Meet Bravo, Champion in the Ring and Our Hearts...

Bravo succeeded Spencer, who succumbed to cancer on Sept. 4, 2004. Bravo (aka CH Brushyrun Cascabella) comes to us all the way from Brushy Run Beagles in Millersburg, Pa. -- about 1,200 miles from our home in Nebraska. He is a 13" beagle and a four-year-old retired conformation champion with an outstanding personality to match his handsome markings.

When we lost Spencer, the void in our family was almost unbearable. Even Coki was lost without her little brother. We thought about bringing home a puppy, but after considering Coki's age (she was 10 at the time) and our patience for housebreaking (not much), we decided an adult dog was a better choice. I don't know if it was fate or pure luck, but as I was doing my search by visiting websites of breeders linked to my page, I ran across a photo of the most beautiful 13" beagle at the Brushy Run website. I yelled for my husband, John, to take a look, and he, too, was hooked.

We immediately fell in love with Bravo online, but I was afraid he'd already been spoken for. After my e-mail inquiry and a conversation with his breeder, Kris, we learned that Bravo was available for adoption. Just 10 days later, we were on our way east on a mission that was lovingly dubbed "Operation Bravo."

He and Coki got along very well, but there was a little competition when both spotted an empty lap. Fortunately, we usually had room for two! Coki quickly learned that Bravo is a little more assertive than Spencer, and she respected that. He, too, knew when to give his new sister a little space, so these two really complemented each other.

After extensive training, Bravo is now a certified therapy dog through Domesti-PUPS, and he and I visit nursing homes and assisted living residences about twice a month. The residents just adore him, especially those soft beagle ears! It's a win-win situation since he loves the attention.

We can't thank Kris enough for allowing us to bring Bravo back to Nebraska. We realize it had to be difficult to part with such a wonderful hound, especially when he was going so far away. He has far exceeded our greatest expectations!

Introducing Irish Coffey The Mighty Quinn...

After we lost Coki in March 2006, we noticed Bravo becoming more and more withdrawn and obviously depressed with grief. Although I was reluctant to have two beagles again, it didn't take long for me to decide that Bravo needed companionship. The question again became, "To puppy or not to puppy." Since Bravo was a young adult with a lot of energy, we decided that we would bring home a pup. So the search began...

We located Bob and Pat Coffey, Texas breeders with Irish Coffey Beagles, and decided that we wanted one of their pups. To our delight, Irish Coffey The Mighty Quinn was available! Pat preferred that we come down in mid-June to pick him up, so I patiently waited for about a month before we loaded up the SUV and headed south to Magnolia, Texas.

It was a long two-day drive, especially in extreme heat and with Bravo in tow, but what a grand adventure! It was such a pleasure meeting Pat and seeing all of the lovely Irish Coffey Beagles, including Quinn's sire, Saint, and dam, Peg. I recognized Quinn the minute I saw the litter (he was the first to leave), and John and I both fell in love. Bravo was a bit more reserved as he was overwhelmed by all the pups yipping at him, but he quickly warmed up to the lot, and before we knew it, he and Quinn were sharing a water bowl.

It's a good thing they hit it off because it was a long ride home. Quinn did very well for a young boy on the journey home, and I think it really helped to have Bravo along. The two bonded immediately and are still best buddies. Quinn really looks up to his big bro - often from his back!

Quinn turned one year old on March 7, 2007, and he and I enjoy the conformation ring. As of this writing, he's halfway to his championship, showing as a 13" beagle. He goes to handling classes and some basic obedience classes, and I'm pleased with how well he has responded. He's a smart boy and is filling out nicely. I think our household will mellow out a bit when he gets through his doggie adolescence, but we enjoy every minute of watching him grow up.

Thanks to Bob and Pat for their continued guidence as our boy matures and continues to excel in the ring!

January 2005 Entries:

Handling aggressive dogs...

Hi, Pat!
I have a question and thought I'd write and ask for your or someone else's opinion who frequents this site. We have started taking our two beagle boys to our local dog park at least once a week. Joey and Happy love it and it tires them out so I can have some time to myself in the evening. My question is this.... Several times when we have gone to the park there has been a German Shepherd there who is 13 months old. He is huge (his back comes to my waist, and he weighs at least 100 lbs.). He is very aggressive as far as I'm concerned. Today he kept chasing Joey and trying to grab him by the back with his teeth and throw him to the ground. I'm not real familiar with dog behavior so I'm not sure if he was playing like his owner assured he was. He slammed a 4-month-old Weimeraner puppy into a fence and the puppy was bleeding. Max, the German Shepherd's owner, didn't seem to think the he was acting inappropriately at all. Should I be concerned about this dog being around my dogs or am I just being a smother mother? I know dogs roughhouse with each other, but my boys are 25 and 35 lbs. Max is at least triple their size. They love park day and as soon as I mention PARK, they run to the door and grab their leashes and sit and bark until we leave. I would hate to have to stop going. If you could please write back to me ASAP, I would appreciate it. I know you download once a month, but I would appreciate hearing from you right away if you can spare the time. I'm attaching a picture of Joey and Happy for Coki and Bravo.

kimlovesduane@juno.com

Pat says: The owner is making excuses for the dog. This behavior is totally inappropriate. If ANY dog causes injury to another, regardless if it's through aggression or rough housing, things have gone too far. You should be able to take your dogs to a dog run and enjoy yourself without fear of injury to your pets. I know most people don't want to cause conflict, and it's best to avoid it, but there are times when you have to speak up to protect your dog from the ignorance of other pet owners. I'd tell the owner that you would prefer Max not interact with your dogs. There's no reason to have much of a discussion, just say that you are concerned about injury and leave it at that. Don't put the owner in a defensive position or criticize the dog. It is quite possible that Max's owner simply does not know how to control him or doesn't want to try. The park is big enough for everyone. Go enjoy it!

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Loss of a friend...

I have had a dog for the past 42 years. For the past 13 years it has been a female beagle who came to us as a stray. At the time she was about a year old and was already spayed. This was my introduction to the beagle breed, and it has been a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, I had to put her down a week ago, and I have very empty feeling at the moment, but it is my intention to acquire another beagle in the next several months. This is why I have been cruising the Internet, getting information on how best to train and take care of a beagle. My demands are very simple. I want an obedient and friendly animal who will be my walking companion in the summer and my cross skiing companion in the winter. I have no desire for my dog to be a hunter even though I live in Northeastern Ontario and have enjoyed listening to and watching my old beagle chase rabbits and other small game. She did have an experience with a bull moose once, but when she realized it was a bit bigger than she could handle, she has left them alone.

Jim Sharp
Jimsharp@aol.com

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A Lucy update...

Hey there. Thought it might be time for an update. Lucy, our five-year-old rescue beagle has really come out of her shell in the past few months. And she's dropped four pounds in the past four months as well. She's getting her waistline back. Yay! That new diet and no more biscuits for snacks work. She's a beagle all right and has eaten every raw veggie I've offered. Daily walks are great, too. She's definitely less of a couch potato than when we first brought her home. She really enjoys playing with the squeaky toys we got her for Christmas and enjoys rawhides, too. We've really developed a bond and figured out how to make the most of our time with her. We finally bought nail clippers because we just couldn't seem to keep her claws worn down. On walks, like any beagle, she follows her nose, and more often than not, that's on the grass. Oh, well.

Additionally, all her infections are clearing up. She had an infected vulva that was very uncomfortable, and the red, raw spots between the toes on her front paws are much, much better. She's still taking prednisone, but she's off antibiotics. Her nose, which was all scabbed over when we got her ­ apparently it would go through cycles, scab over, fall off, heal, scab over, etc. ­ and when I last wrote it was a nice, healthy pink. Well, the top of her nose is getting pigment back. She may have a normal, black beagle nose in the near future. Another victory.

She loves playing with my in-laws' pair of toy fox terriers. They lost one the week before Christmas. He ran out into the street after a vet's appointment and was hit by a car, then run over. Guy didn't stop. Jerk. Anyway, they're getting a rescue pup, so Lucy will have another buddy to play with when we take her to Gramma and Grampa's house. She'll love that. She's such a social little girl, people, dogs, whatever, and she's there.

I can totally relate to Calla Lilly, the official greeter at the B&B. I took Lucy to the rescue group's Beagle Fest (yes, another event with 60 beagles in one place and there were some wearing Halloween costumes) and Lucy designated herself the official greeter for the event. She fell asleep instantly when I got her in the car afterward.

Lucy and my husband have become good buddies as he's been playing with her daily. He's also had to take on the walks as I've gotten a bulging disc in my back. I miss walking Lucy. Every walk is a different adventure.
Things continue to go well. My husband is working another graveyard shift tonight, and I think Lucy has already staked out a spot on our bed. I sleep easier when she's there while hubby is away.

Anyway, we hope to get Lucy down to 35 pounds. She's 40 pounds as of a couple weeks ago. Amazing that she's done so well on the Pred. We're looking to adopt her a buddy in April/May. Any suggestions on what to look for in a playmate for her?

Well, will update again soon. Maybe next time I'll have gotten her through some training. She needs a bit. =) Good thing she's such a lovable little cutie. And it's great to see so many beagle devotees here. It's funny how beagles are so alike in some ways, but yet all have their own personalities. Thanks again for the web site. It's a great source of info, and I return regularly to see new entries.

'Til next time,
Kris
kristahill01@msn.com

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Thinking about a new beagle...

I am the proud mother of a 14-year-old daughter and ever since she was little she has wanted a dog ­ a beagle in particular. I find them to be very cute and have recently caved in to getting one. I have bought a book and read all about crate training and are prepared for that. I have a few queries though.

First, our house doesn't really have a yard. It's sort of a courtyard but I read in the book that beagles can be apartment dogs if they are exercised and walked regularly. We also have a front yard, which is just driveway and plants but quite big. My daughter thinks I should let it out there to give it more space, but I think it will make the garden look ugly by digging. Will it?

My second query is the amount of time a puppy should be left alone. It says you should be there to take it outside to go to the toilet every 1-2 hours, so what happens when you sleep or go to school and work? We plan to get a beagle during the summer holidays (two months in Australia) so we can be with it, but when we go back to school and work, the dog will be without company for 7-8 hours a day (daughter's school hours). There is no way we can change this, but we both really want a beagle. Will the beagle suffer for this even if we leave it a lot of toys to keep it amused? Would you recommend a second beagle to keep it company because that is what the book said? The problem with getting two dogs is that we already have two cats and cannot turn into an animal farm!!!

nicyole@hotmail.com

A personal note from Pat: I've never had a problem with my dogs being diggers. We have a pretty extensive flower garden area out back. Coki and Bravo will cruise through it, but they don't dig. Spencer was the same way. There have been a couple of times when I've given Coki a treat and she's buried it under the mulch, but that's been about it. Of course, another beagle may feel a little more like digging. It's an individual thing. Walking the dog would be best, both for you and your pet. Dogs don't get quite as much exercise just exploring a small yard. But just letting the dog out is convenient! When I was living in a house without a fenced yard many years ago, I would use a short lead to tie my beagle, Reggie, outside so he could have his potty breaks when it was too late at night to take him for a walk. I wouldn't leave him out for long ­ maybe 10-15 minutes, but it was just enough for him to finish his business. If you do tie your dog out for a short time, don't leave him tethered for long and make sure you give him ample exercise at other times.

