Click to hear Argus and Byron sleeping.

On this wonderfully warm November day, Argus decided to take little Byron on his first excursion into the vast Pugsville Pine Barrens bordering on the cottage south garden. Byron had a wonderful time climbing on boulders, tracking the scent of deer, eating wild blueberries, and learning more about Pugsville. Here, Byron is obviously giving orders to his Sherpa team below, as they prepare a final assault on the summit of this grand rock. Click for more pictures from today’s adventure.

Little Lord Byron is often so misunderstood these days. He really likes his big buddy Argus, likes him so much, all he wants to do is play. He really loves Pugsville, so much all he wants to do is lick the face of the Duchess all day long. He’s just always so happy to have a great buddy in King Argus and perfect home in Pugsville, that his ecstatic exuberance is so misunderstood these days. We know he’s just a stunningly happy puppy, and some day, he’ll be a perfect Pugsville Lord.

The royal chef has just entered the sitting room and is consulting with Argus and Byron on this evening’s dinner choices. As the chef reads through the list of gourmet selections, crispy sauteed salmon with creamed spinach, New Zealand brook trout saute with lentils, herb scented roast rack of lamb with broil vegetables, and pan seared hanger steak with herb garlic butter and pommes frites Argus and Byron simply cannot decide. So Argus stepped up and made the right kingly decision… all of them.

There are few moments as pleasurable in Pugsville as that quiet morning nap just after breakfast. Argus is showing little Lord Byron the finder points of the genteel lifestyle of royalty by keeping on schedule with the post-breakfast nap, and Byron is trying hard to learn. Here we see our little Lord’s head slowly falling into slumber as the warm sun streams in and says… sleep… sleeep… sleeeep.

His Kingly patience having worn completely through, Argus has imposed himself and adopted a new strategy for dominance in the snuggle-bed elbow-room affair. Sprawl! He may look sound asleep, but we can assure you that our shrewd sultan of Pugsville has purposefully spread himself far and wide within the bed to ensure no hijacking lord makes claim to his precious space.

The royal patience of King Argus is legendary and known far and wide in the lands surrounding Pugsville. However, as little Lord Byron continues to expand into a proper puggsly girth, there are times when even a the exceptional patience of a benevolent ruler can wear thin. Byron has just settled into his favorite position next his buddy, but Argus has noticed a sudden and startling lack of elbow room.

Goblins, witches and vampires from all over come to Pugsville for the annual spooky Pugtacular Halloween party. This year, King Argus is the grand pumpkin Pug. If you’ve never seen a dignified and sophisticated pumpkin before, you’re in for your first treat. Only King Argus can parade as a pumpkin of perfect poise. Click here for more pictures from Halloween in Pugsville.

Argus is teaching Byron the long-standing Pug group motto of “Gang-up, torment, and tease” when encountering unsavory dogs, cats, and assorted critters. Today, it’s time to gang up on a particularly irritating toy (at least, that’s what Argus told Byron) to teach it a lesson “once and for all!” Byron certainly looks excited as it becomes clear they’re winning and telling this toy who’s in charge!

Byron is taking hide-and-seek in plain sight just a little to seriously these days. He’s taken to finding all the interesting pug statuettes around the Pugsville Cottage and striking a pose to blend in. We’re a little worried about what’s going to happen next as the amount of time he’s able to stand still is on the rise—today it’s 4.7 seconds!

Memories of frolicking in the Pugsville gardens are distant memories as the fun times of late summer and early autumn give way to 40 degrees in October! Argus is schooling Byron in the fine art of warming the pug-bones in front of the fire. From what we can tell, Byron is a quick study in not only that, but cozying up to his big buddy.

Playtime can be a whole lot of fun here in Pugsville. Byron and Argus regularly play all kinds of games together, even hide and seek. Here, we can see Byron employing a particularly smart strategy, trying to blend in and look like one of the many pug statuettes. Too bad Byron can only stand still for 2.3 seconds, otherwise, he might have pulled it off!

Byron is learning one thing everyone eventually discovers about Pugsville, everyone loves Argus. After his first two weeks in Pugsville, Byron can barely leave Argus’s side as they’ve become the best of friends. Here we can see Byron discovered Argus (this time, actually and truly sleeping, not giving nap instructions), and what better nap pillow than the soft pug hair on the belly of your best friend.

While Argus is amazingly gentle and patient in helping Byron learn self esteem, every once in a while, he turns on the after-burders and gives Byron a taste of the moves of the master. Here, after some expert spins, jukes, redirects, and false jives Argus has run toward the Pugsville Cottage Evergreen Garden, while Byron is still looking for him in the Rose Garden. 

Following up the intense lessons in self esteem and personal confidence, is Argus’ favorite puggy item to teach Byron, the proper proportion of nap time. After some lectures, study time, homework, exams, and a lengthy essay requirement, it looks like Byron is getting the knack of nap time pug-style. Argus claims he’s only pretending to sleep so he can supervise Byron’s progress, but I don’t think anyone believes him.

Always concerned with the education and developmental life experiences of little Byron, Argus regularly works on building the appropriate level of puggish self esteem in Lord Byron. Among all things pug-like, a proper high-held head and tightly curled tail are the signs of exceptionally high personal confidence. Here’s a unique inside look at Argus’ never before seen methods of developing legendary self esteem in his young wards. Click here for the full photo sequence.

The training continues as Argus helps little Byron learn everything there is to know about being a pug. Today, the focus was on “banking and turning” at speed, and Byron was learning Argus’ tricks for running at top speed in a circle (otherwise know as “Pugtona"). Here, Argus is observing and commenting on Byron’s form and technique. It looks as though Byron is running a bit “front low” according to Argus, which is the result Byron not stretching out his stride enough. “The kid has potential, though,” Argus was heard to say.

There’s just so much for a little lordly pug in Pugsville to learn. On one hand he needs to strut like a proud pug, and on the other he must wear fashion with the utmost of style and grace. Then there are all the proper pug noises like grunts, groans, groggles, gripes, snorts, and sniggles. And then the pee-pads, don’t get him started on the pee-pads! It all adds up to an exhausting process, learning how to be just the right kind of dignified cute, Byron needed some quiet time with his favorite pink piggy.

Argus is perhaps the most caring and benevolent monarch we’ve ever seen. Here, he’s showing more evidence that he’s really taking little Lord Byron under his wing and teaching him puggly ways and means. Here we can see Argus meticulously schooling Byron in the proper stance and swagger that denotes a pug of proper lineage. In this shot, it appears as though Argus is covering the appropriate bend and width of his rear legs… and Byron looks to be studying closely.

Byron is turning out to be an exceptionally intelligent addition to Pugsville, and potentially a genius efficiency expert. As you can see here, Byron has assessed the situation and resolved a highly efficient method for himself. Rather than play with his toys throughout the cottage, he has elected to play with them right in the plushly padded toy bin. Then, when he tires of play time, all he needs to do is stop and go to sleep. And when he wakes up, his toys are close at hand. Brilliant efficiency planning!