Otis & Buka Blog

Double Poo Shoe

Suzie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:26:06 GMT

The very first date I went on with Jay, we parted ways on the corner of 6th and Jersey Ave. He had a crush on me. In fact, he had tried to kiss me. My ninja like reflexes and untouchability proved too much for my handsom suitor, and he was left standing on the corner. I walked away confident and thrilled. I felt like I had the upper hand. As I turned to make some coy remark, I lost focus of where I was stepping. I landed in a 6 inch pile of dog poop.
I immediately texted Jay to inform him that I had stepped in dog crap. The facade was broken. I was no longer cool. From then on, Jay has lovingly referred to me as "Poo Shoe".

Last week, I wore an adorable outfit to work. I had on my fancy Banana boots and a sweater that Jay got for me. I returned from work to walk the dogs under the Turnpike. Its a great park (despite the looming fear of an off course car speeding towards me from above). As we rounded the far corner, i felt a slippery smoosh under my right foot...it was poop. In order to maintain my balance, I had to plant my left foot behind me. I thrust said foot down behind me to keep from falling over. I was stable. I looked down to see the damage on my boot, only to discover that both my feet were covered in poop... judging fro the size of the piles, it was from a big dog. I was a double poo shoe.

I had to do the poop-wipe walk the entire way home on both feet. I felt like i was trying to do a forwards moonwalk, and failing at it. I would also like to add, that Otis and Buka were not helping the cause.

Please pick up the Poops

En Buka Veritas

Suzie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:12:14 GMT

What’s a Buka?

With her ape like eyes and hypocritical love of water, she is less a dog and more a mystery creature. She eats paint and does’t die! She can’t contain herself from jumping in circles when she is standing on sand. She grunts like a pig, as if misinformed about the sounds dogs are supposed to make. But these are only mildly strange idiosyncrasies on the general scale of why Buka is so incredibly bizarre. Found by Jay and Meag in the bowels of Long Island, she sat, alone and disinterested in her cage. She was riddled with perpetual eye boogers and kennel cough. She had a sinus infection that created an everflowing golden river of snot from her cold black nose. She was something to behold…yet when Jay and Meag pitied her at the shelter, she didn’t seem to notice. Had other puppies been present (yes, Buka was the last puppy left – the last kid picked on the dodge ball team) those other dogs would have been eagerly yapping, turning their cute pupy charm to maximum force, but that was not Buka’s strategy. She played Meag and Jay like two suckers. She could have cared less, and with that, she becamethe irreplaceable love of Jay’s life, and the dog who gets away with whatevershe wants.

Buka’s charms come out at the most convenient times,rendering her forgiven for all mishaps, and invited to all family functions.

She is welcome wherever she wants to go: a dog celebritywhose aloofness only drives her adoring public wild. SHe is the Salinger of dogs, but without the drama.

She Likes:

Jumping after smoke. She thinks she can catch it providing hours of entertainment for onlookers

Eating her kibble on piece at a time, and to Buka, it is always a buffet. I frequently vacuum the bedroom only to find pieces of dog kibble spread out to satisfy her late night cravings

Sneezes: Nothing is more pleasing to Buka’s ears than the sound of a sneeze. She walks directly to you after you sneeze, and will climb up to your face, pawing at you for more.

Fake Jumping: If you say the word “Walk” Buka slams her paws down as if she is about to jump on you, then sort of slightly hops, leaving you both feeling let down.

Dirty Water: Not to be confused with clean water – Buka has swam in what is essentially the toilet bowl of the Hudson River, but will dodge any sprinkler or shower water at all costs, resulting in messy and smelly wresteling matches to clean off whatever gross thing she rolled in

Toes: do not wear open toed shoes around Buka unless you are comfortable getting them thoroughly licked with creepy enthusiasm. Toes are a delicacy to this dog and she cannot contain herself. She has no shame and has never met a toe that she would refrain from licking. If she is jonesing for some toes and there are no barefeet to be found, she resorts to licking Jay’s flip-flops. She also satisfies her cravings with the inside of Otis’s ears and occasionally his jowls.

