Beagle Puppies

Beagle Training - Teach your beagle puppy to Roll Over!

2008-09-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Beagle training is fun when you have the right training methods, AND an attentive beagle. One of the most interesting tricks I’ve used courtesy of the 101 Dog Tricks book by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy is to train Clifford.

Don’t force your dog!

If you are serious about training your beagle, using the right methods is an absolute must. The reality is that, dogs think differently from humans, and we cannot assume that we can teach them like children. For instance, if you want to teach your dog to roll over, it wouldn’t be right to roll your dog over physically and hope that he will get the message!

How to train your beagle

The right way to teach your dog to roll over is to first have your dog in a Down position in front of you, and position a treat right above his head. Slowly move the treat to the left (or right, if you want your dog to roll right), so that your dog will move his head in the direction of the treat. This way, your dog has now choice but to roll over. Once he has rolled to his side, make sure he’s in the Down position again before rewarding him.

Use hand signals too

Once your beagle learns this trick, you may want to get your dog to respond to hand signals too. Make a circular motion with the index finger whenever you say “Roll over!” Also, always remember to reward your beagle dog IMMEDIATELY after he or she does it right. Otherwise, he may not know that you are rewarding him for a trick done right.

Continuous encouragement

If your beagle does not get the trick after a few tries, keep his spirits up by commanding him to do a trick he already knows, and rewarding him for it. This way, he’ll stay focus when he knows that his efforts will be rewarded.

Have patience

Don’t give up if your beagle puppy does not get it immediately. It takes lots of time and patience to get one trick right. Just see how enthusiastic Clifford is when he rolls over!

Now, training your beagle to Play Dead is level 2 of roll over. . .

Beagle Training – How to do it?

2008-07-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing in common amongst beagle owners, it would probably be their perception that beagles can’t be trained. Beagle dogs and puppies are extremely active, and getting them just to pay attention would hardly be an easy feat. In fact, even dog trainers I know have remarked that Beagles would only hardly make it to Intermediate and Advanced level of trainings.

Well, my one-year old beagle dog Clifford seems to have the ability to pay attention. He now rolls over, begs, shakes my hand, sits, stays, comes, heals, jumps through hoops and fetches. Right now, I’m trying to teach him how to play dead.

So, what is the secret to successful beagle training?

1. Know what makes your beagle pay attention

Fortunately, my beagle dog loves to eat. And he would do ANYTHING for food. Simple, plain old Science Plan dog food is good enough to reward Clifford. He doesn’t need premium meat slices or over-the-counter treats to get him started.

The trick is to find out what your beagle CRAVES for. If your dog loves cheese, then use cheese as training rewards– in small amounts, of course. Most dogs love the smell of cooked sausages, so you can heat some up each time you want to train you beagle. Remember to feed your dog small pieces so as not to overfeed.

It’s best that your treats are soft and easy to swallow. This way, you won’t have to wait too long for your beagle dog to finish his food before you move on to the next trick.

2. Reward your beagle immediately

Always reward your beagle IMMEDIATELY after he or she does what you say. Dogs live for the moment and delayed rewards may mean that you are rewarding for something else. Let me illustrate.

You say the command “Sit” and your beagle responds immediately. But since you don’t have a treat in your hand, you fumble in your pocket for the reward. However, your dog gets up again within a few seconds. Giving the beagle the reward AFTER he or she has gotten up will mean that you are rewarding the dog for sitting up.

To avoid this, always have the reward in your hand and give your beagle the treat at once after your dog has responded correctly.

3. Be generous with your treats or rewards

Reward your beagle dog for everything he or she does right. Don’t be tightfisted with your treats. You’ll end up only disappointing your beagle.

4. Get your dog to look at YOU

A beagle that does not look at you in the eye will be distracted and will not respond. This does not mean that your dog is disobedient, or can’t be trained. Your beagle has to focus before it can be trained.

Call your beagle by his or her name and make sure you get attention. Show your dog the treats you have – make some noise with the bag holding the treats if you can. Use a special word like “Training” or “Play time” to signal the start of a training session.

5. Don’t disappoint your beagle

It usually takes several beagle training sessions spanning days or even weeks before your beagle can get one command right. Before that happens, your beagle may learn in parts, or can’t quite get it right completely.

Dogs DO get disappointed if they try hard at something, but don’t get rewarded for it. Therefore, to keep your beagle interested, alternate new tricks with old ones. This way, your beagle will still be encouraged to complete the entire training session.

6. Finally, have lots of patience!

We have to understand that beagles are not humans, do not have the IQ of humans, and therefore need more time to learn. Don’t expect your beagle dog to learn something new each lesson. Lessons need to be repeated before your beagle gets it right!

