Wednesday, September 7, 2011

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Hello everyone. It's me, Dutch. I know Pug has already told you about our trip to the mountains, but our human said I could tell you some things too. I promise this will be the last we speak of it.

If you've never camped, there are some things you should know. Pug did not mention these things, so I will...


DARK + CREEPY

Camping is dark. Very dark. There are no lights except for the moon and stars and they don't count. Camping is also creepy, probably because it is so dark. The darkness makes everything feel creepy. Even the happy trees.

COLD

Camping is hell and even though hell is hot like Texas, the wilderness can be freezing. Especially at night and in the morning. Cold + darkness + creepy things makes it very hard to sleep.

DIRTY + NOT COMFORTABLE

Because it is hard to sleep at night, you may to take a nap during the day. But there is no furniture when you are camping. No couches. No beds. You are forced to sleep on the ground like some sort of wild animal. Your human might bring a blanket to protect you from the dirt, but a blanket is not the same as a bed. Don't let anyone tell you any different.

TOGETHERNESS

You may have guessed that I do not enjoy camping or spending time in the wild. And you would be right. But I did enjoy spending time with my human (and I guess also Pug). I love being with my human, no matter where we are, or how cold or dark or dirty or creepy it is. And I really enjoyed going back to our warm, clean house full of light and comfortable furnishings.

31 comments:

Noodles said...

Dutch, I gotta disagree. Camping is GREAT! Yes, cold. Yes, grimy. But sitting by a campfire eating roasted marshmallows if FUN! Taking walks in the cool crisp mornings with the air all smelling like pine is FUN! Spending time with Mommys is FUN!
Love Noodles

Payton said...

Aww, Dutch! You are such a sweetie. I bet your human loves spending time with you just as much as you with her! I'm glad you survived the experience...and I think I have to agree with you - home is much better than cold, dark, and creepy!
Love,
Payton

Anonymous said...

Dutch, I'm right with ya on the whole camping thing. If I can't have room service and a hot bath, it's not fun.
It is pretty though...
Kris in Oklahoma

Kellee the Caffeinated said...

Oh silly Dutch, you are quite a Princess! Camping is so much fun! =)

Anonymous said...

Dutch, I love that first picture..."The nightmare begins". What a perfect caption for your camping adventure.
I will admit the dirt, lack of furniture and cold are kind of crummy aspects to camping. But then there is all the yummy camping food, the 24 hour a day hanging out with your human and the fun hikes with all the new smells to experience. These all more than make up for everything.
Licks,
Sabrina

Anonymous said...

Dutch, You are very wise and a good sport.

Maggie the Pug in Dallas said...

Oh Dutch...I knew camping wasn't fun! Thanks for letting me know the real truth of the wilderness. It sounds like something I never want to do. I hate it and I've never done it...but think I'm safe cuz my human has done it and she said she is so over it, but I think your post really drove it home! Thank you so much for all the gory details! Pug can sugar coat sometimes so glad you got to tell your version.

Wilma said...

Hi Dutch! I am with you. Even though my humans know better than to try and make me camp, they have talked about how much they used to love it. Judging by your description, they better not even step TP introducing that kind of nonsense.
I love the shadow picture, I can see that Pug is trying to get in front of Nikon!

Barbara said...

I'm with you, Dutch!

wombat said...

Dutch, I am so with you, and so are my pugs. I wonder if your human is keeping a secret from you - did you know that there are hotels that let dogs stay at them?

Anonymous said...

Dutch, you are so funny, you really tell it like it is. And Puglet's shadow in that picture is so freakin cute. so small, squat and stubby.

Anonymous said...

Poor Dutch! I am with you, I can seriously not imagine not sleeping in my comfy bed. I am not sure about a tent. Or a blanket on the floor.

However, it was an experience and we hope that nice hiking, being with your human and Puglet made up for everything. The shadow picture is wonderful.

Enjoy your comfortable home, so will I. Good night.

Pug greetings from Berlin
Carlos Santana

MochiMachoMarshmallow said...