Remember that a puppy's bladder can't hold urine as long as an adult dog. You are wise to get a pup during the summer. If you bring one home right at the beginning of the holiday, that pup will have time to grow up to be about five months old before fall. By that time the bladder should be much stronger, and the dog can go longer between potty breaks. I would recommend confining the dog to a small area so you can easily clean up those accidents that will happen for a while. Make sure you give the dog lots of exercise so it will sleep much of the day. Toys may help, but I'm willing to bet that pup will find something else to chew on until it's a little older. Although a second dog sounds good right now, I'd concentrate on training the first one before attempting Double Trouble!

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That sad beagle expression...

Hi there,
My husband has asked me to do a bit of Net research for him, as he is very concerned about our lovely beagle puppy. We have had him for two weeks now (he's 10 weeks old) and he has really settled into life with his new family very well. We are young married couple, no children. He gets lots of love and affection.

My husband's worry is that although his tail is wagging constantly, he has a very somber expression on his face! His rear end says "happy" while his face is very serious and his happy face (tongue hanging out) doesn't appear too often! I thought that perhaps this was just beagles, and that mostly they have a more serious and regal facial expression. When going on car trips he has his tongue hanging out in "happy face" mode (as my husband calls it).

The fact that his tail wags all the time and that his behaviour (playing, running about etc) shows that he is happy with us leads me to believe he's okay, but my husband is still concerned that he isn't as happy as he should be.

I am really very sorry if this is a silly question to ask, but I promised I would look into it!!

I have attached a picture of our baby boy (at 10 weeks), who we are both smitten with :)

He's a lovely puppy and even after two weeks I know that when we are ready for dog number two, it will be another beagle!!

I really appreciate your help with the question.

Have a great day,
Karen
the_pfeiffs@hotmail.com
Australia

Pat says: Beagles are notorious for those serious expressions! It's not often I see the "happy face" from either of mine, but those wagging tails are a dead give away. That sad, pleading look is what attracts may people to the breed. And oh, how those beagles know how to use those big brown eyes! Coki always has a very worried expression on her little face because she tends to wrinkle her brow a lot. It's most noticeable when she drops her ears to their full length and looks up with those eyes that resemble melted Hershey's Kisses. Tell your husband not to worry. The beagle look is one he will grow to love!

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Beagle Belle...

I received an adorable beagle named Belle for my birthday in November. I pleaded with my fiancée for a puppy, and I was so happy when we got her. Belle is such an active puppy, but very smart. She maybe a little crazy, but she is a happy addition to our home.

Sincerely,
Kathryn
cakat22@msn.com

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Greetings from London...

Hi,
I have just found your website and wanted to say "hi" to all the other beagle lovers. Me and my Beagle, Ellie live in London, England. She is a tricolour beagle aged 18 months. It seems to be quite unusual to own a beagle in the UK. I have only seen a couple here. They are mostly kept for hunting only and don't really seem to be considered a pet yet. It is a shame, as I have never had such a loving, playful and very cheeky dog!

Clare.
Valentineclare@hotmail.com

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Bonne, Clyde and G-Man...

Was so excited to find your website. I have three rescue beagles and love every one of them. Each is unique in his or her own way, and they get along beautifully, even with the 12-year-old cat - Jones.

Thanks!
marynelmsparsons@charter.net

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Beagle eyes of Texas...

Hello, My name is Brandon Barden. I'm 19 years old and I'm from Kingsville Texas. I have been a beagle lover for so long, but I never got the chance to have a beagle of my own. I did a search around my area for a puppy and had no luck whatsoever for the longest time, then finally on Christmas Eve 2004 at a Petco in Corpus Christi, Texas, I met someone whose beagle had a litter just five weeks prior to my visit there in Corpus. Two weeks later with $200 in my pocket, I made the trip back to Corpus and got me my first purebred beagle puppy. At 8 weeks old he was named Regal "The Beagle" Barden. My long search for my dream dog finally came to an end. With his awesome tri-colored markings, he's the cutest beagle in my eyes, and I love him to death! And I'm so ready for the future that awaits me and his life. I will continue to update everyone about me and Regal as he grows older with me.

Sincerely,
Brandon & Regal "The Beagle" Barden
BarbaraBard3@aol.com

P.S. attached is a recent picture of me and Regal on the first day that he came home with me.

Pat says: Thanks for the great photo. He is adorable and bound to be your best bud for many years to come!

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Housebreaking headaches...

Hello,
We just got a beagle puppy named Zoe for Christmas for our kids. This is the first puppy that we have had, and we are trying so hard to potty train her. She is only eight weeks, and we are so frustrated. We have bought her a crate and take her out all the time. We tried the recommended time frames, but nothing works, I'm sick from standing in the yard in the rain. She will go when we take her out, but as soon as we come in if you take your eyes off her for one second she is going again. She even poops on her own blanket in her crate even though we have a potty pad in there. Maybe someone could just give me a run down of how to house train her and how long it generally takes. How do we discipline her when she goes on the floor? I'm having a hard time following her all over the house. I REALLY NEED HELP. We love her so much and she is so cute. I don't want to spend all day scolding her, and I don't want to expect too much out of her either.

Thanks for the web site. I am going to spend a lot of time reading about our new baby.

Kris
greenwoods4@msn.com

Pat says: You are probably expecting a little too much right now. The pup's bladder will not fully develop until about five to six months of age. Try to remain patient and stay on a schedule. Keep crate training. In time she will learn not to soil her den. Remember that you cannot discipline her unless you catch her in the act. If you do, get her outside and FAST! When she finishes her business outside, give her a lot of praise. Remain consistent with your praise and resist the temptation to scold her when she has an accident (I know it's hard!). She will learn the ropes in a short time.

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Socks...

It has been a pleasure reading about your puppies. Thank you for some insights into this bossy little guy that I called Socks because of his four white legs. White-tipped tail and all made me burst into tears when my husband presented him to me for Christmas. I lost my Chow-Chow almost a year ago and did not want another dog until a few weeks ago. I kept looking at the little cuties on the street. This little beagle is so cute and those eyes . . . well you know what I mean. I hope I will be able to be a good owner. But he is definitely going to go to training. He is already trying to take over and, from your advice, I have to put a stop to that so that we can all be happy.

Thank you for the smiles on this evening. I just had to try to find out about the loud bark and half cry.

brendarelley@sbcglobal.net

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Masticatory Myositis...

I wrote earlier about my beagle girl (Boo) and her jaw problems. I took her to the vet yesterday and I had to leave her because the doctor wanted to do a series of X-rays and discovered that she has Masticatory Myositis. It is an immune-mediated disease and it might be hereditary. She cannot open her mouth all of the way -- not even under anesthesia. She will be on Prednisone for the next 6 months. Hopefully it is the acute form and not the chronic form of the disease. Hope this will help someone.

Lynne
vmarti@ausaol.com

Pat says: I am glad the vet was able to diagnose the problem. I was not familiar with this condition, but it sounds similar to Stiff Beagle Syndrome, which affected Spencer. It, too, was an autoimmune disease and was treated with Prednisone. Be sure to keep us posted and thanks for sharing!

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A word of appreciation...

Hi, Pat!!!
Happy New Year to you and your family! I was so thrilled to read about your newest addition -- and how gorgeous is he? No wonder you fell in love with him so fast; he is absolutely adorable. I must admit I was close to tears reading your news (not sure if I was so happy about Bravo, or still feeling for you when it comes to the loss of Spencer).

You have been so kind to me and all the other beagle families that I wanted to pass on to you how much you are appreciated and how happy I am for the smiles that I am sure Bravo (with Coki) are bringing back to the home.

Thanks Pat!!!
Luv,
Kelli and Jake (aka the stubborn-too-smart-for-his-own-good beagle)

Kelli M. Collins
kcollins@ca.ibm.com

Pat says: Thanks for the kind words, Kelli. I've had the web site for almost eight years now. When I first started, I never thought so many wonderful people from around the world would visit. Thanks to all of you for stopping by and sharing your stories!

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Greetings from Germany!

My husband and I have decided to get a beagle, but I had a concern before we bring her home. We are both musicians and travel a lot for concerts, workshops, etc. ­ and we almost always go together. Since we live in Europe, most of this travel is by train and I noticed that it's quite common here for people to bring their dogs with them everywhere they go. My question is, is it better to get a puppy so that she's used to traveling, or a dog that's a little bit older so that the trips aren't stressful. My other question is about getting the right dog. Is a dog without "papers" more likely to develop health problems than a dog with? And how important is genetic testing? Thank you in advance for your kind help.

Lizz
Erbert@aol.com

P.S. ­ If anyone who reads this knows the German names for the beagle-related health problems (like glaucoma), I would really appreciate an email!

Pat says: Obviously, a puppy will require quite a bit of attention even when not traveling, but the up side is that you can shape the pup's behavior and get him used to traveling at a young age. A little older dog may already be a great traveler or simply may hate it. Getting an adult beagle does not guarantee the trips will not be stressful. You need to weigh the pros and cons of the care a puppy needs against the chance to acclimate the dog to traveling at a young age.

Just because a dog has "papers" does not guarantee that dog will be genetically sound or free from catastrophic health problems. However, if you work with a responsible breeder your chances of having a healthy dog are greatly increased. Good breeders are very careful about not breeding dogs that will pass genetic defects down to their new litters. One of the tools they employ is genetic testing. You will pay more for your pup, but in the long run you are much more likely to have a dog with fewer health problems and a better temperament.

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Buddy the beagle...

We adopted a beagle, Buddy, six months ago and have serious problems. It started with him constantly knocking down our 18-month-old and trying to have his way with her. He is neutered. He became devoted to my husband and would growl or snap at me if I tried to sit next to my husband. When my husband came home from work, Buddy would knock the children over and stand on top of them so that he could be first to greet my husband. He would jump up to the breakfast bar and steal food off the children's plates. I wanted to find a new home for him after two months of no progress in training him not to do these things. My husband couldn't part with Buddy. But he works 12-hour shifts and I'm a stay-at-home mom. It has taken a lot, but Buddy listens to me better, which is good, but now Buddy doesn't like me all that much and is afraid of me. I' m the only one who corrects him. The whole situation upsets me. I have to watch Buddy constantly or he still does these things. He waits until he thinks I'm not looking. So I guess I really haven't trained him not to do it. He just knows not to do it when I'm looking. I feel like it is hopeless. The irony is that I was the one that wanted a dog; it took me months to talk my husband into letting me get one, and I picked Buddy out at the local humane society. Any suggestions on how I can repair the relationship between Buddy and me? And how can I teach him these things are not OK?

Dawn Nilsen
dn1123@earthlink.net

Pat says: If possible, I'd get Buddy into obedience training. It's pretty obvious he is having his way in the household and does not recognize anyone as the "pack leader." That's why he acts out. Many times owners need the training just as much as the dog. I learned with Coki that I did not know how to train her, and for the first eight-week session of obedience, I was learning just as much or more than she was. Once you have learned how to handle Buddy, you will have better success.

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Feeding issues...

