When it comes to having dogs, I have always preferred the larger breeds to the smaller ones for some reason. I love all animals and find small ones cute, but there has always just been something about bigger dogs that I resonate more with. Despite this preference, I have been privileged in my life to be able to have smaller breed dogs, like my sweet Buggalugs.
She was born on the property, with Jack Russel and Poodle like Cross in her in the year 2017, when I was around 15. She obviously was born in a litter, but we could not keep all the puppies. I begged to at least keep one. Nine years later I am still thrilled to have been able to have her and she is as strong as a fiddle just as she was when she was younger. Most of my animals I have now are in their older years, which brings me a sense of sadness but makes me happy that they are still strong and healthy for the most part, especially the small dogs.
Buggalugs was not always her name. Generally, when children younger than 17/18 get pets, they tend to come up with the strangest of names; and I was one of those kids. I really wanted her to have a unique and special name, one that not a single other person would even come up with. I believe I was successful with that. I originally named her Kellykili. I cringe at it now, but back then I loved that name for her.
The reason it ended up changing was because my stepdad was working and fixing up an old Beach Buggy and whenever he test drove it, she would run and chase after it. So Buggalugs was invented and I was reluctant to let it change but it was inevitable as the name suited her better and was still in the unique and special category of names. It is a cute name and sometimes shortened to Buggles but never Bugs for some reason.
For a small dog in a pack consisting of mainly bigger dogs than her, she’s got quite a tough character. She is brave, strong-willed and doesn’t take nonsense. She is able to stand up for herself, which is not too common in small dog world, I don’t believe. I love her sweet, feisty and playful character. On more than one occasion a big dog has tried to bully her during dinner time and chase her away from her bowl and I am about to go shout at which ever big dog it is, usually Mira these days, but before I get the chance she is already growling and showing her teeth and standing her ground. It’s quite amazing to witness and I am proud to have such a resilient little dog. Unfortunately, her daughter, Antigone, is the complete opposite.
Buggalugs is not only brave and fearless, she is also adventurous and curious. She truly is like one of those farm dogs that live with their owners in the middle of nowhere. She will go hunting for rats and insects, explore the garden up to the very fence and stay in one spot for hours if something has caught her attention. She usually finds whatever is hiding and then rest of the dogs tend to join, Shadow mostly.
One thing you have to know about a Jack Russel or Jack Russel cross is that they are obsessed with sticks and balls and anything that is possible to be thrown. Throw a tennis ball once for her and she expects an hour to two-hour long game of fetch. It’s very cute and in summer she runs and bounds through the tall grass like a hare would do. Of course, she does not have the stamina that she used to have when she was younger and easily gets tired but will still insist on wanting to play.
She has a bright, sweet and playful energy and I love and adore her so much for it, especially since she doesn’t let the big dogs take advantage of her. She is a reminder that dynamite comes in small packages. I remember when Shadow and his adopted brother (he passed away in 2023) used to get in fights and for some reason Buggalugs would jump in and join the fight! I used to hose them with water to try break it up and Buggles was such a terror that she would only back off when the other two did.
I have so much love for her and wish for many more happy years with my sweet little Buggalugs and lots more swimming pool, tennis ball and mice hunting adventures for her.