Sleeping on you: Buka does not cuddle, nor does she acknowledge your existence if you are sleeping. She will lie directly on your face / knees / chest. It is all the same. I have watched her sleep directly on Otis’s head.

Biting Ankles: That’s her go to move. Despite the fact thatit’s a total cheap shot, its hilarious when it works. She goes for the legs while you are walking down the stairs. It usually doesn’t end well.

Her Dad: Buka loves Jay almost as much as Jay loves Buka. I was walking the dogs down the block today and we happened upon Jay as he was returning from work. He was a few blocks away, I barely could tell that it was him walking towards us, but Buka sensed her human soul mate was near and began pulling so desperately it broke my heart to hold such passion back. When Jay was about 30 feet away, I let her go and she ran (in that weird sideways way) right into Jay’s arms. She actually smiled and did a few spins…then rolled in something gross and tried to eat poop.

She is either the smartest dog I have ever met, or severely disabled,but I suppose genius is never straight forward.

Such is the chow/lab/schnauzer i suppose.

The Butler Did It: Pit of the Week

Suzie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:36:34 GMT

In a more perfect world, I would live someplace with a massive yard, unlimited funds and I would have an athletic build.
Unfortunately, this world is not perfect, I am chubby, and my backyard is inadequate for housing another dog.
This leaves me in a dilly of a pickle, in that I have fallen in love with Butler. He is smart, funny and already house broken! What else can you want from a dog? Well in case you did require other things, Butler is up to date on his shots and he has already been "altered" (I hate euphemisms, they are creepier than the words they attempt to soften).
Additionally, he gets on well with other dogs.

What truly drew me to this dog was the amazing photo that was posted on petfinder. He has such charisma! (Watch out Sampson!) And the bright blue wall in the background was fantastic. The lighting was a little off, but I can't expect every photo to look like it was taken by Jay (who really is outstanding, and might I had, incredibly hot)
He just looks like a good time. But you can't judge a book / dog by its cover / coat, so perhaps a meet and greet is in order. Someone, anyone, please…adopt Butler so I can hook him up with Buka…or Otis!

PS - George is still looking for a place to live, so spread the word

Cabin Fever: 100 Beers in the woods

Suzie — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:27:51 GMT

We piled into the caravan and onto the road, reaching the Catskill's at the ripe hour of 9 pm. The hounds were released, the cars unpacked, and the refrigerator stocked to capacity, with its surplus being stored on the porch outside.

It was Labor day, and we were right where we belonged: the Cabin House.

The Cabin House Labor Day tradition began last year, when Jay and I were barely dating. Otis was still a new addition to the family. It was a weekend of firsts: I went fly fishing with Jay for the first time, I shot a gun for he first time, I rode an ATV for the first time and Buka sprained her tail for the first time.

With such lofty shoes to fill, I anticipated a good time, but nothing could have prepared me for what occurred over the course of those three days.

It was the perfect storm. The friends, the dogs, and the Italians...

The antics of the weekend are all innervated in the "femur of fun" (this all ties into my "skeleton of good times" theory). There is no telling one story without stumbling into another one...

I will leave you simply with this:
A "4 Haiku Reflection Set" inspired by the happenings that took place over Labor Day Weekend, 2008 and a Shakespearian sonnet in Iambic Pentameter about the Italians and their wily ways.

Enjoy.

Elston Barreling...
Porcupine of destiny...
Dr. Evans Rules!