Choosing Beagle Puppies

2008-03-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Beagle puppies are everywhere! They are cute, cuddly, adorable and extremely energetic. In fact, their presence overwhelms you, and you are spoilt for choice. Bubbling with excitement, friendliness and an innate motivation to play, you’ll probably wish you can take them ALL home!

But let’s get back to reality – you can only have ONE and it’s hard to choose! How can you pick the right one? What’s more, you just have too little time at the breeder’s home to get to actually know each beagle puppy personally.

The truth is though, while Beagle puppies are all self-centered, active, lovable, adorable, stubborn and cheeky, their individual personalities differ.

After breeding 6 beagle puppies, I’ve discovered that while all the traits above are present, each puppy has a different personality! It’s amazing that they sometimes can be much like humans!

Based on my experience, here's what is important when choosing beagle puppies:

1. Ask yourself, what do you want a Beagle puppy for?

More than just being a pet, you need to ask yourself why you want a Beagle in the first place. There are hundreds of breeds you can choose from, but why a Beagle?

Many people make the mistake of getting a Beagle simply because they are cute. More importantly however, people need to know and understand Beagle behavior before deciding on this breed. My previous post, Should you get Beagle Puppies?, explains this with greater detail.

2. Buying a beagle as a pet vs. buying a beagle for showing or training

At the end of the day, your criteria in buying a Beagle puppy as a house pet would differ from getting one for dog shows, or to be trained as a working dog. Obviously, for the latter 2 reasons, you would need a more attentive Beagle.

Adhering to breed standards would be important if you intend to show your dog. This may also mean that you need to get a slightly older Beagle puppy, so that you can evaluate the dog’s physical build, color and markings more accurately.

3. Check the puppy’s Pedigree line

Always ask to view a puppy’s pedigree line to determine the lineage of a beagle puppy. Does he come from a line of champions? Has there been any in-breeding? (Although, most kennel clubs will not register a puppy if there has been any signs of this). This is more important if you are getting a Beagle puppy as a show dog, or to be trained.

4. Ask for more time to play with them

It’s best if you can spend some time to play with each of them. It doesn’t matter if a particular puppy doesn’t take to you immediately. Get to know each beagle puppy individually, and see how each of them interacts with one another.

It’s much like choosing a friend – you will pick the one that you can most identify with, and which you would like to spend time with. This comes naturally for most people, and soon they’ll find one that suits them best.

5. Ask the breeder about each puppy’s personality

If you are getting your puppy from a home breeder, chances are that the breeder would be the person most familiar with the puppies. Ask him on his or her opinion on how a particular puppy is like.

Ask questions like: What are the puppy’s distinct characteristics? Does the puppy eat well? Does the puppy pay attention to the breeder? How does the puppy interact with its siblings?

This way, you’ll discover more than what you’ve learnt in that short time you had with the beagle puppies. In fact, a responsible breeder should also reveal some of a particular puppy’s shortcomings, or less desirable habits, so the new owner will know what to expect once he or she brings the beagle puppy home.

What not to do when choosing Beagle puppies?

Do not buy a Beagle puppy just because it is cute.
Do not buy a Beagle puppy as a present.
Do not buy a Beagle puppy if you intend to leave it alone at home for long periods.
Do not buy a Beagle puppy just because it’s of a certain gender. In terms of behavior, there are hardly any differences between male and female beagle puppies.

Should you get beagle puppies?

2008-01-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

It’s a fact – beagle puppies are extremely adorable, cute and friendly. They’ll melt your heart instantly with those warm and innocent eyes. Their cheery demeanor, outgoing personalities and cuddliness, will have you sold the first time you set your eyes on them.

But wait! Before you take this merry little hound home, have you done your puppy justice of knowing more about the breed? Are you merely judging a book by its cover, without knowing the consequences?

Well, behind that sweet innocence is a fiercely active puppy. Hyperactive, as some would say, and potentially destructive too. Some beagle puppies can even be noisy, especially when left alone for extended periods of time. It’s true – beagle puppies CAN drive you up the wall.

The history of the Beagle

Beagles were bred as hound dogs, helping hunters sniff out rabbit trails. Thus, this descendant of Foxhounds and Harriers, has one of the most excellent sense of smell in the canine world. The long pendant ears of the beagle work extremely well to prevent the dog from being distracted by noises. This allows the beagle to concentrate fully on the trail he’s after.

How does this affect the temperament of beagles today?

With their hunting background, Beagles are no doubt active dogs. They need space around the home to run about in. Therefore, if you are living in a flat, apartment or condominium, then this breed is not for you. Due to their size and activity level, they need a garden or at least a medium size home to move around in.

