New Pics on Flickr!
Finally posted some «new pics on Flickr» of the boys. Whatta buncha beagles! ★
• 15 Words written by Steve @ 13:38 | 26-Jul-08 in Photos • Bark Back
Family Reunion
I know I haven’t posted in awhile, but the latest gallery should make up for it: On 30-Mar, the boys were reunited with their Daddy, Buddy Bear Castro, and their sister, Isabel, and also got to meet their big brother, Bear, from Buddy’s and Ginger’s first litter. We also had the sad occasion to see mama Ginger’s gravesite. Spaghetti was served and a very good time was had by all; thanks to humans Susan and Lisa and the kids.
All the glorious photos are «here». ★
• 87 Words written by Steve @ 13:22 | 20-Apr-08 in Beagles • Bark Back
Happy New Year!
Happy 2008 from the Hell Hounds!
The boys get neutered two days into the new year. Gonna be a whole new year in a lot of different ways. ★
• 27 Words written by Steve @ 17:41 | 31-Dec-07 in Photos • Bark Back
Howling
Here’s what happens with Fergus almost every time a fire truck goes by the house (click to enlarge):
Rob Harrell’s «Big Top» is no longer published, but all the past strips are in UComics’ archive. ★
• 37 Words written by Steve @ 16:43 | 02-Dec-07 in Fergus • Bark Back
First Night Upstairs
Gosh, where to start?
First, I suppose, is the milestone of sleeping all night with the boys in our room. It’s been very cold recently and last night was supposed to be below freezing. With these tile floors, we decided the boys might get too cold during the night, since we also tend to turn down the heat a bit.
So, we let them run up and down the stairs a bit and go out and potty and snork around the bedroom and then we closed the door and that blew their minds, and then Unca Frankie took his bath which blew their minds, and then we started settling down.
Feargal spent much time wandering back and forth on the bed. He couldn’t get comfy and kept changing positions. Fred curled up on a towel in the floor. Fergus was on the bed at first. Then, gradually, Feargal banished Fergus from the bed, and I followed. I am on five high blood pressure meds and they dry me out terribly, so my snoring is god awful. I started out on the floor next to Fergus, but was getting too loud and ended up taking Fergus and the bedding into our closet.
At 2:45 a.m., Fredrik pooped and pottied on the floor. We cleaned that up and let them go out, then tried it again. Fergus and I went back to the closet, Feargal resumed control of the bed, and Fredrik eventually joined Fergus and I. The rest of the night passed uneventfully.
Feargal woke up Unca Frankie early by sticking his nose in his face and under his arm. Everybody trooped downstairs fairly early and the experiment was over. It was, all-in-all, not a bad first experience. They’ve only spent very short times upstairs, and they were very good, considering. Developmentally, Fred is still not quite there in terms of being able to hold it overnight, but will be soon. He’ll eventually figure out how to scratch at the bedroom door like he does downstairs when he wants out.
In other news, Feargal is into a total dominance kick where Fergus is concerned. There’s growling and bristling and posturing and teeth baring. Fergus doesn’t quite understand what’s going on and sometimes challenges and escalates. Mostly, he puts up with it. We can’t wait for the neutering appointment, which will hopefully put a stop to at least most, if not all, of this nonsense.
The boys have done some damage to the trim molding in the living room which will have to be replaced. So I put up sheets of tileboard to keep them from chewing the walls. It has worked so far. Besides being upset about the destruction, I was also upset to see that the molding in what is supposed to be a half-million-dollar house is … compressed cardboard. No wonder the boys loved chewing it. Unbelievable. ★
• 477 Words written by Steve @ 20:26 | 01-Dec-07 in Beagles • Bark Back
Whole Dog Barkery Goodness
The boys had their first bath the other day at the very wonderful «Whole Dog Barkery and Paw Spa», where you can bathe and take care of your pooch, shampoo and towels supplied, for $13. They also have an automatic dryer; you put the pooch in a kennel with a plexiglass door and turn on the blower and they get dry. The boys didn’t appreciate that very much, but it’s very effective. I’ll try to get some video edited and on YouTube soon.
The Whole Dog Barkery is highly recommended if your in the Bay Area. They have wonderful stuff, the spa is beyond wonderful, and you can stand and watch treats and stuff being baked in the kitchen on the other side of a viewing glass. And be sure and say hi to the very friendly Rhodesian Ridgebacks on site. Alicia Franklin is the owner and she has done a fabulous job. Be sure and visit. ★
• 158 Words written by Steve @ 18:42 | 25-Nov-07 in Beagles • Bark Back
Snip, Snap, Paddy-Whack
The boys are scheduled for their neutering surgeries on 2-Jan-08. With all the testosterone washing around our knees, we can’t wait. They’ll all three be done at once. I have to have them at the clinic in Martinez by 7:30 a.m., then pick them up after 3:30. Should be a HIGHLY interesting day. ★
• 52 Words written by Steve @ 23:05 | 16-Nov-07 in Anticipation • Bark Back
First Baths
No updates in a long time. That’s because I’ve been under the weather and waiting on the change in servers. We’re now hosted on a brand-new Solaris servers at Joyent, and things are all spiffy. But it’s taking me awhile to get things back in place.