One hundred cold beers
plus ten ambitious people
wont last through the night

On the grassy bank,
Balanced bottles on white pipes
felt our Frisbee's wrath

No one flips a cup
while dancing to loud techno
better than the girls

Ode de Italians

On flashy Vespas from New York they rode
in fancy scarves and jeans with fancy names
only to find they were without abode,
they thought they must return from whence they came.
But fortune came to them in Coomber form
and Mike noticed a quite familiar face
with beds to spare within his woodland dorm
Mike offered that they come stay at his place
They parked their scooters right beside the cars
and greeted dogs and humans with a smile
Roberto and Francisco were the stars
despite their very odd slow eating style
They tried in vain to train the gay Sampson
And made mike laugh talking like E. Cartman

It also should be pointed out that this trip did include several more "firsts" to add to the list. They are rambled off below in no particular order
beersbie, flip cup, being the first one to go to bed, sleeping on the floor while Otis sleeps comfortably in bed with Jay

What's Not to Love!?

Suzie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:58:04 GMT

Thanks to PetsBlog for recognizing Otis&Buka on their blog! I know I might be a tad cheesy, but I feel like a proud mom seeing my dog's photos up on the big screen (computer screen of course). I am so excited that Otis and Buka have been recognized and their hijinx are bringing smiles to many readers.

The kind words are wildly appreciated, and Otis & Buka are going to have celebratory hot dogs for dinner.

Also, check out their post about dog training tips; I wish I had read this one earlier.

Best part about the PetsBlog review: what's a Buka!?

Check back soon and I will be sure to shed some more light on Buka and her mysterious origins.

Rescue Me, Dog Nab It! : Pit Bull of the Week

Suzie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:49:58 GMT

Sometimes, when I look at big head Otis, I wonder how I got so lucky to find such a sweet rescue pit-bull. I can only imagine Otis thinks the same thing when smiling back at me. He is a dog made entirely out of sunshine and smiles, and sulfur (accounting for the odor that time to time follows him).We were collectively lucky. Otis and I won the proverbial dog rescue lottery. And just as if I won the real lottery, I would want to share my winnings with the world…somewhat. With this generous mindset, I bring to you the mugs of dogs needing to be rescued, and a little bit of information that will hopefully elicit rescuing and a life of happiness that only dog owners understand.

So begins Pit of the Week.
The first of many deserving dogs that we (Otis and I) would like to highlight is George, who is a german pointer / pit-bull terrier mix.
George came to my attention when scrolling through PetFinder and being drawn in by his coy come hither eyes. Additionally, he is grayish, which as far as I am concerned is the new black. Otis disagrees with me on this one, but he can’t type, so I win. This dog is a triple threat by having a great name. George Flores is one of my favorite Georges and can be heard on the radio on weekends at Star 99.1 fm. (there’s a plug for you, daddy!)
It turns out that this pooch is not only handsome, but a sweetie. He is described as “gentle as gentle can be” leaving literally no room for improvement in that category. He's still a puppy (around 18 months) but is good on a leash, which seems like a paradox to me. Because of his mix (pit-bull / german pointer) he needs a lot of exercise, which is good for dog and owner alike.

Another of George's amazing qualities is that he is good with other dogs. It is such a relief to be able to take your dog to a dog run. This, of course, should be tried out and monitored in appropriate places. PetFinder has labeled George as good with kids and other pets, however his foster mom says he hasn't had any experiences with cats yet.
His other stats follow:

he's neutered
he has had all his shots
he is house broken

George is being fostered locally in Hoboken after three different brief stays in shelters. He eventually wound up at the Liberty Humane Society in JC (where Otis is from) then to another kennel, then to his foster mom's couch. . A benefit to adopting a fostered dog is that they have one on one experience in a non-abusive home making the transition a little easier, in addition to having more house training. They are less stressed and you get to see there personality faster.
So, with that in mind, meet George. Send his smiling mug to your friends and family, and feel satisfaction in the fact that you have rescued a dog in need.

Summer of 08' Camping Trip pt2

Suzie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:30:56 GMT

It happens every year. As July melts into August a sad look forward reveals calendars overstuffed with desperate summer activity: cramming trips to the beach, the mountains, out on the town into the precious few weekends fall before Labor Day. A year has not passed that I have not felt this itch.

