Help!
 

Take a look at this cute little guy:
http://www.wonderdummy.net/photos/puppy.jpg
So I'm picking him up on Saturday morning, and will be taking care of him from now on. I've wanted a dog, specifically a beagle, for a while. It just happens that we have a very good friend who is moving cross country and cannot take "houdini", as he's called, with her. So it works out well. Only problem is, its kind of short notice, and I have no idea how to take care of a dog! I can't imagine it being terribly difficult, but I've never had a dog and don't have a lot of time to read up on the subject.

So heres what I know:

1. He is crate trained, but "not quite" housebroken.
2. He is neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations
3. He is affectionate and loves kids
4. 15 months old

Not a lot, I know. Heres what I need to know from all you experienced dog-owners out there:

1. What should I ask beforehand? As in, what else do I need to know right away?
2. What sorts of things should I be sure to have on-hand?
3. Any advice you can give!
4. What kind of dog food should I feed him?
5. How best does one housebreak a dog?
6. I have a cat. How do I introduce the two without having to worry that she will kill him?

I'm terribly excited, and I know I'm asking for a lot of information, but whatever advice I can get is helpful and appreciated.

~James

Oh, and Honey, if you read this thread? All that stuff in the post above about me not knowing what I'm doing? I'm just kidding about all that. Its gonna be fine, trust me.

Don't switch his food. He is under enough stress as it is. Keep him on whatever he's on now.

Get him som kinda chewey, pigs ear... something yummy so he won't have to destroy your stuff.

Ear plugs for you, he is a beagle he prolly likes to bark.

Now that you're a dog guy you must understand cats are disposable pets. ;)

The dog is tougher than you think. The cat will not kill him, even if the cat outweighs him.

The dog will not kill the cat, because there are places in the house the dog cannot reach. He may however, try. If you have any extremely fragile expensive vases, you'd be best off putting them in the closet for the period of adjustment.

They may actually be totally unimpressed with each other. You might want to try petting one of the animals while you're coated in the other one's scent prior to the actual introduction. Kind of a way of indicating "this is mine, don't mess with it"

Buy a book on dog training/behavior. I hear the monks of new skete book is really good, and I'm a big fan of Uncle Matty. You may be able to find the video tapes of Woof! and Woof, Woof!! that run on PBS occasionally showing Uncle Matty's dog training techniques (he actually trains owners. The dogs pretty much know what's up). Finish the housebreaking ASAP. Your wife will appreciate it. Until then, look into a product called "Nature's Miracle." It takes the smell out. Really.

Griff is absolutely right on the chewies and not changing the current diet.

He is a cutey!! Good luck with him.

All dog behavior problems are actually human behavior problems and can be solved with appropriate human behavior. All "dog training classes" are actually human training classes, training the humans what to do to work with the dog.

Crate training 101: crate training is a housebreaking tool. If the dog isn't housebroken, crate him for periods when you can't watch him 100%. When you take him out of the crate, immediately take him outside. If he goes outside, praise him heartily, as if he's just done the greatest thing ever.

Collars off while in crate. That's the rule, not to be broken.

UT theory, for men only: on the first day you get him, take him inside, then out the door you'll normally take him to pee. Then, YOU pee where you want him to go. You're showing him what to do. Get him to sniff it and wait a little. Hopefully he'll be in the mood and pee in roughtly the same place, or at least outside somewhere. Praise praise praise. (Do not attempt this with neighbors in sight.)

Have his favorite chew toy around. If he chews something inappropriate, bark a NO at him and then immediately give him something appropriate to chew.

Thanks guys. I wouldn't presume to impose my will over the dogs instinct, so I will do my best to keep the positive reinforcement going.

I think what's most exciting to me, is getting to watch my son interact with and grow with him. He really likes the cat, but shes not fond of him, so it will be neat to have a pet who is eager to play with him.

The current owner tells me that as far as beagles go, he is fairly quiet, doesn't howl a lot. Not sure i believe her, though.

Also, this is kind of selfish, but do I have to keep calling him "Houdini", or do dogs even care what you call them?

~James

is this generally accepted technique?