Hi. I have some beagles I hunt rabbits with. My dogs' names are Elrod and Andy. Elrod is one and Andy is 5 months old. I am having a problem when I feed them. Elrod will attack Andy and will not let Andy eat. Do you have any suggestions how I can break Elrod of this problem?

rinee99@yahoo.com

Pat says: Adjust the feeding locations. Keep the dogs separate and feed them at the same time. This should allow Elrod occupied while Andy gets his fair share. Feeding is a rather personal thing for the dogs. I am fortunate in that I can feed mine at the same time and in close proximity in the kitchen; however, some dogs are extremely protective of their food and will fight over a single kibble.

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Training success!

Firstly, thanks to Linda on her suggestions on ignoring Bagel when he misbehaves. Since I wrote last, we've been trying the following things: Alpha roll, using a "growling" voice, showing teeth when reprimanding him, and also not letting him onto the couch or chair (wherever I'm sitting) when he bites. I will also start to ignore him and stare him down until he looks away. Once he's calmed down and starts to do his own thing, I'll start playing with him nicely and praise when he bites/chews on toys, rather than my arms. We did realize within the last week that I was making one critical mistake. Bagel likes to occasionally hump my leg, and I never stopped him. I read on a beagle-related Yahoo group that dogs will sometimes hump the thing that they are superior to. So while we were doing the other things right, but by allowing Bagel to hump my leg (he doesn't do it to Steve), we were confusing him as to whether or not I was also Alpha. So we now don't allow that anymore. But we also realize that in a sense, we're "starting over" with Bagel since there are now new house rules. Fortunately, this entire time both Steve and I have been doing the obedience training (either together or separately) so Bagel does recognize me as a leader sometimes. Now we're working on him recognizing me as co-leader all the time :-)

Everything else has still been going well. The holidays were fun for us and Bagel, but we did see that it took a toll on him. He accompanied us on trips to visit family and friends, but since Bagel wasn't on his normal routine, he was a little out of sorts. He acted out once, in the form of peeing on the couch while looking Steve in the eye (Bagel had a potty break within the hour so there was no reason for peeing). Bagel loves to follow us around when we're doing things in the house. He now also gets to sleep in our bed with us (unless he won't calm down and then he goes into his crate for the night) and does really well. He hasn't had a potty accident on the bed at all. His new "prey" is my old teddy bear, which now gets pounced on and swung around by the ears! It's the cutest thing to see! Also, Bagel discovered that he can crawl under our bed and likes to race around the room, crawl under the bed and pop out the other side!

I'm hoping that the biting issue will slow down and subside as we complete teething (Bagel has all of his adult front teeth in, lost 3 canines and a few of his molars) and he learns that I'm Alpha. I had a feeling that his biting was partially stemming from the pain of teething and a little bit of competing for Alpha rolls. But we'll see.

Elsa, Steve and Bagel
elsancc99@ameritech.net

Pat says: What good news to report! I hadn't heard the theory about dogs humping things that they feel superior to, but I suppose that makes sense. If that's the case, Bravo is feeling very superior to a fuzzy stuffed ladybug!

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Beagle problems...

Hello,
I was wondering if you could help me please? I have a three and a half year old female beagle who is developing a major problem. She is slowly turning very wicked on me. She is treated as one of the family and is loved by all of us and at times. She is treated better that us humans. She is walked three times a day and has many play sessions during the day with one of the family.

The last two of three months she has started to turn on us for simple things like taking up too much of the sofa, or if we go to move her off the armchairs (which she is not allowed to sit on), she will snap and growl at us and is starting to show her teeth at people now. She also goes through the bins when we are not looking and if you go to take whatever she has off her she will snap at you.

When we are playing with her, she gets very rough and in fact the rougher you get with her the better she likes it! When she is out for her walks she is very nervous with other dogs and people and will roll over onto her back until the dogs play with her or the owners rub her belly.

At the moment I am very worried about her getting very wicked, as I am afraid of what she may do to one of the family. As I said she is treated like as on of us, could this be the problem? Is she ruling the house? And is there any way to stop this happening without been too unkind to her?

Also before I go, I must tell you this. I bought her off of a farmer from the country in Ireland when she was twelve weeks old. I feel that she may have been abused by the breeders while she was a pup, and I have a strong feeling if I did not buy her when I did she may have been killed as they could not sell her.

Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated, as at the moment I don't know what I am going to do with her.

All the best,
Robert Spain
rspain@eircom.net

Pat says: I suspect that your beagle is reacting out of fear ­ of what, I don't know. The fact that she rolls to her back in a submissive posture in the presence of other dogs and humans suggests that. It's also not uncommon for fearful dogs to lash out with aggression. A dog that has been in an abusive situation certainly could react in the manner you described, but it has been some time since she was 12 weeks old. I doubt that is the root of the problem. Has her environment changed much in the last few months? A fearful dog can be very sensitive to change. Another thing to consider is a medical condition. A dog that is in pain or doesn't feel well can also become aggressive. I would certainly check with your vet and see if you can rule out a physical problem. I wish I had the answer to explain and correct this behavior. Perhaps someone else can help out. Please e-mail Robert with any suggestions.

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Oskar...

Hi,
First, your site has been very helpful to me, thanks! Second, I was wondering if you had any advice for me. Three months ago, we adopted Oskar (approx 2-3 years old) from a Rescue Centre in Germany. My husband is in the British Forces. As our German and their English wasn't good, we don't know anything about his background. He hadn't been neglected though.

We have two issues with him. The first is roughly how much exercise should he need a day. I currently walk him for 15 minutes before I go to work (I work 5 hours a day). I then walk him for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour when I get in. Another 20 minutes just before he has his tea, and then once again for 10 minutes before he goes to bed. The problem is, he is always waiting to go out and will bark until I take him.

The second issue is that whenever we eat, he sits there and cries and barks. We feed him twice a day the recommended amount. I know that beagles have a tendency to eat and eat and eat, but how can I stop him begging for the food? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Bev Keers
bevkeers@hotmail.com

Pat says: First, Oskar is getting plenty of exercise. It sounds like he really likes his walks, too! Keep up the good work, but make sure you control the routine. The begging is cute, but he's really working you. Whatever you do, don't cave in and give him treats. I put Bravo and Coki in down-stays while we are eating. I don't expect them to lie down the entire time, but I do expect them to lie down when I say so. At the end of the meal, I'll give them each a dog treat and a lot of praise. I'd teach Oskar to do the same. If he cannot control his urge to beg, then I'd confine him to another room until he learns some manners.

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Spike...

Thank you for your information on neutering. My male beagle is 6 months today, and we absolutely adore him. I was just worried about the personality change for him. I have a female Chihuahua who is his best friend and she turned out fine, but I heard males are more affected than the females. I was reading your other topics and I find this website very helpful. I will keep you updated with the results of my little Spike. Thank you again.

Shannon
SLONCOSKY@cheltenhouse.com

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Sparky...

Pat, John, Coki, and Bravo,
I just wanted to let you know that you have a wonderful site and a very interesting one, too. I was surfing the Web and found you. I am a proud mom of four kids and one bouncing beagle named Sparky. We got Sparky at 8 weeks old in August 2004; he is now 6 months of age.

He has brought so much joy into our lives. I did not think that we could handle him, but so far we have and we will for the duration of our and his life. He is such a joy and very vocal like I have never seen in a puppy. He likes to play with his favorite toy elephant that he got for Christmas and a rope that has a squeaky dog in the middle. My kids never had a puppy until we got him. (I have always had one, from a German Sheppard to Black Lab and Doberman while I was growing up). They love him like a brother.

I seen where one of your readers had or has the same problem about awful habit, and I could relate to this cause Sparky did the same thing until I started watching him when he was outside and while we went on walks. One of the things besides watching him was that I went to PetSmart and brought those poop bags, and every time that I took him for a walk I would pick it up. I can honestly say I have not seen him eat anything like that again. He did pick up a dead birds leg one day-I got it out of his mouth, and then we ran :0)

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season. I will send you some pictures of Sparky and his sisters soon.

Sandy, Sparky and Sisters
nyrikan@hotmail.com

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Jaw and mouth problems...

I have three wonderful beagles, Bailey, Bella, and Boo. My 2-year-old, Boo, is in so much pain. We have a big pecan tree in our backyard and all my beagles eat pecans ­ shell and all ­ even bad pecans...The dogs next door eat pecans also. It doesn't seem to bother any of them. My problem is Boo ­ she can't seem to get enough; she grazes like a cow and her teeth turned black. She recently started yelping in pain when she tried to eat them. I thought she had a cracked tooth so I took her to the vet and he had a hard time opening her mouth ­ it hurt her so bad. He said that she had a very bad dental problem and needed her teeth cleaned, and then he would be able to check her for a cracked or broken tooth. He said after that her teeth were OK, but that she had had pus in her gums. I have been giving her antibiotics and pain meds. She seemed like she might be getting better, but her mouth was still so sensitive. Today is the 7th day and today she has been in a lot of pain. She can't open her mouth since it hurts her so. She will let me rub my finger on each side of her mouth (not very happy with that), but she CANNOT open her mouth. I don't know if maybe it is her jaw that is the problem. Do dogs get TMJ like humans do?? I know that it is very painful. I just love my little Boo girl, and it hurts me to see her in so much pain. Has anyone ever had this problem or a problem like this? I will appreciate any input.

Truly,
Lynne Martinez
vmarti@beamans.com

Pat says: I doubt Boo has TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) pain. From what you describe, she more likely has a serious infection that most likely started due to poor dental hygiene. A dog's mouth is ripe with bacteria, and it can be difficult to get some infections under control. If one antibiotic isn't working, ask your vet to try another. Some infections are very stubborn and might respond to one medication better than another. Please keep following up with your vet and let us know how things turn out. I'm sure everyone wants to hear that Boo is on the road to recovery!

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Greetings from Scotland...

Hi Pat,
Greetings from sunny Scotland, UK. We have just started on our road to beagle heaven with our puppy, Mick. He is nearly 17 weeks old and we are so pleased with him. He was housetrained in under two weeks. He still has accidents if we are not quick enough to let him into the garden, but he tries to "help" us clean them up.

Anyway, I was reading through your December 2004 entries and came across Elsancc99's little issue with her puppy, Bagel. It does look like every now and again with the biting that Bagel is trying to establish himself as her superior. Mick tried to do that to the both of us, so we used to leave the room and when we came back in we would ignore him (includes not making eye contact) for as long as it took for him to realize that we were just not interested in him when he was misbehaving; he would then just lie down on the floor and wait for us to call him over.

We also applied the same "ignoring" rule if we had been out at work or shopping. We would ignore him until we were ready to acknowledge him, even if he was jumping or barking at us.
Now we can walk into a room without a ball of fur throwing himself at us for attention. He just sits there wagging his tail waiting for us to call him over.

Once Bagel knows that both his masters are the alphas in his pack, he should start listening to them both, rather then just one of them.

Keep up the good work on the site. I love it. I am sending you a picture of our puppy. I believe the AKC Beagles are smaller than the UK KC standards. I see the difference especially around the face.

Kind regards,
Linda Starr
Linda.Starr@scottish-courage.co.uk

Pat says: Good advice, Linda. Since beagles are very social, ignoring them can be a very effective way of making a point. Our instinct is to react to EVERYTHING, but sometimes it's best to do nothing. That often sends a powerful message.

