When my husband and I got married nearly two years ago, we felt it was the natural next step to bring a baby into our family too. So when we discovered a litter of pugs was on their collective way, we put dibs on one of the pups. And life hasn’t been the same since. When she was born, we went to visit Gracie who still needed to be with her mama. We were all instantly smitten and there was no turning back.
This is when we fell in love with her.
She was quirky from the start, a bit of a literal underdog once we brought her home. She had trouble eating on her own and needed to be spoon fed so she could thrive. She gave us a little scare for a few days not being able to keep food down. I was determined. Blessed to be home working, I was able to snuggle this little sweet pea all day and keep her warm and feeling secure.
Such working conditions!
I had to endure such intense cuteness as pictured above. Having to look at that little face all day while I transcribed, I’m telling you…the struggle is real. No one tells you how (not) hard it is to have a tiny, warm, snuggly puppy cuddled up on you all day.
Gracie and her friend Pookie.
As Gracie grew in size and independence, she gained a stuffed animal friend (above). Pookie became a sometimes snuggle buddy. No one told Gracie that friends don’t chew off other friends’ eyes. She’s a bit of a canine klutz complete with irrational fears. Just the sight of a silent acoustic guitar literally makes her tail hang between her legs, ears pinned back, and she trembles. If she even gets mildly in the vicinity of the washing machine or the wood stove, she goes into rigors, legs outstretched and toes spread apart and her little front legs wrap tightly around your arm or leg or whatever body part she can reach and she is frozen in terror. Weird pug anyhow.
Reluctant forever friends.
Lillie, our beloved beabrador had seniority by far. She was four years old when Gracie came onto the scene, forever changing the dynamic. Lillie didn’t quite know what to think of Gracie or what to do with her. It seemed that Lillie was not amused that we had shaken up the dog balance in the house. Here was this bouncing, squeaking, high-pitched black thing pouncing on her periodically throughout the day (usually when Lillie was sleeping), as if to beg Lillie to spring to action and be her best playmate. If I didn’t know better, I’d say I often saw Lillie roll her eyes at Gracie and sigh, wishing she’d just leave her alone. But then I’d catch rare moments like this (above) and think maybe, just maybe, Lillie liked (tolerated) Gracie after all.
Gracie, lately.
Gracie is almost two now. She looks different with a mysterious fierce underbite. She has not lost her feistiness. Lillie has resigned herself to the fact that Gracie is a fixture in our family now. They fight and chase each other around the yard, but when one of them is wincing in her sleep or doing one of those body-wrenching heaves that you’re certain is going to produce some sort of dog alien, the other is the first to run to her canine pal’s side making sure there’s a full recovery. And that’s what I call puppy love.