Dogs do know their names, but if you switch it out with something with the same general vowel sounds, he may not even notice. Hoodie, Louie, Hoopy, I think if you get that "oo" sound he will probably get the concept that it means him.

They pay more attention to the general sound and tone of the word than breaking it down into syllables to understand.

Congrats on the new addition! We're in the process of introducing Max (my cat) to Heidi (my mother's corn dawggy schnauzer). It's going fairly well, so I'd say it's proof they can live together!

About the name...is he an escape artist? Would be a good reason to keep the name :)

Dagney

Well my theory is that dogs pee where other dogs pee, and your dog does not know that you are not a dog.

in fact, according to some literature, aren't you the alpha male in your dog's pack?

i would caution those taking UT's advice...

1 - make sure the animal has not been used in unsavory ways by adult males or...

2 - buy a short dog.

He looks like a "Rudy" to me.

"Rudy" is a good one. Reminds me of The Specials. :)

I liked Louie. And, James, I know you have no idea what you are getting into :P.

Case

I guessing he could match the energy of ska. And I have to comment on the cool rings around his eyes.

Congrats on the hound !!!
Now Zippyt's advice for novice dog owners ,
1) UT is right about the peeing thing , it works .
2) sit on the floor to get down to his level . This works well for all dogs ( exept for labs , great when they are pups , but bad when they weigh close to 100 lb , ever had a 100 lb wet slobbery lab try to sit in your lap ???)
3) get obedients training for you both . make sure there are no kids around while this is going on , they think this is a game . Nothing better than being able to tell a dog heal and they suck up to your left leg !!! Nothing worse than a dog with no manners !!
4) don't change his name ( much , UT is right here again ). When nameing a dog it is best to keep it one sylable , some thing you can yell ( no here smoochie !!! try Moose Heal !!!)
5) get a chip implant for ID purposes (most vets will do it , $65 ??)
6) figure out where he can run , big field , woods , etc... Dogs need their exersize ( borde dogs tend to chew on things )
7) don't change his food right away , and keep the table scraps to a minamim , when he is settled try to switch him to Dimond brand adult food , it is all our boston terrier has ever had and his coat is shiny, his poop is productiv and washes away quickly
8) the dog and cat will probley get along after a while ( Oliver our boston has a cat , they are BEST buddys , but will chase each other all around the house ) , but put up the breakables for a while . :D :D

Get a crate big enough for you to sleep in because in a few months he's going to take over your bed. Bet?:D

Perth,

The Beagle-O (that's what I call um) is very cute. Beagles do tend to be a handful and most are very vocal. I have never crate trained any of my dogs, but people who do swear by it. Their crate is like their "nest". If you continue with the crate it will become your dogs own little place to feel safe and to sleep. UT's ideas about taking him out right away to go pee outside is good advice, as well as the praise when he does go outside. Don't keep him crated for too long though. Dogs generally will not relieve themselves where the sleep, so he will hold out as long as he can before going in his crate, but this should not be for long, extended periods of time. He needs to know that when he needs to pee that someone will let him out pretty quickly or he may not want to continue using his crate. The Nature's Miracle that Wolf mentioned is an excellent product, I have found that the longer you leave it on the soiled area the better it works because it gives the enzymes plenty of time to breakdown the stain and odor.

As far as diet, it is also good advice to NOT change his food until he gets settled in to your place. Once he has though and you decide to change his food you should do it gradually over a week or so by initially only adding a little of the new food to his old food, then gradually adding more of the new food until he is totally onto the new food. You still may see a loose stool or even diarrhea, but depending on the dogs sensitivity you may not notice any change in his stool. I recommend Nutro Max brand dog food. They have chicken/rice, chicken/lamb/rice, and lamb/rice diets. For pets with sensitive systems and prone to skin problems I would recommend the lamb/rice diet which is called Nutro's Natural Choice. I realize this post is getting a little long so if you want to know more about why I like Nutro diets I'll be happy to tell you either in a PM or in another post.