December 2004 Entries:

Beagles and hunting...

Hi! My name is Jon. You have a very nice web site! I live in southern New Hampshire and am looking to get back into beagling and hunting. Grew up with beagles and thought someone who posts to your site may be able to provide a name and number for puppies. I am looking for a longer-legged variety (15"+) rather than the 13" size, with a broader head rather than narrow. I've asked around but no one recalls whether this is called an "English Beagle"?

Thank You!
afeyon@verizon.net

Hi, it's Jon again. I think I have the answer to the breed's name. It is called a Kerry beagle, I believe. Sorry for any bother, and again, you have a great site!

afeyon@verizon.net

Pat says: I'm not familiar with the Kerry beagle, but I'd be interested in learning more!

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Cody...

Two beagles are most definitely better than one (sometimes). I got Cody, a lemon and white beagle at 9 months in March. He had no name, was neglected and abused, and his first vet visit found ear mites, ringworm and two ear infections. He was very skittish and afraid of everything. Now he is a happy, tail wagging, very vocal and loveable lapdog. In October, I came home with Jasmine, an 8-week-old tricolor. It was interesting at first as Cody made sure she knew he was boss. They're like brother and sister now. They fight, they cuddle, they steal from each other, and compete for my attention. And if I had room, I'd have 3 or 4 more.

pledoux@verizon.net

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Boomer...

My name is Boomer. I'm only 13 weeks old and my birthday is September 13, 2004. I just recently left my mom and dad for the first time to move in with my new family. I shake a lot at night and when I sleep. It scares my new family a lot when I shake. I'm also very nervous around noises like cars driving by or music. My family has tried to crate train me, but I keep them up half the night with my signature Arooooooooo Arrrooooooo. What can I do to be more helpful to my new family because they aren't getting a lot of sleep and seem to be pretty cranky?

Boomer from Illinois
Ouillinoisokie@aol.com
Boomer Sooner, GO OU!

Coki says: I know it is difficult to move to a new home, Boomer. I think that after you see that your new family loves you very much, you will relax and not be so nervous. You need to learn that your crate is your special place ­ a safe den for you to sleep in. You need to be introduced to new things and places slowly so everything isn't so overwhelming. Maybe your new family can do that. Now admit it, Boomer. You cry a lot in your crate because you'd rather sleep in a nice warm bed. I'm sure that once you figure out that all that fuss isn't going to work that you will find it much easier just to go to sleep. I think it will just take time for you to settle in. If not, write me back! ~ Coki

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Beagle pup - awful habit...

Hello, I am a new owner of a beagle pup who is 13 weeks old. We got her when she was 8 weeks from a farmer in the Ozarks. We named her Lady, but I call her Ladybug or Lovebug sometimes. However, Ladybug has one awful habit I have discovered that makes me upset and sick to my stomach. She finds her own excrement in the yard and eats it. Why is she doing that? I have food out for her in the house - is there something she lacks in her diet that she craves? I am using Purina Puppy Chow.

My vet gave me a packet of powder to put on her food before she eats that will make the end product so-to-speak taste very nasty (I can't image it tasting any better at any time however). Please help me figure out what to do to get her to stop that. Tonight was almost the last straw. I took her out late in the dark and I did not see her get anything from the ground, but then noticed she was chewing on something. Dummy me put my gloved hand into her mouth to get it away from her and here it was poo. Dirty glove went into the washer immediately and I scolded Ladybug, but she just cowered and didn't really understand. What should I do?

Marcy (manickelson@kc.rr.com)

Pat says: Been there, done that. Unfortunately, the only thing that has worked for me is to be right there to remove the "treat" right almost immediately after it is created. I have tried all putting all kinds of things on the food, but nothing helped. Fortunately, this habit is more disgusting than dangerous, but "treats" from other dogs could harbor bacteria that can pass if ingested.

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Daisy...

Hello!!!
We have owned our baby girl beagle for three months now; she just turned 5 months. Daisy is an AKC 13" beagle ­ she is beautiful. Are there any sites where loving beagle owners can post pictures of their pets?

Ruth S. Zanoni
rzanoni@northlandcars.com

Pat says: Laurie at Beagles-on-the-Web used to post photos of beagles, but she is not currently updating the page. You can view beagles in "The Kennel" by clicking on the link. She states on her page that she may start accepting photos again at some point.

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Bagel...

Pat,
Hoping you can help! I wrote last month about Bagel's crating, which he's been pretty successful with. He hasn't gone potty in his crate in almost a week, which is promising. Also, when he's out of his crate (whenever someone is at home), Bagel's been very consistent at showing us that he needs to go potty (we taught him to sit at the patio door and scratch three times). As soon as we see/hear that sign, we ask if he wants to go outside. We immediately get up, put on coats and shoes (he follows us the whole way) and if we take "too long" to pull his leash from his basket, he'll give us the sign again! So that's a GREAT thing for us since it gives us a chance to stop looking at the clock for that 90-minute mark (we used to take him out every hour, then extended it to 90 minutes as he got bigger).

He was also neutered the day after Thanksgiving. He whined the entire evening, until we were able to give him food/water. I guess he was just hungry! He bothered his stitches (licked) a couple days later, so we got a cone collar, just in case. We didn't want to risk the incision getting infected or Bagel pulling at the stitches so we played it safe. But Bagel healed up beautifully and had his stitches taken out yesterday. So no problems there and he's back at his normal routine.

Here's my latest problem/question. Bagel's taken to biting me HARD lately. Sometimes it's when he comes up on the couch and he'll bite me. Steve and I play with him quite a bit, and he's learned to not bite Steve. Steve taught Bagel early on that if he bites, he gets picked up by the scruff. Steve grabs his muzzle and is sternly told, "no biting." Unfortunately, I was out of town that week so Bagel only leaned to listen to Steve. So I came back into town and Steve showed me how he reprimanded Bagel, but it's never worked for me. Bagel will bite me hard, and I have to pry his mouth off, which just riles him up more and he comes at me again. This has brought me to tears because I love him so much! He's good 99% of the time but that 1% is killer! Bagel knows when I cry it's a bad thing, because he'll sit in his bed and look very sad/concerned and will slowly come over and give me kisses (which I praise him for profusely). But a few days later, we're back at biting! Do you have any suggestions??? The suggestions from friends of ours who have had many dogs have been to "smack/beat the biting out of him," which is out of the question for me. I can't bear to even tap his nose, much less smack his rump! So a non-violent suggestion would be GREAT!

Also, obedience classes...
We took Bagel to a three-session class that mainly dealt with come here, sit, lie down and stay. Also did a little bit of walking "nicely" on a leash and potty training. We've practiced these things at home with Bagel and he does WONDERFULLY, but then he gets so distracted during class (with all the other puppies and people) that he doesn't listen to anything. I'd love to be able to teach Bagel to listen to his commands indoors, outdoors and even when guests are over. Do you have any suggestions on how we can get Bagel to focus more on his commands and obedience?

Thanks so much again for a WONDERFUL site! I've found your entries and the guestbook so helpful! P.S. -- when are you going to update the site and tell everyone about your newest, Bravo??? I'd love to see pictures of him!

elsancc99@ameritech.net

Pat says: First let me say how impressed I am with your housebreaking success! It just takes a lot of patience and repetition. GREAT JOB! Repeat your obedience classes if possible. Three sessions is NOT enough. Our club offers eight-week sessions that focus on all kinds of basic commands and a lot of healing on lead. I took Coki through that basic class three times. The first time was to teach me how to teach her. She, too, was distracted by the other dogs at first. After about the fourth or fifth class, she was far less distracted, and by the time we went through the second session, it was not a problem and she was able to focus on training. Even though Bravo was used to being around other dogs in conformation, he was also distracted the first couple of times we went to obedience. After about the third class, he was less interested in playing and more interested in pleasing me. An important command to teach is the "watch me" command. Your dog will not respond well unless his or her attention is on YOU. I use a treat and press it to my nose. That way my dogs will focus on my face and my eyes. In time, you will be able to remove the treat and simply point to your nose. Be sure to use the "watch me" command and praise your dog when he looking at you intently. If he breaks eye contact, start over and don't make him wait quite as long for the treat. This will help your dog focus in class.

As for the biting...
I can only imagine how frustrating this problem is ­ and painful, too! It's fortunate that Steve has been able to correct the problem when Bagel gets too rough with him. I imagine it hasn't worked for you because Bagel sees Steve as the pack leader. He probably feels like he is competing in the family "pack" against you! Instead of waiting for Bagel to clamp down, try to assert your role as a co-pack leader in other ways. You didn't mention who did the training. If it was Steve, then I totally understand why Bagel is minding him and resisting you. Perhaps you need to go through the commands with Bagel one-on-one. Reward with treats for good behavior. Teach the "off" command. Unless Bagel is invited onto the couch, he should not be there. I think that he will eventually learn that your invitation is a reward, and he shouldn't be a bad boy after you are allowing him to be on the sofa. Obviously, he knows that what he is doing upsets you, but unfortunately it's after the fact.

Bottom line is for you to take over some of this training without Steve. By removing the person who Bagel sees at the pack leader, you will then become more of an authority figure to him. Good luck! Hope this helps.

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Smasher...

Smasher is our 8-year-old beagle that lives in Hollywood, Ca. He loves to sniff around, eat, and run around in a frenzy. When Smasher was two years of age, we lived in an apartment complex where a cat in the room below constantly hissed and clawed at him. One day Smasher sniffed his way out of our home and came back with a stray pit-bull/chow mix ... needless to say the cat from that day forward stayed far, far away from them and never bothered him again. Smasher and Shadow now have a house with big yard and lots of room to run and Smasher never has to worry about cats tormenting him again.

Shana and Markie
mcasmf@sbcglobal.net

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That doggie smell...

Hi! We just became the proud family of a female mini beagle. Lady Bug is four months old. She's doing great with us and our grandchildren and seems to be a really quick learner. My only problem at this point is the smell that's in my house now. Please tell me how to eliminate the "dog smell." Since we've only had Lady Bug a short time, she is certainly not completely house broken, but we're working on it and doing OK at this point. If there is an accident in the house, it is immediately cleaned up and sanitized as best as possible. But, I still can smell dog and need to know what you recommend to use to clean with or spray in the house to eliminate the order.

Thanks for any help you can give me.
B. Benningfield
bbenningfield1@yahoo.com

Pat says: I guess I've had beagles so long that I don't even think about how they smell. I do notice it when one of them has an ear infection, loaded anal sacs, gas, etc. You might consider one of those room oxidizers that actually purify the air. Also use a quality furnace filter and change it monthly. It's unlikely that bathing the dog will do much. Beagles are quite clean and excessive bathing dries out the skin by removing the natural oils. Spays and room deodorizers simply mask the smell. I'd speak with someone who has air purifiers and explain the problem. I don't know of one that is better than another, but perhaps someone can give you some guidance.

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More pets to love...

I wrote in about my two cherished beagles, Chloe and Perkins the mini man. Well, as they say "more pets to love" more love of pets. We got Clay, a Brittany spaniel a month later. He was very neglected and in need of a good "forever home." He has been the best dog ever. A very passive breed. He hunts with the other two. They got their first rabbit this year. What a joy. I have never seen them happier. They also have a one-year-old brother Roscoe "cat" who thinks he is just one of the pack. He goes outside in the yard and comes in when called. We love your site. Thanks for the stories.

