Because Beagles are like potato crisps, it is hard to have just one. Last Sunday our new girl, Merry, came to stay. Because of our ages, I had been looking out for an older Beagle, (she is almost six), and though she is speyed, and has retired from serious showing and breeding, she is very lively, and so sweet natured. Eddie thinks she is just OK, but he'll come round. She is more elegant and dainty than him, and so much faster - goodness knows when I'll dare to let her off a line. I'll try and post some pics. over the weekend. She is not a rescue, she was much loved, but has lived in a well run kennels, so this week, life for both of us has been a steep learning curve. She does not understand the word 'sit', (Why sit when I can do such a pretty show pose?). She scores zero for patience, (Scratch, scratch. Open this door NOW! Food, Food, NOW!). She is not house trained, but she is not a dirty dog by nature, and does prefer to go outdoors. My thighs are a mass of mini bruises, as she constantly 'pings' against you at just that height. Perhaps her worst point is the mournful repeated 'Woof', which says that she doesn't like to be left at night. Call us soppy if you wish, but we are back to sleeping in shifts. (We do live in a semi det. bungalow). As long as there is a person in the room, SHE goes out like a light! She had better learn to cope quickly though. We're both cream crackered.
How wonderful! I'm sure she'll soon get used to, and love, being a house dog. Whenever I've had a new dog I always sleep in the same room as them - that way they settle straight away and I get more sleep than I would if I was upstairs listening to them cry. After a week or so they feel completely at home and I can go back to my nice comfy bed - for which my back is always grateful!
My pretty new girl on the field today ............. Shame about the tail! I must stop calling Eddie, 'Little Ed', as now Tweed has passed I realise that he is actually a somewhat bigger Ed than I previously thought! Please note that we almost have a 'sit' from Merry in this pic! The next one shows how I am managing to get all those bruises on my thighs. Starting to work towards a hand target - and accidentally demonstrating that we do pick up!
Merry is lovely and she and Eddie make a really handsome pair! I had to laugh about her going into a show pose because that's what Gwylim would do when I first brought him home. His breeder specialises in show dogs, and all his puppies are trained from a few weeks old to stand in a show pose. I couldn't understand why every time I put a lead on Gwylim he stood perfectly still and refused to budge! From the photos it looks as though Eddie has now accepted Merry.. Even though they'd met before and Georgina had given her approval, when I brought Gwylim home she studiously ignored him for the first three days. Then the following morning when she play bowed, laid down and rolled over onto her back inviting him to play I knew she'd accepted him. Good luck and best wishes to you all!
What a lovely girl, one of my Gsd’s used to nip my leg during training mostly on about turns, took ages to break the habit without curbing his enthusiasm.