So in this frame of mind the semi-annual Otis and Buka Star Gazing camping trip came to fruition.

Last minute, bags were packed, food and water purchased, and players arranged. We assembled at the bottom of the trail, some more prepared than others in camp gear, some with a multitude of small bags tied haphazardly together, and some with large military issued duffel bags strapped uncomfortably to their backs.

Otis and Buka, of course, carried nothing. We clamored up the mountain with spunk…for about fifteen minutes. Then true colors came pouring out of Jay's forehead in the form of sweat. He was, for some reason, wearing jeans. I was looking straight ahead, trying not to focus on the burning rubber feeling I had in my legs. Buka and Sammy ran circles around us as we climbed.

It turned out to be near a 45 minute hike up a mountain and around the lake where we ended up finding a lovely spot. Unfortunately, some eastern European dog haters also found the same spot and vehemently scoffed at the adorable swimming tricks that our dogs were performing.

But finally, the moment was ours, to share with our dogs in summery whimsical outdoorsy fun. With a smile and a splash, Buka exploded out onto the lake with phelpsian determination. Sammy, although determined, is not there yet. He tried to drown Meag, but purely out of his desire for a water hug.

And even Otis stepped out onto the lake up to his ankles. He ventured one whole foot out into the shallow waters.

It clearly exhausted him, and he had his fill of nature that night, preferring laps to the hard dirty ground.

So it was a success. Stars were spotted and one flashlight was donated and delightfully semi-annual good times were had.

Summer of 08' Camping Trip pt1

Suzie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:30:31 GMT

Thanks to Anne for the awesome photos!

My Alt Country Dog

Suzie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:41:03 GMT

Music to His Ears

As an abused shelter dog, Otis's musical knowledge was, at best, limited. Despite his upbringing in Jersey City (which I consider to be a Mecca of musical talent and history), he has never expressed the passion that I know is possible for a well laid beat. I have played record after record for dear sweet Otis, hoping to see a tail wag for the salsa infused jazz of Ray Barreto, or a head bob to Toots. He denied funk, punk and walked out of the room when I played Dizzy Rascal. I worried he would never open up. Was it the confines of my basement that deterred him from really listening to the music? Is he partially deaf? Does his large head have some auditory effects i dont know about?

I determined he needed a change of scenery.

But where do you get the chance to mingle music and mutts? Maxwell's sells food, and despite health code violations, I don't see them taking kindly to dogs, Uncle Joes is no more, and the jukeboxes of other dog friendly bars in Jersey City don't deliver the way I know they can. WFMU (located in downtown Jersey City) is a dog friendly establishment, but this courtesy does not reach the mail room volunteer (as I so humbly have been in the past).

Then it happened. I stepped off the Grove Street path train and was greeted with a 5 piece country band standing on the corner, preparing to play directly into my soul. Any Day Parade was setting up, and since this was a street show, sponsored by Grooves on Grove, Otis was, of course, welcome. The Kentucky twang of singer / guitar player Tree Jackson's voice sprawled out in the atmosphere like fog. The sun hung low on the horizon of Newark Avenue, and for a few moments, Jersey City thrilled me. While enveloped by the harmonies of their savagely spirited country music, I saw a large smile walking towards me. It was Otis, and finally, he liked what he heard. He found music he could vibe with. Escorted by Buka and Jay (whose smile and love of Any Day Parade was equal to Otis's) we sat as a pack and let them tell us stories wrapped in bass lines. We are still working on Otis's toe tapping rhythm and harmonica howling, but it was nice to have a chance to share the music I love with the dog I love.

The Dog Days of Summer

Suzie — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:48:19 GMT

"BOILING" has become a staple in the daily descriptive communications that go on betwixt James and me. It is both appropriate, and gross. The thought of a person...boiling...is not really too appetizing. Alas, it is how Jay looks and feels when we have to walk more than 3 blocks (It should be mentioned that he is usually in navy blue and wearing pants...and speed walks), and it is the MOST frequently used word in his vocabulary, and tends to rub off on those around him.

