We checked in recently with Miss Pickles and her amazing human dog mom, Marg, to learn more about what they’ve been up to.

Dog of the Year! What does that mean for you and Miss Pickles?

Marg: It is such an honour that the CW network picked Miss Pickles to be featured as one of the dogs for their yearly special! Miss Pickles has overcome and accomplished so much in her 4.5 years since she’s been with us and it’s super cool that those accomplishments are going to be featured! We are so proud of Miss Picks and ready to show her off to the world!

Why were you selected to be part of this series?

Marg: Miss Pickles is an extraordinary pug on the internet who has the ability to make people smile for her cuteness, antics and her sickening drag looks! The Big thing that drew the producers to Miss Pickles is her ally-ship for the LGBTQ+ community. Not only does this include her drag look inclusivity but also the charity fundraising we have done to help out our local and Canadian LGBTQ+ charities including for the Toronto 519 and the rainbow railroad project.

Miss Pickles has been a darling in Toronto’s Pug rescue scene can you tell us how you found each other?

Marg: Miss Pickles was our second foster through a Toronto based pug rescue called Pugalug. Pickles needed us as much as we needed her, her personality really meshed with our lifestyle and we just found her irresistible.

How did Miss Pickles acquire the title ‘Instagram’s first doggy drag queen”?

Marg: Miss Pickles is well known in the drag community for her imitation of RuPaul Drag Race contestants runway looks. She has gotten numerous shout outs and reposts from queens that have starred on the show and also on other social media platforms and media outlets. She is the only dog who has gotten a shout out from rupaulsdragrace instagram after we had attended the 2019 NYC dragcon. Lastly, Pickles is a performer and has performed in two drag shows as a guest performer. I Don’t know any pups who have that on their resume

What first got you interested in the drag lifestyle?

Marg: In the culture of Drag there are no rules, and anyone can be a drag King or Queen and now even a drag dog. It’s a happiness outlet for a lot of people including myself. I love watching Rupaul’s drag race, attending drag shows and creating looks for Miss Pickles. I’ve always been a creative person and Pickles is a pug who loves to wear clothes and is a fabulous model and I just randomly decided to make Pickles a Drag Pug. 2.5 years ago we made the first imitation drag look of one of our favourite drag queens Miss Vanjie and after posting it to social media it went viral. Throughout these 2.5 years so many people have messaged us how Miss Pickles brightens up their day so we continue to recreate looks.

What are the plans for celebrating the launch of the show?

Marg: When the CW Dogs of the Year special airs, we plan on  cuddling up on the couch with popcorn and stream the show on the CW website.

And any advice for people who want to make their lives more fabulous?

Throw on a wig and a cute outfit and just own the day. Don’t let anyone ruin your sparkle and if they do they aren’t worth it!

An encore presentation will air Wednesday, December 29 (8:00-9:00pm ET).

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Pugly tells the story of several pugs. Gunner, a two-year-old pug in the care of Pugalug, Toronto’s pug rescue network led by self-professed “Crazy Dog Lady” Blanche Axton. As she prepares Gunner for adoption, we meet a growing community of “squishy-faced dog” devotees with big personalities, and follow their stories of heroism, humour and heartbreak.

Titus is a half-blind pug crippled by a congenital condition but he will not give up barking and chasing after speeding trains. His doting owner Erin carries him everywhere he goes, and ensures that he gets his meds and his thrice-daily catheterization. As a result, for the past three years, these two have never been apart. And then there’s Tawnie, the “sassy bitch” with a lengthy list of maladies, beloved by Blanche, Sigrid and the rest of the Pugalug team, but whose continual (and costly) vet visits have made her adoption prospects doubtful.

Toronto’s most insta recognizable pug starlet, Miss Pickles, was adopted from Pugalug Pug Rescue by Margaret and her husband after being fostered by them. “We decided to keep her because we found her irresistible,” Margaret explains. We see the glamorous side of this pug’s life but Miss Pickles has faced some serious health issues – including cancer – but she hasn’t let that slow her down. In 2018, Miss Pickles not only won the title of Now Magazine’s ‘Best Instagram Account’ but made the cover of their annual ‘Readers’ Choice’ issue. Miss Pickles is rarely seen without a cute outfit on and her nails painted.

We had a chance to interview Miss Pickles & Margaret to find out more…

Pugs are adorable, why do you think people love this breed so much?

Miss Pickles: No question, we are the best!

Pickles’ mom: They are adorable and the comic clown dogs of the dog world! They have so many quirks about them, even on a bad day a pug can make any person smile.

How did you become so Instagram famous?

Miss Pickles: My viewers like me in my many outfits my mom puts me in, even though they are sometimes utterly ridiculous! This past fall, there was a contest for Now Magazines’ best Toronto instagram 2018 (@miss.picklesthepug), which I won! It really helped get my name out there! I also landed on the magazine’s cover!

How do you handle the fame?

Miss Pickles: I demand extra treats! lol..

Pickles’ Mom: Social media is a lot of fun and encountering fans in public who recognize Miss Pickles and approach us is surreal in the greatest way!

Is there a lot of pressure to keep your social presence?

Miss Pickles: I am a born star. I love entertaining my fans by dressing up and just being me!

Pickles’ Mom: Miss Pickles Instagram is my hobby and I love taking pictures of Pickles. She is so photogenic and this gal will do anything for treats! Some tips would include: create a brand that makes your profile shine! Be consistent with your posts, funny captions always work… and who does not love a pug in clothes.

As this documentary will reveal, pugs are also prone to health issues – what would you want people to know?

Pickles’ mom: If you are going to own a pug, know that they will require specific cares compared to other breeds. For instance we brush Pickles’ teeth each night, give her lubricating eye drops and clean her wrinkles. Pugs are prone to obesity and they have an insatiable appetite. Pickles was once 10lbs overweight, and it took 10 months to drop the extra pounds. From the excess weight she developed arthritis in her hips. It is essential to keep their weight low for optimal health.

I am a foster parent for Toronto’s Pugalug Pug rescue and that’s where we got Miss Pickles from . I see pugs coming into rescue because of the owners’ inability to pay for their health expenses or they just simply don’t have time for their pug. Prior to getting a pug, make sure you do have the time and the budget to care these amazing creatures.

Your favourite places to visit in Toronto?

Miss Pickles and mom: We love visiting the Distillery District, Trinity Bellwoods for the pug grumbles and going shopping at dog friendly stores like Winners.

Pugly: A Pug’s Life will have its World Broadcast Premiere on CBC Docs POV on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 9:00 pm (9:30 NT). The documentary will also be available to watch online at cbc.ca/watch, and on the CBC app from 12:00pm noon ET the same day.

The post The Pug Life and Toronto’s own <br/>Miss Pickles appeared first on Toronto Guardian.