The Happy Christmas Pack,
Nancy & John
JD-DOC@webtv.net

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Joey and Happy...

Hi Pat,
I wrote to you earlier this month regarding our newest addition, Joey. I was worried about his housebreaking trouble and how it would affect our other beagle boy, Happy. I wanted to thank you for your advice and give you an update on how things are going. We have now had Joey for a little over three weeks. He is doing beautifully. In fact, he hasn't had an accident since last Wednesday and actually my son wasn't keeping a close enough eye on his signal that means he has to go out. We had to go to spend several hours with family on Thanksgiving and after six hours of being enclosed on our back screen porch had no accidents. I don't know who was more proud ­ Joey or me. He is such a diamond in the rough, and I can't help but feel sorry for his former family because they will never know just how intelligent and wonderful he is.

My husband had to discipline Happy the other day (which involves a light swat with the newspaper), and Joey came and put himself between Happy and my husband to protect Happy from any further disciplining. I could not believe my eyes. We still have some sibling rivalry issues that we are working on, but all and all things are going great. I thought that I could never love another dog the way that I love Happy who is my baby, but Joey has shown me that my heart has enough love for two.

I was happy to see that you have a new addition to your family. I hope
Coki and Bravo are happy together. Have a very happy holiday season. I'm sure that I'll write again to let you know how Happy and Joey are doing.

Thanks again for this site. It's nice to know that there are some many others out there that love beagles the way I do.

Kimberli Vickers
kimlovesduane@juno.com
Florida

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Cally and Ginger...

Dear Pat,
Thank you for a wonderful webpage. I was so sorry to read about Spencer.

I've loved and owned beagles for almost 30 years. Our first beagle, Benjohn Candy Girl, was the daughter of an Australian champion. She lived to be almost 12 years old, but I left Australia when she was still young. She was the beloved companion of my aging parents, and the reason my Dad went for daily walks.

My best buddy (or buddette as friends said) was Petal. Born on April 9th, 1986, she was just six weeks old when she came home to her pappa and half brothers (I had several beagles by then and my male would go out to stud). From a young pup, she made it clear she didn't want to share me with the other beagles. From age 5 she had her wish. We were a pack of two. She waited patiently while I worked. As play we hiked the mountains and canoed Lake Dillon. She quickly recognized my pager and howled when it went off, knowing she'd be left alone. One day, alone in the car with my rescue pack, she unzipped it and ate the chocolate. On my next field trip I needed a snack and found an empty plastic bag!

Petal was the light and love of my life for almost 17 years. From about age 8 until about 14, she had five cancer surgeries. Her last 18 months were challenged with skin allergies. We believe Petal had an aneurism on 29th December, 2002. She went downhill rapidly, dying peacefully at home on January 5, 2003. As Petal faced her final illness with grace, I fell apart. The day before Petal passed, a Search and Rescue friend shared what his rescue dog's last two weeks had been like. Hasty's and Petal's final days were strikingly similar. Petal died as she had lived - on her terms. She waited until I went to church, lay down on the bed I'd made for her, and breathed her last. Her last gift to me was sparing the trip for her euthanasia.

For several months as Petal's health declined, I began thinking about a name for the new beagle - a task that helped prepare for her passing. That last weekend I searched beagle rescue sites; however, I had to deal with the reality of a new bed and breakfast, commercial insurance and older dog "issues." I decided to look for a puppy. My time frame was at least six weeks, probably longer. Little did I know...

My neighbours were returning from Denver the day after Petal's death and had to stop in Idaho Springs to clean their windshield (a nasty winter storm and bad driving conditions). Out of the pick-up next to them tumbled a perfect beagle puppy. My normally quiet neighbours pounced on the lady, asking where she'd purchased the puppy, saying that their neighbour had just lost her beagle. The lady said where the puppy had come from then went through her cheque book and found the name of the breeder. Beagle puppy ads from the Denver Post supplied the rest. I found the family on my third call, they had one puppy left and emailed a picture. From whole litter one pup stood out, and that was the puppy they had. Two other families wanted her, but the family held her for me while my neighbour and I raced to Denver.

Calla Lilly came home to Breckenridge that night at almost ten weeks. This wide-eyed puppy who'd never seen snow learned to play in it. Cally and I bonded over the next several months. Cally went from snow digging in winter to canoeing in summer. She was growing into a beautiful young dog. That summer I took on a work commitment, and Cally was lonely. One evening I returned to my car to hear Cally howling ever so softly. I began thinking about another dog. Three days later the breeder emailed that Cally's parents had had another litter and included pictures. I thought about it for a day and a half and made the call. From the pictures, two pups stood out. They were both females. For the second time in seven months my neighbours and I drove to Highlands Ranch. Cally came along to see her parents and to help choose her new buddy.

On the drive we tried to think of names. The family was glad to see us; Cally visited with her parents and remembered. One puppy really stood out. Cally liked here, too. Early next morning I was up, new puppy on lap, going through gardening encyclopedias. Several names were possibilities. Since this had been a neighbourhood effort from the beginning, the new name would be also. The neighbour who'd found Cally liked "Ginger" best. Seconded by the neighbour across the street. Ginger it was, and how she's lived up to that!! Ginger Lilly is a fiery pepper cracker who doesn't think twice about talking back to me.

These two sisters quickly became best buddies and are now inseparable. Being a summer puppy, Ginger doesn't like the snow as well as Cally; however, she's determined to keep up with big sis. Ginger follows Cally into the snow and pretends to like it. This is Ginger's second winter and she's doing better this year. Cally loves the snow and greets it eagerly. Cally turned two on October 30th. Ginger is almost 18 months.

It's hard to believe that two pups from the same parents can be so different, both in looks and temperament. Cally is like her mum. Ginger is like her dad. Cally is the sleek, elegant sophisticate. Ginger is the bumbling country girl who's constantly in trouble. They're best buddies and my gardening companions (they dig up what I plant!!). Right now they love to track the ground squirrels that have burrowed into the garden. Cally's the huntress, perimeter protector, watch dog. Ginger's the lapdog. While Cally has a beautiful, round, melodic bay, Ginger needs voice lessons.

I thought no beagle could take Petal's place in my heart. How wrong I was. Cally and Ginger are gifts from God. We're a pack of three, with me in the lead.

Naturally our bed and breakfast is pet friendly - accepting one visiting dog at a time. Cally is my Social Director in charge of greeting, and Ginger is Activities Director in charge of, well, activities. We're in the process of updating our webpage, including pictures of Cally and Ginger and their mountain adventures.

Thank you for your informative webpage, the help you give and the advice you share. I especially appreciate the health issues as I've had a beagle who was epileptic. It's so nice to have a place to go and read practical situations with beagles. I've been blessed to have some wonderful beagles share their lives with me. I look forward to many happy years with Cally and Ginger. Beagles are the perfect companion dogs.

Margaret
Colorado Pines Inn,
info@coloradopinesinn.com
Your Inn to the Mountains

Pat says: Lovely story, Margaret. Thanks for sharing!

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Double the trouble...

Hi!
I have two beagles Sir Hoochlem and Miss Lady Di. Although it goes against a beagle's hunting, I also have a pet bunny. The three of them get along great. I love my beagles very much and am pleased that I found this web site.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Abby
hoochbunny04@webtv.net

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Bassel...

Good factual details. We have our second beagle "Bassel," who whilst sending us crazy, we love him like a son. Not sure if we would go for a 3rd!

hempston@hotmail.com

November 2004 Entries:

Establishing dominance...

I was just reading the posting about the two Beagles who fight and I can completely relate.

About a year ago I brought Rider (a Pointer) home from the shelter where I volunteer. He was just supposed to stay for a weekend, but one year later, he is still here ... you know how it goes.

Anyway, Rider and my 13-year-old Beagle, Buford, started fighting about four months after Rider came to live with us. We were already emotionally attached to Rider (and needless to say after 13 years Buford was like a child to us!) so neither one was going anywhere. These fights were serious. Buford was hospitalized on one occasion as a result.

We consulted our vet and an animal behaviorist and both gave us the same advice. As cruel as it seems, in this situation you HAVE to pick a dog and MAKE him/her the Alpha dog. We resisted at first because I thought it seemed mean, but we paid the price many fights and many vet bills later. We chose Buford (since he was the older dog) as the Alpha and we reinforce it EVERY day. He eats first, gets toys and treats first, gets affection first, etc. But Rider gets plenty of love and affection too. As hard as it seemed, we had to do this. I would have considered placing Rider in another home, but my vet and the shelter told me that due to Rider's history of serious aggression our only other choice was to have him put down. We could not let that happen.

Our situation was extreme, but the advice our vet and behaviorist gave us was sound. It is natural for dogs to recognize the pack order, so they don't see it as cruel. Abandoning Rider to destruction would have been the most unforgivable thing I can imagine. I've learned that dogs need to know how to function as a pack and they get along better when the ground rules are clear. As a matter of fact, I frequently find Buford and Rider curled up sleeping together (no exaggeration) so things are getting better.

e-mail address withheld by request

P.S. If you do have a dog that shows aggressive tendencies, don't leave him unsupervised with other dogs. Buford and Rider are getting along, but baby gates rule in my house. When I am away, they are separated!

Pat says: Excellent advice! I did the same when Spencer came to live with Coki. Since Coki was slightly older (and female), I continued to feed her first and reinforce her dominance, however slight. This seemed to keep her content, and Spencer didn't know the difference, so it didn't bother him. I don't think he was ever destined to be an Alpha dog. With Bravo ­ who has a personality that is full of bravado ­ things are a little different. Coki is still given the dominant dog privileges, but her dominance is more through our actions than a reality. Bravo is much younger and far more independent than Coki. He is also very confident. The dogs get along great, but we do have to be aware of the competition for attention or food. So far, only one minor encounter ­ and the only casualty was me!

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Quiet Snoopy...

Hi! I am James, residing in Singapore. Our beagle puppy, Snoopy, is now 8 months old. Since we brought him home when he was 10 weeks old, he does not seem to make any noise. We found this to be a bit strange as our experience with dachshund was entirely different. We have not heard him bark or make any noise even up to this date. We have another 5-year-old dachshund (both male) as his mate.

Recently, I consulted the pet farm where I bought him. He makes some noise (not too loud) after being intentionally inflicted with pain on his paws. He does not appear to be deaf as he is able to understand simple "sit" command.

Please let us know why our Snoopy is not making any noise and what can we do to make him do so.

James Tan (jamesths@pacific.net.sg)

Pat says: I think there are a lot of beagle owners who would love to have this problem, especially at 6 a.m. But all kidding aside

Snoopy may just be one of the dogs that is not vocal. My second beagle, Reggie, never howled. He whined. I wouldn't worry about Snoopy's lack of "expression." Just let him be himself and love him up.

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Our new puppy...

Hi, we have just been given a beagle puppy. He is 10 weeks old and has not had any one-on-one contact with people. Also he looks to be underfed. He was snapping at the family for about a day, but that has stopped. How do I re-socialize him into trusting us and show him that we are not going to mistreat him? He just wants to sit in the corner or alone on a blanket. And all we want to do is hold/pet and love our new baby.

