Feargal and the Cow Ear
Unca Frankie came home for the long weekend bearing big treats for the puppies: big ol’ cow ears.
Fred Fred and Ferga Dog immediately got down to the hard business of eating theirs up. Feargal Butt had important rituals to perform first, however:
What can I say? Instinct rules.
The Howling
Something different I’d never seen before: All three howling at the same time. In fact, I can’t remember Fred howling before at all, but I could be wrong.
The cause of all the ‘citement? A chow-chow dog walked down their street. In front of their house. Shocking! (I don’t think Fergus even knew the puppy was out there. He just joined in for the fun of it.)
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!
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.