Today, the boys had their very first bath. We took them to the Whole Dog Barkery and Spa here in Brentwood and they had a grand time. Well, we did. They weren’t all that excited. They have a drying box where you put them in behind a plexiglass door and let them be air-dried automatically. They were not at all thrilled. Fergus was an espcially whiney dog. But then, he often is.
They also had their first encounter with a golden retriever (Fergus barked at him). And then they went to the park.
I have videos, but it will be a day or two before I get them processed using the new iMovie on our newly Leopard-powered Macs.
The boys will be eight months old this week. They are indeed a pack of hounds. ★
• 180 Words written by Steve @ 16:54 | 04-Nov-07 in Beagles • Comment
Perfect.
A perfect shot. A very, very, very, very RARE perfect shot.
★
• 11 Words written by Frank @ 22:11 | 30-Sep-07 in Beagles • Comment
Second Puppy Fang Lost
Feargal just lost his first puppy fang. He and Fergus have one puppy fang each now. Fredrik still has his, but he’ll pretty much always be developmentally behind.
Puppyhood is fading fast. ★
• 32 Words written by Steve @ 14:37 | 06-Aug-07 in Feargal • Comment
Losing a Tooth
Fergus lost his first puppy fang today. He’s the first of the boys to lose one. His big boy fangs are growing in. Feargal has them growing in also, and Fredrik isn’t far behind.
The puppy stage is quickly moving behind us. Hard to believe. They will be five months old next week. Also hard to believe. ★
• 57 Words written by Steve @ 15:26 | 04-Aug-07 in Fergus • Comment
New Video
Feargal has a new video up on YouTube. Enjoy!
★
• 9 Words written by Steve @ 13:44 | 31-Jul-07 in Feargal • Comment
First Leap Onto the Bed
Well, it finally happened.
At four months and 19 days, Fredrik was the first of the three boys to make the leap onto our bed. He was followed very quickly by Fergus. Feargal, unfortunately, couldn’t figure it out, just like with the couch. But, since the couch is no longer a problem, I’m sure the bed will follow soon.
This is the beginning of us losing our bed space and needing a king-size bed. As soon as they get “the surgery” and pass the seven-month mark, they should be trustworthy enough to allow upstairs for the night, and that means, they take over our bed.
A gallery is coming. I promise. Just haven’t felt well lately. More later! ★
• 117 Words written by Steve @ 20:51 | 28-Jul-07 in Behavior • Comment
Headshot
Just added to the ever-burgeoning gallery:
★
• 6 Words written by Steve @ 15:36 | 26-Jul-07 in Feargal • Comment
They Grow So Fast
The pups are now 19 weeks old.
Steve warned me, but I wasn’t really prepared. They do grow fast!
Granted, I’ve been away a lot over the past month — traveling to Washington DC for a week at the end of June, down in Palm Springs for several days housesitting for a friend a week ago.
But even so, these are no longer puppies in size (little Fred, once undeniably the runt, is no longer little), although they are very much still puppies in attitude.
The pups sleep a lot less than they used to and have tons more energy than they used to. They inhale their food. Their curiosity knows no limits. A sunflower seed, a laptop cord, a supermarket receipt, a ripened peach, a dry twig, a flower pot full of wildflowers, the manufacturer’s tag on a pillow — all hold determined fascination (along with the spark of the irresistible impulse to be torn to shreds).
Fergus and Fred are still rambunctious, rowdy, and rapscallionesque. Feargal is somewhat less so, unless provoked by the two others. But he has his own ways of displaying his lingering puppyhood — like insisting on taking possession of my lap for extended periods during the weekday evenings, even though as the largest dog he cannot even be remotely said to comfortably fit in it anymore. Last night he contorted himself into a pretzel trying to get his lap time in.
Steve will have new photos up soon, I’m sure. ★
• 243 Words written by Frank @ 09:16 | 19-Jul-07 in Beagles • Comment
About this Site
This is a website featuring our three beagle boy puppies, Feargal (which means valorous warrior), Fergus (which means strong warrior), and Fredrik (which means peaceful warrior). They are tri-colored, blue tick beagle puppies.
They were born 8-Mar-07 along with their two sisters, Jasmine and Isabel. Their mom and dad are Ginger Spice Girl and Buddy Bear Castro. They came to live with us permanently on 19-Apr-07.
