UrbanBulldog.com - A Photo Blog Devoted to Bulldogs

Introducing "Mo & MiMo"

2012-02-22T05:13:00.002-07:00

You know them as Sherbert & Lunchbox, or by one of the many iterations of those names (Miss Sherb, Sherbilicious, LB, Lunchie).

But inside the UB HQ, the bulldogs have many personas.
One of which is Mo & MiMo, or the Monster and MiniMonster (guess which is which?).

Mo & MiMo are the stars of my work-in-progress children's book based on the real-life Sherbert & Lunchbox and I'd like to start introducing you to these characters and have you help me weave their story.

You'll see a lot of similarities between S&L and Mo&MiMo - why wouldn't you? But there's also a lot the pretend monsters can do that the real bulldogs can't - that's when the fun begins!

Here is one idea I'm playing with story-wise:

In the back courtyard of Sunny Slope West live two bulldogs on patrol.

Mo is tall, and his ears go flip-flop. Just a pup, he has 24 strong teeth and an appetite that won't stop.

MiMo is small with downy fur and two shiny teeth in front. She’s an old lady, almost 10, who can no longer run a step.

Once a decorated guard dog, known for her twinkle toes, MiMo is now just too slow.

Her enemies have always been the chi-wow-wows, the neighborhood yippy yaps. They are teeny-tiny, and oh-so-fast.

Mo is her pup replacement; his youth means he is fast. But his ears hold a secret: he can’t hear a sound, not even breaking glass.

A deaf guard dog is a problem, just like one who cannot run. MiMo was sure she’d been given a dud.
On the first day of training they lined up for basic drills. MiMo blew her mighty red whistle, and Mo …snuffled for snacks. MiMo clapped and howled while Mo…ate flowers and grass?

To be continued....

Meet Ophie Loaf!

2012-02-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Ophie was born with a cleft lip and palate and was tube fed by a loving vet employee.
Aww!

Then Ophie was adopted by Liz and her family and had surgery on her cleft.
Now she's 1 year and 3 months and weighs 35 pounds (of love!).
Double Awww!

Ophie even has a heart on her behind, because she's a truly special girl!
AWWW...I can't take it any more, she's too cute!

Liz found our site when she was Googling "small bulldog".
And while Miss Scooter still wears our crown as the World's Smallest Bulldog, Ophie is not far behind.

Thanks to Liz for sending in these photos, and we love seeing pictures and hearing stories of other bulldogs (big or small). Just send 'em to submit@urbanbulldog.com.

Puppy Love

2012-02-12T09:28:00.002-07:00

I just couldn't wait until V-day to share this adorable card I found for Engineer Dan at Target.

Happy Love Day from the UB Household!

p.s. I found this card at Target.

Imperious Sherbert

2012-01-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Sherbert, here. Remember me? I'm the original original UrbanBulldog; the reason y'all started coming to this blog in the first place. That was before he of the floppy (i.e. stone-cold deaf) ears and the waddling (i.e. fat) behind showed up and ruined my retirement. I was the one with the original name and the story that tugged at your heartstrings. But now, I'm just the footnote. And I think a little story from this morning illustrates that fact as well as any.

So, Lunchbox and Engineer Dan were out for a walk - they go on a lot of walks because LB is h*y*p*e*r - and LB was working his thing, sashying around like he does and looking all wide-eyed and cute (uh, really he's just scared batless). All of a sudden this nattily dressed man in a fancy Mercedes Benz pulls over - I think Engineer Dan said it was a G-series, or something - and starts proclaiming his love for Lunchbox.

Oh, is this a so-and-so bulldog? ED: Ah, no he's from Nebraska.

Oh, is he a show dog? He's got those great ears and he's all white. ED: Ah, no he's deaf.

Oh, is he a breeder? 'Cause we're looking for one like him. ED: Ah, he's got no B**LS. (Or something indelicate like that. It was early, and ED hadn't had his bacon yet.)

Oh, well...

And right there, right there, was the moment ED could have told the nattily dressed Mercedes man about his other beautiful bulldog, moi, Miss Sherbert. The one who was a star breeder (all the tabloids said so) and who rides around in a stunning red wagon. You think this one is spectacular to look at, you should see our other one, he could have said, but she's so delicate we can't let her out of the house (especially when it's snowing or rainy) and actually me and this mutt are on the way to the produce market right now to get her a whole bundle of finely chopped carrots. Yes, yes, that's what he could have said.

But no, like I said, I'm just an afterthought now. I'm just that sack of potatoes he carries up-and-down the stairs and fights for space with on the bed (just imagine ED if LB were let on the bed - it would be chaos!). I'm just the one he head wrestles with (I don't have teeth, remember) and the one he secretly slips those yummy fish oil pills when LB is cowering in a corner from the silent ghosts. And I'm the one that goes on vacation and for those long car rides...

