Beagle Halloween

Ah,the dog days of fall.

The Beagle TriFecta

Well...this beautiful Monday morning, we had what I like to call the Beagle TriFecta.

First- Bailey pooped on the carpet last night/this morning. This is happening more frequently than it should (it should happen never). Bailey finds charcoal or burned sticks and that makes her unable to hold it.

Second - Lupi ate said poop and then vomited. GROSS!

Third - Apparently distraught from vomiting, Lupi peed on the floor. WTF?!

So, there it is...the Beagle TriFecta, which means I should get to go back to bed. Sadly...it's Monday morning and back to work.

Lupi, oh Lupi

Well...this post will be all about the trials and tribulations of my Lupi dog.

A couple weeks ago, Bailey got some stomach bug (yes, again) and she was pretty sick. I thought it was something she ate (yes, again), until Lupi got REALLY sick. Poor Lupi couldn't keep down food, water, or anything. I got a little scared when she was throwing up water and took her to an emergency vet clinic. Let's just say, I'm glad I went, because Lupi then began excreting blood. This is apparently normal in dogs, but really scary to see. She got a shot of anti-nausea medication and some other pills and was perfectly normal about 2 days later.

Then...about 5 days after that, she was back to her tree climbing ways. She went out on a super skinny branch that even a cat would have questioned. She was up there chasing a squirrel and making me lose my mind for about 5 minutes. Some guys at the dog park came over to "help". I say "help" because one guy asked, "do you want me to call the fire department?" All I could say was, "um...no thanks."

Lupi slipped and fell, landing on all fours (like the cat she is). She yelped, and limped for about 5 minutes. I carried her out of the dog park, while Bailey tried to jump in my arms too (thanks Bailey), and by the time we got home she was fine. No more limping, no whining, just...normal. I can only estimate that she fell about 20 ft. but it could have been higher (I'm not the best judge of things like that).

I thought it might break her of her climbing habit, but we were back to our old tricks today, teasing a squirrel.

There is truly no dog like my Lupi dog...

Tree Climber

See below for more video...

This dog is totally crazy.

Please begin saving money for me to pay for her leg surgery (in case she breaks her leg)

Lindsay

Tree climbing

This morning, on our walk...a woman called across the street, "Cute dog!"...I nodded and chuckled. Then, both my dogs saw a squirrel and took off running. I tried to stay on my feet and not lose either one of my arms. The woman who had just remarked on my puppies cuteness stood firm and rooted in her position without moving. She just stared. She looked so shocked that a good dog can turn crazy so quickly. I wasn't sure why she was staring though. Did she want to take back the compliment? Is my dog less cute because she is crazy?

Speaking of crazy...here is your first glimpse of my regal beagle Lupi climbing a short tree chasing after a squirrel.

Ultimate Irony?

I just walked into my room and found Lupi eating my new pair of pajama pants.

The pants were a Christmas gift from my parents.

They say, "I love my dog" and have dogs all over them.

The irony is endless.

The Written Word

Well, Bailey was definitely just sick and luckily she is, in fact, potty trained. This was a SERIOUS relief. The idea of having an un-trained dog was scary. A trained, well scheduled dog is a happy dog, so I was pretty upset there for a second. And I wasn't sure my carpet was going to make it.

Although both dogs are potty trained, they sadly lack respect for the written word. The photos tell it all. They have taken to eating books. At first, I thought it was interesting what they chewed. Why did they seek out "Rebel Without a Crew"? Did they see through Robert Rodriguez? They also don't like a book called "Writing Television Sitcoms". They know they won't make it in Hollywood. The writing room is no place for women after all, let alone my bitches. (jk) It wasn't until they both began chewing "What should I do with my life" that I realized my puppies are existential and deep, passionate about their growth and mine. Bailey got her paws on "Middlesex" but that is where I draw the line. Great literature is not for the mouths of pups.

Back to normal

Thank the lord that we have returned to normal. No one vomited, peed, or pooped on the floor in the last 12 hours. It has been glorious. Hopefully, Lupi doesn't catch whatever Bailey had. I think it was probably just something she ate; and thus, not contagious.

I really really wish that I had a house with a yard and a doggie door. The yard doesn't have to be big...just have a big secure fence. I think that would make everyone's life SO much better. For now, it's just a dream. Perhaps in the next 15 months I will have saved enough. My goal is to have 20K by the time my lease runs out next June. Just a dream for now...

Another dream was a happy dog home for a harrier beagle names Bea:
Awhile back, my neighbors who I would see at the dog park had to give their gorgeous harrier beagle back to Austin Beagle Rescue. I was so upset and worried about the dog, because she was shy and didn't respond well to people. I worried that little Bea would never have a good home. Well, I saw a gorgeous harrier beagle running happily at the Riverside dog park Sunday and low and behold it was BEA! Her name now is Penny Lane and she is such a great dog. Just as beautiful but now a completely happy dog.