Click on the “Beagles” link in the sidebar to read more about each puppy. Thanks for visiting! ★
• 83 Words written by Steve @ 17:03 | 11-Jul-07 in Beagles • Comment
Some Random Photos
A new photo album is up and contains «random pics from June 2007». Lots of beagle sleeping in this one.
I’m working on a couple of cute videos. But for now, enjoy the pics! ★
• 33 Words written by Steve @ 17:11 | 25-Jun-07 in Photos • Comments
Week 14 Photos
A new photo album is finally posted: «The Beagles Boys, Week 14». It includes this classic photo of Fredrik and Fergus which I was incredibly lucky to get. They never stay still long enough in any nice pose, so this is a very rare photo:
Lots of exciting things happened: The boys had their second round of shots and went for a ride in the car and walked around with leashes and harnesses for the first time and got a new swimming pool and everything. It was all quite exciting!
Feargal weighs 17.6 pounds, Fergus weighs 14.8, and Fredrik weighs 13.8. That’s why we call Feargal “The Big Dog” and “The Big Galoomph.” We’ll have to watch his weight. The boys are doing well, growing in leaps and bounds and having lots and lots of fun. When I get some time this weekend, I’ll work up some videos. In the meantime, enjoy the new gallery! ★
• 153 Words written by Steve @ 19:01 | 14-Jun-07 in Photos • Comments
First in the Chair
The Fergus dog, with admittedly some prompting and cajoling, was the first of the boys to figure out how to jump up onto a chair yesterday. He has too much energy, however, to just lie there and enjoy it and is currently just using it in an effort to try to figure out how to get over the half-wall into the living room, the Forbidden City. Once you’re in the Forbidden City, it’s a quick run up the stairs to Paradise, also known as our bedrooms, which is a fabulously exciting thing for a beagle to do.
The boys have occasionally slipped through or broken through the safety gate between their room and the living room and gone charging upstairs. Once up there, you would think there were barrels of candy or something; they go absolutely nuts. Excited, wiggly, whiny, and did I mention excited? They refuse to come down and it becomes a fabulous game. They come to the head of the stairs and when we go up to get them, they run. They have a grand time and have to be scooped up and carried back downstairs. Which is becoming harder, since they have grown and are much heavier now, of course.
So Fergus uses his new-found ability to get in the chair to do some heavy beagle thinking: “How can I get over this wall into the Forbidden City?” Right now, it would be easy for him to get on top of the wall’s ledge, but then the issue of getting down is what is holding him in check. But I think it won’t be long until he figures out that, once he’s on the ledge, it’s a simple hop down over the back of the couch, then down to the floor. We’ll either have to hope he doesn’t figure it out or rearrange the furniture. Knowing beagles as I do, I’m mentally rearranging the room already.
Feargal loves to be in the chair, but has to be lifted into it. He hasn’t figured out what Fergus did, that you have to spread your back legs a bit and hop just right and catch your back paws on the edge of the cushion and Bob’s-your-uncle, you’re up. Feargal is heavier and slower, but probably smarter, so it won’t be long. At the very least, he’ll get big enough to just hop up without needing Fergus’ gymnastics. Feargal does enjoy sleeping on the chair or keeping an eye on his brothers with his forehead all wrinkled. He too shows interest in the Forbidden City on the other side, but would rather just curl up and nap.
Fredrik will probably be the second one to figure it out, but he’s lighter and smaller than Fergus and less interested in getting up there. He’s done better lately eating and is finally gaining weight and shows signs of keeping up with his brothers, at least to a degree. He’s still the smallest. He’s also the one who prefers to be outside. He’s also figured out that, if he wants to have a full meal, he has to send a message to his brothers or they finish with their usual blazing speed and come over to his bowl. Since Fred prefers to eat slower, he has to be a bit protective. We have to watch this one to make sure he doesn’t start to have food defense issues. But at least he’s finally having full meals and Feargal and Fergus definitely know to leave him alone. They don’t have a problem sharing with each other.
We go to the vet tomorrow afternoon for our follow-up vaccinations. Should be interesting, since they’ve outgrown their halters and will have to be on leashes with collars. Which they really don’t like. Gonna be an interesting trip.
I have some very cute pictures to post and will get them up as soon as I can. Meanwhile, so it goes. ★
• 653 Words written by Steve @ 15:39 | 13-Jun-07 in Behavior • Comments
Compare/Contrast
The Fergus dog is no longer black-headed and has lost quite a bit of his puppy-ishness. Here he was on 20-April at six weeks:
And here he is today at 12 weeks:
They grow up so fast! ★
• 36 Words written by Steve @ 13:55 | 01-Jun-07 in Fergus • Comments
Three Months Old!
