Remembering Our Friends
This section is devoted to some of the wonderful dogs who have passed through our “doors” over the years, and have passed beyond our doors…
Recently our favorite Pug, Toots Sweet, left for finer fields, and it is to her that we dedicate this page. Long live Tutti!
Toots Sweet, “Tootie”
CD, NA, NAJ, AXP, MJP, CGC, TN1, P1; 2 legs CDX
10-9-99 – 6-16-11
In Memoriam to A Once in a Lifetime Pug!
My Heart Dog
This little spitfire came into my life just in the nick of time! My dear little Jack Russell, Squirt McDoogle, age 17-1/2, was slowly slipping away. Although I could not bear the thought, I knew I should be thinking about the next chapter in my life; and what little dog I might find to share it with. Having been a Terrier and Sighthound person, the thought occurred to me that perhaps I should try a different small breed – not bent on self-destruction. Digging terriers out of fox earths was becoming increasingly less appealing as I reached ever closer to retirement age.
I met my first Pug at Old Towne School for Dogs in Alexandria, VA., where I have trained fror breed and obedience over the past 30 years. Carlos & Sandy Mejias, owners, had a Pug Breed Champion “Baby Ruth” (Ruthie). Ruthie was without a doubt the happiest little dumpling I had ever encountered. She was pure charm, grinning, snorting and spinning, with those happy eyes a poppin’. In the fall of 1999 I volunteered to assist a local Humane Foundation with undercover Rescue work. My colleague and I decided to visit a woman who advertised Pug puppies near Luray, VA. She invited us out to a little Victorian Doll House in her neatly kept backyard garden. Along the top where one would expect crown molding as a little bunny “run.”
Out from a tiny “hutch” emerged three of the most adorable pug puppies imaginable. The one that first caught my eye was already spoken for. The puglet in the middle was my Tootie! She was a tiny ball of energy – all wiggles and squiggles and squeals. I was smitten, and into my life she squirmed. As adorable as she was, every inch of her personality was TYPE “A.” She was an “in your face,” smart as a whip stink pot. She demanded everything RIGHT NOW! She soon learned to WOO WOO me for everything. If ignored, she would grab a pant leg and yank to get my attention. Or, in full attack mode pounce onto my slipper. With her razor sharp baby teeth she would cling onto the top like a hood ornament as I walked through the house. Wait was not in her Data Bank. Everything had to happen TOOTS SWEET! Roughly translated from French it means PRONTO!
My impression of Pugs as being couch potatoes had taken an immediate U-turn! In desperation, I called Carlos for help before I drop kicked her off my slipper into eternity. He said she would calm down in about 2 years. (right!). I couldn’t not live another day with this Monster in Minutia! We immediately signed up for basic obedience class. Carlos admitted Tootie was not your typical Pug (no kidding)! Maybe obedience was not going to be enough action.
On a 4th of July in 2001 we stumbled onto an Agility Demo put on by Mountainview Dog Training, Amissville, VA. Tootie was doing bungee cord flips trying to get at the equipment! We were invited to try out her skills by the owner, Averill Ring. Tootie was a natural! Flying over jumps, scrambling up and over the A-Frame, bounding onto the See Saw, she would flatten herself on the board like a surfer as it descended with a bang in typical Tootie style. She was fearless, bouncing into tunnels and chutes, running up and across the Dog Walk and leaping onto and over the 5’ A-Frame and learning the most difficult obstacle, the weave poles. We were hooked! Novice Classes soon led to private lessons. Training went from one day a week to three. I turned my riding ring into a professionally equiped Agility ring so we could train daily. Soon we entered our first trial, then the next. We began qualifying; double “Q”-ing, winning placements and titles.
Tutti in the spotlight at Pug Nationals
Soon came honors. We were invited to be part of the Pug Dog Club of America’s Top 10 Showcase in Seattle Washington and to attend the first ever Pug Dog Club of America Agility Trial and Banquet because of her #5 Pug in the Country placements in Standard and Jumpers With Weaves. The following year we went to San Antonio and were honored once again for being in the Top Ten for Preferred Agility Standings and Rally.
Tutti with her qualifying ribbon after earning her second Open Obedience leg
As the years passed we tried other venues – USDAA and NADAC where she also titled. The past several years were devoted to her Companion Dog Excellent Title. Her zest for training, travelling and being an all-around companion continued until the day the good Lord took her to heaven. She was running around through tunnels June 15th and never missed her daily walk around my 12-1/2 acre farm in Flint Hill. She would sit in the foyer staring at her obedience dumbbell waiting for me to notice so we could practice her retrieves. She was just too amazingly smart. Even on June 16th she was bossing the pack around until I noticed she was not interested in her “Twizzler” which was her very favorite treat in the morning. I would bring her upstairs and dip the end in some Coconut Oil. She would literally talk her head off until I re-dipped it for her to lick off…….it was then I knew she needed to get back to TLC….so I brought her in for a blook transfusion and surgery.
She never missed the opportunity to shower me with 1000 kisses each and every morning by pouncing on my face to wake me up and taking her paws and moving my face in each direction until she was certain she had gotten every surface pristine.
Toots Sweet and Sonja waiting for Santa
She lived and played hard and was my constant companion and pride and joy. There was absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for her including allowing her to go to heaven without suffering.
She loved my grandkids….so. As little babies she would climb into their strollers and shower them with 1000 kisses. She particularly loved little babies and little girls.
She was PERFECT and there will never been another Toots Sweet….no one can every fill her sweet “paws”. She will live in my heart forever and I am certain she is in heaven giving her brothers and sisters a piece of her mind and sitting in my parents laps showering them with 1000 kisses.
She will be the Lords pride and joy. God bless the sweetest angel in heaven.
Tutti and Sonja
OH How She Lived and OH how I loved her . . . .My precious Toots Sweet!
Sonja Winter