Enter Buka.
Summer, for those with fur, is an unpleasant time. James is only mildly furry, but poor poor Buka. She wears 2 coats of thick long black fur all year, and as we enter the peak of the dog days of summer, she has entered her peak of annoying behavior. She drags behind you on walks, but refuses to go inside. She is barking at everything she sees, especially poor sweet lovable Otis. And she is overall acting like a jerk

Buka is boiling, just like her dad. She and Jay hate summer as much as I hate Sam Champion (he is fingernails on the chalkboard of my heart). They are quite the pair on their afternoon walks. Both overdressed, boiling, and in a terrible mood.

Pray for Otis and me, that we make it through these terrible, boiling dog days of summer.

Buka Loves The Gross & Otis Loves Suzie

Suzie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:07 GMT

Bad Watch Dog, Dog!

Suzie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:03:14 GMT

Otis is lazy and shouldn't be allowed to sleep in bed any more because it has made him SOFT!

Last night, some terrible sort of person stole the bike i have had since i moved to jersey city. It was the crappiest cruiser that my little brother bought at a garage sale for $3. My second week living downtown, some other terrible creep smashed my car window and stole the stereo that came with the car. I'm not really sure why they went the effort as it didn't work. Either way, I decided that I had no need for a car in Jersey City. I paid to have the window fixed, then approached my then 17 year old car-less brother Jon with a proposition. Bike for car. The best (or worst) trade commenced. He took my car and subsequently drove it into the ground, and i still had my brown cruiser four years later. I paid 2K for the car in 2001, Jon paid $3 for the bike in 2004...BUT, I look like a cool big sister.

I recently considered a new bike on the urging of James, but decided all i needed was a little TLC and some new tires.

One week after Jay so generously replaced my tires and brakes...some absolute jerk has made off with the best bike i ever had.

And Otis just slept, next to me, not even thinking of how sad his mom would be when she realized her bike had been burgled.

Buka would have barked if someone stole Jay's bike...which is still there....good job Bukis.

PAPARAZZI CATCH SAMPSON COOMBER ON VACA!

Suzie — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:09:53 GMT

Here is a photo of the famed Sampson Coomber that has recently surfaced on the web. Seen with a couple delirious fanatics, Sampson hams it up for the paparazzi on Cape Cod.

100 Chinese Quake Dogs Rescued

Suzie — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:31:31 GMT

Thought this was an interesting story on msnbc - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25415938/.

Also check out the slideshow to the right of the story.

A nice feel good story after that horrible natural disaster (as well as that creepy Habacac post.)

Otis costs a million dollars

Suzie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:58:33 GMT

Otis...

A Haiku in your Honor:

Two broken paw nails
stiches, shots and gross mouth thing
one smiling pitbull

Guillermo Vargas Habacuc

Suzie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:36:51 GMT

"
This is pulled from an email i got today...
"In 2007, the 'artist' Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, took a dog from the street, tied him to a rope in an art gallery, and starved him to death.

For several days, the 'artist' and the visitors of the exhibition have watched emotionless the shameful 'masterpiece' based on the dog's agony, until eventually he died."

"Hello everyone. My name is Guillermo Habacuc Vargas. I am 50 years old and an artist. Recently, I have been criticized for my work titled "Eres lo que lees", which features a dog named Nativity. The purpose of the work was not to cause any type of infliction on the poor, innocent creature, but rather to illustrate a point. In my home city of San Jose, Costa Rica, tens of thousands of stray dogs starve and die of illness each year in the streets and no one pays them a second thought.Now, if you publicly display one of these starving creatures, such as the case with Nativity, it creates a backlash that brings out a big of hypocrisy in all of us. Nativity was a very sick creature and would have died in the streets anyway."

