Saying goodbye to the folks who were nice to him at ACC!
we stopped at the dog run for a little freedom on the way home from the pound, lots of pent up energy!
The first day Ernie acted like a loon, but who wouldn't be after being sprung from the clink! Zoomies around the dog run, zoomies around the apartment, jumping baby gates and counter surfing and the omg the HOWLING!!! holy crap, holy crap, angry neighbors and eviction any minute! and the potty situation... 5 walks that day and he only wanted to go potty inside, sometimes immediately after coming inside from a long walk, didn't seem to a user of wee pads either.
munching on bones in his crate.
we've added some comfy towels since then to cozy up the crate and hide some kibble in;)
the whole crew.
this is pretty much what they would do constantly if they were not physically separated.
To get Ernie even more adoptable I'm concentrating on the 2 most troublesome issues first, the howling (he does this when left alone in another room) and the housebreaking. Pasha has a ton of food dispensing toys and Ernie really took to them and has a really great attention span, and now like Pasha is crazy excited to see them come out! He gets both meals in a food toys in his crate and that keeps him busy and quiet for awhile and then I guess he takes a nap cuz I don't hear the toys being moved around and I also don't hear little Ernie;)
can you believe this was his first exposure to his Busy Buddy toy, Ernie's a dog genius;)
We kinda have a rhythm now, wake up, walk and dog run (did I mention he has been accident free for 2 days? yes, he goes potty outside now and gets lots of cookies for doing so) Ernie and Pasha get their breakfast in a food toy, Ernie is fed in his crate and chills out for and hour or two, then insane play session, then back to crate with a bone or cookie toy, more play, more crate, more walk, more play, dinner in crate and on and on! I think it's working pretty well, he's not complaining about being in his crate at all today and it's only day 4:) I think crate training is a valuable tool but of course the goal is to prepare him to be left alone at times in a larger space or the whole apartment/house and to have some things he likes to do (that he's allowed to do!) so he doesn't get in trouble by playing in trash cans etc when his folks aren't home;) This way he's working his big brain on the food toys and then burning up the puppy energy with the wrestling and learning to be alone and gnaw on a bone while thinking about chasing bunnies, hopefully this sort of foundation combined with actual obedience training (I don't think he's even been trained to sit yet much less anything else) will keep him a happy (and reasonably quiet) Beagle.
Note on Ernie (so far, stay tuned for updates!):
1. Maybe not quite housebroken but working towards it, I am hopeful;)
2. Walks nicely on the leash, curious about dogs and people we pass. Sometimes he sees a person or a dog he's interested in and just stares wistfully at them as they walk away.... sigh.
3. No food aggression.
4. He seemed to have a little "separation anxiety" when he first got here, of course it's hard to say since he had just come out of the shelter and was in a new place with new people. Everyday he seems better and calmer and quieter and I have a feeling with enough exercise and busy toys/bones this won't be a problem, having doggie company probably helps a lot too.
5. Doggy company? YES PLEASE! he loves my dog and I'd love to see him go to a home with another playful dog so they can wear each other out and snuggle afterwards;)
6. Other animals? curious about the cat, he has been batted on the nose a few times and is learning polite kitty boundaries. Ignores my birds which is a surprise considering he is a Beagle after all.
7. Destructive? Hard to say? he is still pretty young and in full puppyhood and I do see a little mouthing here and there, I'm pretty sure at this stage he would definitely get his little self into trouble if left alone as far as jumping on counters and sticking his face in the trash so I have never left him in another room unsupervised or uncrated and have no plans too;)
8. Likes the car and was well behaved in the backseat with Pasha!
9. Due to a little Kennel cough he has not yet been neutered but is scheduled for this Wednesday.
10. I'm not usually a Beagle fan but I am an Ernie fan! The little guy needs a home with folks who understand a Beagles hardwired needs/drives and can give him an outlet for that to keep him happy and balanced! he also needs an education and lots of firm, gentle, consistent, leadership and I'm pretty sure you'll have a happy little buddy in Ernie;) he couldn't be more lovable!
The fox and the hound;) gotta love his smile!
to fill out an application for Ernie go to http://poshpetsrescue.org/adoptadog/ernie/
General Beagle info from http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com a site I check when I get a foster dog who is a recognizable breed, has some helpful info and can help you choose an appropriate dog for your lifestyle and training abilities. Here are some things you should know if you are one of the uninitiated, and some things you will chuckle about if you are in the know;)
Beagle Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em
Beagles are conveniently-sized, handsome and easy-to-groom, friendly with people, peaceful with other pets, and with their appealing soulful expression, it's perfectly natural that many people consider them as potentially wonderful pets.
However, Beagles were developed as hunting dogs and they have many hunting dog behaviors "hardwired" into their genes.
Beagles need much more exercise than most people give them, which is why you see so many fat Beagles with health problems. Though they're often kept in city apartments or condos, they should not be. Beagles require long frequent walks and a fenced yard where they can stretch their legs off-leash -- FENCED because Beagles are explorers and chasers who will follow their nose wherever that fascinating sight or smell takes them, and since Beagles are endowed with selective deafness, they seldom come back when you call them.
In addition, you can't leave them outside unmonitored, for Beagles are prone to wanderlust and can be adept climbers and diggers. Also, Beagles left outside become bored and then they bay and howl and dig holes.
The Beagle's vast stubbornness and distractability call for early, consistent obedience training. Use food rewards to motivate him, but don't indulge too much or you'll end up with that portly Beagle I mentioned earlier. A Beagle is often found with his head buried in the garbage and he will cheerfully filch whatever morsels you leave within reach!
f you want a dog who...
- Is conveniently-sized, sturdy, and athletic
- Is completely natural in appearance
- Has a short easy-care coat
- Loves exercise, play, and outdoor activities
- Is good-natured and peaceful with everyone
A Beagle may be right for you.
If you don't want to deal with...
- An extremely careful search to find good-tempered lines
- Providing a goodly amount of exercise, not just a couple of walks around the block
- Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
- An independent "what's in it for me?" attitude -- can be obstinate
- Keeping him on-leash or securely fenced
- Controlling baying and howling
- Slowness to housebreak
- Moderate to heavy shedding
- A distinctive doggy odor
- Concerns about a lot of potential health problems in the breed
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