I realize it’s been a while since I’ve posted. My physical condition has gone downhill this month as I’m slogging through the battery of tests thrown at me by the doctor and waiting for the magical surgery date which hasn’t materialized yet. But progress is being made, albeit very, very slowly.
The boys continue to do very well and tomorrow they will be three months old. Their heads are really turning brown now, something that has happened just in the last week. They romp and play for a couple of hours, then sleep for a couple of hours. All day long, that’s their routine. Fredrik is on the small and skinny side and we’re trying to fatten him up. Feargal is the chow hound and the big guy, the most even-tempered and the most cuddly/lovable. Fergus is pure alpha … full of energy and curiosity and did I mention energy? He’s the most vocal, too, and whines a lot to get his way. He and Fred have figured out how to bark; Feargal hasn’t found his voice yet. Feargal looks like his mom and acts like a Basset hound. I suppose he’s too cool and calm to bark yet.
We have some minor issues with the boys wanting to bite everything in sight, but we’re working on that and otherwise, they’re extremely good pups and have been really pretty trouble-free. They sleep all night long without a whimper. Although they are fed from three separate bowls, they insist on eating together (at least two of them) at one bowl before moving on to the next. Fortunately there are no food-sharing issues, like growling or fighting.
The good part of me being home the past month is that I’ve been able to spend lots of time with the boys and get them into a routine and start training them. They get to spend lots of time in the back yard running and playing and sunning themselves. They love water from the hose, digging in the garden, and chewing sticks. They’ve also begun picking the raw peaches from the tree and eating them down to the pit and then playing with the pit. I have to figure out how to raise the lowest branches above their reach. They don’t seem to have any problems digesting the peaches, but I’m surprised. I didn’t think they’d pick the fruit off the tree. I should have known better!
I’ll try to take some proper pics tomorrow and post a new gallery. In the meantime, it’s off to bed. Ah, life with puppies … ★
• 427 Words written by Steve @ 15:33 | 30-May-07 in Beagles • Comments
Bark
The Beagle Forum!
★
• 3 Words written by Steve @ 22:57 | 16-May-07 in Beagles • Comments
The Boys Versus the Waterhose
The boys have a «new video» up on YouTube! ★
• 11 Words written by Steve @ 12:43 | 16-May-07 in Beagles • Comments
Growing ... With Sticks
I’m sitting outside watching the boys playing in the gloaming … the gathering twilight of a California sunset. The very nice soft evening makes me almost think this place will be tolerable for a little while longer. Almost I said.
They’re growing steadily still, although I suspect Fred and Feargal are on the too-thin side, and they play and sleep with gusto. They seem very happy and well-adjusted and problems have been minor. They think that playing means growling and biteys and getting wild, which is something we’ll have to address as they get older, because they are starting to do the same thing with us as they do with each other … lots of play growling and mouthing and attitude. That’s fine for dealing with your brothers within the pack during the early months of life; it’s not okay for dealing with the peoples in the pack.
They would rather have a good stick than any of the play toys in the world. That or a leg or tail of one of their brothers. Won’t be buying any more chew toys, at least for awhile; it’s wasted money. They’re keeping the flower beds well groomed. Obviously, that presents digestive and other issues, but for now, they’re fine.
Feargal is very itchy. His sides are kinda rough. We’ve tried children’s Benadryl and anti-itch wipes, but they don’t seem to do any good. We’ll have to step things up here, since I noticed a little scabbing this evening. Feargal has the personality and physical appearance of a goofy old bassett hound. He’s the most calm and even-tempered and will be a total complete couch hound, averse to exercise, once he’s through puppy-hood.
Fergus is the most beagle-dy of the bunch and is the most robust. He itches a bit, but not much. He’s not skinny, he’s very active and energetic, and he’s also very, very, very whiney. What a whiney-ass beagle! Sounds like a rusty squeeze box when he needs attention. When he’s playing outside, he is total beagle … a bit of a spazz, really, but adorable.
Fredrik continues to be runty, not much into eating (although his piggy brothers may have more to do with that). He’s also very beagle-dy, but almost all black in color. We’ll see how much brown he actually has when he grows up. His coloring will be interesting. The vet says he would be unable to have kids, and that issue may cause us some problems in the coming months. He has matured better than I thought he would, and he certainly doesn’t take anything off his bigger brothers.
Honestly, my feelings about puppyhood haven’t changed. I hadn’t planned to do this, and probably won’t do it ever again (famous last words!). It takes gallons of patience and stamina (and odor/stain remover) to get through the first six months or so. I was glad I did it with Bayley and I’ll be glad I did it with them. But. Good lord. Can’t wait for them to grow up and be the kind of beagle Bayley was … which was wonderful companion, only occasional pain-in-the-butt, and pretty near trouble-free.