Thank you,
Shannon
snbwilson@msn.com

Pat says: It's very common to have quite an adjustment when you bring a young pup home. I wouldn't say that you are re-socializing him, but rather that you are starting to socialize him. At this point he probably has very little contact with anyone other than his littermates. Introduce him to trusted members of the family gradually and one at a time. Too much fuss right away could intimidate him and make him feel threatened, so if you have young children, supervise them and don't allow them to over-stimulate your pup. Let him have his alone time, but gently encourage him to play with fun toys. Try several, and he'll likely find a favorite. Use high-pitched happy voices, just as if you were talking to a child. Remember he is a beagle baby! Call him by name ­ and often! Each time you say his name, reward him with a small treat to reinforce that name. He will begin to associate you with yummies. When he becomes comfortable with family members, start introducing him to friends. Remember to keep the contact short and fun, and one-on-one is best for now.

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Rabbits ­ and crate training...

My husband and I just bought our first puppy about one week ago. We also have a rabbit that is about 8 months old and way bigger than our puppy. They like each other, but when Roxy starts going crazy Gloria (the rabbit) runs for cover. The other day I came back from using the restroom and found both my puppy and the rabbit sitting side by side in the rabbit's cage! Very cute, but I am trying to train Roxy that Gloria's cage is just for Gloria.

Roxy is 7 weeks old now, and she is so cute. My question is regarding crate training. I am not really sure what that is. I am aware that it has something to do with putting them in a little crate at night and during the day. Right now during the day Roxy is in our bathroom with those little puppy training blue squares. They are a lot like diapers for the floor. But she cries every time she is away from us. As a matter of fact, when I get home from work and let her out, she cries and cries ­ even while I am holding her. I have to put her up on my shoulder and say "shhh" until she quiets down, and then she is okay. Is this her age and is it normal?

Anyway, I will give you an example of her behavior. We brought her on Saturday the 13th of November, and Monday my husband had to put her in the bathroom. Of course we take her out to potty many times while we are home and right before we go to bed, and I usually take her at around 1-2 a.m. (I am awake at 3-3:30 a.m. every morning). But she cried so loud our neighbor asked my husband what that was. So I am nervous about getting a crate and sticking her in there and disturbing the neighbors. Are there any things I can do to make her want to go into one? And what size should it be? And how exactly does crate training work?

Thank you very much for any help you can provide. I have found your website to be very helpful.

byronc@enterprise.navy.mil

Pat says: Treats are always effective training aids in getting your pup to go into the crate. You might start with a bribe, but quickly turn it into a reward for good behavior. Eventually, Roxy should learn that her crate is "her den," a safe place to stay. It just takes time and patience to teach them that's it's OK to be in the crate. When I tell my dogs "kennel," they will run into their crates. With Coki and Spencer, it was a race. The first one there got the treat first. Spencer usually won. Bravo, the new addition is a little more headstrong. Coki will saunter into her crate, and Bravo will hold out for bigger rewards. A couple of pieces of kibble are fine with Coki, but Bravo prefers a more generous offering. The crate size should be medium (27"x20"x19"), although you could get a smaller crate if you want to purchase a second one later. Since your pup will grow quickly, I'd just go with the larger size. Ask at the pet store. You will have to block off the back of the crate to make the area smaller for your puppy. If not, she will simply go to the back of the crate to eliminate. The theory behind crate training is that a dog will not soil its own den. That is normally the case; however, a puppy's bladder is not fully developed until 4-5 months of age. You will have accidents, but taking Roxy out at the appropriate times can minimize them. Always take her out after eating, drinking, upon waking and before bedtime.

The clinginess you describe is pretty normal at this age. Remember that your pup has had the company of littermates ever since birth. She does not know how to be alone yet. Crying is very normal, and sometimes you simply have to ignore it. She will eventually cry herself to sleep. Any kind of attention ­ positive or negative ­ is reinforcing her crying, so try to be patient and let her fuss until she calms down.

I'd get started with the crate training ASAP. The sooner you start, the more effective it will be. I will be sending you some "puppy tips" to help you during these first few weeks of "parenthood."

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Buck the beagle...

Hi, I am a beagle lover. Had one growing up, and his name was Buck. Now I have a 1-year-old male named Buck (after Buck), and he is a well-loved addition to our home.

Thank you for your website!
Jon Marsac (jcm48883@yahoo.com)

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Crating...

Thanks so much for such a great site! It's wonderful to have so much information as I get used to life with my little guy. Bagel came home with us from the store when he was 10 weeks old. He was a little nervous at first, but has adjusted quite nicely over the last month or so. The questions I have are mainly around how much we can keep him crated during our workday. I'm up with Bagel between 6:45-7:00 AM and Steve (my boyfriend) can stay with him until between 8:30-9:30 AM (when he was to go to work). So Bagel ends up being crated for about 6 hours during the day, and then we're home with him in the evenings. At 16 weeks old, is this too much for Bagel? The first three weeks we had him, I'd go home during lunch to take him out for a walk/potty break/meal, and those intervals were about 3-3 1/2 hours. I just want to make sure that we're not pushing his system to try and control his bladder too early in life.

Also, we've begun basic obedience with Bagel, and he will respond pretty consistently to "sit" and "Bagel, come here". How much is "too much" when it comes to training beagles? He's picked up the first two commands within the first couple days (we do short 5-minute sessions a couple times a day). Can we add a couple more at this point (like lay down, heel, etc)? Or should we wait so we don't "overload" his brain?

We're also getting him neutered next weekend and wondered if anyone could describe how males usually are after this procedure? He's usually groggy after shots for a few hours but is up and eating/drinking/playing after a nap. We're hoping that he'll be the same way, but I just want to be prepared.

Finally, Bagel only wets his crate overnight (about 8 hours). We have to leave him in for about 6 hours during the workday (if Steve and my combined schedule ends up leaving Bagel in his crate for more than 6 hours, I am still going home to let him out close to the 6 hour mark) and Bagel does fine. He's also fine if we have to leave him in there for shorter errands. Is 8 hours just too much for his bladder right now? One trainer suggested that we take away his water about 2 hours before bedtime and then make sure he urinates before being put in his crate (Bagel doesn't have problems urinating as soon as we hit grass). Steve and I discussed taking away his water, but since Bagel's also without water for 6 hours during the day, we also want to avoid dehydrating him. Any advice???

Thanks so much! I've attached his picture (this was Bagel at 11 weeks old).
Elsa (elsancc99@ameritech.net)

Pat says: It sounds as if you are making great strides with Bagel (very cute BTW). Six hours of crating is not overdoing it. His bladder is getting close to being fully developed, so in a very short time, you will see fewer accidents. I agree that you should take the water away. Bagel will more than make up for it when he's out of the crate. Dehydration shouldn't be a problem. Besides, he's likely sleeping most of this time.

Obedience training is essential for beagles. I'm very impressed that Bagel is such a quick learner. Continue to reinforce the "sit" and "down" commands. Then start adding "stay" with each. We used to spend about 20 minutes a day on those commands until they were almost automatic. It will take longer to become consistent with the "come" command. The biggest thing about training is keeping it fun and ending on a positive note. When you see that Bagel is starting to get distracted, it's time to stop. You can start teaching heel now. You also want to teach a sit to go with that heel. Each time you stop, the dog should sit in the heel position.

Our newest beagle, Bravo (aka CH Brushyrun Cascabella) was neutered in September after being retired from conformation. The breeder chose the newer laser technique, and Bravo did wonderfully -- Hardly any evidence of the surgery at all. This technique removes the testicles but the sacs remain. I was not familiar with the technique, but I have been impressed with the results. Traditional neutering is a little more invasive, but even then, the dogs are usually their active little selves in a short time. The biggest problem is keeping them quiet! I imagine by now that Bagel has had his surgery (I'm behind on guest book entries). Hope everything went well!

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New to beagle huntin'...

Hello, my name is Joe. I have an 11-week-old beagle named "Jasper." She has Gay Baker bloodlines. Paid $150 for her. I am new to the hunting aspect, and I wanna know how to train her to be a good hunting dog. If anyone has any kinda information, please email me.

Thanks again,
Joe (JASPER-74@woh.rr.com)
Here's a pic of us. I love her to death! Take care and God bless.

Pat says: I have never done any hunting with my dogs, but perhaps someone else will contact you. Enjoyed the picture ­ thanks!

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Sharing life with two beagles...

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed your article on two beagles. My husband and I are retired and we came to have our first beagle, Ben, because my daughter bought him and after two days was unable to keep him in an apartment while she worked. My husband, who had never had a dog said, "If I wanted to take him, it was OK with him, but he wasn't much interested himself." Ben completely stole his heart in a matter of days.

We took on the awesome responsibility of a second beagle, too, and have never regretted it. We took a trip to Italy and Ben stayed with our trainer who breeds Shelties. Every night while we were gone we wondered if our adorable one-year-old Ben was dying of loneliness. When we returned we discovered, on bringing him home, he was depressed for a few days. I spoke to our trainer and she said, "Of course, he misses the girls." (She had two female Shelties just younger than Ben)

My husband and I discussed it and decided to get Ben a playmate. We shopped around and found a breeder who had four female puppies, and we chose the most dominant of the four, as Ben was a pretty dominant little guy. Becky's tri-coloring was almost identical to Ben's. They have been fast friends from the beginning. Though Ben was only a year when we got Becky, he had been through basic obedience four times and was a real little gentleman. He let Becky do just about anything she wanted to him while she was small, but as she grew he took less from her, and though our breeder told us the female is usually dominant, they seem perfectly matched: they play all day together, tug, chase about in the dog run and take turns "winning." Ben is now two, and Becky one. In some ways, of course, two are more work than one, but Ben no longer suffers from separation anxiety when we leave for a few hours, and it is such a joy to see the companionship. As I write they are asleep together on a pillow in front of the fireplace. What a sweet picture.

Judith Rugo
Robert Rugo
benrugo@earthlink.net

Pat says: I can picture it! Once you have had two beagles, it's very hard to have just one. That is why we brought Bravo into our home soon after we lost Spencer. There is quite an age difference (Coki is 11 and Bravo is 2), but these two love to play and get into mischief together. Both are demanding of attention, but my lap is big enough for two. Enjoy Ben and Becky for a long, long time!

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Beagle lover, too!

I just came across your web site. It is full of great information. I am the proud owner of three beautiful beagles myself. They are the gentlest dogs I have ever come into contact with. I wouldn't know what to do without them. Thanks for the great info.

Christine (criketnwal@verizon.net)

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My beagle, my best friend!

Hi! My name is Ronda and I also own a tri-colored beagle. Her name is Christmas. She just turned 1 on August 28. I have had her since she was 8 weeks old, and I don't know what I would ever do without her. She is my best friend. Christmas has always been real healthy. She isn't really active (she is playful), but she is friendly and very well behaved. Christmas just gave birth to her first litter of seven puppies on Sept. 19. Awwwwwee they were so cute. She had 5 males and 2 females. They all went to very good loving homes (I sure do miss them). We now want to breed her again, but we don't know how long we should wait to do this if we have to wait, that is. The next litter I am keeping one of her daughters. You would love Christmas if you saw her. She is a great pet and a great family member. She is my BEST friend.

lovin_u_littlelady28@yahoo.com
littlelady28us@aol.com

P.S. If anyone has information about how long to wait before breeding a female beagle for the second time, please email me. Thanks!