What about beagle obedience?

Their excellent sniffing ability tends to get the better of them. They stop paying attention to you when they are hot on a trail. If your beagle escapes from your compound, it probably won’t return home on its own. You’ll have a hard and painful time searching for him.

In addition, their short attention spans make them less easy to train as compared to other breeds. However, this does not mean that they can’t be trained. Owners need to be patient, and willing to spend their time on dog training.

Being firm and starting training lessons from an early age are also plus points. In addition, some Beagles seem to have the ability to pay attention more than others, so you’ve really got to know how to interact with your beagle puppy. In the end, a well-trained Beagle is an excellent dog to have!

Companionship and attention

Beagle puppies are pack animals. They tend to get lonely if left alone for too long. However, they are loyal to their masters, although they are less likely to be clingy (unlike toy dogs or lap dogs). Their self-absorbed nature means they don’t want to be left out in any activity you are getting into.

It’s always a good idea to get two beagle puppies, especially when you no one’s at home most of the day. It’ll be fun though when you see them at each other’s necks to get your attention! At times, this can get really physical!

Beagle pranks

Now, this is the part where MOST people aren’t aware of.

Beagle puppies can be very destructive, although they grow out of this when they are about 2 years old. If you let them, they can chew almost ANYTHING. Let me list you the things Clifford has chewed or ripped:

At least 10 pairs of shoes and slippers

Wall paint

Grass

The metal grille

Ripped out my car’s rubber bumper guard (about 5 feet long!)

Ripped out car horn wires located near radiator, twice

His favorite bone

The garden spade

My neighbor’s garden canvas

The dog basket

To control this, I would strongly recommend that beagle puppy owners get a cage for their puppy. Otherwise, your puppy will probably wreck everything around your home!

Now, do you still want to get a beagle puppy?

If you look at all the stuff your beagle puppy has bitten, and still forgive and love him or her after that, then Yes! You should get a beagle puppy.

It takes a sense of humor to live with beagle puppies. Their pranks can be both destructive and amusing at the same time. In fact, Beagles have this ability to get away from being punished with their guilty and sorry looks!

Finally, getting a beagle puppy as a pet is a long term commitment. It’s always a great idea to talk to beagle owners and to understand them better, before you make a decision.

Most importantly, NEVER buy a beagle puppy as a present for a friend or a child. It wouldn’t be fair to the beagle puppy if its new owner decides to give it away later.

Click this Beagle FAQ for more information on the beagle!

Is it possible to train Beagle Puppies?

2008-01-15T00:15:00.000-08:00

If you have had beagle puppies, you’d agree with me that you can have a stubborn, mischievous and thoroughly active puppy. In fact, if you have two of them, they can literally keep you busy the entire day. It’s normal if your beagle puppies are at odds with one another. Being self-absorbed, they can be jealous if they detect your slight preference for one over another.

Many beagle puppy owners wonder if there is even a “remote” possibility that their beagles CAN be trained. This hyperactive pooch seems to have a mind of its own, and being obedient is definitely not one of this breed’s virtues.

1. Use the right training techniques

Based on my personal experience, this is important. Dog owners with no knowledge of dog training, tend to teach dogs from a human perspective. Then, frustration kicks in when the puppy doesn’t seem to understand what its owner wants. Finally, the owner gives up with the belief that the beagle just doesn't have it in him to learn.

The truth is, dogs have different learning styles from humans. A dog learns when he does something voluntarily, with food or dog treats used as incentives. For instance, overturning your puppy with your hands in a bid to teach him “roll-over” doesn’t work. You will just frighten your poor friend.

However, the right way to teach roll-over is to first teach your puppy the “down” command. Then, hold a dog treat with your hand over your puppy’s head and slowly move the dog treat in the direction where you want him to roll over to. At the same time, say “roll-over” to familiarize your beagle with the command.

If you are serious about training your beagle puppy, check out these training resources, made ESPECIALLY for beagles!

Beagle Care & Training E-course Package

Beagle Dog Training

2. Use food as reward

Beagles in general have one thing in common – their love for food. Of course, if your beagle puppy doesn’t seem to adore food as much, you may try changing your food to another brand that is more appealing. Emily (of Jessie, as she is now named) seemed to have no liking for the food we fed her. However, her new owners have discovered her affinity for fish-based dog food. Getting your beagle puppy interested in its food is important in getting him or her trained.

3. Make it hard-to-get

The next step is to get your beagle puppy to pay attention. When in training, use toys or props that are only accessible during training time. This creates that “I want it even more now that I can’t have it” mentality in your beagle puppy. Thus, your beagle puppy is more likely to focus so that he or she is able to get that elusive toy in the end.

