Nutty Nunzi Tall Tail Tales
The nutty adventures and dramatic thoughts of a very odd and wildly friendly Brittany dog named Nutty Nunzi — and the silly human, Greg, who somehow hears him
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Our Wonderful Perfect Morning | A Too Big Lapdog | Silly Snake Hunter For Hire | The Kooky Canine And Silly Human Comedy Team | The Whining Waiting Game | Big Ocean Of Furry Fun | Our First Day Together | Nutty Nunzi: It’s A Wonderful Life | Nutty Nunzi: A Silent–Yet Annoying Alarm | Fitting Into Fitness Class | Dumb Diggin Contest | Nutty Nunzi Diggin Drive | Me & My Furry Shadow
Nutty Nunzi | Puppy Times: “Give A Puppy An Inch”…
…And he’ll take a yard. And a desk. And a keyboard, and, and…
So I’m trying to accommodate the kid–to be open minded. Nunzi is only 9 weeks old here, our second week together. And he’s already been exhibiting eccentric odd behavior, and demands that have justified me naming him Nutty Nunzi.
But like I said, I tried to accommodate the kid as much as possible. So sometimes I let him up on my lap while I’m working. Although he’ll often insist on parking there for quite a long while until my lap falls asleep. Or worse
The puppy also thinks he knows how to type and insists he needs to emulate me and he smack smack smacks the keyboard. So sometimes I’ll switch off the keyboard and let him “type” for a while and he gets very excited doing that. And looks back at me as if to say “hey ain’t I good? – I type better that you, huh?” Nope.
An additional particularly nutty thing Nunzi would do is to rise off my lap and grapple up my torso–using his sharp puppy nails to scale up Mount Dad–ouch. And up to the peak where he’ll then wrap his torso around the back of my neck, and snuggle himself against my high chair back.
Front legs wrapped around my left shoulder–back legs around my right. And he’ll insist on staying up there for quite a while as my neck cries out in agony.
Nunzi often actually fall asleep in that position up there. Snoring while he naps and causing clients I’m speaking to on my phone to ask “what the heck is that noise”? Zzzzzz…
But as you can see in the video evidence–one night he just went too far! He demanded to take over my desk. And (not in evidence) he told me I should move all my stuff off and go work in his crate/pen puppy complex so he’d have more room atop my desk for himself.
Though he did say I could leave the keyboard cause he really really liked typing.
The nerve of that little brat! Well I put my foot down, told Nunz he wasn’t the boss of me, I was the leader of this dog pack and I refused to move anything to his pen! And further more–he was forbidden from ever laying atop my desk again! Never ever!!
Wanna know how long that banishment decree lasted? Take a guess…
Continue reading HERE
So why do I say this is a wonderful perfect morning? Is it because I get to frolic on a beautiful beach I’m blessed to live near. No, that ain’t it. Is it because we got perfect temperature happening, and the sun is shining, and so on?
Nope, none of that stuff is really IT–either.
So what is IT? The big reason is the fact that I got a dog with me this morning. My wonderful wacky canine Nutty Nunzi is with me. We’re splish splashing, and fetch fetching, and scooting all around the beach. So it’s a damn perfect morning.
Because we’re together!
But you know what else I label a perfect morning? Any day I got my fur friend with me. It could even be a day that one could technically put in the category of being a terrible morning. Like a few weeks ago when I was sick, feeling completely horrible, and waiting in a sloooow long line at CVS for meds. Yep, terrible time for sure.
But then–poke poke! Nunzi is poking me with his nose, and I squint down at him smiling his super smile. And PRESTO! It’s another perfect morning.
Our time together with our furry angels is very fleeting. Tick-tick-tocking away. Every day. Until that final day…
So I gotta say–I got my wonderful dog with me this particular day. So it’s another wonderful perfect day! All us dog nuts gotta enjoy it.
Every day is precious. Enjoy them right NOW!
Sometimes my dog thinks he’s a lapdog. In reality, he’s over fifty pounds and a very un-lapdog, hunting breed–a Brittany. And his lap obsession is one of the many reasons I named him Nutty Nunzi. He can be quite eccentric and weird in his ways.
Nunzi can sometimes make my Photoshop toil more toiling then it needs to be. But it’s often easier to cave into his odd requests than it is to argue about them. Whining and whining to be on my lap for a while is one of them.
When Nunz was a wee puppy, he would sometimes howl until I picked him up and let him lie down atop my desk and take a nap there. He’d often snore, and in turn make me sleepy as well. And then I’d have to nap too.