And on that subject. Granted, I’ve been diagnosed with an adrenal tumor which, among other things, causes emotional spikes (up and down). But God, I miss Bayley and am having a helluva hard time adjusting to him being gone, even though it’s been over two months. The puppies have been with us for a month as of this coming Thursday, but I’m still not adjusted to them either.
But more than the puppies is that huge hole in my heart left by Bayley Murphy Beagle. I miss him every single day and feel incredibly guilty and sad over his last two months of life. Mostly, I just miss him. I didn’t get the puppies to replace him. You can never replace someone close to you in your life. I love these three little guys … a lot. But if I could wave a magic wand and reset the clock to say, January, I’d do it in a heart beat.
I’ll get over it, to the extent that you can. And the boys will occupy a new happy place in my heart. But there was only one Bayley. And I just … simply … miss him. In the gloaming. ★
• 716 Words written by Steve @ 12:35 | 14-May-07 in Beagles • Comments
Picture of the Day: Fergus is Ready for a Nap
When Fergus gets ready to go to bed, he runs into the playpen and flops down. There is no in between, no winding down. It’s just run in, hop on the bed and we’re gone. But first, he eyes things around him:
He just has two gears … fast forward and park. ★
• 51 Words written by Steve @ 05:17 | 09-May-07 in Fergus • Comments
Picture of the Day: Feargal is Reprimanded
Feargal has just been reprimanded for chewing on the potty training pad:
The first of many such looks he will shoot our way. ★
• 23 Words written by Steve @ 05:15 | 08-May-07 in Feargal • Comments
Picture of the Day: Fred Posed
Fred is looking mighty beagle-dy here:
One of his truly rare moments. ★
• 12 Words written by Steve @ 10:01 | 04-May-07 in Fredrik • Comments
Week 8
The last two weeks have been incredibly … topsy-turvy, so I haven’t been able to update things. But here goes.
The boys have grown like weeds. They’re doing fabulously, although Feargal seems to have an allergy to something around here and is scratching a lot and needs half a children’s Benadryl a day. Fredrik has undescended testicles and would probably be unable to have kiddies himself if we were planning that, which we weren’t. Fergus is all beagle, nothing wrong with him, full of energy and the most beagle-dy of the bunch. Feargal often acts like there’s a streak of basset in him, prompting us to occasionally refer to him as a “bagel” — a cross between a beagle and a basset. He’s supposedly not, but still. Fred seems to be a week or two behind the others in his development and is the most baby-ish.
We went to the vet today for our first vaccinations. It was quite an operation, but we did it successfully. And got a 20% discount for having three at once. The boys were whiney, but very good. We may have some worms, and I have to take some of their poop to the vet tomorrow. Otherwise, things are well on track.
Pictures from their birthday are up in the «Week 8 photo gallery».
Their routine pretty much follows a usual pattern: up at 6 a.m., out for some play time, in for some breakfast, back out for potty time, back in for nap time. Up at noonish for lunch and play time, back in and down at 2ish until dinnertime. Up and about and playing while we eat dinner, then they have their dinner, then a nap until 10ish, when it’s time to go out for final peepers and poopers. Then down for the night in their kennel, and then we repeat the whole thing all over again.
The last two weeks have been extremely eventful, but more on that later. For now, enjoy the pics! ★
• 330 Words written by Steve @ 13:23 | 03-May-07 in Photos • Comments
Webcam is Up
The «Beagle Boys’ webcam» is up and running. It will probably be online every day between roughly 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. or so Pacific time.
It’s a static cam, updated every 15 seconds. I got the live video cam working fine over the web (thanks, Unca Jay), but our work sites are blocking the feed, so it was kind of useless. This will have to do.
Enjoy! More later on our first few days together … it’s been quite busy and lots of fun. ★
• 85 Words written by Steve @ 23:32 | 22-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
Last Night
This is our last beagle-free night. The 48 long, dreary, color-less, beagle-less nights since we lost Bayley Murphy will come to an end, thank god.
I dearly love the Beagle Boys already and can’t imagine not having them join us for the next phase of our lives, but I still miss Bayley terribly. Given a choice, I’d rather be bringing him home from the vets than the boys. Well, actually, I’d rather bring all four home, to be completely accurate. Can’t imagine not having them home too.
Bayley would have been a royally hacked-off dog if we had brought three rambunctious youngsters into his house and yard while he was still here. He was lord and master and barely suffered our presence around the place, let alone p-u-p-p-i-e-s, for god’s sake, how dare we even think it!
But he might have adapted pretty well, once they aged a bit. He would probably have spent much time upstairs, which I plan to place mostly off-limits to the boys, at least at first. And he certainly wouldn’t have stayed on the bed with us and them both. He barely tolerated Frank and I up there. For that matter, I’m not sure I could have handled two adults, a grampa beagle, and three squirmy puppies in one queen-sized bed. It’s all fun and games until someone ends up on the floor on the butt in the middle of the night.