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Asthmatic beagle...

Hi. Great web site, I must compliment. I guess beagles all over the world share similar traits and antics. My 2-year-old beagle is just as adorable, other than having to put up with her incessant need to chew up anything and everything (especially fabric - she loves fabric). She's so good at mutilating cloth items that given a piece, she somehow manages to shear it into strips! No kidding!

My beagle, Phoebe, as with any other dogs, loves to go out for walks. However, whenever she gets real excited, she will start "coughing" - similar to a condition when someone suffers from an asthma attack. This will usually last for about a minute or so. The vet could not detect anything unusual, as she was not able to demonstrate the condition in front of the doc. Any advice?

As for spaying, I think it's a good idea. But I have been told that it should be done when the dog is less than 1 year old. Is it advisable to spay a 2-year-old dog? If so, any side effects?

Appreciate any feedback/advice.

Beagle Lives.
From KY Lim, Malaysia
kylim@reign.com.my

Pat says: What you are describing sounds like the reverse sneezing that is fairly common in beagles. Sometimes it happens when the dogs are excited; other times it comes on out of the blue. All of my dogs have had it to some degree, but Coki is the worst. If your vet has checked Phoebe and has found no problem, then I wouldn't worry. It sounds worse than it is and normally has no long-lasting effects. Sometimes I will massage the throat area to help alleviate the problem. I don't know if it actually helps, but it does seem to calm the dogs. Another thing I do is cover Coki's nose to make her skip a breath. That sometimes will correct the problem.

Spaying a 2-year-old is appropriate. Coki, my only female, was spayed at seven months and had no problems. Of course, any time you put your dog under a general anesthetic, there can be risks or side effects, though minimal. You should discuss this with your vet. As I stated above, Bravo was just neutered, and he is 2 years old. Quite often dogs that are adopted from the local humane society are spayed at an older age because they have been abandoned and have never been spayed or neutered. In our city, it is a requirement. I wouldn't be concerned that Phoebe is too old for the procedure if she is in otherwise good health. It is the responsible thing to do. Follow your vet's advice in this matter. Good luck!

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Missing beagle...

Could you please keep this flyer at your office in case someone brings in my sweet, beloved beagle Shenara? She was lost in the Ford/Schaefer area of Dearborn on October 31, 2004, but could be anywhere by now. Thank you for your very kind consideration.

Her grieving mother, Wendy Lesnick

IMAGINE1701@peoplepc.com

Pat says: If by chance someone has found a beagle in the Dearborn area, please contact Wendy. I can only imagine how heartbroken she is. Shenara has epilepsy and needs medication.

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New beagle owner...

Hi,
I just got my beagle pup, Neb, a couple of weeks ago, and I am loving every minute of it. I was raised around beagles and I have missed having one in my life. We have another dog but it's just not the same as a beagle. My love for them still grows and I am 30.

I really like the site and will come back to see what's new often. It really has giving me even more insight than what I already had on the breed.

Thanks,
Mischelle, (mermaid1@ispky.com), Kentucky

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Housebreaking...

While surfing the Net I came upon your site. Thanks for all the helpful information. I need help regarding our new beagle boy, Joey. He is 11 months old today and we've had him for five days. His former owner kept him in a crate 20 hours a day and said that he was alone most of the time.

He is a beautiful, loving boy and we hope will be a welcome addition to our home.
We have another beagle boy Happy (age 4) who we've had since 8 weeks of age. Joey's former owner assured us that not only was Joey crate trained but that he was also housebroken. HE'S NOT HOUSEBROKEN!!! I've tried to put him on a regular schedule of going out every 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. For some reason he won't go while on our walks but waits until we get back inside the house and messes and pees in our living room. It's happened several times now and I don't know what to do about it. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?

I'm afraid that Happy is going to think it's okay for him to go in the house too. He is totally trained and hasn't had an accident in years. I don't want him to regress. I'm frustrated and need help in dealing with this situation. I housebroke Happy in 3 weeks with very little effort and assumed that all Joey needed was a regular schedule.
Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Kimberli Vickers (kimlovesduane@juno.com), Florida

Pat says: I can understand your frustration. Rather than looking at it from the standpoint that Happy is going to regress, look at the situation as an opportunity for Joey to learn from Happy. Put them on the same schedule. Dogs often learn from example.

In the meantime, please try to understand that Joey had no choice but to eliminate in his crate. It's not possible for a dog to be crated for that length of time to be housebroken. The bladder and digestive system can't handle that. It's going to take a lot of time and patience, but try to get Joey to follow Happy's lead. Joey should go out more often than Happy simply because he needs to understand that elimination should be done outside. Whenever he does his business properly, praise him to the point of being obnoxious. He needs to know that this is what you want him to do. When he eliminates inside and you catch him in the act, then a sharp NO is in order, and you should immediately put him outside. If he then eliminates outside, praise him! Remember that you will have to give him time to adjust. Dogs need schedules, and Joey has had none. He has only been in your home a very short time. Give him a chance to watch Happy and learn.

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Greetings from Indonesia...

Hi, I'm hobbyist beagler from Indonesia. I want to buy a beagle for show. Can you tell me how to buy and choose a beagle for show? Thanks for you attention.

antara@centrin.net.id

Pat says: The best thing to do is to search for breeders that sell show quality beagles. Consider several different breeders that produce dogs that have the qualities you are looking for. Get references. Check lineage. Since you are outside of the U.S., I really can't give you much direction, but perhaps someone else can. You might also consider going to http://www.showbeagle.com for more information.

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Crating...

Hello,
Next weekend I will be bringing home two beagle puppies from the same litter. I will be crating them, but I don't know if I should keep both dogs in the same crate for companionship or get them two separate crates. What do you think?

Thanks,
Margarita Petratos
mpetratos@parkdistrictoffranklinpark.org

Pat says: My personal opinion is to get two crates. At first they may feel a bit separated from each other, but as they grow older, they will likely appreciate their personal dens, especially since they will already be spending a lot of time together. By using separate crates, you will also be able to monitor bladder and bowel progress in each. Just my opinion, but that's how I have always done it. I keep the crates side by side so the dogs know they are not alone.

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Morning wake-up call...

Hi Pat,
I'm the owner of Elmo, the mighty hunter. I just read Dawn's posting about morning baying with some amusement and a lot of sympathy. Of course Elmo does the exact same thing, and I, too, have him out early in the morning. I stumbled across the strangest thing ... maybe it will help others!

One of Elmo's favorite foods is raw green beans (carrots are the absolute fave). When it's time for business, I quickly realized that he's a procrastinator (he would prefer to be out at 10 a.m., instead of 6 a.m. ... he's just not a morning beagle). So I take little pieces of bean and toss then into the yard as though we were playing catch. Because he can't see the green bean on the green grass, he has to "hunt" them, which apparently satisfies his all his sniffy needs. And because he wants more bean pieces, he runs back to me instead of standing in the yard hollering. Eventually he gets around to actually taking care of his business, too. It's flat-out bribery to get him to hush, but I'm okay with it, and he seems to be, too!

cherigee@rcn.com

Pat says: Great idea! That's something I may try myself. Bravo, our newest, loves to greet the day with a piercing bay. Thanks for sharing!

October 2004 Entries:

Baying problem...

Hello,
I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. In a few weeks we will mark the first anniversary of the loss of our beloved Darby. He was a Siberian Husky and he was well loved the 14 years we had to spend with him. Our home was so lonely that we ended up with two beagle pups (littermates) around Christmas. They are wonderful!! Maggie is the better hunter, but Buster likes to let the whole world know when he picks up a scent. The biggest problem with this is that my job requires me to get up about 5:30 a.m. I keep them in their crates until the very last minute, but the neighbors all get their wake-up bay by 6:30. Some one has complained to the city. My next-door neighbors love the Beags, and were very surprised that anyone would complain, but I understand why someone would because Buster has a lot of volume, and he is very proud of it. I can't help but wonder if I found a way to rabbit and squirrel-proof the yard, maybe my neighbors would stop getting the wake up call. They don't bark often, and they bay even less, so I am almost positive the morning "hunts" are the cause of the complaint. If anyone has suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Dawn (pdy11366@att.net)

Pat says: Join the Neighborhood Noise Nuisance Club! We got a "nasty gram" from the city this summer ­ so did the next-door neighbor with the black Lab. Same person was complaining and on the same day. I suspect it was one of those mornings when I let the dogs out, went into the shower, and didn't hear them want to come in. No one else has complained, just the one neighbor. I've asked people if they can hear the dogs, and they say no. I suppose I'm very aware of it because I am responsible for them. At any rate, I felt like Coki and Spencer were Public Enemies #1 and #2.

I doubt you can critter-proof the backyard. I've started going out with the dogs in the morning to make sure they do their "duty." After I'm satisfied, I bring them and let them play or lounge or whatever. The "hunts" are reserved for later in the day. I'm not as concerned about getting a complaint during regular hours. Most people understand that dogs bark for various reasons. That's natural and expected. It's the problem barker that is a nuisance, and problem barkers are usually bored dogs with nothing else to do.

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Shy beagle...

I just adopted a 3-year-old female beagle from the Oklahoma Beagle Rescue. Her name is Lucy and she is beautiful and loving, despite the fact that she was rescued after being thrown out of a moving vehicle on a cold rainy night. What I would like to find out is what can you do to help a dog who tends to be timid and very low key be more active. I can't get her to play with any toys. She does get excited when I get the leash, and she loves her walks in the neighborhood, wags her tail a lot and gives lots of kisses. I don't know if this is because of her past abuse, but I really want to get her to play more. I'd be open to any suggestions regarding dogs that have been neglected or abused and how we lovingly bring them back.

Thank you.
lparkman@coleandreed.com
Norman, Oklahoma

Pat says: From your message, I can see that Lucy has recently come into her home. Be patient. Her behavior is most likely a result of neglect or abuse. If she enjoys her walks, why don't you take a toy along with you? Maybe you could stop at a park, walk a little, and get her to play with a ball or a fun toy. Do it gradually. It may take time for her to regain her confidence and enjoy playing. You are fortunate because some abused dogs tend to be more aggressive than laid back. Don't force the toys on her. It will come naturally when she feels comfortable in the home. Reinforce that this is her new secure place, and she will begin to relax. Having a laid-back dog is not the worst thing in the world. At almost 11, Coki is pretty much a rug but just as loving!

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Beagle sire for hire...

Hi! I would like to post a listing for my 4-year-old tri-color beagle "Jack", AKC-registered, Teloca bloodline/pedigree, 15", great temperament, very loving, stud services available in Miami, Fla., or close proximity.

Thank you so much!!
Kfuadri99@aol.com

Pat says: Anyone interested should e-mail Jack's owner at the above address and request more information and a photo.

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Our love, Lucy...

Hi there,
I found your site through a Yahoo search on the word "beagle." It's a great, informative site ­ particularly the information about adopting another beagle. We have one cutie, and like a new mom, I already want another.