4. Start them young, if possible

Puppies have an affinity to please their masters. Use this to your advantage by starting training sessions as soon as they are paying attention to you. As I bred six beagle puppies, Clifford already learnt to sit at 5 weeks old.

5. Give praise and be firm

Try not to dote over your beagle puppy. Many beagle puppy owners do this, and end up with a disobedient dog that thinks of its owner as a peer. If you want to successfully train your beagle, you’ve got to show him or her that you are boss. You are the pack leader and your beagle puppy has to listen to you.

Nevertheless, praise your puppy when he has done right. Also, be generous with your treats, and give him a reward IMMEDIATELY for each trick done right. On the flip side, be firm (but not fierce) to correct him when he has made a mistake.

6. Be patient and have fun!

Beagle puppies are fun-loving canines. So, if you make training feel like a game, your puppy would be more than happy to join you. Be excited about your training session, and your beagle puppy will be too!

Also, it takes lots of patience to train beagle puppies. They don’t always get it right the first time, and it may take several sessions or even several days or weeks before your puppy will get it right. The good news is that it is always easier to train beagle puppies than dogs. Watch my beagle training videos here! Have fun!

Beagle Training Videos

2008-01-14T23:57:00.000-08:00

Training Clifford the beagle has been interesting, easy and fun. Eager to learn, he sits and waits for my command and responds in anticipation of food. Watch these 2 videos and be inspired! It is possible to train a beagle to be obedient!

Watch as Clifford jumps through the hoop!

See how Clifford fetches the ball, rolls over, stay and come when I ask him to!

Claire's home stay in December 2007

2008-01-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

Claire's owners put her up for boarding at our home for several days in December 2007. It was fun having her around! She made herself at home almost immediately, and loved the company of the other dogs.

Murfee was a little vary at first - she probably didn't understand why there was another puppy in the house! ("Oh no! Another puppy? Clifford is already driving me crazy!!!") Clifford was overly friendly, and just wanted to play the entire time. We tied him to the grill, and let Claire stay in his cage. But I think he didn't sleep the entire night (he has never slept anywhere else other than his beloved cage)

So, the next night, we placed both of them in the cage. Even though a little cramped, they enjoyed each other's company a great deal. Here's a picture of Clifford and Claire together again.

When her owner came to pick her up, Claire was thrilled. She recognized the whistle her owner used to catch her attention almost immediately!

Clifford looked a little sad after Claire left. After all, she's the other other puppy he has known that WANTS to play with him. The other dogs just find him an utter nuisance, and avoid him whenever they can. I guess we will bring him to visit Fritz later, and see how his brother has grown!

More pictures of Claire during her stay:

Claire biting a shoe. Clifford does that too - A LOT!

Dog greetings - that's how they get to know one another :)

Visiting Claire

2007-11-02T23:16:00.001-07:00

Our next visit was to Claire's home. Upon special request, we brought Clifford along. He seems to be less enthusiastic about car rides - maybe he tends to get car sick. But he's a darling while in the car and does not fidget as much as his mother did. Here's a picture of our friend Clifford, being really sweet and clingy in the car. Notice how he leans on my arm ;)

Claire, of course, was happy to see Clifford. They played for a while, and Claire chased Clifford around. He was as usual, in his cool demeanor, and let everyone pat him. We showed Claire's family what we had taught Clifford, and he performed everything well, just like when he's at home. Of course, the trick was that we had to have puppy food giblets as reward. (Clifford wants to be paid before he does what you say ;) )

Look how Claire has grown. She is now 8 kg, and is still as active as ever. She loves her new home, loves to bite socks and lately has been biting a whole lot of stuff (including her new owner's car). She goes for a walk each day, and runs alongside her master's bicycle. We are glad that she has gone to such a good home, and that she has a family that loves her lots and lots.

However, she has lately become a little picky about her food. I think that's because there's no competition, and she's trying to get her masters to feed her treats instead of dog food. Hmmm, smart puppy.

Anyways, one of the things we learnt at dog obedience training class was to keep the food if the dog does not eat it. It's alright to let the dog go hungry for one meal. We tried this on Murfee and Tobie a few years back. They were shocked and surprised that we could ACTUALLY keep what we had given, and thereafter ate their food enthusiastically till this day!

Back to Claire. Here's a lovely picture of her, taking a short rest after running after Clifford:

Here's another picture of Claire. You can see her tail wagging!

Visiting Emily

2007-11-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

The MKA Pedigree certificates are finally here. This is our opportunity to visit the homes of the puppies we have sold, at the same time pass the certificates to the new owners.