We feel for you Dutch. Next time try using your human as your bed and maybe she'll get the hint. ;)

Ollie said...

Hey Dutch,
Since this outdoor roughing it, is not for you. Maybe on your way back, a couple of days of pampering at the Fairmount San Fran would set you back to sorts.

I've never been to a hotel but my human is a fan of the chain. Her favourite is the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. The hotel even has a Bernese Montain Dog mascot who sits by the front desk and guests can take him out for a walk about town.

You sound like you could use a massage and some aromatherapy.

THE PUGLET said...

Ollie,

You Canadians know how to live. Hotels are so much better than tents. Massage and aromatherapy? Sounds FABULOUS! Unfortunately, I think the most I can hope for is a bath.

THE PUGLET said...

MochiMacho,

You must be an experienced camper! The first time we spent a night in the wild, I tried to make it quite miserable for my human by laying on top of her nice puffy sleeping sack thing.

The second time we spent a night in the wild, my human brought two sleeping sack things - one for me and one for her. Still not as good as sleeping indoors on a warm comfortable bed, but better than dirt.

THE PUGLET said...

Carlos Santana,

I am European like you and I believe we have more refined tastes than, oh, a certain Pug I know. You do not want to sleep on anything than a bed, or in anything but a house. Trust me on this, my Euro friend.

~ Dutch, from the netherlands

THE PUGLET said...

Anonymous, you are so observant.

"So small, squat and stubby". YES! I will remind Pug of that next time he makes fun of my skinny neck.

THE PUGLET said...

Wombat ~

My human said the wilderness has no hotels. Did she lie??

THE PUGLET said...

Wilma,

I hope your humans forget about liking to camp. It IS nonsense!

I should say that there is one other thing I enjoyed about camping: Nikon did not get to come with us. I don't love Droid, but Droid is better than Nikon.

THE PUGLET said...

Maggie the Pug in Dallas~

Can you believe that Pug did not sugar coat? He really does LOVE camping!

THE PUGLET said...

Sabrina ~

I am VERY thankful our camping nightmare was not as bad as it was for the people written about on the sign. They were called the Donner Party and their nightmare had snow and starvation and possibly even cannibalism. At least we had food.

THE PUGLET said...

Mama Monster,

Of course I am a Princess. I even have a collar that says so. I got it after our first camping trip in some out-of-state hell called Utah. It was so awful I faked a limp and made my human take us home early. She should have seen that as a sign.

THE PUGLET said...

Noodles,

You don't seem like the camping type. Have you ever really, actually camped? It is not FUN or GREAT. But we also did not have marshmallows...

THE PUGLET said...

Payton,

Yes - home is better. You don't know how creepy trees can be until you have to sleep under them in a tent IN THE DARK!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I love that last picture - so creative!!

Dutch - I hear you loud & clear, I'm not a camper & don't think I ever will be. I'd miss my bathroom too much! Your human should have bought you a couch cushion to lay on, hehehehe

Ann, Fro, Molly & Cleo
(PS thanks for the Molly b'day wishes - her human sisters made her a piece of pork roll...she said yummy, may I please have some more!)

Eddie the Pug and his Mom said...

Dear Dutch,
Hope you have survived the long weekend trip and are home in your own comfy house! Even though Puglet didn't mind camping so much, I think your human should let YOU pick the next vacation location :)
Licks and hoping you get some extra special treats,
Eddie the non-camping Pug

Mr Puggles said...

Dutch,you are so lucky that your human takes you on trips!! Even if they are creepy ones!
I would love to try camping with my human (hint hint hint, mom!!)

Anonymous said...

Dutch...next time your human has a hankering to go to Tahoe, she can drop you off at our house on the way, we will treat you first class!

Love the shadow picture, love it!

Pearl and Tessa

Anonymous said...

"Togetherness" won !! Love the pic... please make postcards.. I will buy 'em !!

Sammy

Deb and Daisy said...

You both look so good in the pictures. I especially love the shadow picture. Camping is so much better as a story after the fact. Then you can tell about how brave you were! Thanks for the pictures anyway! Maybe you won't have to go again until next year!