Beagle Parenting Prerequisites

Sept. 10, 2014

If you ask me, beagles are the perfect dogs: relatively small, loyal, friendly, high-energy, smart, loving, and very low-maintenance in terms of grooming (but high-maintenance in terms of energy!). Oh, yeah, and they’re ADORABLE. They’re big dogs in small packages, absolutely gorgeous and fun, and have complex personalities. And the ears, oh, the ears. Heavenly velvet ears. And the tails, the tails, the wagging, white-tipped tails. And the eyes, oh, the eyes, the eyes, the alert and soulful eyes…

I love beagles. Period.

There are some challenges to beagle ownership, however, and I very strongly recommend anyone considering adopting a beagle be aware that beagles need a lot of attention and care. To buy or adopt a beagle without the ability to provide the level of care beagles require can have negative consequences for all involved. Are beagles worth all the work they demand? YES! But please don’t buy a beagle unless you have met the beagle parenting prerequisites.

Beagle owners must have:

Sept. 10, 2014

• Time and energy: Beagles are very high-energy and need a brisk walk each day for about 45 minutes (more when they are younger, a little less as they get older), plus playtime inside, in a fenced yard, and/or at a well-fenced dog park.
• Patience: Beagles demand a lot of attention, and like most puppies, will chew up anything they find. Please be aware that any chewable items you leave within reach may be ruined and may harm your beagle! It’s the human’s responsibility to be sure valuable items are not within reach to be chewed. The dog is not to blame for doing what comes naturally.
• A good leash: Beagles have been bred for centuries to follow their noses, and you cannot be certain your beagle will always come when called or stay by your side, regardless of how well trained he is. If you are anywhere near traffic or predators such as coyotes, please walk your beagle on a leash to avoid the risk of losing him or worse.
• A well-fenced yard: Again, your beagle is curious and bred to follow her nose! She will dig out of the yard to follow an interesting scent. Be sure you have a good fence! Daily fence-line checks are recommended. Bring a shovel.

  

  Sept. 9, 2014

• A house: Many beagles are quite vocal, and so aren’t well suited for apartment living. Also, it is important to have a cozy inside space where your beagle can wait for you to come home. Please don’t leave your beagle in the back yard or on the patio alone. I have heard so many stories about forlorn solitary beagles baying in sadness all day while their humans are out. They’ll feel more comfortable inside where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and where they feel secure. Again, your beagle is not to blame for behavior that comes naturally. If she is left alone in the back yard, she may bark or bay out of anxiety. If leaving your beagle alone for long periods of time outside is part of the plan, please revise it.
• A companion: Beagles are sensitive animals bred to live and work in packs, and thrive with a companion to keep them company when their human companions are away. Believe it or not, two dogs can be easier than one! (Okay, not a prerequisite, but a recommendation.)
• Love: Beagles love their humans unconditionally. If you aren’t prepared to return the love and devotion your beagle will give you, please reconsider adopting.
• Commitment: I know beagle puppies are possibly the cutest creatures in the universe, but they also require a lot of work. Please be realistic about how much you can handle, and hold off on adoption until you are sure you have the time, energy, patience, and space a beagle needs to live a happy life and to be the best possible companion for you.

Learn more about beagles from the American Kennel Club. For the latest photos and updates, please follow purdybeagles on Instagram or like our Beaglestone Facebook page. 

Welcome, Puppies!

Liza and first four pups, 5 a.m., Sept. 6

We are very pleased to welcome seven beautiful little beagles to Beaglestone!

In the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 5, I noticed Liza panting continually, pacing, nervous, and nesting aggressively. As I suspected, these behaviors were indicators that she'd entered stage-one labor. I was certain when she refused breakfast Friday morning that puppies were imminent!

Through the day Friday, Liza continued panting, nesting, and refusing food. Her daddy and I kept a close watch and by late evening she was alternating nesting in our bed and in her whelping box. By 2 a.m. she'd settled on the whelping box, and I fell asleep next to her between 2 and 3. 

I woke up to meet Liza's first chubby little furball, brown with a white collar and large white spot on his face, whom I've taken to calling Groot (Liza's daddy calls him The Hound). He's a big fella who always seems to be nursing, even when all the others are napping. We have three brown and white (red and white) puppies and four that look black and white so far, with some brown spots (tricolor). The second pup — and the one vying with Groot for largest in the litter — arrived at 4:45 a.m., black with white belly, paws, cute little brown eyebrows, and of course a white-tipped tail. By 7:45 Liza had whelped all seven puppies in the litter: four black and white (tricolor) and three brown and white (red and white). Of course these colors will change as they grow. All have floppy ears, white bellies and paws, and white-tipped tails!

Liza and pups, 9 a.m., Sept. 6

Liza was a champ. There were no problems at all with the births and she needed no assistance from me. I've been trying to stay as hands-off as possible, just moving puppies closer to her when they get separated from the pack. She's a natural mother, so attentive to her pups and dedicated to caring for them. She finally agreed to eat late morning yesterday when I brought her bowl into the room — and she proved to have a very healthy appetite! She went right back to nursing the pups after that, and for their part, the pups did very well nursing. I made sure they all had a chance to nurse and then left them to their mama's care!

Last night Liza devoured her second meal in the room and reluctantly agreed to go outside for just a second or two. We slept well during the night, with a few interruptions from crying puppies who'd gotten separated from their littermates. By 6 a.m. today Liza was ready for another huge meal, longer visit to the back yard, and by 6:30 wouldn't let Pip and me leave for our walk without her!

We are going to be very busy around here, but we'll try to keep you updated! We're so thankful that everything has gone well so far and hopeful that Liza and her pups will stay healthy. Very well done, Liza. What a brave, beautiful, and wise dam she is. I'm so proud of her.

For the latest photos and updates, please follow purdybeagles on Instagram or like our Beaglestone Facebook page.