This time tomorrow, everything changes. Still can’t wait.
By the way, I still have many photos from the last visit, week 5, to post on Flickr. Just haven’t had a chance to do it yet. I will do that tomorrow before we go to the vet for the big to-do. ★
• 285 Words written by Steve @ 15:30 | 18-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
Almost Time
The boys are coming home Thursday afternoon for good. Should be quite an evening. One of their two sisters, Isabella, went to her forever home this afternoon, and now it’s Feargal, Fergus, and Fredrik time. Jasmine’s status hasn’t quite been determined yet.
We meet them at the vet’s at 3:40, then after an exam, etc., and a talk with the Doc (who is also Bayley’s last vet), we bring them home. The beagles get their first Jeep ride. It’s only maybe three minutes, unlike the two hours Bayley experienced when we brought him home, but still, we’ll see if they exhibit any anti-car problems or if, like their daddy, they love riding around.
After that, the adventure begins. Holy cow, this will be something! ★
• 123 Words written by Steve @ 13:56 | 17-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
70s Dogs
• 3 Words written by Steve @ 05:21 | 17-Apr-07 in Video • Comments
Presenting: The Whiner
«Hold your ears», folks! ★
• 6 Words written by Steve @ 15:14 | 11-Apr-07 in Feargal • Comments
One More Week Until P-Day?
Got an e-mail tonight from the Beagle Lady and she tells us that the puppies are enjoying moving into solid food. I’m sure Ginger Beagle is enjoying it especially, since she won’t have to feed the hungry crew much longer. We’re also told the boys are doing well and continuing to get “big and strong and oh so cute.”
She also tells us that Feargal is “not whining much, and seems more adventuresome,” which is good news. On the last two visits, he was an _extremely whiny beagle, and was also kind of shy and timid and tentative. Fergus was more dominant, climbing and walking around, poking his nose in things, being curious and being quiet. Feargal had us a bit worried. So, it’s nice to hear that he’s pulling it together. Maybe he’s a late bloomer.
We’ve noticed that Fred is always quiet and dignified dog; he just sits or lies and looks around very solemnly. So his name, part of which means “peaceful,” is very appropriate. I’m very curious to see what happens with him.
We’re thinking of bringing the boys home even earlier, although it could be a problem. They have their first visit at the Evil Place (the vet’s office) on 19-Apr. We’ve been planning to bring them home the next day, but why wait? Why not just bring them home directly from the vet’s office? I’m so beagle starved, I’m willing to stay up all night long and listen to puppy crying. If we were just taking one of them home, I probably would wait until week 8 or 12. But the whole point of this venture is that the three of them will have each other for company, and that will make the transition so much smoother. So, bringing them home on Day 42 shouldn’t be too bad. Or those could be famous last words. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, we’re slowly getting ready. I still have lots of puppy proofing to do, we have to buy an appropriate crate, and so on. I bought their food dishes the other day at Petco, now we need little harnesses and leashes.
Golly, just can’t wait! Tonight, it’s almost a physical longing. Has something to do, probably, with missing Bayley Murphy so badly. Dangit, I wasn’t finished with him! He was my boy! Not a day or moment goes by that I don’t think of him. He was such a wonderful, well-behaved, delightful beagle, the perfect companion, my “little bitty baby puppy dawg.”
I imagine he’s gonna be slighly hacked off that we’re bringing three boisterous, noisy, strange little beagles into his house and yard, but I also think he’ll end serving as our benevolent spiritual watch dog, looking over his house and yard and watching the puppies, keeping them safe. They would have loved their big brotha Bayley; it adds to the sadness in our hearts that they weren’t able to meet him. But I can’t change the past; I can only prepare to make the future what I want it to be. And the Boys are an integral part of that.
One more week … ★
• 515 Words written by Steve @ 14:20 | 11-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
New Plates
Our next license plates for Jeepy? ★
• 6 Words written by Steve @ 15:34 | 09-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
Week 4, Day 30 of the Boys' Life
Day 30 of the boys’ lives and boy are they beginning to have personality. Feargal is the timid whiner who is always hungry, Fergus is the dominant, curious, explorer, and Fredrik is the dignified, solemn, and often very sleepy beagle.
It was a lovely visit, although it stretched to two-and-a-half hours. (Apologies, Allens!)
It looks like the boys may be coming home with us after week 6! If they’re ready, that is. We go to the vet for our first visit on 19-Apr, so we’ll let him decide. I’ve been rearranging and cleaning things in the house, getting ready for the invasion. Can’t wait to have the boys home where they belong! It feels like it’s been such a long time since we lost Bayley, even though it’s been just over a month. Heavy sigh. I need me some beagle in my life.
