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Three-year old Minnie Pearl of Crossville, Tennessee, who loves to eat raw carrots, stole Pat Vincent Beaudoin’s heart the moment she saw her.
Pat purchased Minnie Pearl from a breeder in Tennessee when she was just nine weeks old. She says Minnie Pearl makes her laugh all the time, but especially when she twirls for her cookie. Pat says it’s adorable!!
Pat says that Minnie Pearl sleeps with them and she is a pug, so of course she is a bed hog. Minnie Pearl snores very little though and she will stay in bed as long as Pat does. Pat says if Minnie Pearl needs to go out during the night, she lets them know by coming out from under the covers, going to the end of the bed and shaking so her tags rattle. Minnie Pearl sleeps about 4 hours a day and her playtime is offset with naps. Minnie Pearl loves people and Pat says she thinks everyone lives to see and pet her. She has several doggy friends she loves and plays with and Pat says she doesn’t know a stranger, 2-legged or 4-legged.
Minnie Pearl’s favorite toy since she was a puppy is a “Foo-Foo.” Pat cuts a strip of fleece and ties about three knots in it, then leaves approx. three inches of fabric on each end. Every night before she settles down, Minnie Pearl chews on those ends. Pat says it comforts her and if she gets in bed and her “Foo-Foo” is not there, she’ll look for it. When the “Foo-Foo” wears out, Pat just cuts another one for her.
Minnie Pearl is a good car rider, according to Pat. They go to Pat’s daughter’s house about 2 1/2 hours away, but never go much further than that. Minnie Pearl has never been on a plane.
Pat has never had professional photos taken of Minnie Pearl. She says when Pearl sees her iPhone, she will turn her head or look down. Pat makes her look at the camera with treats as an incentive.
Rings a bell to go potty and loves to socialize
Minnie Pearl understands around 10-15 different words. Pat says she has conversations with her all the time and when she asks Pearl to bring her a certain toy, 9 times out of 10, she gets the toy correct that Pat asks her to bring.
Pat says Minnie Pearl was well on her way to being potty trained when they brought her home. She used the pee pads for about four months since it was winter time and cold outside. During the four cold months, when Pearl had to potty at night, Pat would take her to the pad and she would do her business. Then Pat would hold her, wrapped in a blanket and rock her until she settled down and went back to sleep. Then she would put her back in her crate. As Minnie Pearl got older and started to potty outside, Pat would walk her around the back yard and tell her to go potty, and when she did, she would praise her. Later, Pat put a bell on a string and hung it on the back door and within a couple of days, Minnie Pearl learned to ring the bell.
Pat and Minnie Pearl walk every morning, weather permitting, for about half a mile. Every evening, they walk around the block with Minnie Pearl’s doggy friends, which is a little over a mile. Minnie Pearl loves to walk and see all the people. Pat says she is a very good walker.
Minnie Pearl is not a big barker. She only barks when she sees someone who dares walk down her street or when she hears a noise that she can’t identify.
Pat says when they have appointment, a dinner or need to go to the grocery store, Minnie Pearl stays home by herself. Pat says she doesn’t mind getting in her crate- she gives Pearl a treat and a blanket if its cool. She says if the house feels drafty, she will put a sheet to cover three sides and the top of the crate to keep the draft off of her.
No health issues and loves her Yak milk chews
Minnie Pearl eats Kirkland grain free dog food from Costco. Pat makes her wet food by combining lean (90%) ground beef, a little bit of the grease it was cooked in, cooked rice, cooked egg whites, canned pumpkin (not pumpkin mix), cooked sweet potatoes, cooked green beans, a little parsley, apple slices, and coconut oil, olive oil or salmon oil. Minnie Pearl get fed twice a day, once in the morning (less than 1/4 cup of dry and wet food) and in the evening (a little over 1/4 cup dry and wet). Twice a week, Minnie Pearls dad cooks her a scrambled egg and she get cookies at snack time. A favorite treat of hers is Yak milk chews. Pat says she does not brush Minnie Pearl’s teeth as often as she should, but her teeth are in fantastic condition.
Minnie Pearl does not currently have any health issues. Pat says she loves the vet she takes Minnie Pearl to, but Pearl might not agree. She says Dr. Lewis is a kind, country vet that loves animals and spends time learning about your dog and he takes time to talk to her.
Pat does not give Minnie Pearl antlers because they tend to splinter and has caused her mouth to bleed. She also limits the stuffed animals that she give Pearl because Minnie Pearl destroys them and Pat has to make sure she doesn’t eat the stuffing.
Minnie Pearl wears a harness with soft padding in the front for walking and traveling. She also wears a collar, but just for her tags. Pat says collars are not good for a pug’s fragile neck. Pearl’s favorite games are: Fetch and run around the house.
Pat’s advice for people considering a pug as a pet:
Pat says, “Do it!! Pugs will steal your heart from the moment you see them and hold them. You will never be alone since they follow you everywhere. They are gentle, happy, funny little clowns and will always make you smile.”
Pat keeps Minnie Pearl healthy and happy by making sure she has regular vet visits, by getting her the shots she needs, by giving her regular flea and tick treatments and by treating her for heart worm. She makes sure that Minnie Pearl gets good food and plenty of exercise. She says the most important thing is to give a pug unconditional love (like Minnie Pearl gives to Pat).
“Minnie Pearl is always there, always wanting to be with me, ” says Pat. “Pearl is my second pug and I knew I would get another pug after my first one passed away. You can’t help but fall immediately in love with these sweet lovable babies.”
A huge “thank you” to Pat and her beloved pug, Minnie Pearl, for letting us feature you on Pugpalooza. If you are interested in your pug being featured on our blog, please send me (Candy Johansen) a message on messenger or e-mail me at: candysphotos@gmail.com.
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