And I am really dreaming of a peaceful night for The Bruno/Rude family. Anne and Eldon lost their dog Max Sunday. I can't even IMAGINE!!! I cried for 45 minutes after Marley and Me, and that was fake and had Jennifer Aniston in it. I trust Max is in the amazing dog park in the sky.

Sad little sick puppy

**this blog is not for the faint of heart or people who don't like toilet things**

Well, I found out there was a reason that Bailey was being really clingy, peeing in her crate, and pooping in the house.

She was sick.

I had a hunch that she was sick but it was confirmed when she sprayed dog poop all over my apartment. It was the single most disgusting and sad thing I have ever experienced.

Basically, I'm hoping that is the reason.

If that is not the reason, then I think I may lose my mind.

Urine Urine Everywhere and too many drops to clean

Bailey peed on my bed AGAIN!

Alright the first time, she was 5 months...so I forgave her.

The second time I hadn't taken her out in awhile...I blamed myself.

and third time..I'm going to kill her.

Why can't my dog be potty trained???!!!!

Separation Anxiety

My dogs definitely associate me leaving them with going in their crates.

Lupi cries and shakes. Bailey howls and they both get SO UPSET, which makes me SO UPSET.

I feel like I want to be with them all the time anyway. I need to do a better job of crate training them. I think I'm going to try to keep them in my room while I'm gone, not their crates.

It may take awhile. I'll start with closing them in there when I'm in the other room and see how that works.

For now, I'll just dream about them and try to get some work done.

TGIF!

Normal Day

This morning Lupi went in her crate as normal. When I left the house I noticed seriously loud barking and whining not from Bailey (who I know cries a little when I leave) but this was coming from Lupi. It was so loud and so unexpected that I went back inside.

She was shaking, visibly upset and looked distraught. I went to my puppy training brain and decided that she needed some more exercise this morning and that would help. It seemed to help a little and she didn't cry nearly as loud when I left.

I HATE TO THINK ABOUT THEM BEING UPSET WHEN I LEAVE. I want to spend every moment with them. Take them to play and chase squirrels forever. Alas, somebody has to bring home the bacon.

Since I felt like she needed more exercise today than normal, I took Bailey and Lupi to the Riverside dog park today (because Bailey can't escape). They love it. And when I give them enough exercise they are so well behaved. Makes me write the following.

Things I love about my dogs:

Lupi:
1. She radiates the adjective GRATEFUL.
2. Her ears are really floppy but because she's mixed with something other than Beagle, they are floppy in a different and infinitely cute way.
3. She always comes when I call her (unless there is a squirrel involved)
4. She teaches me something everyday.
5. She is really smart and even can climb trees (and if I knew she was never going to hurt herself by climbing trees I would think it's totally awesome).
6. She loves to be next to me, but doesn't wrestle with the Bailey for my attention.
7. Her muzzle. It's so long.
8. Sometimes she poses like a model when I take her picture. See below.
9. She really loves rawhides.
10. She seems very at peace and calm most of the time.
Bailey:
1. She wants to be with me all the time.
2. She snuggles with me at night.
3. She will do ANYTHING for food.
4. She loves every human being.
5. The way she runs when she is super excited is so cute.
6. She whines when she is playing with her kong and can't get the food. Like, "mom...this is so tough, damn it. help!" That's pretty cute.
7. She wants nothing more than lick my face at all times (this is also annoying).
8. When she watches TV, her head turns from side to side inquisitively.
9. Her white lightening bolt on her neck (Her Harry Potter mark).
10. The way she learns by watching Lupi (it's really cool to watch).

Oh...my little vacuum

So some tidbits I forgot to mention:

1. Bailey managed to eat 1 weeks worth of food in the 5 minute ride home from Petsmart. It was pretty horrific. Horrific in that she was still hungry, didn't notice a thing except she needed to poop every 20 seconds.

Well, not 20 seconds. But, at 4 this morning...she whined at the door.

I loved it...praised her for crying at the door and clawing, said..."go outside" and took her out. It's the first time she has ever cried, clawed at the door, hit the bell and told me, "i need to go"...

I loved it, except it was 4 AM...so I didn't love it that much.

I want to give a puppy shout out to my friend and co-worker Danielle. Her new golden retriever puppy Molly is amazingly cute. But 8 weeks old makes me cry right now. I hope everything goes smooth with training.

New Happenings

Well...Lupi has officially learned to climb trees. She doesn't do it for fun. Simply to get closer to God.

Please note: To Lupi...God = squirrels.

At the dog park Sunday, Lupi decided to break her record. She was about 6 feet in the air. Just ask the 100 people who saw it. About 75 people at the dog park were laughing, pointing, saying, 'oh, my god'. The other 25 were runners along the path by the dog park. They were also laughing pointing and screaming.