As far as toys/treats go. Many people do not recommend rawhide because the dog can chew off pieces and swallow them which then swell in their stomachs and cause blockages. Also, depending on where the rawhide is obtained, some countries use questionable tanning processes/chemicals which have made many dogs sick. I'm sure others here will disagree, but I ask is it worth taking the chance? Pigs ears are OK, but not too many depending on how fast they go through them. Some people use cow hooves (Choo Hooves) which I give my dogs, but the argument with these is that they splinter and can also cause internal damage to your dog. If you do give hooves be sure to take it away when it gets small enough to be swallowed. Also, smoked hooved and pig ears are messy so don't give it to your dog on the new carpet.

Obedience training is also very important. There are several good books, but personally I had to go to a class because as others have mentioned, dog training is actually owner training and I didn't have enough discipline to practice enough on my own. Note, if you do go to a class, try to contact a local Beagle Club or rescue group and ask who they would recommend. Some trainers are a little wack and try to use force (excessive force) to train rather than guidance and praise. If you go to a class and feel uncomfortable with the trainer and their methods, STOP going, get your money back. I have seen several dogs go through bad training and end up with bad behavioral problems and NO obedience.

I'm not trying to scare you, although it may sound that way, I'm just trying to pass on some advice. Every dog owner has their fave foods, treats, training, etc. and everyone you talk to will offer different advice, I just hope this helps a little. Oh, good toys are Gumma Bones for chewers, Kong Toys (highly indestructable and can insert treats in them) and Booda Bones (rope toys), I recommend avoiding "squeeky" toys and latex toys as they are easily destroyed and consumed (expensive for the number you'll probably go through and dangerous if eaten).

Finding a good vet is another issue, but take him in and have him checked out and keep up on his shots. Unless you feel very adamant about a name change I wouldn't change it, but if you do, try to find something similar sounding as has already been suggested. Exercise is very important which should be no problem with your son around to give him a run for his money. Always provide fresh, clean water.

I almost forgot about the kitty. Don't introduce them nose to nose. Let your cat be higher than the dog when you do the intro. (on a table or cat tree, etc.) The cat can get a birds eye view to access the new intruder and won't feel as threatened. Let them get to know each other slowly and casually. The dog may just want to play, but may be a bit overwhelming for the cat. Don't leave them alone together until they are very familiar with each other. Unless the dog is aggressive towards the cat, the cat will be able to defend itself, but you may come home to a disaster area with stuff knocked down and broken. If I can help with any other questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and Enjoy your new Buddy.:)

Thanks all for the advice!

As much as I dislike his current name, it could be worse, so I will count my blessings and keep calling him Houdini.

He is currently on Science Diet, and I think theres, what, 2 suggestions in this thread so far...

Nutro Max
Diamond

yeah, 2 suggested brands. I imagine as long as its high-quality food, its just a matter of reading the labels and making a judgement call?

I will definitely try UT's trick for training the dog in where to go. We moved into our new house recently, with its brand new offwhite carpet, and anything that might help in keeping that carpet nice is well worth it.

My two are on Innova. I think the main thing is to get a high protein food and not just the supermarket stuff. One great benefit to high protein food is that they eat less of it and then poop less of it. Find a pet store that turns over its high quality dog food and you'll know it's fresh.

Science-Diet is a good food, most vets will recommend it because Hills (makers of Science-Diet) also make a line of specialty vet restricted diets for urinary tract probs, food allergies, digestion probs, etc. so vets are prone to also recommend regular Science-Diet products. If Houdini isn't currently having any probs w/ it I probably wouldn't change diets, but if you do, try Nutro. Actually, a lot vets are recommending Nutro now. When reading labels look for chicken or poultry by-products (heads,beaks, feet, guts, etc.) and avoid them. They are tasty to the pet, but offer little nutritional value. Also avoid corn-based foods (ground yellow corn). Just like us, you know, you eat corn and it comes out corn:eek: . Corn is hard to digest and causes skin problems in many pets. Corn gluten meal is better as far as nutritional value and digestibility, but still can cause skin probs in some pets. Wheat is also a prob for some pets. The Nutro Nat. Choice doesn't use by-prod., corn, or wheat. For these reasons, and the high digestibility of lamb as the protein source, most dogs do very well on it. The regular Nutro (chicken/lamb/rice) is a very good diet too, higher in fat (and I believe protein too) so if your pet tends to get chubby I'd stick with the Nat. Choice. But, don't take my word, check out the ingredients and compare to SD. Again I say SD is a good food and you may not want to ruin a good thing, but if you do change check out Nutro:) . Geez, you'd think I was getting kick backs or something for promoting the stuff, but unfortunately I'm not. I've always had dogs and cats, worked in pet supply stores, feed stores, shown dogs, rescued cats and dogs and am a biologist, not that the latter as anything to do with it.;)

