Naughty Puppy: Coaster Stealer

As you recall, Chester likes to be bad and climb on top of the side table in the morning. He jumps from the rug, to the couch, then over to the "man chair" and onto the table. Anything you leave on that table is fair game for him.

Today, it was the Halloween ghost coasters.

After crawling around under the dining room table trying to get it from him,

he made a break for the kitchen where I was able to corner him and get it back.

Ten minutes later he had one of Adam's slippers that he found on the bedroom floor.
The slipper was only recovered by bribing him with a treat. Little stinker!

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Toy Destruction!

Ever since he opened it on Valentine's Day, Chester has loved this Martha Stewart fleece ball toy. He's especially enjoyed chewing on it and shaking it vigorously to "kill it."

On Wednesday evening, he was playing with it as usual, when all of a sudden I glanced over and it looked like this.

 

Uh oh! Chester was quite concerned about it.

Luckily, it was all still connected. The toy is made like a ring with a rope hanging down from it. I was able to just fold the "rope" part back in by shoving it back and forth through the ring. All better!

Chester was pleased and went back to "killing" it before falling asleep with his head on it. He loves soft toys, but usually destroys them pretty quickly so we don't keep many around. He loves the dumb thing and hasn't gotten sick of it yet (which usually happens after a few days) or destroyed it beyond repair. Best $7 toy ever. Seriously.

Getting in the Halloween Spirit

I'm pretty sure Chester hated his new Halloween shirt.

But it was darn cute, and made his "mummy" happy!

Naughty Puppy: Jumping Remembered!

Over the weekend, all of a sudden Chester remembered that he knows how to jump up on furniture. He hasn't really done this since we got our new couches a year ago. But now he's a furniture jumping machine.

He was quite naughty when I was trying to get ready this morning. He was a wet from our walk in the pouring horizontal rain, so that may have had something to do with his extreme hyperness.

First, he somehow got a paper towel and was running around the table with it. I finally got it from him only to discover that he still had quite a few pieces of it in his mouth. So I continued to chase him around the dining room table to get them. Every time I thought I had the last piece, he'd start chewing on something - another darn paper towel piece.

Then, he came into the bathroom where I was straightening my hair and just sat there barking at me.

Next, he was barking and pawing underneath the couch in the dining room. I got the yard stick out and pulled out his missing red kong. But that's not what he wanted. I saw something in the way back, and got it. My red spool of thread. How the heck did he get that?

Later, I discovered how he got the paper towel and thread when I came out into the living room to discover him standing on the end table. From that moment on, he was on lock down with me in the bathroom.

In there, he proceeded to swat at the toilet paper roll until it unrolled to the ground, kill a sock, and try to get under the radiator for dust bunnies.

Sadly, even while being a little terror I found him to be completely cute and adorable. I'm ridiculous.

Chester's 2nd Birthday is TODAY

Today, Chester turns 2!

I can't believe our little stinker is 2 already! How time flies... He was born 4 days before my birthday, and 12 days before our wedding. So that means, we've almost been married for 2 years! (And I'm almost 2 years older, ugh)

Chester at birth:
Chester (almost) at 2:

 I made him "pupcakes" on Tuesday night. This time I made some with mashed bananas and cheddar cheese! Sounds gross, but he'll LOVE it. I still need to frost them tonight with cream cheese.

There will probably be about a million more photos to follow from our little party (Me+Adam+Chester) tonight, but for now, here are a few from last year on his first birthday -

 A box of presents, including his favorite toy STARFISH-

And a rather hilarious one of him eating his cinnamon-apple "pupcake" with cream cheese frosting-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUPPY!!!!

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Spinach

Chester tried spinach for the first time earlier this week.

Apparently he had to shred it all over the rug before figuring out he didn't like it.

This mess was created from one spinach leaf.
One systematically chewed, spit out, picked up, and chewed again leaf.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Chester & the Tie-Out

We spent a lot of time outside over the weekend, and Chester enjoyed all his (supervised) time on the tie-out. But with this freedom comes responsibility to not get all tangled up...

Not going anywhere for a while?

He needed rescue quite a few times. It was annoying, but I couldn't help but laugh.

Snuggly Buppy

Chester is sure enjoying his dad being back home! There was a lot of squealing and wiggling when we walked in the door. And of course, lots of snuggling and watching baseball!

I love his furry little head

"Buppy" you ask?
Why yes, it's Chester's nickname #989,556
Bud + Puppy = Buppy
It was a lovely name that came out of my often dyslexic mouth a few weeks back, and it's really caught on in our house.

Vote for Chester!

Please vote for the little guy! He's #108 under Midwest Pug Rescue

http://www.rovernightnetwork.com/photocontestvoting

Voting Form
 One vote per person/e-mail address

If he won, he would get this photo in the Rescue Dogs of the Twin Cities book

Thank you!

In other Chester news, this awesome spring weather has meant an increase in the "sniffing stops" on our walks and the "salad bar" consumption AKA grass eating. He's such a little stinker! But oh how we love the little guy.

