Mugs is an independent animal, capable of taking care of himself. He once spent a month alone in the woods and is still feisty. "He's come a long way," said his owner Renee DeMartin.
Mugs is an Australian Cattle dog (mix but "Mostly Cattle Dog) who is also a rescue dog. He's approximately six years old and at least in part because he's a rescue dog he's got a distinct attitude. He's not mean but he lets you know he won't take any guff.
"In a dog obedience class we took, the trainer had him up in front of the class and she was trying to get him to do something and it was treat based and Mugs just would not do it for her, so she kept trying and trying and she wouldn't give him the treat and finally Mugs grabbed her finger and held it. He didn't bite down hard, he just got tired of her holding back the treat," DeMartin explained.
Now his favorite trick is to "Boing" or jump up, well off the ground to get a treat. "He'll keep boinging until the food is gone," DeMartin said laughing.
Renee DeMartin rescued him via the Snoqualmie Teen Detention Center. They have a program where they take in dogs and put them through obedience classes with the teens so the teens can have control over the dog and see progress. Then the dogs are advertised.
"Mugs came from kind of a bizarre background," she said,"he lived in the woods for a month in the Arlington Stanwood area and then he had to be trapped because he wouldn't come to anybody." He was then 'fixed' and went into foster care. He didn't like petting. He would also flatten himself on the ground if he thought he did something wrong. "He's definitely come a long way, not so much by me but by his former foster mother," DeMartin offered.
How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:
Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Veterinary Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.
Photos may or may not be used and our "Pet Reporter" may be in touch with you to arrange to take a photo. Pets nominated will be chosen on the basis of uniqueness of the pet and the quality of the story and information submitted.