My husband and I adopted a 5-year-old girl named Lucy in July from Seattle Beagle Rescue. After the offer on our house was accepted in April, I immediately contacted the rescue group to start the search for a dog. My husband's grandparents had a beagle that his grandfather adored, and thus he adored. In fact, we almost adopted a beagle that shared his grandfather's name, Herman. But his health wasn't up to it when we were ready, so our search continued.

I wasn't really sure about a beagle. I've always loved Labs, German Shepherds and Huskies. But after reading about those breeds, I concluded that it wouldn't work too well with my cat. So, my usually indecisive husband was insistent about a beagle. I knew to trust him in that case. After a lot of searching and meetings with about five other dogs, we met Lucy. We were planning to meet another dog named Rascal, but the day before the meeting, his owners found him a home closer to them. That was a sign. I wanted to take Lucy home after we met her.

Until we met the first five adoptable dogs at an event called Beagle Fest in late June -- imagine 50 hounds on a fully fenced acre, running free and us without a dog yet -- I was still unsure about the breed. Boy, that was an eye opener and it settled all my doubts. So, after some inspections and effort, we finally brought Lucy home on July 16.
I've never had a dog of my own, having grown up in apartments. We always had cats. Lucy has stolen my heart and my husband insists she's my dog, though I know she hates it when he's gone -- except for nights like this where he's working a graveyard shift and she gets his side of the bed. She makes the separation bearable.

She came to us overweight, unfortunately, and with a rash of treatable health issues: A UTI, swollen vulva as well as an infected, scabby nose and raw patches of skin between toes on her front paws. We knew about the skin problems. I'm glad I got her to the vet pretty quickly because the other issues that were surely uncomfortable were not something we were aware of. She's been on antibiotics and Prednisone since July. Her nose is looking fabu except for the top is pink and the front is black, which makes many people wonder, but it looks much better than it did in July. It's a nice healthy, healing skin kind of pink. Her toes are slower to heal.

Ah, she also had a wicked flea problem that the oral meds she came with definitely did not clear up, so we tried Frontline and I would swear by that product. I have also given a dose to my boy, Mackenzie, the devious orange tabby who is still king of the house.
We are working on her weight issues, but it's hard to gauge success. I can see with the Prednisone now why her appetite and water consumption is so high. Do you think she'll be able to lose weight while on the Pred? She was 44 pounds at her last vet visit three weeks ago. She's 15 inches tall and I figure she would do better at 30 pounds ultimately. I've switched her to a Eukanuba diet food with the vet's consent and on the vet's advice, cut out treats. I now give her a few sticks of carrots or celery when she's hankering for a snack, which seems often, per the vet's suggestion. Her foster mother was feeding her table scraps, but "just meat." I have quite a bit to contend with here. But she loves walks and she gets at least one, rain or shine, daily, and two when she gets particularly hyper in the evenings. That tends to happen when she's been left alone for more than a few hours while we're working.

I do have one other question, buried in here, regarding her claws. Her front nails seem to grow at an extraordinary rate and the vet was insistent that we make every effort to walk on pavement often while exercising. Is that kind of growth normal?

We're still figuring out what her idea of play seems to be. She enjoys chewing on squeaky toys of a particular pitch -- it cracked me up to take her to a big chain pet store only to see her turn her nose at every single toy they had; they just weren't the right key of squeak. She's up for short-range fetch so long as it doesn't require a trip across the pergo. And tug of war is good. Any advice on discovering other types of play? After all of her health issues, I'm a bit annoyed with the situation she came from that resulted in her health issues, and I haven't been able to bring myself to contact the rescue organization with an update or questions.

She's melted my heart as I've gotten to know her and I'm so glad we could provide her with a loving home. This was the best decision I've ever made. I want another beagle, but I think we'll have to wait till spring. I think we will again decide not to puppy, but definitely get a younger dog. I just cannot believe how much she's changed my life for the better.

There is nothing more wonderful than driving the 30 miles back from the dog park at Marymoor in Redmond in my Mustang, the windows rolled down, listening to tunes with my dog stretched out snoozing in the back seat, exhausted from all the adventure.
I was in tears reading about Spencer because the thought of the loss of Lucy, even after a few months, breaks my heart. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a pet you had since he was a pup. I hope all goes well in your beagle household in the future.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my story. Salutations from a new beagle convert.

Kris H. (kristahill01@msn.com)

P.S. Had to attach a photo ­ that's the look I get every day before I leave for work. Oh, the pain, the heartbreak!

Pat says: I doubt Lucy will be able to lose weight while taking the Pred. It's kind of like trying to lose weight during the holidays. Prednisone stimulates the appetite and makes dogs very thirsty. Some dogs become a little lethargic, so that activity level drops and it's difficult to burn off any calories. Fortunately, she will not likely be on Pred indefinitely.

Coki is 15" and now weighs 28.5 lbs. She topped out at 33 lbs., due to her inactivity and a few table scraps she definitely should not have (but you know the look they give you). Coki looks a little stocky at her current weight, but she's in good shape for being nearly 11. I feed her 3/4 of a cup of Hill's RD Dry twice daily and stay away from any kind of treats except for the occasional low-fat training bits (Nutro or Butler Lean Treats). Having a new little brother has also helped increase her activity level.

Bravo is a 13" beagle and should weigh between 18-20 lbs. per the breeder. He came home at 18 lbs., and then topped out at 20.5 lbs., mostly because we are training him, and he was getting too many dog treats. I suppose some of it may have been a result from his neutering as well because some males will gain weight as the hormone levels change. He is now at 19.5 lbs. after I cut back on training treats and picked up his exercise level. John now jogs with him several times a week. Bravo gets 1/2 cup of Science Diet Lamb and Rice twice daily, which is consistent with what his previous owner was feeding him. On the nights that we have obedience class, I usually bypass dinner since he gets quite a few lean treats during training.

Nail growth seems to differ among dogs. I swear Coki's grow overnight. Try to get on the pavement as your vet suggests. It should help.

For play, we simply let the dogs play with safe toys when they are in the mood. Bravo will chase a ball, but his mouth seems to be a little too small to catch the ball in midair like Spencer could. He also likes to play with a soft Frisbee-like disc. The dogs also like to play "chase" around the house. Bravo is always willing, but Coki can be moody. When they're both on the top of their game, the fun can last for 20 minutes or more!

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Greetings from South Korea...

Hi beagle-lovers,
I'm an English teacher working in Busan, South Korea. I've recently adopted a beagle puppy that was being maltreated by my neighbor. I love this puppy but I must say that it's quite a challenge raising a dog in a country that's very canine-unfriendly (Korea is the only country where one can still legally eat dog meat!). Anyway, since he's a little hard to handle in my tiny Korean apartment on the 13th floor, my vet has advised me to neuter him. But he's only 4 months old, and I'm not sure if that's too young for such a procedure. Do any of you have any advice on this matter? It would be greatly appreciated. My vet only speaks Korean so communication is very hard.

Greetings from Kristel and Byung-hong (beagle)
kristo@xs4all.nl

Pat says: Vets used to say to neuter at 6 months, but it seems as if the consensus is that neutering at a younger age is safe. Bravo, 2, was recently neutered using laser surgery, and we have been very happy with the result. I don't know if that's available in South Korea, but for those of us in the U.S., it may be a better option for your dog ­ it's less invasive and there's a quicker recovery. Please check out the Spay/Neuter page for more information.

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Queen Elizabeth's beagle...

I am doing a report on beagles and need to know the name of Queen Elizabeth I's pet beagle. Can anyone help me out? I have researched everywhere.

Thanks!
Paige (mfavor@bellsouth.net)

Pat says: I think Queen Elizabeth had several beagles, but I've never heard them called by name. Maybe someone else might have some information.

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My Gift from God...

New beagle owner reporting in. I formerly had a Tibetan Spaniel that gave me company for 13 years, but I live alone and was very lonesome. I fortunately found a "Saint" who runs the New Mexico Beagle Rescue in Santa Fe. After finding out my lifestyle, she matched me with what I call my "Gift from God" and named her Angel. I've been doubly blessed because Angel loves to walk but thinks the barking neighborhood dogs are very uncouth for barking the way they do. She has a voice but uses it very sparingly. Her love of walking has me losing about a pound a day ... better than Atkins and a lot more fun. She's 14 months old and it's become a match made in heaven. Trish at New Mexico Beagle Rescue is really doing a wonderful job for beagles and beagle lovers all over New Mexico and even southern Colorado. Check out her web site at www.newmexicobeaglerescue.org. Angel's former name was "May May." Beagles are my newfound love.

Neil Anderson (nanderson41@comcast.net), Albuquerque

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Reiley and Roscoe...

Pat,
I'm SO sorry to read about Spencer! He'll be waiting for you on the other side of the Bridge.

I just love your website; I've been here before a few years ago. I signed the guestbook before, but my email address was changed since. I have a male beagle named Reiley; he's the sweetest thing. He's learning surprisingly quickly, and I LOVE to brag about him when people talk about how stubborn and noisy beagles are (no barking problems with him!).

Thing is, he and his brother, Roscoe, fight ­ a lot. They have both been neutered and were raised together as puppies. It's frustrating because at times it gets serious; more than once they'll end up with a nose bleeding, cuts in their ears that leave scars, and a few times we've been bitten ­ even when we are not trying to separate them. I've learned that we can't pull them apart, or they bite harder, not to mention I could get bitten, and that they don't respond to water. And I don't want to keep them separated because then they whine and howl for each other. So is this even a problem?

Also, they haven't been socialized much as puppies, now a year and three months old. How do we introduce them to other dogs before we take them to a training class? I'm afraid we won't be able to control all of their incessant barking, or that they will get in a dog's face and be bitten.

MusicNotesSMR@aol.com

Pat says: Can you determine what causes this fighting? Spencer and Coki fought, but only over food. Since I had trained both dogs from six weeks of age, they knew that when I stepped in, that would be the end of it. I was never bitten when breaking up a scuffle.

Flash forward to yesterday ...

The new arrival (OK, his name is Bravo) has left his mark on my arm! Here's what happened. I gave both dogs cow ears to munch on. Coki decided she wanted to bury hers outside in the backyard. I wasn't aware of it and let Bravo outside about 15 minutes later. Coki came charging across the yard in defense of her "stash" and provoked Bravo with a look and a lip curl. I don't even think Bravo knew that Coki had a buried treasure. Anyway, all hell broke loose.

Since it looked like Bravo was getting the best of Coki, I stepped in to break up the scuffle in the same way I used to handle Coki and Spencer. Big mistake! Instead of grabbing both dogs by the scruffs of their necks, I was stupid enough to think that Bravo would respect my authority and back off when I reached in to pull Coki away. Wrong! He was so caught up in the challenge that Coki provoked that he bit me, thinking he had nailed Coki.

This incident was totally my fault. Coki was protective of her bone, and I should have known this; I overestimated my Alpha role with Bravo who has only been in the household since Sept. 23, and I used poor technique in separating the dogs.

With Roscoe and Reiley you need to find out what triggers these fights. It may be several things, and it's sometimes difficult to determine who is the instigator. Remember that dogs respond to challenges, which may take the form of "the look." This may simply be a case of sibling rivalry if the dogs don't fight with other dogs. Since they have not been socialized, you need to visit with someone about how you can start training. Working one-on-one at first might be the best way to transition the do