The nice thing about being "Pug People" are the relationships and bonds we all make with others along the way. There are always stories to tell and things to share about our best buds, and people are more than happy to keep in touch with us regarding their adventures with their new companions.
The following are a couple of our favorite letters from one of our happy customers and friends. Larry is happily owned by Wally - and their stories we think are so typical of not only the Pug personality in general, but also of how much joy a pug can bring to one's life. We hope you enjoy reading about "Wally's World" as much as we do!
Dear Todd & Kim,
Just wanted to take time out today to tell you what a pleasure it was to meet you and have a short visit with the two of you earlier this month. I enjoyed my trip to Chamberlain and getting to see parts of South Dakota that I hadn’t visited before.
Wally and I had a great trip home. He was no problem at all, and it wasn’t long before we were “old friends”. I stopped at the picnic grounds of the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and Wally was like a little kid in a candy store trying to decide what to try next as he ran around carrying twigs twice his size and running in and out of the shrubby places, all the time keeping me in view. I know he played constantly for at least 45 minutes. It was a perfect place with no one else around, and he did have a fun time. From Valentine, we went to Chadron where we spent the night, and he was a perfect gentleman at the motel. There was a nice grassy area in back and we spent a lot of time there, and it was fun seeing him discover all of the things in his new world. Lots of new sights and sounds, and he wasn’t about to miss any of them!
When we got to Cheyenne the next morning, he immediately bounded into the back yard and took command of his new domain. All that day he was in and out of the back door checking things out. That week, I was regularly presented with twigs of all sizes as he proudly carried them into the house. I also received a nice collection of leaves, stems, and even a couple rocks. One day it was the dried up bodies of a bird and mouse. He thought it was pretty rude of me to take those away from him! He does love his yard and spends a lot of time there every day. We also made the rounds to friends that first week, and he charmed every one he saw. They all had to hold him and play with him.
During his second week here, we made his first trip to the mountains of Wyoming. Wally is always ready for a new adventure, and that was no exception as he enjoyed the walks along the creek and through the pines. Again, there was little that escaped his attention. We made a second trip to some different mountains the following week, and it’s obvious that he’s going to enjoy them as much as I always have. Next week, I plan to make a day-long trip to the Colorado Mountains near Steamboat Springs and back through the Wyoming Mountains called the Sierra Madre’s. Wally is an excellent traveler and always ready to discover new sights and smells.
Our play times are very intense. I get down on the floor and play with him two or three times a day, and it’s always me who poops out first! He loves his toys and plays with himself if he has to, but of course enjoys the competitiveness of our games the most. He is definitely going through his chewing stage now, and he sasses me when I tell him “No”, and take things way from him. Lots of items have had to find a new, higher location.
We will be making our first trip to the vet on Monday for his second round of booster shots. Twenty-three years ago I took my first pug to Dr. Bengsten, and now I’ll be back with my third one.
I have already taken dozens of pictures of Wally, and I wanted to share the enclosed ones with you. They are sort of representative of his new life so far. I am sure you are probably interested in following the progress of Duke’s firstborn son, and I will send more pictures from time to time. Rather than send them by e-mail, I’m doing it the old fashioned way. Feel free to use the in any way you might wish.
I hope I have sufficiently expressed a sense of how much joy Wally has brought into my life already. He is much loved and the two of us are looking forward to a long, happy life together. Give my regards to Janae also. I know she played a large part in Wally’s development and personality.
All my best,
Larry
And another update two years later....
May 25, 2005
Dear Kim and Todd,
I was making some copies of pictures yesterday to send to my sister in Australia and thought it was also a good time to give you an update on Wally. I decided not to email them this time around.
The photos were taken on a 6 1/3 mile hike at Vedauwoo near Pole Mountain about 30 miles west of Cheyenne. I’m sure Wally did even more miles than that because he continually runs hither and yon, sticking his nose down freshly dug holes, climbing boulders and checking out all of the cracks, wading in the ponds and following all the delicious scents that only dogs know about. Anyone who thinks pugs are totally lap dogs would quickly change their minds after being around Wally for just one day. He lives for his daily walk. We go 3 ½ miles on the greenway here in Cheyenne 365 days a year. More people we meet every day know his name more than they do mine. He has yet to meet a single person he didn’t love, and he eats up their attention. I get tons of compliments on him! Now that temperatures are warming, we sometimes start our walk between 6:30 and 7:00 am, and hikes in the mountains are taken in the coolest part of the day. We are both much more adapted to cool weather.
Wally is still one happy character, hardly ever has a down day. Even at two, he still loves his puppy games, and the area in front of the fireplace is strewn with his stuffed toys, balls and other toys. Wherever I am, that’s where he has to be. He loves to take an early afternoon nap sprawled across my lap – a daily ritual. His favorite place is at the end of the couch. And yes, he still sleeps with me and prefers to be under the covers, not on top!
Wally has been a hit at the vet too. Whenever we visit, I move off to the side of the huge waiting area because he is so excited to see all the other dogs, and in no time at all, practically everyone gravitates over to our area to see him and to ask all kinds of questions. It’s his magnetic personality, I guess! He has certainly been a healthy pug. He loves people, he loves other animals, but most of all, he just loves life.
I hope you and all of your family are doing well. I still check your web site out from time to time - something I have not done for a while now that I think of it. Wally and I send our best to all of you.
Sincerely,
Larry
And another update, with Wally now being six years old...
"...six years have gone by so incredibly fast. Wally is still an active dog and lives a happy life. In my 70s he has taught me the importance of greeting each day with enthusiasm, never letting friendships die, and continually adding new friends to that circle. He has brought more smiles to more faces than anyone I know.
It's amazing to read what I wrote back then and how those same words aptly describe him today. Same personality, same love of people, same love of life. I must say it made my heart skip a beat when I looked again at those pictures. He was a special joy then and is a special joy now. If you've never been loved by a pug, you have missed out on one of the greatest gifts in life.
Thanks to Dakota Pugs and all of the Dougherty family for making it all possible.
Your friends,
Larry and Wally
