I think my dog is going through a crisis. She tried to commit suicide not once but twice last weekend.
Last week we were lucky enough to be invited up north to cottage country in Muskoka. It’s the first time we’ve gone to Muskoka even though we’ve lived in Ontario for almost twenty years.
Muskoka is a popular vacation spot for many Hollywood A listers hoping to escape the rat race. Cindy Crawford was updating her Instagram recently from Muskoka on her annual summer trip. I think I saw her waving to me as I kayaked past.
Zoë (our spoiled pug) has never lived seaside, lakeside nor walked on a beach so we decided to broaden her horizons and take her with us. She isn’t accustomed to long car trips and was quite anxious on the three hour trip. Normally it’s a two hour road trip but since everyone and their dog (ha ha! literally!) head to the cottage on the weekend the traffic is insane.
The cottage and our hosts were wonderful. We received the full “cottage life” experience including; dining al fresco, kayaking and canoeing, a big bonfire with s’mores, a boldly painted sunset and a night sky bursting with so many glittering rhinestone stars they made me dizzy. It was straight off a postcard!
My Dog Tried To Commit Suicide
It was fabulous right up until my dog tried to commit suicide.
I’m sure some of the other guests at the cottage thought I was being a helicopter Mom as I was too nervous to let Zoë go off leash. It’s been my experience with past pugs they sometimes wander off and I didn’t want to risk Zoë disappearing into the Muskoka forest to live out the rest of her days with beavers.
By day two I was starting to feel over protective of the pug and decided to allow her off leash while keeping an eye on her. She was happy to be free and was excitedly running around sniffing everything like it was Christmas morning, so many new smells! So little time.
Splish Splash Pug
Three of us were standing near the end of the dock chatting when we heard a large splash. We turned around to see the pug had jumped off the end of the dock and was paddling as fast as her little legs would take her, desperately trying to keep her head above water. The sheer terror in her eyes and the panic on her face said it all. She needed help.
Pugs are notoriously bad swimmers as it is difficult for them to keep their flat noses above the waterline. With no time to waste Robert plunged fully clothed into the water to rescue her. It was all quite dramatic! Both the husband and the pug looked like drowned rats afterwards.
What Happened?
We still don’t know if she jumped, slipped or simply couldn’t see properly and walked off the end of the dock into the deep lake below. Needless to say it scared me half to death and I feel like I aged five years in five minutes.
We’re all still smiling so there’s that.
Suicide Attempt #2
I thought Zoë’s troubles were over for the day after that bizarre event. We made our way back home and on our walk that evening , totally out of character, Zoë wiggled out of her collar and leash and raced over to confront a well known psycho Dalmatian that lives in our neighbourhood. This dog is more vicious than Cujo. It was total mayhem trying to grab Zoë back. The Dalmatian was ferociously baring all of its teeth and snarling like a possessed demon while lunging at the little pug barely out of reach. I’m sure it looked like something from an episode of Mr. Bean, one small dog running back and forth barely escaping the rabid dog’s jaw. Zoë wasn’t even barking, she was just taunting the other dog. I was relieved the woman with the Dalmatian was able to hold onto her dog.
We eventually captured Zoë and after my panic finally died down I reflected on her strange behavior. I decided that she must have a death wish. She is the same age as I am in dog years, fifty-three and is now considered senior for a dog. I had to ask her… are you having difficulty coping with aging?
What’s Your Problem? Aging Getting You Down?
The cotton voile dress is currently for sale in my Etsy store.
She claimed she didn’t give a damn about getting older, all she wanted was a treat and an ear scratch.
Ah, simple pleasures.
Just a treat and an ear scratch can improve one’s perspective dramatically, no matter what kind of a day you’ve survived.
Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl
You know, sometimes when I put on a particular outfit, I feel like I can do anything. Maybe Zoe got out into the wilderness, felt her beaver brethren calling to her from a lakeside dam, and she lept off the dock convinced she could swim and live as the beavers do. I mean, she does look a little beaver-y. I mean that with the highest compliment because I think beavers are adorable and so is Zoe!
