Richard Frank-Huff's Seattle Social Blog - Puppy

Tapas Turns Three.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:29:00 -0400

It has come to my attention that I'm not a very good blogger. The job and wedding preparation is expending all of the time I might consider using for the luxury of blogging. But, I did decide to take time out of my busy schedule to note that Tapas turns three this month! There's no need to comment on how ridiculous I am for writing this post. Frankly, I don't think I'm any more ridiculous than all of you who blog about every inane thing your child does between birth and the age of twelve. So, deal with it. My dog is cuter than your child anyway.

In other news, we will not be making Tapas a birthday cake this year. He has never really liked them, and it's a lot of work to bake a small cake for a dog. He will probably just get a collection of new toys to replace the ones that have started to show some wear, and a bully stick or two.

How is that for a blog post? I'm sure to show up on SWPL now.

Wedding Tuxedo.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:50:02 -0400

Tapas' wedding tux arrived today. Yes, it's more than a year early. No, I couldn't wait. Little Lily's Red Carpet Collection is a set of limited edition dog couture styled after the celebrity fashions of the 2008 Oscar Awards. It took me some time to find a store that still had the collection in stock. There was no time to waste once I did. The alternatives to Little Lily's real tuxedos are gimmick, faux tuxedos -- something akin to those t-shirts that "look" like a tuxedo.

Tapas is seen, here, sporting "The George". (Someone please straighten his bow tie!) It's a classic, traditional look, like I hope to have for the wedding party. Barking Babies shipped it from their Vancouver, BC boutique in its own miniature garment bag.

I just pray that I look better than Tapas in my wedding tuxedo. Oh,...and I hope that he isn't busy filming the next 007 movie. Get that dog a martini before he uses his license to kill.

Internet Fraud.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:35:06 -0400

I've always heard about rampant Internet fraud, but I've only ever personally encountered it in two occasions. For the most part, Internet transactions are safe and free of fraud. The ones that are fraudulent seem to be fairly easy to catch. This one was caught and brought to my attention by a smart individual who ran across an advertisement for "Adorable English Bulldog puppies" [link]. Liking adorable English bulldog puppies [who doesn't], the individual inquired further and requested to see the pedigree. The pedigree delivered via e-mail was a poorly modified version of my dog's pedigree, originally posted on this very blog. I've posted the faked pedigree for comparison.

The wonderful thing about the Internet is that you can do a little bit of work to connect the facts and uncover possible fraud. Tapas' breeder was contacted by the above-mentioned individual, after they did some research on the lineage. The obvious question was, "How could an English bulldog come from a family of Chihuahuas?" I'm just curious as to why the fraudsters swapped out the American Kennel Club logo and changed the typeface at the top of the certificate -- both seemingly unnecessary steps to take.

Don't think that I am trying to downplay Internet fraud. It's a very serious problem with very few solutions. In fact, posting this entry is one of the few responses available to me. So,...let it be known that the individual(s) using the name "filly mimi" (fillymimi@live.com, fillymimi@aol.com) may try to sell you a fictitious bulldog pup. They are probably running the same scam with other names, e-mail addresses, and dog breeds. Be cautious! The common thread in their particular scams will probably be their poor grammar. See below:

I hate to say it, but this has the stench of a Nigerian scam.

Tapas Goes To The Spa.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:53:55 -0400

Although I have no problem bathing Tapas, or trimming his nails, it's quite a challenge to trim the hair between his footpads. For this reason, I sought the help of a professional dog groomer. My first pick following a little Internet searching and a phone call was a place called the GroomingSPA. Conveniently located near Greenlake, the GroomingSPA offers a full-service that includes nail and footpad hair trimming. I made an appointment for the full-service package and tried to get Tapas excited about his upcoming day at the spa. As usual, he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

I'm happy to report that my first pick was excellent. The GroomingSPA was exceptionally clean, smelled great, and staffed with obvious professionals. In a world populated with questionable animal care businesses, it was nice to encounter one that treats your pet the way you do.

The picture is included as an example of how much Tapas likes the sunshine. He'll get up, periodically, and move to follow the sun's path through our living room.

Tapas Goes To Idaho.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:59:00 -0500

Tapas traveled with me on a recent work trip to Idaho (11/9 to 11/16). He was great to travel with, and pretty much sat in my lap the whole drive out and back. Everything I needed for him fit in his travel bag, and he was well behaved. While there, he got to experience snow for the first time. He also met Skippy: the chihuahua that convinced me to get Tapas. Tapas and Skippy are almost exactly the same size. We put their sweaters on later so that they wouldn't get too cold. When it got colder the next day, I let him play outside with his parka.

Let this be a warning for anyone thinking about a toy dog! They are more devious in their cuteness than a kitten. You will soon be spending absurd amounts of dollars on their clothing and care. The upside is that they are so cute and lovable.

Tapas Gets Certified.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:33:03 -0400

Tapas' American Kennel Club (AKC) registration and pedigree certificate showed up over the weekend. He's now officially a pretentious puppy. But what's up with those names. Am I so ghetto that I didn't think to give Tapas three or four names? The use of "Little" or "Lil" in the names for nine of the fourteen listed ancestors also seems bizarre. It's stating the obvious, isn't it? A 3.5 lbs. dog doesn't need to be named "Little" or "Lil". But now I'm just mocking Tapas' family, so I'll lighten up.

Tapas Gets A Rain Coat.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:44:45 -0400

I've been remiss at keeping photos of Tapas updated on my blog. Well,...wait no longer. Tapas got a rain coat from a shop (Fideaux) in St. Helena, California while I was there for the 2006 Waves to Wine bike tour. Since the Seattle rainy season should start soon, Tapas has got to get used to wearing the coat. Is he fashionable, or what?

Tapas On Film.

nospam@example.com (Richard D. Huff) — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 15:17:54 -0400

The demand for photos of Tapas (a.k.a., the "cutest dog in the world") far exceeds my ability to catch him on film, but I took a little time over the weekend to shoot some photos while we played. Only about 10% of the exposures result in a photo of Tapas. The remaining 90% are "parts of Tapas" or just blurs. He's a fast, little dog.