La Perejila

Or “Baby Travesura” and “Miss Chevious,” as my partner jokingly calls us when asking about our girls’ day.

Paisley is an almost four-year-old English Bulldog who loves her orange Chuckit! ball and chicken more than her parents most days. She primarily lives with her dad, but occasionally makes a daring escape to join me, her mami, in the Twin Cities.

Her abuela affectionately nicknamed her “Perejila,” inspired by the classic show La Perejila y La Jitomata, a name that perfectly matches her humorous, long-tongued, spirited personality and playful behavior. In the show, the two characters, played by Freddy Ortega and Germán Ortega, perform dramatic and silly skits centered around chisme and cooking. The nickname also reflects her beautiful multicultural heritage as a Mexican-Taiwanese American English Bulldog. And yes, she understands Spanish and very little Mandarin (we’re working on that).

Paisley was a crowd favorite during the 2024 Drake University Beautiful Bulldog Contest. Honestly, she should have won, but I’m clearly biased. My partner and I had a custom luchador outfit made for her. Looking back, we probably should have dressed her as Gene Simmons from Kiss to really resonate with the crowd. Maybe she would’ve won!

When in the Twin Cities, Paisley enjoys playing at the dog park, lounging on the sofa, and reminding me that bedtime is no later than 10:30 P.M. Wherever we go, whether it’s out for a pup cup or strolling through the farmers market, I value every moment with her. Even when she got #2 all over me and the wall on our second day together. A rite of passage in the dog world, I suppose.

Though she’s quite petite for a bulldog at just 37 pounds, buying her a stroller was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It turns heads at the farmers market and at her vet’s office, but more importantly, it will help her explore the world as she ages.

I’m truly grateful to my partner for bringing Nena into our lives. About a year into our relationship, I jokingly told him I was surprised we didn’t have a baby yet. Just then, a little snort came from beside his bed. Paisley’s gentle reminder that she is our baby.