As for the Dalmation–that does sound a bit like a deathwish. Zoe may want to go light on the Saturday morning cartoons. I mean, that is where the kids are getting all their crazy ideas these days, right? 🙂
Oh my. I’m glad Zoe is okay. Apart from those fear-filled moments, it sounds like cottage life suits you!
Hugs to you and Zoe,
Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
Ha ha! Zoë the beaver : )
No more moring cartoons for her.
sniffing all that wilderness – zoe got remembered of her ancestor – the big, cool wolfe….. she just had forgotten for some minutes, that she lives in the body of a tiny, roundish pug ;-D
don´t ask me how it was the first time (and still is honestly) to let lisbeth go out into the wilderness – but on the other hand, she would be a very sad cat….. thankfully she has very good instincts.
envy your cabin weekend – sounds wonderful!
xxxx
I’ve heard of a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing but never a wolf dressed in pug’s clothing ; P
I think the lake was just an accident. How was she to know the water would be deep? And it sounds like she was full of confidence against the Dalmatian. Both incidents sound like something a small child would do–getting in over their head and seeing an opportunity to stick it to a bully.
Why do people have psycho dogs like the Dalmatian? And why do they let these dogs out where they can attack passersby?
I agree it was an accident. When we tried to get her to walk in the water she wasn’t keen on the whole idea. I find it hard to think she would knowingly jump in.
That Dalmatian is a nightmare. The owner knows her dog is crazy and always walks on the road when she sees someone else coming up the sidewalk. No one could have guessed that Zoë would pull a Houdini and run after the other dog.
OMG!! What scary stories! I’m glad the two of you survived. And… “Robert plunged fully clothed into the water to rescue her” — wow! Husband of the Year award for that.
I believe you’re right. Zoe is having trouble adapting to her age. I noticed she’s been dressing inappropriately lately, in bright colors and bold prints, acting as if she’s younger than she is. And we know how wrong that is. 🙂
Oh yeah. The pug doesn’t fall far from the tree ; P
Yay for hero dad Robert! I don’t know what little Miss was thinking, but we’re all so happy and relieved she is OK. Having seen up-close the fabulous life she lives, it’s hard to imagine she’d want to end it. She’s a little sweetheart, a small person in a pug suit.
The country life looks beautiful, and suits you! xox
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
I know! When I die I want to come back as a spoiled pug. Seriously. Kings and Queens have nothing on them.
What a fun vacation for you all!! I think that Zoe was just overwhelmed with all the fun. She definitely wants to stick around for more treats because that’s what life is all about. And was feeling her oats with the Dalmatian!!
I’m glad she’s okay!!!
XOOX
Jodie
It was a great little getaway.
We were in Montreal this past weekend. I’m going to write about it next week.
I kinda remember when Muskoka was a place where middle-class families with passels of kids kept ramshackle cottages with castoff furniture. Guess those days are gone, hunh? At least the “cottage” feel is still there. The place looks idyllic with stars that shine bright.
Awards to Robert, hero of the hour, and you, for saving Zoe not once but twice. The flexing of her superhero powers sounds like a middle age crisis. Get her a sports car and pawdicure and she’ll be fine. I guess plastic surgery would not be an option. Um, I have the car, would a manicure work? Hm.
Did she jump, or was she pushed?
Just kidding, obviously. Kudos to Robert for the successful rescue! Such a good dad.
Ha ha! Yeah…if she was pushed they’d have to deal with me ; P
What a terrible fright. I can believe you aged 5 years. Your heart stops beating when you experience something like this. And how chivalrous Robert was to get in the water and rescue her fully clothed! A night in shining armour. You must have loved him twice more after his heroic deed.
It is amazing that the lady held on to her ferocious Dalmation dog. Our Watson is only 7 1/2 months and only playful and I still can barely hold him.
But the place you went to is indeed postcard perfect. Never would have thought that you would have traffic jams in Canada. Such a vast country.