The first puppy we visited was Emily. She's as active as ever, extremely friendly, and very hyperactive. Oh, and we brought Clifford Doo along too. Emily seems to be petite, and weighed only a mere 6 kg (At the same time, Clifford was already 10 kg).

Anyways, she was a little vary at first - and wanted to sniff out Clifford from within her cage. However, once she was let out, she was really excited that another dog was visiting. (I don't really know if she remembers her brother). Anyway, she was ecstatic and ran round and round Clifford, trying hard to capture his attention.

Of course, Clifford is as steady and as cool as ever. After all, this was NOT his house, and he wouldn't want to seem like he was intruding. Nevertheless, Emily took Clifford for a tour around her compound. She took him to the back of the house, where there was some water he could drink.

Then she showed him the garden she usually plays in. Clifford had a good time sniffing around her house too.

Her owners love her a great deal, and we are really glad that she has gone to a new home. They say that Emily is still a picky eater (her food was left untouched in her cage). Maybe that's why she's smaller in size. I think she's really too active, and have spent all her energy playing and running around.

Oh, and her new name is now Jessie - here's a good picture of her we took:

Our camera does not have the steady shot feature, and it was quite difficult to take good shots with Emily running around. Here is another picture of Emily:

For comparison, this is how Emily looked like when she first went to her new home. Look how she has grown!

Clifford's Cherry Eye

2007-09-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy at work and stuff, and did not have time to blog. The other thing was.... Clifford had a cherry eye since a few weeks ago, and we thought we'd wait till it healed before we took any more pictures.

Although we applied ointment from the vet, there was hardly any improvement. The vet had not been overly concerned though. She said that it wouldn't hurt him, although it would seem like part of his vision is blocked. You see, cherry eye is a condition where the tear duct protrudes from beneath the eyelid. Usually, this is common for basset hounds, due to their droopy skin. But we asked the vet - "But he's NOT a basset hound!". They were dumbfounded.

Yesterday, we decided to send him for surgery to get his cherry eye fixed. The RM 250 surgery took a few hours, but Clifford stayed overnight at the vet. He even got bathed to rid him of that soury smell. Being the active puppy he was, he had been running around in the yard and had gotten really dirty.

Upon his return today, he was again his usual bubbly self. I don't think he felt much pain. There is still a little bit of the cherry eye left beneath the eyelid (if one were to look carefully). It should subside within a few days, according to the vet.

Here's a picture of Clifford. He's really sleepy and tired after his ordeal (and of course, after letting him roam around for 2 hours!). Watch out for my next post as I write about the latest in Clifford's training classes!

Clifford Fetches the Ball

2007-08-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

We had been terribly busy the last couple of weeks, and did not have the time to take videos of Clifford. Nevertheless, his trainings still went on and he has now learnt to jump over the hoop, and paw on my arm. His favorite game would "Fetch" and he would always enthusiastically get the ball back to me - in exchange for a treat (this is mandatory, else Clifford wouldn't do it!)

Anyhow, I've managed to capture a video of Clifford fetching. It's not that clear, but it does show how interesting he finds the "Fetch" game!

In my next post, I'll put up pictures of Clifford's brothers and sisters. Let's see what they have been up too!

Clifford's early puppy days

2007-08-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Clifford posing for a picture (He responded to the command "Stay") :)

The largest in the litter when he was born, Clifford was immediately distinguished from the rest of the puppies. I guess his prominence was accentuated by his sleek black fur, much darker than the rest of the puppies. He obviously had an ideal location in his mummy's womb, even before he was born.

Hence, the name Clifford. His demeanor was silent, steady and watchful. He looked us eye to eye when we carried him, unlike the rest who usually wiggled. For all we knew, he was observing all the hustle and bustle around the home, the other puppies, and of course Murfee and Tobie. All the information he collected and processed through, leading to his obvious superiority in behavior.

He didn't play as hard as the other puppies, he learnt to poo at the right place after meals when he was only 3 weeks old, and he came over when we called him when he was 5 weeks old. Clifford followed me at my heels, as I walked in and out of the porch. He didn't run haphazardly around like his brothers and sisters. He would sit down and look up at me when he knew it was meal time.

Again, responding to a command. This time it's "Down" and "Stay"

Standing out from the crowd, Clifford was never overly playful or bashful. He did play, was not too lazy, but he has his limits. This was probably why he didn't mingle that well with the rest of the puppies - they were always wrestling or biting one another. Sometimes, Clifford got caught in the crossfire and he fought back. Nevertheless, his cool demeanor was always kept. At 6 weeks old, he already learnt to sit and come. We thought he was brilliant and have decided to keep him as our third dog.