For now, will just have to make do with «the week four photos». Another heavy sigh. Just 86 photos this week (embarrassed grin). ★
• 165 Words written by Steve @ 18:40 | 08-Apr-07 in Photos • Comments
Week Three Pics Are Up
Finally had time to upload the Week Three photos to Flickr. There are over 90, so it took me awhile to write captions, etc. Yeesh. And here it is already Thursday. We see the boys again on Sunday. Can’t wait!!!
More on the week three visit later, when I get a chance. For now, «the photos» will have to tell the story. ★
• 63 Words written by Steve @ 22:39 | 04-Apr-07 in Photos • Comments
Presenting: The Beagle Boys on YouTube
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• 0 Words written by Steve @ 13:11 | 01-Apr-07 in Beagles • Comments
Week Two Visit With the Boys
We had our second visit with the boys today. Stayed two hours. (Sorry about that, mom and kids!)
The puppies have their eyes open and are shakily walking around—slowly and wobbly, but walking. I think their ears are still mostly closed, but the claws are already pretty long. We’ll have to trim them pretty soon.
The boys will go for their first visit to the vet, probably this week, and I’ll go along. Have lots of questions for the vet … such as, “What can you feed dogs that isn’t laced with «rat poison»?”
Anyhoo …
The puppies are very sweet, but are, of course, still in the eat and sleep mode. They won’t be there long, however. Mischievous is in their genes and it will come out soon.
Mom Ginger surprised us a bit today; we took the three new pookies to the boys so they could get used to the smell. Mom, however, really loved them. She played and played and played with them, the first time since the pregnancy, we’re told, that she’s felt like being her old self. She still takes care of business with the puppies, but she’s happy to be getting back to normal. And since she’s only a year-and-a-half old, she’s still a bit of a puppy herself and still enjoys playing. At one point, we had to calm her down, because it seemed that she was a bit confused as to what was a pookie and what was a puppy. She’s a sweetheart, and I’m sure the boys will benefit from that sweetness.
We had a terrific time, became ever more attached to them, and can’t wait to bring them home. It’s looking like possibly 27-April just might be the homecoming date. They’ll be seven weeks old on that day. Bayley came to live with us when he was seven weeks old. It’s a very special time, and we can’t wait for the day.
In the meantime, we have to be content during the week with looking at pictures. Here’s the photos from Week Two, all 115, yes, I said 115, of them. We took 151, and I eliminated some that were similar or blurry to get down to the 115. They’re just too cute to not take pictures, and I’ve always regretted that I don’t have more than two or three of Bayley as a puppy. This time around, things will be different.
Here they are: «Feargal, Fergus, and Fredrik, Week Two».
My favorite photo of this week’s bunch:
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• 416 Words written by Steve @ 15:08 | 25-Mar-07 in Photos • Comments
Ruh-roh
Just got an e-mail from the puppies’ place. The nice lady writes that it looks like the puppies have “nearly doubled in size” since we saw them last Sunday.
Oh, lord. What have we I done? ★
• 36 Words written by admin @ 15:15 | 23-Mar-07 in Beagles •
Fergus Face
Feargal er uh FERGUS sticks his tongue out for the camera.
Talk about a sweet puppy! Can’t wait to see what he’s like this Sunday.
(Click on thumbnails to get larger versions of the pics.) ★
• 35 Words written by @ 13:09 | 22-Mar-07 in Feargal •
New Pookies
We bought the boys’ first toys last Saturday:
Three pookies, one from St. Patrick’s Day, one from Easter, and one regular “Loofah” pookie. Each of the beagles will have a pookie, although I doubt very much that each will stick to one pookie and leave the others alone.
We also bought a mini-tennis ball launcher and six mini-tennis balls. Scent hounds that they are, beagles aren’t really into the fetch thing after they reach two or three—or at least that’s what happened with Bayley—, so we’ll see how long this lasts. Should be fun for at least awhile.
Can’t wait to see the boys again on Sunday and see how they’ve grown during the week. The first six months see rapid growth in beagles, and I’m sure these guys are no different. Gonna enjoy the very fleeting puppy phase as long as I can.
Still not sure about exactly how to handle bringing them home in May. I have to teach and it will be a month before I can stay home with them on a daily basis. I can at least come home at lunch for a very brief period, and they may to stay in their tent in the meantime. I will also try to devise a playpen of some sort so that they have a little more room and maybe a training pad and then they can also have their kennel and tent. I am thankful for the tile floors … they’ll be easy to clean up the inevitable mistakes in the first few months. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to sleep downstairs with them during that first weekend. Still, getting to see them every Sunday between now and then should help smooth things along.
