pedal and brake. A really bad idea, so I had to pull over a fourth time, take the hook from the back seat nad hook her to the front, where she sat until we arrived at Bedlam Farm.

On the way home, she started the procedure again. My little Monkey began swinging from seat to seat like a chimpanzee on a trapeze. I sighed, wishing that Jon Katz and the crew were in the car to witness the true nature of my dog. Then again, it probably wouldn't have mattered, she had already done her work and charmed them. Come to think of it, charming is the true nature of a pug, so I guess the little girl did me proud after all, but please believe me when I say, she doesn't always wear that face.

***For Jon Katz's version of today's events and to see a pic he took of Waffles and me check out his blog at www.bedlamfarm.com

A view of the interior of my car. Waffles hanging from her harness.