At 8 weeks, he started to get a little vocal. In fact, he started to display signs of being able to make the Beagling howl - a half bark and half howl sound that only Beagles can make. Tobie had never made such sounds, and has never been overly noisy. Clifford would now bark whenever it was time to eat. Sometimes, he would bark after dinner when we placed him back in his cage. Our discipline came in the form of a rolled up newspaper which made a loud noise but was not hurtful to the puppy. He usually stopped his complaints after one session of discipline. That's good for a beagle.

We have decided to train him regularly and now he knows: Sit, Down, Come, Stay, Roll over, Shake and Beg, although not perfectly. This book we bought - 101 Dog Tricks - has shown us great methods to train dogs that we would never have thought of. It's amazing how the right approach in dog training can speed things up. Our target is to teach Clifford at least 20 tricks. I think he will be able to do it. I will upload videos on this once Clifford gets them right!

Goodbye Claire! We will visit...

2007-07-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Before I had the opportunity to upload nicer pictures of Claire, her new owner had already agreed to purchase her. He came to view Claire on Thursday and instantly liked the bubbly puppy. I'm certain Claire's beautiful good looks had melted his heart. He's getting her in conjunction with his daughter's birthday and I believe Claire will be a wonderful puppy for a little girl. Claire has that sweet look on her face, and our hearts were heavy when her new owner came to pick her up this Saturday morning.

The only consolation is that since her new owner is an acquaintance of ours, (although we had no idea about this when he called) we will be able to visit her. Now, the only puppy's left is Clifford, whom we plan to keep and train. I'll have more posts on Clifford's progress later on.

We hope she'll be a good puppy, and will behave well in her new home. She's always been receptive towards food, and has already been trained to sit and come. Hopefully, her training will resume and she will be a well-trained and obedient Beagle! Here are some nice pictures of Claire which I took this morning, and some of her as she was leaving:

Beautiful Claire Doo

I will miss you bro...

Claire boarded for the journey to her new home

We'll miss you Claire...

Emily's found a home!

2007-07-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

Emily's owners saw her photograph on this blog, and decided that she was the puppy for them. Her new name is Jessie, and she now has a large compound to run in. While we had thought she would whine on her first night, she surprised her new owners and didn't complain. We were surprised too!

Anyway, here are some pictures of Emily in the car waiting for her masters to take her home. We'll miss her, and hope there will be an opportunity to see her again. Her master has just told me that she loves belly rubs and has an affinity for carrots!

Emily: Where am I? How do I get out?

Emily's owner mentioned that Claire is also a beautiful puppy. The reason why he selected Emily was because our pictures of Claire weren't that good. In fact, they took a while to decide between Emily and Claire while they were at our home. So, to make amends I'm taking new pictures of Claire and will upload them up in my next post.

Teddy and Penny sent to new homes - 3 pups left!

2007-07-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

Penny's new master came to pick her up today. As usual, she was fidgeting in the morning as we fed her, cleaned her paws and let her run around with the other puppies. She still has a sore on her right back leg, but I think with good care it will recover soon. Penny is one of the cutest of the litter, and we will all miss her. Let's hope she will be a good dog - (her new name is Leng Leng)

Pineapple's dad came to pick Teddy up last Monday. From Pineapple's blog, he seems to be enjoying himself! See the latest pictures of him here - http://manzlife.blogspot.com/. He also has a new name - Fritz or John Fritzgerrard Kennedy. :)

Right now, Emily and Claire are still up for sale. Here are the latest pictures we have of them!

Claire

Emily

I just bathed!

5 puppies left

2007-07-07T00:33:00.001-07:00

Milo's owner picked him up today. We hope he'll be fine and dandy, and that he will be a good boy in his new home. Also, we will miss him but I think he will get lots of attention from his new owner. As he was placed in a box and driven a way, I felt a little sad and amused at the same time when he placed his paws at the edge of the box and looked out the window. I still remember the night before when he laid on my lap while I applied cream at the side of his tummy. (He had two small sores and we had to take care of that.)

Picture of (from left) Clifford, Milo, Claire and Teddy.

Tobie, his mom, gave him a short nose rub as she saw him taken away. Having seen him leave, she seems to be fine with it, and did not start seeking for missing puppies. Perhaps she's glad that she can regain her masters' attention!

The next to leave will be Teddy, as his owners will pick him up Monday. I'm sure Pineapple will have a great time with Teddy. He's not as vocal as Milo, but is very adorable and active just like his siblings. Here's a video of the four of them Clifford, Claire, Milo and Teddy taken just last week. Enjoy!

A little background on Beagle behaviour

2007-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

After talking to numerous people, I've finally come to realize that many people are not too familiar about how life with a Beagle is like. With their dopey eyes, droopy ears and friendly nature, beagles are perceived to be adorable, lovely and sweet. While that's all true, and they do melt my heart, Beagles are also very active dogs, mischievous at times, intelligent and cheeky. They have a mind of their own, and may or may not listen to their masters consistently.