Still Tiling & Not so Naughty Puppy

So this tiling business is taking a bit longer than we thought.

Day 25:
Not so much fun. I accidentally broke one of the tiles Adam had meticulously cut. It went downhill from there...

1. Make specialized cuts. Lots of them.

2. Tile above the stove and over to the edge

3. Tile behind sink

4. Teach Stef how to cut with the tile cutter. Start speaking again.

Day 26:
Where we discovered we couldn't finish because the last edge piece was broken. #$%@!!! 

1. More specialized cuts with the tile cutter, wet saw and nippers (done by Adam)

2. Lots of back buttering because of small spaces

3. Discover the last edge piece has the top broken off. Wonderful. Guess we won't be finishing this evening after all.

4. Get stack of items to return & receipts together for Adam's trip to HD tomorrow for a new edge piece.

In Chester related news, he's been a very good boy. I think this whole kitchen project has made him much more independent. Most nights while we're working, he can be found chewing a bone on his bed or sleeping. That's right, he finally figured out that his bed is for relaxing in, not digging. Though occasionally he can still be found trying to dig in it.

Yes, he's laying on one of his bones.

Naughty Puppy: Library Card Chewer (and Day 19)

It's Naughty Puppy Thursday, and very fittingly, Chester was rather naughty this morning. He hasn't been allowed in the kitchen lately because of all our kitchen project gear everywhere. As such, I've been a little lax and my purse has been laying on the floor. This morning, it was not only on the floor, but wide open. After I took his leash and harness off, while I was taking my own coat off and hanging it up, little Chester was sniffing in my purse. I shooed him away, but not before he got something and took off with it.

That something was my new St. Paul Public Library card. The little monster! I got it back because he dropped it and couldn't pick it back up (no traction on the hardwood). Of course it now has a few little teeth marks, but it's still usable. It made me laugh.

The damage (esp in the right corner)
It's much more noticeable in person!

And of course a kitchen update-
Day 19:
1. Start putting some items away in the drawers (Adam while I was at work)

2. Run to Home Depot again to get a new tube of silicone caulk. Luckily they let me just have it because I paid but didn't get have it in my bag when I returned home on Tuesday night.

3. Silicone edge where undermount sink meets wood countertop (Adam)

4. Painstakingly wipe away most of it leaving a small strip where the crack is (so as not to be too noticeable)

5. Brush on the final satin coat of Waterlox (this is coat #4). We may actually have a usable countertop tomorrow night!
The satin coat is because the regular stuff is really shiny. The satin is supposed to tone it down.

Extra shiny before the satin coat of Waterlox

Naughty Puppy: The Bench

Last evening, Adam and I were watching tv on the couch. Both of us tried to get Chester to snuggle on the couch with us, but he wanted nothing to do with it and kept jumping off. He was roaming around the house but then I couldn't hear him anymore. This usually means he's doing something he's not supposed to be doing. But that wasn't the case this time. For once he was being good, he had just jumped onto the bench and was hanging out.

Apparently he wanted to give himself a timeout, or maybe he just wanted his own couch to sit on.

Regardless, he looked adorable and little. Of course I had to quick grab the camera and take a photo.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: The Christmas Tree

Ever since we put the Christmas tree up a few weeks ago, Chester has been fascinated by it. He can often be found hanging out in the front entry by it (and not just when he's sitting by the door to go to the bathroom). He'll just sit and stare at it. He has a favorite ornament that is just his height. It's a glass ornament of a large red car full of Christmas gifts. I don't know what the fascination is, because there are other ornaments up that are his height. It's just his favorite I guess. I've caught him licking it a few times.

Chester with his favorite ornament

Chester also likes to go hide under the Christmas tree. He's figured out that he's just short enough that he can stand up underneath it. It's in a corner, so if he goes under it we can't get him out.

Chester hanging out under the tree

 It's pretty cute though, and it could be much worse. He could be rough with the tree or worse, try to pee on it! The only thing we can't do is put gifts under it. Apparently Chester thinks all presents are for him.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Under the Bed

Chester has rediscovered his love for going under the bed. For him, it's a great for hiding, playing, and taking stuff you're not supposed to have (ie socks)...

There's not much cuter than a little pug peering out at your from underneath a bed skirt, only to dart back under when you spot him.

Where IS that pug?!

"I can see you mom!"

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Chester's Original Halloween Costume

Originally, Chester was going to be a bat for Halloween. However, he absolutely hated the bat ears, and would shake them off soon after they were put on.

Chester and his dad the day the costume was purchased

Okay, so I can't say that I blame him as they covered up his ears and that probably felt really weird. However, without the little bat ears hat, he just looked like a purple and black butterfly. So... a different costume was chosen, the dinosaur. And he was a darn cute dinosaur. But he was also an adorable bat!

"Maybe, if I stand real still, my mom will take this off me!"