I am an art lover, and a dog lover. So i am broken hearted to see the desecration of both in one exhibition. Habacuc is one of the many contemporary sensationalists that incorporates the reactions of the viewer into their art. This is a common trend in contemporary art - and will continue to be. Art is expressive in nature, and truly good art is supposed to elicit something from the viewer. It's supposed to engage.

But where are the lines? When does an act of art deviate into a crime? And what is more important?
Street dogs in South and Central America have a very different existence than they do in the US. They are not pampered. There is also less attention to their well being because of poverty and poor living conditions for humans. He raises awareness about the conditions of these animals, but like much art, there is a context that it needs to be taken in.

When you view a triptych, it is in context: when it is seen in single pieces, it loses a portion of its value as a work of art. The same goes for an altarpiece or ornamental frieze. Art has context. A criticism of the Louvre is that the galleries removed too much of the work from its original context which takes away the intended impact (also a criticism of the Salons in 18th and 19th century Paris)

Instillation art is problematic, in that it must, by definition, contextually install the work of art into the space it is being displayed. It can fail miserably, and often does because the artist does not understand the effect the gallery will have on their work. The factor of context is over looked or miscalculated.

The "art" that Habacuc was trying to portray was out of context. A starving dog on the street and the indifference society felt was the scenario (he claims, although he has made several conflicting statements regarding his intent) that made him feel something, and it is the scenario that he wanted the viewer to engage. He misses the mark by removing the dog from the streets and starving it in front of spectators. His manipulation of the situation devalues it as art, and makes it cruel. The "reaction" he was attempting to get (assuming it was not malicious) is lost because of his presentation of "art". Because of these factors, his work is no longer a reflection of society.
By maintaining control of the dogs intake of food and water (by starving the dog intentionally) he corrupts the scenario of a dog who starves "naturally" in the streets. He removes nature from the "art" and by doing this makes his work self centered. It does not prove that humans are selfish hypocritical, but rather, how selfish and hypocritical one man is. This not only devalues his attempt at enlightenment, but reeks of vanity and self adoration. The fact that humans are cruel is not novel. The hardships of the world are represented in many ways by many artists (including disturbing social commentaries by Goya, Rivera, Kahlo, Dicks, Bacon, Hirst, Ofili...). What Habacuc fails to do is represent his perspective.
Habacuc should have considered the importance of his cause, and his actual motivations when deciding how to express this emotion. The message he was attempting to communicate is lost in this piece of "art" because of its lack of creativity and cruelty at the cost of an innocent street dog.

Thank God Habacuc was not trying to enlighten the world about starving children. His logic only contributes to the disgusting society that he attempts to comment on.

If you want to sign a petition banning this, click below.

http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition-sign.html

Simple Sam

Suzie — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:25:38 GMT

He did it. Sampson Coomber has made it to the printed pagein his first modeling gig. He was, perhaps, the most unlikely of the wild pack of family dogs to excel (physically or mentally) but he has showed us that he has the hammy personality and structured facial features to impress the photographers, in addition to the self reservation to not eat an entire bowl of treats.

Not that Sammy is not a cute dog, he is. I just was shocked that had IT. There are tons of dogs out there, but immediately, in my small little sphere, there are just seven. And out of these seven, I am still shocked that Sampson was the one to make it into the glossy Mags.

Let's Review
Livvy the Pug
-no contest, she is quite "homely"and terribly behaved. She would have peed and pooped all over the set whilst barking at all things that moved or remained still

Wheezy the Pug
-She is cute, and strange looking...there is an allure. I will give you that, but wheezy cant keep quiet, sit still or basically do anything that doesn't involve sleeping or barking.
And with the pugs (this means livvy too) any food is fair game, and all who stand in the way are in peril of losing fingers and face.