LAUGH IT UP PEOPLE...I'm standing there watching my crazy dog fly in the air and jump around and just about break her leg and here you go screaming, "that's so cool".

I will post pictures and videos...I promise. It's crazy. The moment I calm down enough to operate machinery while my dog flies, I'll post.

Bailey - well, I don't know what to do with this little pain. She runs right out of the dog park at my apartment complex. I can't let her off her leash there. Tonight, she ran out of the park and right underneath a car. She was SO CLOSE to being hit. It was horrible. Worst moment that was over in an instant. The woman driving the car even asked, "did I hit her?" That's how close it was.
Needless to say I think I'm a horrible dog mom and swear I won't let her off the leash in the dog park again. I realized something very important: dog moms, human moms, and people in general make mistakes...but hey, I should learn. She's run out of the park before, why will now be any different? It won't be. Let's learn from the mistakes.

Alright...I'm going to go eat dinner and try to recover from being a mommy to 2 crazy Beagles.

May take a bottle of wine too...

Fighting and Urine

Big Ticket Item Bailey has ruined:
-- she didn't exactly "ruin" my down comforters, but she definitely peed on my bed last night. I had to take 2 down comforters into be dry cleaned. They are $30 a piece to clean. So thank you Bailey...for your 2 second pee costing me almost $100 in dry cleaning. Not to mention, I should also thank you for making me wash my sheets, duvet cover, and blanket.

Things I would like Bailey to stop doing:
1) Being really needy and climbing all over me.
2) Peeing on everything I own.
3) Inciting fights with her sister.
4) Chewing everything she can.
5) Climbing on my computer.

Doggie Day Care

I worked a full day at work. I worked out. I ate lunch. I wasn't worried for one moment about my dogs, their well-being, or exercise level. It was amazing.

Most days, I juggle trying to go home and take the dogs out, trying to get all my work done, and my own personal needs when it comes to exercise. Not yesterday. Taurus Doggie Day Care made me so happy, and I know I will be taking my dogs there twice a week from now on.

However, this morning, they were back to their same old tricks of trying to establish a pack order. I have committed myself to being a better pack leader starting today..and establishing that with them. However, Bailey's 8 month old puppy self better check itself before it wrecks itself. Or, Lupi better put her in her place. Basically, we are a broken home with fighting siblings. Soon though, one should win out. Or so they say.

For now, I learned how NOT to break up a dog fight and I hope that the small bite on my leg doesn't get infected. I should be pumped full of antibiotics at this point, but you never know.

Where to Beag-in?

Bailey: originally named Pixie Sue...should have named her Barkley...but alas, a generic name for my crazy pup.
Born 4/24/08 (8 months old)

Lupi:
Born ???? (around 3 years old)

Crate time: 1 consecutive hour...I needed to run errands.

Big ticket items chewed in last 24 hours:
1 TV remote

Beagle Behavior:
I could only spend about 25 minutes at the dog park today. IT WAS FREEZING. Gotta love Texas. Yesterday, was the lower 80's...today the lower 50's. So, my dogs ended up chewing on each other a little more than normal. Not too bad. Lupi seems to be warming up to other dogs. Slowly but surely.

Beagle Burdens:
I went and bought a new $25 remote at Best Buy, as Bailey chewed my Time Warner remote. After 30 minutes of trying to configure, said new remote, I give up. It turns things on and off and changes channels, but no other buttons work. Perhaps that's good enough for now.

During dinner Bailey tries to get inside my mouth (as usual). During the struggle of me eating while pushing Bailey away from me, Bailey steps on the aforementioned chewed up remote. The channel changes.
WHAAA???!!!
I discover that the previously "not working" remote now sort of works...I sit confused about my purchase.

I read a bunch of dog stories today about things dogs have eaten. I don't even know what led me to this website, but reading about dogs swallowing 13 inch knives makes me feel really insecure. I read the people's posts commenting on the crazy things their dogs have eaten. A women mentions her dog ate her keys.
I'm missing an entire set of keys (car keys, apartment, mailbox, gym card...etc). I immediately turn to Bailey and assume she has eaten my key ring. I feel her stomach for 30 seconds. Decide she probably hasn't eaten my key ring as it is the same size as her and she might feel "kinda bad".

I have discovered Lupi's true identity this weekend.
She is half beagle, half cat.
Lupi, ever the hunter, literally ran up a tree trying to eat a squirrel. While onlookers at the park laughed and said, "that's so cool", "did you know your dog could do that"...I rocked back and forth, covered my eyes and muttered, "be careful...don't break your leg...why are you in a tree..."

Back to work tomorrow...so hopefully the dogs won't mind the 5 hour stints in their crate. I'm going to work on training them to be out of their crates...but for now, I'll continue to report the trials and tribulations of 2 beagles in my crazy life.