Innova is a good food too from what I remember. I don't think it contains the by-products and corn. I think they use barley and rice if I remember correctly and they are big on natural ingredients which is good. Innova is another one I'd use to compare with if you decide to change foods. Back when I was looking at it it was on the pricey side and had just come out in the US as a contender with the other premium foods so it wasn't always available at the time.

If I may add, it's not just the high protein in a diet, but the digestibility of the diet that you need to keep an eye out for. Premium foods cost more than junky supermarket foods (although Iams and Hills can now be found in the supermarket), but in the long run you save money and have a healthier pet because they are digesting their food better therefore you feed less and have less coming out the back end and what you are left to clean up will be smaller, firm, and less smelly (less farts too:whofart: ).

A caution on the Choo Hooves. A dog trainer friend of mine gave them to her dogs and they loved them but two problems developed. First was stepping on them in your bare feet on the way to the bathroom at night. :D The second was two of her dogs cracked teeth on them. You think your dentist is expensive? Wait till you get a bill from a doggie dentist.:eek:

Oh Yeah......I've hucked a few cow hooves across the room after stepping on them with bare feet. Good point, Bruce. I have also heard about getting a cracked tooth on them too, although this has never happened to any of my dogs. Oh and they kinda reek too, but most dogs really dig um. Another toy to avoid regarding cracked teeth is those hard rubber balls. If your pet intercepts a throw you can bust out some teeth and the hollow rubber balls with bells in them should be avoided too. I heard of more than a few pets that have broken off canines that got caught in the hole.

oh and on the cat front , they can become best buddys :D :D

or at lests put up with each other .

And some times the cat will have the upper hand !!!

Zippyt, really cute pics.:cool:

Why thank you Ms buggs :D

And sometimes size doesn't matter;) .

Even the same species and breed fight from time to time!
http://cellar.org/2003/bean-pearl4.jpg

But they settle down.
http://cellar.org/2003/bean-pearl3.jpg

following the cabbage patch phenomenon --

them dogs is so ugly that they's cute.

Houdini is a pretty cool name, but you could make it humorous *and* cool if you called him 'Houndini".

Congrats on the new companioin, Perth...I think you probably needed one, eh? The wife and I treat ours like a kid. A spoiled frigging rotten kid.

Oh. My. God.

Why didn't anyone tell me dogs don't understand english? :)

I brought him home, took him to the back yard, and followed UT's advice. That seemed to work very well, we have not had one accident yet. I spent about 45 minutes helping him explore, and once I was confident I had blocked all escape routes, I went inside to get him a water bowl. Time elapsed from leaving the backyard to return with a water bowl could not have been more than 3 minutes. He lived up to his name to astounding effect. I still have no idea how he got out.

We found him after hunting the neighbourhood, playing with the kids down the street. I have one of those long leashes in the yard now, hopefully situated where he can't get tangled. Famous last words.

I have taught him to sit, but only when he is abso-fucking-lutely certain there is a treat in my hand, and he loves to howl, despite the repeated assurances of his former owner, my so-called-friend. :)

But on the other hand... He is a very sweet, affectionate dog. He loves my son, and he only howls when he can't see one of us. He loves to play, and the way he lies on the floor, with his back legs splayed out, is the cutest thing ever.

Its going to take a while, I think, to teach him what to do and when to do it. But I suspect its more about teaching him to trust me than teaching him to obey me. He had the run of the house with the previous owner, and I think he might just be rebelling against the more "structured" environment of his new home.

Ugh. Its gonna be a long month.