Here's some cute pro photos of Dino Chester from the Paw-a-Ween event courtesy of Modern Life Photo.
Us with the dinosaur-
http://modernlifephoto.nextproof.com/galleries/mn-pug-rescue-halloween-2011/images/44209752

Just the dinosaur (the only one where the costume isn't coming off)-
http://modernlifephoto.nextproof.com/galleries/mn-pug-rescue-halloween-2011/images/44209494
 

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Play with me!

Chester's favorite toy as of late is his Kong Wubba, closely followed by his green rubber Hartz bone also known to us as "squeakie." These are the toys he wants to play with ALL THE TIME. These are also the toys that get taken away and hid when we want calm Chester to make an appearance.

"Wait - is that a CAMERA?!"

"I'll kill it for you mom!"

This morning he wanted to play desperately while I was getting ready. He kept bringing these two toys in and dropping them at my feet. Then he'd look up at me like "MOM! I want to play with you. SO. BAD."

How could I resist?

I was late for work....

Another fav is his Tuffy Toy starfish, but it's kept out of the general toy box population. It makes him extremely wild, so he doesn't get to play with it very often.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Jumping Troublemaker

Chester was quite the little troublemaker this morning. While I was getting ready, I heard a little noise in the living room. I went out to check on him, and he came darting out of the bedroom. In there, I discovered a pen laying on the floor, but the cap was missing.

Great.

The chase was on.

I chased him around and under the dining room table before he made his break for the bedroom. He hasn't quite figured out that I can easily corner him in there. Once captured, I discovered he did not have the pen cap anymore. I put him in his pen and began searching for it as I thought, "I do NOT have time for this right now." I finally found it under the old couch in the dining room.

He has this thing lately where when he's about to be caught with something in his mouth, he will drop that item and run away from it. As if he won't get in trouble if the evidence is no longer on his person. Tricky little thing.

Mind you, this pen was originally on the side table, so he must have climbed onto the couch and then onto the table to get it. After those shenanigans, he was stuck in the same room as me.

Later, we were in the bedroom so I could change. I look over, and of course he was standing on top of his kennel. I mean, why wouldn't he be? Then, I put him on the bed and he tried to jump on top of the dresser. What is his deal?!

But the latest naughty behavior occurred in the bathroom...

"What? Am I not supposed to be up here?"

Yes, beginning this week he likes to jump on top of the toilet. Luckily, we almost always keep it shut. But, if he keeps this up, one of these days he may end up with a cold wet surprise.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Jumping on top of things

Lately Chester has been really into jumping on top of everything. When we are at my parent's house, he jumps on the coffee table. At home, he jumps on the couch, chairs, side table, and his latest, the top of his kennel.

I was folding laundry the other night and turned around to see what he was up to. I looked on the floor but didn't see him. Then I saw him, staring back at me from on top of his kennel. We keep his kennel in our room for him to sleep in.

"I'm not supposed to be up here!"

 It's really not bad that he jumped on top of his kennel, more like why would you do that? Plus, we're trying to discourage all forms of jumping onto things since most of the things he jumps onto are not appropriate for puppies and/or dangerous.

His other favorite place to be is on the old couch in the dining room when we're eating at the dining room table. I think he just likes to be up high and where the action is.

"Have any extra food for me?"

Naughty Puppy Thursday: A new toy - old water bottles

Besides the usual climbing from the couch onto the side tables, Chester has been good this week.

"What's that mom?"

I have discovered though a new cheap form of entertainment for him - old water bottles! I took off the label and cap, and gave him one to play with. He had a great time kicking it around the house, chasing after it and crushing it. Of course this was all supervised and I took it away once he ripped it open. Too bad we don't really drink bottled water much because this kept him entertained for 20 minutes or so before being put into the recycling bin.

"Give me"

I've seen covers they make for them. I'd probably get one if we ever used water bottles, but we really don't.

Naughty Puppy Thursday: Fugly Friend

Chester has been pretty good this week, other than his shoe obsession. We've been going on two walks a day, which of course he loves. He runs in a circle of excitement when you ask, "Do you want to go for a walk?"

His first adoption day anniversary is coming up on September 11. I can't believe he's been with us for almost a year now! It seems like we just got him, and at the same time, as if he's always been a part of our family.

To celebrate his adoption day, I of course had to get him a gift. I couldn't decide what to get him, until MN Pug Rescue posted a link on Facebook for Fugly Friends. I saw them and decided he just had to have a custom one. They are so cute. So I ordered him his very own custom Fugly Friend.

Meet Nester

Chester's new Fugly Friend!

He's Chester's Fugly Friend half. I got him from Fugly Friends based in Minneapolis, MN. Check them out at

 http://www.myfuglyfriends.com

It's a custom handcrafted toy made to be durable. Nester was designed from pictures of Chester and I got to request the colors it would be (aqua and blue of course!)

Chester is pretty rough on soft toys, but loves them so. Hopefully this one will last a while. I can't wait for Chester to meet his new friend!