Bukis
- Buka is cute, and pretty. Its hard to pull off. She seems simple enough to be just a dumb old dog, but she is pretty enough to want to look at her...But Buka cant be photographed. She is like bigfoot: few pictures exists, and their credibility is debatable. She sucks all the light from the place in the photograph she is alluded to being, and leaves you with a picture that has some questionable imagery.
Also, Buka prides herself on doing the exact opposite of what Jay asks her to do...but only when its really important to Jay. So in a situation where Jay wanted Buka to behave (as her performance was financially weighted) it is more than likely, that she would misbehave in a paramount manner. This is the type of scenario where she would be the worst she has ever been (worse than the dead animal jersey turnpike roll of summer 07)
I am scared to predict what such behavior could entail, but a simple indoor turd does not even come close.

Otis
-clearly the cutest in his dumb large headed way, and wildly expressive, Otis would physically please any viewer eyeballs, eliciting "Awws" and "ooohhh"s. He also tugs heart strings because he is such a "hard luck" dog - and i use that term loosely as he is spoiled and babied by myself and wendy. But alas, Otis needs to be within 10 inches of people. His desperation to be hugged and kissed and petted and snuggled would reflect in a ton of failed shots that catch just Otis's huge fleeing butt. I know this from experience, as Otis posed nude for the LHS 2008 Calendar. He did give the photographer (and her quacking camera, no joke) the shot they needed, but it took a lot of struggling. Otis is Bush League. He is not high fashion, Otis has more of a commercial look.

Elston
-Like Buka, Elston is a cute AND pretty dog. Unlike Buka, Elston shows up in pictures. Much like Buka, Elston's wacky dogsonality would smash any dreams of a successful shoot. If Mike were there to keep her well behaved, Elston would have a fighting chance, but her nervous energy could prove to be too overwhelming for parents and photographers alike. In addition to that, she might take one of her famous "vacations" on account of the larger staff neglecting to close a door all the way. And that has proved to not end well.

Ziggy
-Poor Ziggy, she is a sweet old lass...and that's exactly why she isn't a candidate. She looks too old, not to mention that it is very unlikely that Ziggy would have any interest in doing such a thing. She is trying to enjoy her golden years from the passenger seat of her favorite buddy, Will's car, not be annoyed by flashing lites on a set full of strangers.

So considering that Sammy is not the cutest, not the goofiest, nor clever-est dog, and considering that he is not the best behaved, or worst behaved...he is the perfect candidate. He will work the shots and stay put when told to.

So, congrats Sammy, you did it. We are proud, but Otis and Buka still rule.

Synchronised Dog Walking: Why I Stink at It

Suzie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:02:42 GMT

With everything going on in our lives, the dogs have been getting the short end of the stick (figuratively of course).
Since our Sabbaticals in HoHokus, we spend most free time going to Jersey City to work on the house, buy things for the house, or plan the wedding.

And our dogs, because of their huge play pen of a back yard, have totally lost their ability to walk on a leash. This is totally 100% our fault. They do not get walked any more unless its a pleasure stroll for Jay and I, and we just haven't been committing that time to them. I tried taking Otis out the other day, and it was torture. He pulled, sniffed and peed on everything. He is frenzied by nature (on account of his love/hate obsessive relationship with squirrels) and is completely uncontrollable. Buka is no better. She pulls to the point of choking herself making it seem like we are dog abusers.
I thought taking them running would be a bonding solution to the problem, but that was like having trouble with with the two step and remedying it by trying the soulja boy (which is quite hard but i am proud to say i can almost do...)
Oh, and I should mention that as a fan of the dramatic, i decided to take otis running in the rain (to feel more like an underdog i suppose). He tripped me. It was painful on many levels.

So what are two Rescue Dog owners to do with insubordinate pooches? Jay could care less, as Buka is permitted to do what she pleases when she pleases, provided it is not on his side of the bed, but in light of our new move and my new 9-5 job, its important that the dogs walk well on leash for us and their future dog walker (now accepting applications by the way).

After some minor research, I have these 3 suggestions to offer to Myself, Jay, and any other lapsed dog walker out there...