Beale training tip
 

Beagles respond best to rewards-based training, eg FOOD!

They are incredible scenthounds and will forget the rest of the world when they are following their nose. THey are great trash-pickers and counter-surfers. DO NOT leave food lying around if you don't want your dog to eat it. :)

They are also great escape artists and will escape as soon as they feel like it. You have your work cut out training a Beale, but other owners say that hey would never have another breed.

Good luck

Brian

Let the games begin:) .

I was wondering if his name was any indication of his powers to escape. I guess it was. One thing to do until you find out how he escapes (may result in setting up a camcorder) is walk the perimeter of your yard to check for "little diggins", ie. areas he has been working on to dig out. Diggers can be real problems, but I've heard that if you put his poo in the hole his trying to dig, he'll stop or move somewhere else in which case repeat step one. Another thing I've heard is to put pepper (black or cayenne) around areas he digs, not sure how well it works though.

Also try to see if he is jumping the fence to get out. You'd be amazed how high dogs can jump and many can climb fences too. This is important to figure out especially if Houdini wears a collar. I have heard several horror stories of people loosing their dogs by getting their collar caught on a fence and hanging themselves. Oh, and DO NOT let him wear a choker collar/chain as a regular collar. Chokers are training devices ONLY, used while leash training your dog or when you take him out on a leash. I cannot emphasize this enough. If a choke collar get caught on anything it could result in death as your dog struggles to free himself.

I also caution the leash in the yard deal. For dogs not use to this set-up it can also be dangerous. Especially hyper dogs who will pull hard enough and long enough to do damage to their throat. If the leash is nylon, he'll probably chew through it to get free. Be sure he can reach water and shade/shelter while on the leash.

I also highly suggest getting him an ID tag for his successful escapes;) .

I kinda had a feeling about the howling. Never met a Beagle-O who didn't. When I take my dogs to Dog Beach, you can hear the Beagle-O's a mile away and you know their Beagles without even seeing um. I can tell the neighbors are going to love you, and Houdini. Even friendly neighbors can turn into your worst nightmare if Houdini constently howls. If this starts to become an issue, let me know and I'll try to help, but howling/barking dogs is a tough one especially if he howls every time you leave him alone:( .

I've had a couple of dogs (and cats) that do the laying down w/ back legs splayed out thing. It is so cute, I love it. A lot of time dogs who do this use it as a way to cool down when hot (ie. on cool cement, tile floors, or the linoleium).

Getting "second-hand" dogs usually presents a set of problems that you might not have if you raised him as a pup. It will take patience and praise on your part to get him to change his ways, but hopefully he'll come around. It is difficult to go from having run of the house to "structure". The rebelling on his part may manifest itself in very creative ways. I'd watch out for chewing. This is a common one, aside from shitting/pissing where he's not supposed to;) . Let me know if chewing becomes an issue and I'll try to help there too.

Good luck, enjoy him, and give the little beggar a kiss from me:)

LUVBUGZ

He has to be jumping the fence, Because after yet another careful inspection, The entire perimter is intact and secure at the bottom. Its a 6 foot security fence, so somehow he is getting to higher ground before hopping it. Maybe climbing a tree, We have a Russian Olive in the backyard that might be right for that. I think I'm going to build a dog run this weekend.

I haven't bought a choker chain, but i have gotten one with the plastic teeth inside (gives him a little pinch if he pulls too much). I only use it when walking him, and hes actually taken pretty well to it.

I am most definitely going to get professional assistance training him. I feel awful saying this, but I simply do not have the time to devote to stumbling around trying to figure out how best to train him. I need to get down to business, get him trained and get started with the having fun. Anyone have experience with these "Doggy Daycares"? Theres one right near my work, and I'm going to check it out today at lunch. I understand they devote a very large portion to teaching the dogs, but I see 2 potential problems:

1. Its not me training him.
2. I'm suspicious of the claims that each dog is individually taken care of.

In the back of my mind I was thinking about the tree thing, I know that dogs have used trees as a means to escape. The dog run might be a great idea to contain him when you're not watching. Put some thought into it though before you build. Most are made of chain link, but I'd highly recommend closing in the top too. Like I said escape artists are usually good at climbing and chain link is a walk in the park if you don't totally enclose it he could still get out and also the getting hung up problems especially apply to chain link. Also, unless you concrete the bottom or bury brick or steel cloth under ground around the edges he could still dig out.