Greetje
Ha ha! That is funny! Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and almost any other major city suffers with traffic jams. Toronto is notoriously bad. There are six million people living in the GTA. That’s one third of the total population of your entire country living in one city. You have to remember that lots of Canada is unpopulated.
You’d think they spread a bit haha.
Can’t go north…it’s too cold! South is the US border. That’s why we’re squished together ; P
Yikes! The little devil. Maybe she thought the lake was a big puddle. And the Dalmation, that’s really scary. Maybe she’s having a mid life crisis. Beautiful scenery btw. Hope you had a great time despite Zoe’s mishaps.
Theresa
I swear she was having a mid life crisis. Hopefully it only lasted one day for her.
We still had a good time. That was the one bit of excitement for the weekend.
Zoe’s pretty good adventure was nipped in the bud by loving and well meaning parents.
Running off into the woods to join a bunch of buck toothed, mud caked beavers??!!?? NOT ZOE’S STYLE.
Proximity to the watery end of a dock, such that either diving or falling off is an attainable thrill, secure in the knowledge that you’ll be rescued by your heroic dad if your kerplunk is less than skilled = ADVENTURE!!!
Taunting and tantalizing an evil and snotty-polka-dotty Dalmatian BIG FUN and a great way to test your new found dodgey wilderness skills.
No suicidal pooch here! ZEALOUS ZOE THE WOODSY WONDERGIRL!
Hahahaha! I think she could be “The Wonder Pug”, Marvel’s next big ticket superhero series : P
Muskoka looks stunning, I love that photo of you both in the kayak.
I’d have been scared to death of letting Zoe off her leash and a nervous wreck when she dived into the water. Hooray for Robert coming to the rescue!
What a naughty girl she is (but utterly gorgeous!) xxx
She really did her best to provide some drama for the weekend.
Oh my goodness that must have been so scary! I’m glad she is ok!
https://colorandgrace.com/
ohh poor little Zoe! I understand! I am like you, my pups stay on a leash and even when my hubby wants them to go off leave on the nature trail behind ourhouse, I get nervous! When we go to the cottage by the lake, and take a walk, I would pose the question to my hubby ” What would you do if they fell in?” I know I would run and jump in, but hubby doesnt do wel with water, so it is good your hubby did and got Zoe out. She probably just sensed her freedom and got excited!
There are always some bigger doggies that we have to watch for in the neighborhood, actually 2 Corgies on the corner are pretty fiesty!
The cottage and your time does sound wonderful being able to canoe and enjoy the scenery.
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
What a scary episode, or rather, two episodes. Robert is a hero and hurray for the Dalmatian woman’s ability to hold on to her psycho dog. Otherwise, your trip to Muskoka sounds like heaven. Hope you’ve recovered from Zoe’s midlife crisis antics 🙂 xxx
Glad to hear Zoe is OK after her two frights , although maybe you were more frightened than Zoe. Not sure why little dogs sometimes forget their size and try to take on the bigger ones, ours loves to bark at some of the larger ones too.
Your weekend getaway looks rather idylic but I can imagine the Summer crowds and traffic.
I’ve lived in Ontario my entire life and have never been to Muskoka, but then, we weren’t cottagers when I was growing up. It looks beautiful there and aside from the Pug trauma, I’m glad you were able to experience it. I’m glad Robert was there to rescue Zoe from her most likely accidental dip in the lake. I think Zoe has an inflated idea of her own invulnerability and figured the Dalmation would cower in the face of her Pug Powers.
Knowing nothing about pugs I can only surmise she wanted a dip in the lake and then couldn’t hack it!
What a totally fabulous place you visited and the shot of you and your husband in the kayak is brilliant. You could use that as a header on your blog and everyone would think you were the great outdoors type; ha ha!!
As for the Dalmatian incident; I think Zoe probably over estimated her own powers there but she may well be experiencing a mid life crisis and as she can’t buy a sports car or take on a younger lover she resorts to this!
Hope she’s settling down to normal life now…
xxx
What a dramatic adventures with such a small doggo! Robert to the rescue!
I had never heard of this place, but it looks beautiful up there.