This image is one of my most popular posts, and since I was dubbed an influencer last year, I make money with this silly image on various platforms. So that makes the lap pain more bearable.
And since I love my mighty fine canine lots–I usually cave into most of his nutty wishes anyway. You gotta be flexible with our furry friends.
So dumb dad starts saying really dumb stuff like… “You have to start pulling your own weight… “You can’t live off the fat of the land… “Duck jerky doesn’t grow on trees.”
Now I don’t know what any of that nonsense means. But he also says big boys have to have a job. So they can help the family pay for treats and toys and other stuff. So I thought a good way for me make money is a snake hunting job.
I’m real good at it as you can see in the photo. If you got too many snakes slithering around your home, please hire me to get rid of them for you. I can snag all kinds of snakes such as pythons, rattlers, cobras, snakes in the grass. You name it–I can hunt it.
Please hire me soon–dad hasn’t given me a treat in like two and a half days. I can’t live under such barbaric conditions. Help!!!
The Kooky Canine And Silly Human Comedy Team
Sometimes it’s as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Or more appropriate– humans on a beach. And Nutty Nunzi has a 93.7% probability rate in getting humans to at least get a big smile when he comes prancing along. And most times they can’t resist a giggle or two.
But this human in the video had such robust wonderful laughter and easy sense of humor that our comedy routine was barely necessary. This woman just has such a jolly positive vibe to begin with.
Now Nunzi does have several standard comedy bits. One is that he just prances over to people he doesn’t know, lays down right next to them and snuggles. This gets at least some smiling and giggles.
A second one is to walk over and drop his ball next to someone. When the person goes to pick it up–he quickly snatches the ball away. He’ll drop it again, even closer to them–then smiles and dares them to try. They do and he snatches and they miss. He snatches and snatches until they give up. It’s a highly probable comedic inducer.
The third, of course, which is his standard one, is to start crazily digging super fast. Just about everyone finds this quite humorous and it’s a surefire laughter generator that my canine relishes performing.
I have a few standard comedy bits. One is to go over to whoever is petting Nunz and say something like “So here’s the Beach Dog rental you ordered”. I look down at my phone, act like I’m reading an app, and reiterate that the rate is $8.99 per hour with a 2 hour minimum. And they need to pay the deposit on the Beach Doggy app right now.
Sometimes I can say this with a straight face and the people believe me and protest “But we didn’t order a beach dog rental. Really!” Most don’t get duped, and just think it’s funny.
Another bit, which I used on this woman, is that I go to the person petting Nunzi and pretend that I’v thinking they’re obviously planning on stealing my dog. They’re dog-nappers and I’m on to them. Most folks say they’d gladly take this nice dog home with them.
But mostly we just improvise and have fun acting kinda goofy.
The Waiting Whining Game
He really really sucks at it! Patience, that is. Nutty Nunzi don’t like waiting for nothing never. So whenever we get home, and I have to start hauling groceries or other stuff up our stairs–Nunz will start whining about the torturous wait he must endure.
It’s not a matter of–if. Just the matter of–when. When shall his noise assault commence?? Keep in mind, he has a mighty fine ocean view he can gaze upon from the other window. Don’t matter. He insists upon this window where he can better berate my efforts and complain complain!
So I try to put a positive spin on things. Have some sorta fun by trying to guess which of my trips up our stairs will be the one that triggers Nunz to start whining. Thus the Whining Waiting Game. This day the trunk was full of way too much Costco food and some plants so I estimated it would take me over five trips up the stairway to non-heaven. So I guessed the canine whine, this time, would commence on trip #3.
And as you can see in the video–I won! Nutty Nunzi’s whine-athon started as I was doing trip three. What did I win? Well, we haven’t figured out that part yet. Nunz gives me nothing.
Well, nothing but time together. With my wonderful and entertaining doggy. Which is the best prize of all! A loud whine win-win. Arf, arf, arf!!
A Big Ocean Of Furry Fun
Here’s my furry friend Nutty Nunzi doing one of his most favorite things to do–romping and swimming in the awesome ocean. And watching him splash and dash is one of my most favorite things to watch. Such pure joy in his great big ocean of furry fun. Arf. Nuf said.
