Sweet Lola (Pickwick's Never Too Wacky, Too Old, Too Wild) won Winners Bitch every day she entered and Best of Winners on some days in the Columbiana and Perry dog shows, April, 2026. Most of all, she had a blast -- sister Cindy and Emma came along to Perry for the fun, too!

Lola moving out . . . .

Emma on front porch . . . . . She says the verdict is out on dog shows. The Dremel changed the dynamics significantly. One paw down, 3 to go.

Keeping xpens stable on the wood porch of the cabin was challenging (Cindy could slip under OR knock it over ---- she is one determined pug). So, I MacGyvered a containment system for Cindy the Escape Artist. Pretty sure my NASA-engineer father would be… unimpressed. Rebellion is in the air, the banshees have eaten their wild oats, and now we test whether ropes + ballast can defeat chaos.

We had to wait awhile for the eye screening (for OFA) and, alas, someone pooped on the divider so they all had to cram into the bottom bunk. Nice doctor, though, and the ophthalmologist checked Lola's ulcer (scratch/injury) as well -- it was good to have a follow up. She said Lola should have been wearing a cone so, note to self -- always wear a cone even if it seems like a small eye scratch because it can get infected and turn into a really bad ulcer/deeper/more infected etc. if they rub their eye or if another pug licks it etc.

Lola says dog shows are tiring!

Reflections on the Canine Mind
Adapted from Gregory Berns, Emory University

A Quiet Mystery
There is a quiet mystery in the way a dog waits. Not impatiently. Not demanding. Simply present—anchored at the threshold between worlds—watching, listening, knowing.

For thousands of years, dogs have walked beside us, yet only recently have we begun to understand what lives behind their eyes. Modern neuroscience suggests something remarkable: dogs are not merely trained to respond to us—they are biologically shaped to connect with us.

Dogs carry the same emotional architecture we do. Memory. Fear. Joy. Attachment. Their brains, though smaller, hold the same essential structures—suggesting that what they feel may not be so different from what we feel.

I don't often purchase "signage" for the house, but when I saw this one I just had to get it. It brings a smile to my face every time I see it ... for $2, a steal!

In truth, however,while we all "think" we know what our dog is thinking (Oh, and our pug Sebastian has a French accent), in truth little is actually known about what is going on in dogs' heads. As Gregory Berns explains, "This may be surprising because the field of experimental psychology had its birth with Pavlov and his salivating dogs. But as dogs gained traction as household pets, in many cases achieving the status of family members, their use as research subjects fell out of favor. In large part, this was a result of the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, which set standards for the treatment of animals in research and put an end to the practice of stealing pets for experimentation. How strange it is then that these creatures, whose nearest relatives are wolves, live with us and even share our beds, yet we know almost nothing about what they’re thinking. In the last decade or so, however, the situation has begun to change, and we are in the midst of a renaissance of canine cognitive science. Research labs have sprung up around the world, and dogs participate not as involuntary subjects, but as partners in scientific discovery. This new research is beginning to shed light on what it’s like to be a dog and the nature of the dog-human bond.

More Than Food
One of the most striking discoveries in recent research is this: Many dogs respond to human praise as strongly—or even more strongly—than food. The dog does not simply eat. The dog belongs. They know us not only by sight, but by scent. In studies, a dog’s brain responds most strongly to the smell of its own person—more than to other dogs or unfamiliar humans. You are, quite literally, their center.

No Such Thing as “Just a Dog”
And yet—there is no “generic dog.” Each one is an individual, shaped by breeding, environment, and something deeper that is difficult to name. Some are bold. Some are sensitive. Some live for play. Others live simply to sit beside you. Understanding this individuality is part of honoring the dog.

What This Means for Pug Breeders
The pug, perhaps more than any breed, lives at the heart of this human–canine bond. If dogs are tuned to us, pugs are finely tuned instruments—bred for companionship, expression, and presence.

1. Social connection is foundational
Pugs are not meant for distant living. Their brains are wired for relationship. Human interaction is not a luxury—it is essential to their well-being.
2. Temperament matters as much as structure
We are not only preserving physical traits—we are shaping emotional lives. Stable, affectionate, resilient temperaments must be bred with intention.
3. Airway is quality of life
A pug that breathes well can engage fully—with people, play, and the world around them. Prioritizing better airway and BOAS awareness is not optional—it is foundational to humane breeding.
4. Honor individuality
Not every pug will respond the same way to training, food, or praise. Some are comedians. Some are philosophers. A good breeding program allows room for personality within soundness.
5. The bond is the purpose
Beyond type, coat, and movement—this is the heart of the breed:
The way a pug looks at you… and stays.

The Door
And so, the pug waits.
At the door.
At the gate.
At the edge of whatever room you have just left.
Not because it cannot be alone--
but because it would rather be with you.
Science is only beginning to explain what we have always known:
The dog does not theorize harmony.
The dog lives inside it.
And the pug--
the pug waits at the door…
already listening for your return.

About This Reflection
If you are interested, I highly recommend checking out this article inspired by research into canine cognition and the human–dog bond, particularly the work of Gregory Berns at Emory University, whose studies using fMRI have helped illuminate how dogs experience the world and their relationships with us. But, for now, I will circle back to our goal at Pickwick Pugs which is actually simple: to honor both the structure and the spirit of the pug. Because in the end, they are not just dogs. They are companions, confidants, and quiet witnesses to our lives-- waiting faithfully at the door.