1) Scheduling is important: apparently i cant be so lazy. I need to stick with a time allocated specifically for walking with my dog. It doesn't count if i play with him in the back yard, or let him roam off the leash whilst Jay and I hike. The act of having th dog on the leash by your side is supposed to create a bond. From this, in theory, Otis is supposed to respect me as his pack leader (best pack ever). And this needs to be done with regularity. Part of that "pack leader respect" garbage comes from the dog trusting that there will be consistent time shared with its owner...this would probably also remedy the panic that Otis seems to go through when humans leave. He seems nervous we aren't coming back.

2) Make the walk at least 30 Minutes: In dog-pack-life, they travel upwards of 20 miles a day, so a thirty minute walk (about 2 miles) is the least you can do. An added benefit is that the walk (if on concrete) can file down your dogs toe nails - which, if broken, cost around $250 to remove (Otis taught me that twice) and is not so fun for the pooch. Also, a thirty minute walk gives you time to work on your dogs focus. Dont let them pee whenever, keep them at your side, you pick the pace, keep the collar high on their neck...All these things contribute to the dog taking leads from you, rather than you (meaning me) getting tugged around and tripped in the middle of the street on a rainy day.

3) Be Patient: Apparently this is where I fall short. I want immediate results, but all the dog people say that you need to be consistent, then results will come. Thats really annoying to me, but tis true. I have a short attention span, so I can only imagine how hard it is for a dog with Otis' mental capacity to retain information.
He is pretty dumb. He is cute and great to cuddle with, but he makes very poor life choices.

Your Very Own Doggy DNA Test

Suzie — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:46:25 GMT

To get your own mixed breed analyses or to learn a little more about the process visit the website for Mars Veterinary, www.windowpanel.com. The only place that I know of in Jersey that carries the test is Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital which by the way is a wonderful vet, www.franklinlakesanimalhospital.com. There they will be able to explain a little bit more of what Mars Veterinary will provide. The total cost for the package was $175 and in the end we were completely satisfied.

DNA Results Are In! Chow, Standard Schnauzer Top The List.

Suzie — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:53:30 GMT

So here is the complete rundown of the different breeds that make up Buka, one of the greatest dogs of our time. I will include photos of each dog along with a brief description. Some of these results are actually a little shocking, to me, because I probably care way too much. It is definitely interesting non-the-less.

#1. Chow.

Not very shocking as it was the most dominant and obvious.

Haha...ok maybe not so obvious.

The Chow Chow dates back 2000 years and many believe originated in China but according to this report there is some evidence it may have migrated from Mongolia and Manchuria. It is also believed that the breed is from a Tibetan Mastiff and Samoyan bloodline. Either way the Chinese used them for hunting and to guard the sacred temples from evil entities.

-Loyal family dogs with an independent spirit.

#2. Standard Schnauzer.

I don't even know what to say about this one. Very odd, but some of the breeds traits certainly turn up in buka.

Ok, the Schnauzer comes from Germany and the Alpine regions of Switzerland and France. Originally bred as guard dogs and hunters of rats. It was also used to protect coaches and children. Not too sure what that even means.

-Intelligent, active and alert dogs. Can be very stubborn.

#3. Lab.

If you are unsure about what labs look and act like I'm sorry you will not be learning about them here. As they are, according to a 2003 census poll, officially played out.

#4. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

Very random but probably mixed in somewhere along the line with the Schnauzer side to her and to my great embarrassment they are lap dogs.

So, last and least is the Petit Griffon Vendeen. The Vendeen is one of the many small varieties of the French Hound. It dates back to the 16th century as a small game hunting dog. And is one of the few breeds that are still bred for their original purpose, which one would naturally think is a small hunting dog because thats what I just wrote, but it was really a french hoop jumping specialist.

All of these somehow make Buka, a legend in her own time.

Thats that. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Till next time!

Jay