To me, that's what makes life with a Beagle most interesting. They make you laugh and smile at times when you are down. And they sense they are needed when you need a friend. However, part of the package also includes times when they bite your shoe and end up looking very guilty about it. During these times, you may feel your blood boil and that Snoopy needs to be taught a lesson. And you should - by firmly reprimanding your dog. A firm "No" with a grasp at the back of the neck should be enough.

The fact is, we can't entirely blame our dogs for their behaviour. While we need to correct them for this, there is no guarantee that your dog won't repeat the same mistake. At this point, it is up to you to take preventive measures - Can you stop placing your shoe at a place where your puppy can find it? Can you lock up your Beagle puppy in a cage when you are not at home? Can you buy a dog chew toy instead? (Picture of Claire Doo on the right)

Beagles are utterly intelligent canines. All the beagle puppies in our litter (only 6 weeks old) have already learnt that they need to poo on the grass area whenever they are outside. I was amazed at how fast they picked that up! Clifford has somewhat learnt NOT to put his paws in the bowl while eating. Emily and Penny has managed to open the door of the crate FROM THE INSIDE when we were not at home. While they had explored the house, it was a good thing they didn't bite any of the wires. Tobie, their mom, has also figured out how to open the cage from within. We have since then stopped locking her in the cage, else she will let all the puppies out!

Another trait of Beagles is that they love attention. They need you to talk to them and pat them, although they are not overly clingy like some other breeds I've seen. Beagles are loyal friends, and would readily sit next to you for brownie points. The most amusing thing about my Beagle is her ability to "pose" when she hopes to get treats from us. All this cuteness has managed to earn her some significant extra food over the years. Interestingly, they seem to have the innate ability to get on your good side especially when it's to their advantage.

I would not say that Beagles are good guard dogs. All my Beagle has ever barked at were cats and dogs passing by our home. They may be vocal at times, but that would be to get YOUR attention. Unlike Miniature Pinchers, they DON'T bark non-stop. They may make that half-howl, half bark Beagling noise, but Tobie has rarely done that.

Ideally, Beagles should be raised in a house, not an apartment. Although they are small dogs, they are very active, and need to run about in the compound. Sometimes, my dogs have been caught sunbathing in the midst of a blazing afternoon at 3 pm! Beagles can be kept inside the home, and they can be toilet-trained, but they should be let out into the yard whenever possible.

Cages are necessary for a Beagle, for their safety as well as yours. Due to their docile and friendly nature, there have been cases of Beagle thefts right from the home. Caging them also prevents them from biting on stuff around your house, and also from escaping. Unlike other dogs, Beagles are easily distracted by their noses (Beagles have an excellent sense of smell) and aren't inclined to return home once they escape. They are just too distracted by the smells outside of their home!

Finally, Beagles are great for young couples, or families with children. They love kids and look forward to playing with them too. Of course, I've never seen a child who does not adore a Beagle. Nevertheless, young children should not be wholly responsible for the daily care of a Beagle. Ultimately, the dog becomes part of the family, and the adults need to care for the dog just like any other family member. Dogs are a commitment for at least 10 years and we must be ready to be responsible for them for the long term. (Picture of Emily Doo on the right)

Just pictures and captions!

2007-06-14T08:04:00.001-07:00

Milo Doo napping

A box of beagle puppies!

Let's sleep now....

Let's Explore!

Clifford Doo posing

Claire Doo napping

Mommy feeding us

The 3 Beagle Boys

2007-06-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Clifford Doo

I was the largest of the litter, and also the one with the darkest black fur. You can see that I'm serious about stuff, and am able to sit still for a picture. Right now, tan color markings are starting to appear on my face, although I'm still predominantly black. I have a good appetite too, probably the reason why I've been able to stay large in physique still.

Milo Doo

I'm cute and am one of the most active male beagle puppies of the pack. I love to eat too, but I love to play even more. I can sneak up on my brothers and sisters, and wrestle with them after dinner. I try to get the attention of my masters in the morning. Hopefully, they will let me out so that I can play outside again!

Teddy Doo

I think I must be the cutest male beagle, but I'm not trying too hard to compare. I'm curious about my new surroundings, but I'm careful with my steps. If you look carefully at me, you may think that I look like a bear. That large dog at home tried to play with me that day, but I can't chase after her like she wants. Anyways, it's good to have made her acquaintance and I look forward to playing with her again! (Psst, I heard that my new mistresses have already booked me, so I really look forward to my new home.)