Well, I've seen TV shows on Doggy Daycare, but never actually been to one. They seem to be pretty good, but I'd go in and ask for a tour (behind sceens too) and get a feel for the employees and the facility. As I mentioned about training, if any one or any thing makes you uncomfortable ask questions until you're satisfied or don't use the place. Be wary if they are vague about stuff or if they don't allow you access to certain parts of the facility. Most doggy daycares have play sessions, but I've never heard of one that offers training, not saying they don't exist, but I'd definately ask about the quality or level of training you can expect. Yeah, some people let others train their dogs, but I personally feel it better if you go through the training. As mentioned before, it's really owner training, meant to teach you how to handle, train, relate to your dog.

I use to work in a kennel where we had day boarders (babysit during the day while owner was at work) but we weren't set up like a doggy daycare because we mainly boarded dogs for longer periods so the day borders basically stayed in a single run and didn't get individual attention all day long. We would take them out to run around in a small play area or play with them in their runs, but that was about it. The daycare concept is good and is actually a lifesaver for many dog owners who would otherwise end up getting rid of the dog for behavioral reasons (separation anxiety, destructive chewing, escape atrists, etc.). I'd also recommend checking out more that one place so you have something to compare to.:)

I visited during my lunch, and yeah, its basically a bunch of dogs running around playing. They correct the dog if needed, but thats about it, training-wise. It seemed like a fun place, and I'm sure he would have fun there, so I may still consider it.

On the other hand though, the lady running the place gave me contacts to reputable dog trainers in the area, so I might call around. I guess what I want from a trainer is someone who can teach me to teach the dog, more than someone to simply teach the dog. To that end, our local Petsmart has classes on weekends for owners. Might look into that, becasue it should be a bit cheaper than private training.

There is nothing more fun for a dog than a bunch of other dogs to be all social with.

I've been through several group training sessions now and they are all fine ways to get both owner and dog going. And they're also fun, because you see everyone with their dogs and everyone is generally having a good time. It's not like a "class" class.

The PetSmart training is usually OK, at the ones I've been to in SD the classes are held inside the stores which I personally don't care for because there are a few too many distractions for owner and dog while customers are shopping and stopping to watch and not really enough room to really work the dogs. There are definitely personal trainers that do one-on-one training (expensive), but most obedience classes are in groups from say 5-15 dogs and are usually held in a large, open area outside like a parking lot. I'd check into these before doing the PetSmart deal and then make a decision for what you feel best fits you and Houdini. :)

Let the games begin :rolleyes:
sounds like you guys are off to a good start .
A few points ,
1) Doggy day care ???? I bet it cost more than I would pay .
2) training ,, do the pet smart thing if you want ,, I went to a local collage that had a nite corse ,, Verrrry good training !!!
3) pinch collar , some folks think these are crule , i think they help a hard headed dog learn to behave . DON'T DON'T drag him around by that collar !!! All it takes is a swift jerk or 2 , no more . Short concise commands only . None of " if you don't sit I'll kick your ass , you F@#$%*& dog !!!" , simply " SIT " short and sweet .
4) escapeing . HE AIN'T NAMED HOUDINI FOR NUTHING !!!! Seriously he is just probley trying to figuer out his new home and the surrounding area , new smells to find !!!!!!
5) Dog run . I have built a few of these in my day . Slope the floor so you can wash the dog poop away ( and this should be done no less than once a week ) . If you want to get fancy you can build a trough for the poop to run down and burry a 55 gallon barrel full of sand and gravel like a septic tank .
I don't know where in the world you live but you have to think about shade and shelter from the weather .
And a water line is nice to have out at the run as well to wash out the run and to water the dog . I had labs and they LOVED to have a lawn sprinkler by their pens on hot days !!! Talk about HAPPY puppys !!!!

i dunno. my father has a dog who responds well to "shuddup or i'll kick you till you're dead!!!" but he MAY think that's his name.

before you animal lovers call the pet police, he really loves this dog... talks to him all the time, plays with him... i don't know who that man is these days, but he sure ain't the dad that *I* remember. random threats of violence just flow from the man, like honey from a comb..........