....

....

Oh, my, maybe I've misread things. Maybe I should apologize for peeing on the sofa and then letting LB sleep in it...that really wasn't very lady-like.

NAH, that was pretty funny! And then ED gave Lunchbox a B*A*T*H! Ha.

Anyway peeps, thanks for listening and all. I feel a bit better about my status now. I think I'll go blow on LB's ears while he's sleeping.

Tootles,
Sherbs

Instagram Bulldogs

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Recently the bulldogs, Engineer Dan, and I, plus a handful of friends, went to the mountains for a ski weekend.

There was little snow and lots of ice, and we spent a lot of time back at our six-level ski house talking to the bulldogs (OK, I spent the most time doing that, but that's usual).

Try staying in a six-level house with one geriatric bulldog who can't do steps and one deaf bulldog who doesn't want to leave your side (and really that was a blessing, because how would we have found him otherwise?). Fun all around.
One of the best parts of the weekend was that our good friend Willi (photographer and gardening book writer extraordinaire: See DigginFood.com) loved taking photos of the doggies with her many iPhone apps.
These two made their way onto Instagram, and secured the doggies just a bit more fame. I wish I could say it wasn't going to their heads.

Bulldog Chemistry

2012-01-21T21:43:00.005-07:00

The lady of the house left us for Utah last week. And when the lady is gone, it is time to break out the chemistry set!

It gets hard to spell after a bottle of Wet Bulldog Wine...

Disclaimer: No bulldogs consumed any alcoholic beverages in the making of this post

Bulldog Pajama Pants from J.Crew

2012-01-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

You know you have good girlfriends when they will force your husband to buy pajama pants a) from J.Crew and b) that feature bulldogs wearing antlers.

These gems were found at the J.Crew outlet in Silverthorne, CO and if it wasn't for said persuasive friendly shoppers, Engineer Dan would have passed them right by.

Another friend picked up a pair for her sister featuring pugs, I think, wearing antlers. I must say bulldogs are much better situated to wear antlers, size-wise and all.

It doesn't look like J.Crew is selling these pants online...but I did find this:

Boys' long-sleeve holiday bulldog tee

Too bad it doesn't come in Big Kid sizing...or Dan would have quite the outfit!

p.s. Happy 400th Blog Post! Perhaps not the blowout of a blog post y'all were hoping for, but merry nonetheless!
Frosty Paws all around!

Hand Signals for a Deaf Bulldog

2012-01-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

1. SIT

2. COME

3. RELEASE or DROP

4. NO (i.e. Don't Bite, Don't Attack Sherbert)

5. GET DOWN

We have now had Lunchbox for almost a year and I can say with semi-confidence that we have taught him a thing or too. The hand signal for Sit was the easiest to teach him, because that usually involved a meal or snacks. And surprisingly Get Down registered quickly as well. We realized early on that we were using one hand signal for too many instructions (at first No and Get Down were the same signal and we were using that signal A LOT). What's interesting is that the hand signals seem to work really well when we have guests over (he's a show off!), and that like most dogs he has selective "hearing" even when it comes to hand signals. The tricky part is making sure the little bugger is looking at you. One book said we should throw a hankie at him...but LB is ridiculously skittish and I'm not really interested in masquerading as a football referee. So, we spend a lot of time tapping him on the head and looking deep into his eyes, and then we show him our hand signal.

It's been a learning process for all of us!

Meet Melka the Bulldog

2012-01-01T17:10:00.001-07:00

Our first bulldog buddy of the new year is 2 1/2 year old Melka. Isn't she a sweetie? I'm thinking my next bulldog...in about 20 years...will be brindle. Don't tell Sherbert and Lunchbox.

Thanks to Melka's owner for sharing.
and
Happy New Year!

If you'd like to send in photos of your bulldog you can email them to submit@urbanbulldog.com.

ESPN Cover: Kissing a Bulldog

2011-12-29T16:36:00.002-07:00

Recently a bulldog was on the cover of The New York Times Magazine.
I received a lot of emails, texts, and concerned inquiries whether I'd seen it (uh, still haven't somehow...), and whether I've read it (soon soon, I promise), and whether I had an opinion (YES! So glad my bulldogs are well-proportioned, more or less, and relatively *knock on wood* healthy!).

But then a couple weeks ago I was at the gym, avoiding my ever-growing reading list of Time's and Newsweek's and The New York Times in-depth articles about bulldog genetics, and, honestly, looking for an US Weekly....when I saw THIS cover!

No one emailed me about this. Or called. Or sent the wet wipes.
I've kissed a lot of bulldog in my day. Mainly on the head. But we've had the accidental lip graze now and then, I'll admit. But then I thought LB might be eating his own poo...

And then I saw this!?!

What do you think. Ew or Aww?

Tune in next week for my in-depth analysis of The New York Times article. Or, actually, it might be a few more weeks. But I promise we have more *cute* bulldog pictures coming soon.

The UrbanBulldog Virtual Holiday Card!

2011-12-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

Teaching an Old [Bull]Dog New...Steps

2011-12-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

So for Christmas Grandma bought Sherbie her own set of stairs. We wanted them so when she decided (after five or six hours) to finally get off the big chair upstairs, she wouldn't have to blow a kneecap to do so. But we've had them for a couple weeks now and the learning curve for poor Sherb is steep. This video is from her first attempt, and I wish I could say it was all uphill from there. But really, there's been a lot of downhill in glorious bulldog style. But she's a good sport, isn't she? Enjoy!

Tater Tott's Martha Stewart Bulldog Sweater from PetSmart

2011-12-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Sherbert & L.B.-

It got cold in Texas. It made Tater cold and wreaked havoc on her skin. She had to have a sweater to wear to the annual Lights in the Heights tour in Houston. She got to strut her stuff and got love from so many strangers....I don't think she is going to get out of the bed today. She was just thankful she did not have to wear the reindeer ears. But I thought they were pretty darn cute. We found the sweater at PetSmart and it was a Martha Stewart design. It's a size large. Tater is about 45 lbs ( I know-never reveal a woman's weight) but she is proud of her curves. It has really cute brown buttons on the bottom, too.

Y'all keep warm. Tater got to play in snow once when she was about 8 months old. She LOVED it! She wishes more would be sent our way.

Blair & T.T.

Scooter: The Beach Bully

2011-12-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Miss Scooter, our favorite World's Smallest Bulldog, is here enjoying a little beach time in Va. Beach!

Here at UB HQ we have been pummeled with snow in the last few days (I know, it is December in Colorado), and while Lunchie is enjoying bounding through the piles of powder, Sherbie runs out and runs in as fast as she can.

So we (OK, particularly me, the warm-blooded one) are quite jealous of Scooter's romp on the beach...even if it left her a little itchy and unhappy for the ride home.

That's the price of luxury, right?

Thanks to Kate for sharing these photos!

Behold, The Warbler

2011-11-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

If you're not familiar, Lunchbox is deaf.
And we think it's because he is deaf that he makes the weirdest doggie noises.
Here we've captured Lunchbox exhibiting The Warble.
The Warble comes out when Lunchbox is not getting enough attention. You know, when he's forced to ride in the backseat of the car, or when he's on the first floor and we're on the second.
Or, when we're not sitting right next to him on the sofa.

What we've captured here is actual a mild warble, and has a bit more bark than normal. But be sure to listen through the very end because like any good Warbler, this one builds up steam as he goes along.
Enjoy!

Buster Goes to the Farm!

2011-11-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's an equestrian center, but he got to meet donkeys and horses!
What a curious little guy! LB would have been hiding in the corner, and Sherb, well, Sherb would have been sleeping!

Thanks to Lesley for these cute photos!

Thurman's Stink Face; What the UB Bulldogs are Thankful For

2011-11-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Far more serious than regular stink eye, Thurman here is showing us his stink face.

And who knows why? Every part of him is touching something soft...meeting the bulldog comfort requirements. His head, heck his whole torso, is properly elevated, and he's even got a little stretch going on in those front paws. Thurman, what's the deal?

Ahhh, those pesky bright lights coming from the camera? Just part of the life of a star bulldog.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the other *star* bullies and thanks to Lars for sending in these pictures!

The UB bulldogs want you to know they are thankful for polarfleece, pea pods, Kong balls, red wagons, and all the other bulldogs who send in pictures so they get a moment of peace!

Have a great holiday everybody!

Next week we'll have photos of Buster at the equestrian center! Horses and bulldogs and donkeys, oh my!

Update on Phyllis Darlene

2011-11-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Phyllis' mamma Allison emailed to update the UB clan on Phyl D's progress after ACL surgery -- Well turns out they got a whole more than they bargained for because when they went into Phyl's knee it was full of staph. Bad News. Apparently Phyllis has been a trooper, limping and smiling about, and good thing because she's going back in for the other knee.

So bulldogs let's pool all our wishbone pulls this week for Phyllis Darlene and her family for a speedy recovery! And now I'm going to go clean that perma-cyst on Sherbert's toe doubly well!

- UB HQ

p.s. Just saw some photo entries of Thurman with the subject link #stinkeye. Should be good, stay tuned!

Two Chilean Pigs, A.K.A. Pink Bulldogs

2011-11-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

I don't think it's a secret that I have a soft spot for funny looking animals.

And whenever I see a funny looking animal that's not one of my bulldogs, well, I think of my bulldogs.

So two weeks ago, when I was in Chile, these two guys just appeared one day at the rustic "lodge" I was staying at.

No pig announcement. No signs mentioning potential pig sightings. They just wandered on to the property one day and then wandered off. That's kind of the way things go in Chile.

But of course, I was smitten. And convinced these two pigs, with their floppy ears that cover their eyes were the brethren of my two sad, lonely bulldogs at home.

But these two pigs could have cared less about me. There was mud to be snuffled. And that's likely what the bulldogs were thinking as well.

Belated Halloween: Tyson the Construction Bulldog!

2011-11-12T06:00:00.001-07:00

Seriously, if Tyson the Construction Worker had teamed up with his bulldog neighbor Falco the Bulldozer, bulldog Halloween history would have been made! Thank goodness for virtual connections!

And if you haven't had enough of a bulldog Halloween fix, check out these pictures from the Long Island Bulldog Rescue's "Bulloween" party that was also filmed for an upcoming episode of "Ice Loves Coco" (and their bulldog Spartacus).

Thanks to Madelyn for sending in this picture of Tyson and sharing the photos from the party.

Jailbird Bulldogs

2011-11-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

Meet four-month-old brothers Bentley (left) and Frank (right)...reunited after some time apart.

Precious, right?

Thanks to Jeff for introducing us to these guys!

Backyard Storytime with the Neighborhood Squirrel

2011-11-05T20:01:00.011-06:00

Sherbie, there is a little creature with a furry tail bouncing around in our yard.

That is a squirrel. Normally they run away whenever dogs come outside.

Hey Mr. Squirrel! My mentor Sherbmeister says you should be running away right now, what gives?

Why would I run away from two fat white blobs with short legs, like you two?

I caught I squirrel once. I bit it’s tail.

I call you a liar. I have seen you move, you can maybe motor at 1/10 mph. You could never catch me or any of my brethren.

Sherbilisious, I know you are smart and stuff. And you can hear. But that chittering furry disaster has a point; you are not really an Olympic caliber runner.

Well LunchMonster, back before you were even a glimmer in your breeders eye…

What’s a glimmer?

I lived a few blocks from here, across the street from a nice old lady with a white picket fence around her yard.

Is this going to be a long story? I’ve got nuts to bury before it snows again.

Shut it you big toothed rodent, Sherbtastic is telling a story!

Thanks LB. Can you lick my ear while I finish the story? Great. Anywho, the old lady would leave nuts on the inside ledge of the fence for the squirrels. Once while walking with Engineer Dan I saw a squirrels tail sticking out of the fencing, as it was eating peanuts. It couldn’t see me on the other side of the fence so I snuck up all slow and stealth-like…

Slow I get but you are not exactly what I would call stealthy. I’ve seen cats out here and some of them are stealthy. You are just slow.

Can you go back to licking my ear? You talk less then. Thanks. I continue sneaking up on the squirrel until I am right under it's tail! Then, it was chomping time!

You! You killed my great uncle.

Sherbie the hunter, way to go! What did you do after you bit it?

Well, as you know, I don't have many teeth left so I couldn't get a good hold of it. And that tail tasted like horrible; I have never gone after a squirrel since.

So MasterSherbert, I shouldn't chase the thing in the corner of the yard?

Yeah, don't chase me! Even though I wrongly called the other fat white thing a killer.

Do whatever you want, all this talking has made me tired...

Meet Matilda!

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hi Urban Bulldog:

Attached are photos of my girl Maitilda from New Hampshire. She is a rescue baby that was used as a breeder at a very young age in Arkansas. Now that she is free from all of that, she loves dressing up like a diva and looking good! :)

Cheers,
Christen and Maitilda.

She's adorable - thanks for sending Christen! - UB

Meet Charlie & Maven

2011-11-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

In this picture Charlie (left) is 10 months old and Maven is 2.5 months old.

In real life they're a bit older now (Charlie is a year and a half), but aren't they adorable?

I'm shocked at the size difference between a 10 month and 2.5 month bully. So little time to grow so big.

Thanks to Michael for introducing us to this pair.

Happy Halloween: Falco the BULLDozer

2011-11-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

When Engineer Dan and I were putting together the Halloween costume this year, we marveled at how many excellent uses we've put the wagon to. And now I see this...and I think we have been outdone.

Because not only is Falco adorable and ready for the Mutt Strutt, but he's able to help his 'rents clean up after the nasty storm that swept through the East Coast and left a big scary tree on his front step!

Take that frog!
Thanks for a great Halloween everyone.
Thanks to Kelly for these pictures of Falco.

p.s. The UB webmaster will be out of town for a bit, but I've already scheduled several posts for later in the week so tune in!