Our First Day Together
(click link to view Instagram reel)
Here’s Nutty Nunzi on his first day at our beach. “OMG! OMG! OMG!” That’s what my brand new puppy was thinking as I hoisted up his trembling body. He was just 8 weeks old and this was his first time gazing upon the big deep blue sea. OMG!–what the hell is that giant wet crashing bashing monster thing?!” The pup was super duper scared and…
Nutty Nunzi: It’s A Wonderful Life
So Nutty Nunzi has no time to spare this morning. He’s already heard a bout of complaining from his human. Whining about foolishness like needing coffee and breakfast, and it’s time to go and so on.
Now although Nunz already managed to get in about ten minutes of quality time to feed his digging addiction. Sculpting a pretty impressive and deep doggy den—he desires more as we’re heading home. What could that be?
One could guess. Yep, me. I could guess, as he wheels around. And his nose starts doing a bunch of sniffing and snarfling noises. Yep my furry super snuggler desires some snuggling. Now he smiles. Gives me an excited arf!
Ah, hah! He’s picked up the distinct scent of children and hurries off in that direction. He soon reaches his destination. There’s four cute kids and two moms and he gets the usual greeting chorus of.. “oh how cute – awww – c’mere doggy – wanna pet him mom.”
Nunz gently lays down amongst his new adoring friends and enjoys a bunch of little hands happily caressing his soft fur. As I watch, I’m thinking–he has such a life!
And since this overly friendly goodwill ambassadog brightens and lifts spirits most every day—he deserves this life. This wonderful life.
And I feel lucky to be sharing and observing my dear friend, and being part of it all. For as long as it lasts. Hopefully, for a bunch more years. Because it’s been so damn wonderful.
Nutty Nunzi: A Silent–Yet Annoying Alarm
Times up! That’s what my Nutty Nunzi alarm is silently yelling at me. When I’ve been working at my computer too long, this beast slithers under the desk, and proceeds to wedge his head between my legs. Or atop an area of my lap and applies annoying downward pressure. And just stares daggers at me.
In this shot, I was straining to keep my knees locked together while he tried to pry them open with his snout. When I won that skirmish, Nunz’s next tactic was to put his head atop my kneecaps and legs, applying significant downward pressure while also trying to walk forward.
I held onto the desktop. He keeps pushing forward. I hold. He pushes.
But his damn strong leg muscles soon prevail and he was able to bulldoze my roller chair backwards. And as you can see, his head popped out from under the desk to facilitate full stink eye psychological pressure.
I know Nunz is thinking… “And I will remain in this position until you play with me. Or give me another treat. Or more belly rubs. Or take me out.”
Or anything else other than what you’re wasting your time doing right now!!!!
I wasn’t about to give in to this blackmail, this pressure. I got my pride. I am, after all, the superior human. Him, the lowly cur.
I successfully held my ground. He shall not win this time. Nope. I resisted that freckle face. I’m resolute! I’m strong!
For about 43 seconds. Then I grabbed his Wubba toy, tossed it and we proceeded to have the mother of all tugging battles. The silent annoying alarm quietly triumphs once again! Damn that lowly cur. I’ll win next time! Or the time after that. Or…
Fitting Into Fitness Class
We were romping along the shore and playing fetch when all of a sudden Nutty Nunzi stopped dead in his tracks. He spied a vision of delight ahead. OMG! A fitness class!!
And I know exactly what my furry friend is thinking… “A bunch of humans all in one small area! A bunch to exclaim how cute I am. And pet me and snuggle me, and maybe toss my ball, and etc.”
He quickly ran to the unsuspecting class. And, of course, like 96.3% of the time, his new “classmates” couldn’t resist the irresistible canine. As I caught up to him, I heard a chorus of stuff like… “such an adorable dog” – “c’mere, c’mere, I’ll pet you” – “wanna fetch”, and etc, etc. Such a dog’s life.
The funny thing is, as Nunz joined the fitness circle, he seemed to be obeying the instructor’s instructions to the tee! As you can see in this short clip, when the guy gave the order to “hold that plank” and everyone froze in position–the furry fitness student obeyed. Still as a statue.
Then when they were told to “pedal”–Nunzi starts doing a pedal digging thing too. Too funny. Yeah there were giggles and guffaws all around the circle as his antics transpired.
And indeed my nutty guy was fitting into fitness class just fine and doggy dandy. Like he belonged. Which I guess he kinda did.
So me and Nutty Nunzi were just strolling along the shore yesterday, minding our own business, when we spied this boy merrily playing and digging in the sand. Since Nunzi loves kids, he couldn’t resist making a new friend, and he pranced over, laid down beside the boy and dropped his ball in front of him.
Hoping to engage him to do a toss or two. As is pretty much always the case, Nunzi succeeded in charming the child. And the guy smiled at my eager, adorable dog and gladly tossed the ball. Nunz ran and returned the ball, and they had a few fun fetches together.
Then I told this fine youngster that I had noticed he was quite a skilled sand sculptor and digger. He proudly exclaimed he comes to the beach a lot was and is an expert at making sand castles and such. I mentioned that although Nunzi couldn’t sculpt anything, people often gather and marvel at his this dog’s digging abilities. They watch and laugh as Nunzi’s paws become a blur while he quickly excavates impressive large deep holes in the blink of an eye and a wag of the tail.
I claimed that this fine canine was probably the best digging dog in the whole wide world. The human looked the beast over. Assessing his supposed abilities. Then the kid scoffed and let out a sarcastic “hah”! Said he could dig way better than any dog. Especially this small dumb dog! OMG. The gauntlet was thrown. I looked at Nunz. He looked at me. I swear I could hear my mutt mutter a snicker. And I do believe I even spied a smirk.
What could I do? I couldn’t let “dumb dog” stand. Such an insult. And quite inaccurate to boot. I told the braggart that we should have a little contest to see who is indeed the bestest digger of sand. Lets just see who can dig the biggest hole after all. I said l would set my timer and then these two opponents would start churning away, and whoever had the biggest hole after one minute would be declared the true digging champion.
Ok, admittedly, I can get quite silly when I’m around little kids. Or dogs. But if you put them together–well I can reach new heights of silly–as you can see and hear in this clip. So both parties agreed and the contest commenced. After about 18 seconds of dig dig digging, the young lad glanced over at his opponent and his jaw dropped. Nunzi’s mighty paws were a blur. Clouds of sand were fiercely flying behind the pooch.
It was obvious what the outcome would be. But the lad bravely gave it his best throughout the tournament. When the minute was up, looking at the hole size comparison–it was obvious which hole was biggest.
But I didn’t have the heart to officially declare Nunzi the winner. Saying they both achieved great excavations and it was really too close to call. Though I did sneak a wink at my fine canine. And he nodded—knowing he emphatically won. And he winked back. Dogs rule!!!!!
My dog Nunzi always digs a drive but this little jaunt was especially special because he got to act like a human and sit up front with me. Normally he’s in back, nestled in one of those hammock-like dog seat things which is a safer spot for him. But we had to put the back seat down and stuff it with stuff so he had the treat of riding shotgun for the five minute ride back home.
I especially like his classic Nunzi gleeful smile in this clip. The one that always can’t help but make me smile too. Roll on down the road little doggy. Roll on!
Me And My Furry Shadow
“He’s your constant shadow.” – “Never see you around without him.” – “You guys glued together?” Those are the type of things that people sometimes say when I walk by with my Nutty Nunzi. My thinking is, that when you get blessed with having the friendliest and most outgoing dog in the world–it feels like a super sin to ever leave him behind.
Nunzi basically wants everyone he sees, when he’s out and about, to be his instant friend. And usually leaves a trail of smiles, and ooing and awwing in his wake. Every day he routinely goes up to complete strangers, and sits or lies down next to them and smiles and wags his stubby tail. As if to say, “hey wanna snuggle? – wanna pet me? – wanna be best friends?”
And the love fest invariably commences. And he’s so wonderfully well behaved and fun, how could I not want him as my shadow pal whenever and wherever possible? Now when I noticed the cool shadow images dancing on the ground as we strolled along the pier, I immediately got out my cam and started shooting.
Nunzi didn’t really know what the heck I was trying to do with this shadow play concept thing. But he did his best to interpret my hand gestures and odd movements. And since we were together, outside and having fun—he was happy to try to do his best to oblige his odd human, and attempt to figure out yet another one of my crazy creative notions I was trying to conjure up for us to do together.
This dog’s always game. And will always be my favorite furry shadow.
About Gregory Mancuso
Gregory Mancuso is a Los Angeles photographer, videographer, writer, musician, and storyteller with more than 30 years of professional experience. Throughout his career he has worked for major brands, publications, and organizations while also pursuing creative projects in photography, film, music, and writing.
Nutty Nunzi Tall Tail Tales combines Greg’s love of storytelling, humor, photography, and his adventures with his Brittany companion, Nunzi. Together they spend their days exploring beaches, parks, trails, and neighborhoods while observing the people, dogs, and amusing situations that inspire these stories.
When he’s not creating new photos and videos, Greg can usually be found somewhere with his wonderful Nutty Nunzi nearby–searching for the next tall tale worth telling. Arf!
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