About 10 years ago, my husband Woody and I found ourselves dog less, after our beloved Dalmatian Pixel passed away, so we decided we wanted a small breed dog and a puppy, since we’ve never started out with a little puppy.
We’ve always loved pugs, so I did some research and felt the pug breed was a great fit for us. pugs were bred for companionship and they didn’t need a lot of strenuous exercise. That sounded perfect for me.
We decided we should get two, to keep each other company, since we work in our salon all day. We ended up getting a black pug and fawn pug.
They are half sisters. They have the same dad, different moms. They were born three weeks apart. The black one is named Olive, because she looked like a little black olive and the fawn is named Mochi, which is a Japanese treat, made out of pounded rice.
They instantly became the loves of our lives. Following me everywhere—and I mean everywhere. If I was sitting, they were on my lap. I got them dog car seats, toys, clothes, etc. As puppies, they came to our salon to get to know our clients. As news got out, we had strangers coming to “ see the girls” as they’re known.
From day one, they just brought laughter and joy to everyone they encountered.
The first year we had them, we walked the Seal Beach Wag N Walk. We ended up raising the most money for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center.
After that I wanted to enter them in Justin Rudd’s Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade. I hand made their costumes and that started an addiction of mine.
Mochi and Olive became my creative outlet outside of work. They were and are my main models for my photography and sewing. Naturally, I started making outfits and costumes for them, since pugs are a hard fit and I couldn’t find anything I liked.
They really do love to wear these creations. They love the attention they get when dressed up. They’ve won many costume contests. I’ve entered them in the Haute Dog Howl’oween parade every year. We have been finalists for the last eight years.
This last year we finally won first place, best in show at the parade. It has definitely become a family affair, with Woody and I dressed up as well.
So far they’ve been dressed as geishas, sushi, fish, bed bugs (pugs), surfers on a wave, pupcakes, and famously as flowers.
The Associated Press has done two stories about dogs wearing costumes and homemade pet costumes that feature myself, Mochi and Olive in these articles.
Their photographer came over and photographed all my creations for the stories. One of photos featured in the story, (flowers) became the #1 most shared photo on Yahoo for over a month. After that, the photo has had a life of it’s own, becoming many memes, mass emails, on many blogs, websites, etc.
They have been on a Japanese variety TV show, called “Ranking Paradise” in Japan.
They have been on TV in Germany and other countries. They have been on the news several times locally and in newspapers nationally and internationally. Just this last year, they were filmed and featured for a documentary for French TV that will air this year.
I have won two Hallmark card contests that feature Mochi and Olive on the cover of the cards. Mochi placed in the top 20 of the famed world reknown designer Valentino, for his Most Fashionable pug contest to promote his documentary.
We plan trips, where we can take them along. We go to cafes that are dog friendly. Strangers know them by name wherever we go.
These two funny little pugs of ours are little clowns who love to entertain and fill our lives with such joy.
As we celebrate their 10th birthday this spring, we reflect on how happy they’ve made our lives, the laughter they caused so any people, all the unconditional love they give us and we know we are so blessed. I can’t imagine our lives without them.
As I’ve gotten to know pugs, there are many great resources out there to learn about the breed and to share stories through forums, blogs, websites, even meet up groups that I’m a part of.
There are also many pug rescue groups out there, with many pugs that need homes.
The two most local are www.pugdogrescue.com and http://www.pugnationla.org.