Can’t wait ‘til they come home. I sorely miss having a beagle in my life. ★
• 302 Words written by @ 12:24 | 21-Mar-07 in Toys •
Early Personalities
As far as I can tell, Feargal has the dominant personality. He was the most adventurous, slightly bigger, and the most vocal of the five. His eyes were already opening, while none of his siblings were. He also has the most white in his fur, and was crawling around and over his siblings, and was sticking his tongue out the most. Our prediction is that he will be the alpha of the pack.
Fergus has a white “T” shape on the back of his neck. He and Fred spent the most time attached to Ginger mommy having their dinner. They are roughly the same size and seemed to be right next to each other the most. I have a feeling they will be a dynamic duo, making chaos in the background under the dignified gaze of their bigger brother. Of course, it’s early days—they’re only two-and-a-half weeks old—but that’s my prediction and I’m sticking with it. At least for now. We’ll see what we see at our next meet-up on Sunday.
It’s hard to get a read on the girls; since they’ll be leaving, possibly never to be seen again, in May, I’m trying not to get too attached. My impulse is to bring all five home and keep the family together. But if three beagles in the house is insane, well, five is practically criminal. What a handful that would be!
It was also very gracious of the family to allow us to come visit each Sunday evening. As long as they’re cool with it, I definitely appreciate it. It helps give us a much-needed beagle fix, soothing somewhat the hurt in the heart left by Bayley’s passing, as well as providing some much-needed, quality bonding time with the boys, which will help ease the transition to our house in May.
I’m sorely missing Bayley yesterday and today, since I brought his ashes home. And I can’t wait until the Beagle Boys get to come home. I know that somehow Bayley will be watching over them, aloof, slightly contemptuous, but guiding them along anyway.
Beagles are awesome. ★
• 348 Words written by @ 14:08 | 20-Mar-07 in Beagles •
Introducing the Beagle Boys
So, we were able to go over to the beagle house here in Brentwood this evening, where we were graciously met by my student, her brothers, and her mom and dad, and also graciously accepted by the very sweet Ginger the Beagle, who made no fuss at all as we handled her puppies. Buddy the Beagle, who is their dad, was resting at his own home, so we weren’t able to meet him. But he’s supposedly just as sweet as Ginger. The family has spent the last two weeks praying over the puppies, hoping they ended up in a good home. So, it’s working out well for all concerned.
The puppies’ eyes are just beginning to open and we bonded with them immediately.
We now proudly introduce to you Feargal, Fergus, and Fredrik, the Beagle Boys, who pose along with their mom and two sisters, Isabel and Jasmine on Flickr in their very first pictures ever taken:
«Feargal, Fergus, and Fredrik: First Photos».
To explain the names: In keeping with St. Patrick’s Day and my Irish heritage, we decided to be a bit goofy. Officially, they are Feargal Bayley O’Dougal, Fergus Bayley O’Dougal, and Fredrik Bayley O’Dougal – the middle name is in honor of Bayley Murphey, of course, and O’Dougal is in honor of Kit and Erin’s beloved black Labrador, the late and fierce fetching warrior, Rudy Dougal.
Feargal and Fergus are good old Irish names meaning “Strong Warrior” and “Fierce Warrior.” Fredrik plays on Frank’s Swedish heritage and means “Peaceful Warrior.” And of course, “Warrior” is Beagle-ese for “Let’s see how much chaos we can create before Dad gets home.” Plus, Feargal, Fergus, and Fred are alliterative, not to mention doofus-y and silly and goofy, just like beagles. Ginger Dog’s human kids named them Cinnamon, Sabre, and Rocky, as kids are wont to do, but we’re probably going with our Triple F Threat names. Frank came up with Feargal and Fergus after an internet search; Fred occurred to me because Little Ricky’s dog on I Love Lucy was named Fred. It’s probably all moot; they’ll most likely respond to just about anything, except when they don’t want to, which will be often. Such is life with beagles.
The Bayley chapter in our lives is closing, albeit very reluctantly. The new chapter is opening. Life, as they say, has a way of going on, even when those we love are no longer part of it.
The boys’ lives will be chronicled here at «AirBeagles.Net». Note the “s” in the domain name. Can’t just be singular AirBeagle anymore when there will be three of them running around!
Gonna be an interesting summer! ★
• 446 Words written by @ 15:19 | 18-Mar-07 in First-Meeting •
Time to Meet the Boys
Today we get to see the three beagle boys and their two sisters and their mommy for the very first time. We can’t wait! We’re meeting them at 17:00 today. Photos when we get back!
(In the header above is one of the first pics of the boys. From left are Fergus, Fredrik, and Feargal, who are currently known as Sabre, Cinnamon, and Rocky.) ★
• 63 Words written by @ 07:35 | 18-Mar-07 in First-Meeting •