Who are we? (Self-portraits of 3 female beagle puppies)

2007-06-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

Emily Doo

I'm probably the youngest of the litter. I can't really tell and my mom doesn't know either (she was unconscious when we were born). What I do know is that my mom loves us all, and tries to feed us all at one go. Sometimes, it's difficult to do that, so we take turns to eat.

Playing is my favorite past time. I love to explore, and have probably been farther than my siblings. I don't think they are as adventurous as me, although I've tried to get them to come along. Lately, I've been able to walk faster and I even skip around sometimes. I've even learnt the play position, and gotten one of the large dogs around the house (I think her name is Murfee) to play. She adores us too, although she's not our mom.

Penny Doo

I look like Emily, have almost the same markings, and love to play just like her. Nevertheless, I don't venture as far away as Emily, but stay close to my other siblings during play time. I love to wrestle with Emily, and we are probably the most active of the pack. Pick me up and I'll wriggle round and round. In terms of size, I'm slightly larger and longer than Emily, as I probably eat more than her.

Claire Doo

I love to EAT! I'm the first to the bowl and the last to leave! Feel my stomach after dinner and you'll see that I'm so full. I never seem to get enough, and try my best to get all I can. As compared to my sisters, I have a white stripe on my leg (something they don't have). I look much like them in terms of facial features, except that I'm bigger and fatter.

One-week old beagle puppies nursing!

2007-06-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

One of the most amazing things about Tobie was her instinct to care and protect her puppies after they were born. We never knew that she had this in her.

As she laid down at her side, tired after her night-long ordeal with going in and out of labour, we observed as the entire litter whined for milk from their mother. Frantic and concerned, we prepared our own milk replacers for the puppies, and tried to feed them via a small puppy feader bottle. Surprizingly, these pups weren't too interested in what we had to offer. Obviously, they preferred mom's milk.

Tobie kept busy during the first week of being a mom, feeding and cleaning her puppies regularly. As her owners, the loving Beagle we had just a few days ago was no longer her. There were no more Beagle poses, no more relational pats, and no more playing games with Murfee, our other dog. She looked to us only to let her out, or as her source of food. Her personality changed overnight, and her priority now was obviously her 6 adorable puppies.

Of course, the upside to this was that we hardly had to do much cleaning, except to change the newspapers and the sheets we had for them. Tobie took care of all her puppies' needs. Diligently, she woke them up with gentle nudges when it was time for a meal, and licked them clean thereafter. Newborn puppies needed to be stimulated to poo and pee.

Diet-wise, Tobie seemed to have lost weight although we fed her 3 times as much, and provided supplements of milk replacer, calcium and Nutripet. Obviously, all her puppies are well-nourished and active. They are growing up fast and twitch when they sleep. It has been a different scene each week, and their features and personalities are starting to surface.

Physically, they had been all born black and white, (brown tones in beagles start to emerge as they grow up). Gradually, parts of the black on their shoulders and face are turning tan, just like their mom. We have even named them! More pup personality tales in my next post!

6 Adorable Beagle Puppies!

2007-06-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

17th May 2007 - These 6 beagle puppies were born through Ceasarian section. Tobie Doo, our 5 year old Beagle weighing only 9 kg before being pregnant was considered a small Beagle to be carrying 6 pups. Thus, this was really a surprise to us! Moreover, this was already her 65th day of pregnancy, and she was already late. (The expected gestation period for dogs is 63 days).

Throughout the night of the 16th, we waited the entire night for Tobie to go into labour. After just a mere whine and squeak at about 10 pm at night, probably signaling the start of the contractions, nothing happened till the next morning. Her water bag broke about 11 am the next day, and after several hours of waiting without any progress, we finally took her in to the vet.

After an hour of surgery, we were delighted when the 6 puppies were presented to us in a box, collectively making high-pitched whines. Amidst fears that Tobie would not recognize her own pups, she surprised us once again when she lovingly let them suckle milk, even though she was still in pain from surgery. She placed her paws as much as she could on them, and pulled them close to her to protect them from the cold. Truly, we never expected Tobie, our mischievous Beagle to be motherly. In our eyes, she has always been our puppy friend.

Throughout the next two weeks, Tobie has been relatively protective over her puppies, although she has never been fierce with us. We were allowed to pick her puppies out, but she always kept a watchful eye. If we held on too long (like over 2 minutes) , she would come over and grab them back with from us. She could hardly carry them in her mouth, but she tried nevertheless.

I still remember the first week when she was hardly out of the puppy pen, a box we made for her, feeding them every few hours. As the newborn beagle puppies hardly whined, we knew that Tobie had done a good job being their mother.

Read my new posts, as I relate the different personalities of this litter of beagle puppies!