Now here's a nice beagle. This is Lucy Loo. She is my sisters dog now but used to be her sniffer dog at Sydney International Airport. My sister is a dog handler for Quarantine. Lucy retired after failing her exam but leads a better life now believe me.
We can never let Lucy run free off her leash, once she gets a scent she will never come back. She did it once to me and just kept going and going, something not to tell my sister, she would kill me for nearly loosing her dog.

don't know what happend to the picture, sorry guys.:mad:

Ok here's another one,
Lucy at home relaxing with her sister Sky on the leather lounge. This is the better life I was talking about. These two dogs are so spoilt, don't know where we lost control of us being the more superior one but they are cute

The way you can tell they're <b>really</b> spoiled is that <b>that's their own couch</b>.

(If my chair is empty for even a second - literally - Tinkerbell will hop in it and take my spot. It's both adorable and aggravating. :) )

Leah, Lucy Loo is a beautiful Beagle-O indeed. What a great job your sister has. Stressful at times I imagine, but what a great way to earn a buck, with your buddy right by your side.:)

Yes she does love her job, we were just so lucky to get Lucy, they asked my sister first if she wanted to take her home. I love her to bits. I'm the dog walker in the family cause my sister works shifts (as they do in an airport).

I am almost fearful of asking ...

What ARE "Witchitie Grubs" and why would they come in such a large box?

A brief web search reveals Fresha to be a manufacturer of juices. Apparently the Wichite Grubs are a rugby team...

Well there you go, I didn't know they were a foot ball team. But I do know that Witchetty grubs are fat white worm type critters that the aboriginals used to munch on. Apparently when cooked over a fire they taste like chicken, god knows how :vomit: cause they look absolutely horrifying.

So they do.

blech. To each his own I guess.

Hi perth, how is Houndie going?

Heh, heh, heh. I told you someone would ask about the grubs. :cool:

Yes you did Bruce, and I really didn't know they were a rugby team. Anyway you learn something new every day.:D

Oh NO , LAND ORCA !!!!!!

Uh, tougher than I expected, I guess. I suspect this is a lot less difficult with a pup. He is very defiant, and even after 4 days of 4 15 minute training sessions, I still cannot get him to sit reliably. I hold the treat out, say 'sit' and he looks at me like I just said the dumbest thing in history. And if I don't give the treat to him anyways, he starts barking. Lets be clear here. Not once have I ever given him a treat before he sat, so I really don't know why he expects it of me.

The pinch collar doesn't even faze him. I do not and will not ever jerk the chain, but I put the collar on, set the leash to where he can only walk next to me, and he tugs and tugs through the entire (about half an hour to 45 minute) walk. He's a monster.

The good part? Turns out he is housebroken. I don't know why he had problems with the previous owner, because we haven't even had one accident yet. That makes his attitude a bit more tolerable.

I really do believe this dog is trainable, but I am starting to worry that I simply don't have the time to devote to training him properly.

Oh, and my cat? She fucking hates him. She has gotten a lot friendlier with me though, for some reason. She was never interested in me unless her food bowl was empty. Now, shes always brushing up against.... oh. I just figured it out. shes marking me with her scent. God, pets are wierd.

Houdini name
 

I had a puppy we got off some no hopers (rscued him really) at the age of about 3 months. they had, as awful as it is, called him Snoop Dog. never was i about to be walking down the street yelling "Snoop Dog!!, Come here"

so we changed his name to Taz, but i had a bad habit of calling him "puppy, or baby'

once i stopped and stuck to Taz, he had no idea who he was. he has never ONCE come when called, if left unleashed he just runs and wont come back. so i would be careful when renaming him!!!

A good thing to feed dogs when he matures a little is dog food with RICE in it, it is Very good for them , found at woolworths usually.

good luck with the little cutie.

:cool: