THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF THE BEAGLE

This area covers the questions I am most asked via our web page.

Can you give me the names/numbers of breeders in Victoria?
Due to the privacy act we are not able to give this information out on line- however if you ring PENNY on 03 5995 4304 they will give you the name and number of any breeders who have puppies (or rescue dogs) listed with the club at the moment.  If you ring any of the committe they will only refer you back to Penny who is the seelling point for the club breeders, who are regsitered with the VCA and abide by the BCOV Ethics and the VCA ethics. 

What do I feed my new puppy?
Please discuss all feeding, housetraining, requirements with the breeder that you are buying your puppy from as most breeders feed their puppies to their own routines, and each one probably feeds different types of food. It is important that you follow these rules for the first few days of your puppies new life with you.

Can I walk my beagle off lead, will it run off?
Beagles are a scent hound and can not be trusted to be off lead, they have hundreds of years of breeding training them to follow a scent and even when they are domestic pets and never been in a paddock or seen a live rabbit, this is the nature of the beast. We hold bi-annual hunt weekends at Mansfield (see other chapters of our web-page for further details on these) and all beagles will follow the drag scent. The area where you walk them may not have rabbits but will have scents and a beagle will follow these for hours. If you want to give your beagle a little more freedom when you are walking, perhaps an investment in a good strong extender lead - these are leads that will give them around 4 m of lead and wind back up in the handle.

Can I leave my beagle alone all day while we are at work?
Beagles are PACK HOUNDS and need company, a beagle will be alright for a couple of hours while you go to work, but most beagles will not like being alone for hour and hours every day, they were bred to have company of their pack and thrive on this, so if you are looking at a beagle and work all day consider two! Yes I know, but two really are better than one in the case of beagles. A bored beagle will dig, climb, bark, destroy gardens, pull washing off the line (as will any bored dog) they HAVE to be part of a pack, they HAVE to have company - this maybe human or another dog. Beagles like to be inside and part of the household; they like to interact with their human pack. They are easily house trained and can be trained to have house manners very easily - use food!

If you do have only one beagle try using things like large meaty bones, but watch their weight beagles are prone to being FAT! Or the treat balls or toys that are around that dispense dry food when played with, and lots of toys, but the best answer is to get two beagles. They do need company and I cannot stress this enough, we have to re-house so many beagles through the club rescue service because people are not made aware of this when they purchase their puppy.

Buying from a breeder will ensure that all your questions are answered, most pet shops will tell you anything to ensure they make a sale and are not experts on the breed as breeders are.

Why does my beagle sometimes sound like she's choking?
This is likely what is known as a "reverse sneeze", although it actually has nothing to do with sneezing. It sounds like a cross between coughing and gasping for breath, is often accompanied by drooling, and can last for a couple of minutes. The cause of reverse sneezing is unclear - the soft palate is often implicated - but the important thing to know is that it is a common occurrence in beagles and is not dangerous. Getting your beagle to swallow seems to help stop it. To do this you can gently stroke his throat while you briefly cover his nostrils.

What can I do to ease my beagle's separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems I hear about from people who write to me. Here are a few tips to ease your beagle's fear and anxiety when you leave him or her alone.
* Consider crating your dog. They feel more safe and secure in their own little den. 
* Leave them with a tasty treat that will last awhile, yet be safe. Rawhide should be used only under supervision. Instead, get a "Kong" toy from your local pet store - it's a hollow, hard rubber bone. Fill it with some small treats and pack them in with peanut butter. Make it a challenge to get every last morsel. 
* Make your comings and goings low key. Don't apologize for leaving or pay special attention to your beagle before you leave. It will just increase anxiety when you go. And when you return, resist the jumping and barking. Say a quiet hello, then try to ignore him or her for a few minutes until calm is restored.

Help! My beagle has a very bad habit...
If your beagle eats poop, don't worry, you're not alone. This nasty habit is a popular one among beagles (2 of my own 3 do it). The best way to stop it is to clean up after your beagle and any other dogs that you have. This isn't always possible, of course, so you might want to try one of the products on the market that you add to your beagle's food to make the poo unpalatable to him. If you have more than one dog, you have to give to all of them. I tried this with my beagles -- it worked for a while but then became ineffective. Of course, your results may vary. If all else fails, do as I do and keep doggie breath mints handy!  This is not a normal action for any dog let alone a Beagle.. Why dog do this yes sometimes from boredom but in most cases it is a lack of nutrients causing the enzymes to throw their system out. A good place to start first is a diet free of preservatives - a natural diet. Add acidophilus to get the intestinal working correctly. The next and these are the most important of all even if you do not change the diet and used on a long term basic do work.... add Alfalfa tablets and or Liquid Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll can be in tablet form, but they have been hard to get. Chlorophyll is also good to give to bitches when they come into season to take some of the smell away, if you are mating the bitches just take them of it about three days before mating. Chlorophyll dose work for dogs eating their poo or someone else's, the dog may have to be on the chlorophyll for anything up to 6 to 12 months some you may notice a change earlier. Alfalfa sprouts can be added to the food also, but I would still use the Chlorophyll as well.

I have only ever had one bitch that has eaten someone else's poo and as soon as I noticed it I put her onto Chlorophyll the habit was gone in days and she has never done it since. She has since gone to another home, and has never shown the problem since, they were made aware of this, so they could keep an eye on her as they have another beagle but all has been clear for the last 12 months that they have had her. They do stick to a natural diet also, adding Alfalfa with her vegies. I have cured quite a few dogs of this problem for their
owners.

21 Symptoms you should never ignore in your Dog

THERE ARE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE IGNORED.  A SYMPTOM IS DEFINED AS "ANY PROBLEM THAT CAN INDICATE AN UNDERLYING DISEASE" AND MAY BE YOUR FIRST CLUE TO THE PRESENCE OF A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM IN YOUR DOG.  HERE IS A LIST OF 21 SYMPTOMS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE IGNORED.  (SUPPLIED BY PET PLAN INSURANCE )

1.       Pacing and Restlessness.  In dogs, pacing and restlessness can indicate pain, discomfort or distress. Restlessness can be associated with a condition called “bloat". Bloat most commonly occurs in large breed or deep-chested dogs. Pacing and restless can be an indicator of a serious problem.

2. Unproductive Retching. Dogs that attempt to vomit and are unable to bring anything up is a common sign of “bloat”. You should call your veterinarian immediately.

3. Collapse or Fainting. Acute collapse is a sudden loss of strength causing your dog to fall and be unable to rise. Some dogs that suddenly collapse will actually lose consciousness. This is called fainting or syncope. Some dogs recover very quickly and look essentially normal just seconds to minutes after collapsing, whereas others stay in the collapsed state until helped. All the reasons for collapse or fainting are serious and should not be ignored. See your veterinarian immediately.

4. Not Eating or Loss of Appetite. Anorexia is a term used to describe the situation where an animal loses his appetite and does not want to eat or is unable to eat. There are many causes of a “loss of appetite” and is often the first indication of illness. Regardless of cause, loss of appetite can have a serious impact on an animal's health if it lasts 24 hours or more. Young animals less than 6 months of age are particularly prone to the problems brought on by loss of appetite.

5. Losing Weight. Weight loss is a physical condition that results from a negative caloric balance. This usually occurs when the body uses and/or excretes essential nutrients faster than it can consume them. Essentially more calories are being burned than are being taken in. Weight loss is considered clinically important when it exceeds 10 percent of the normal body weight and is not associated with fluid loss. There are several causes for this, some of which can be very serious.

6. Breathing Problems. Respiratory distress, often called dyspnea, is laboured, difficult breathing or shortness of breath. This can occur at any time during the breathing process, during inspiration (breathing in) or expiration (breathing out). When your dog has trouble breathing, he may not be able to get enough oxygen to his tissues. Additionally, if he has heart failure, he may not be able to pump sufficient blood to his muscles and other tissues. Dyspnea is often associated with accumulation of fluid (oedema) in the lungs or the chest cavity (pleural effusion). This fluid can lead to shortness of breath and coughing. This is a very serious symptom and should be evaluated immediately.

7. Red Eye. A “red eye” is a non-specific sign of inflammation or infection. It may be seen with several different diseases including those involving different parts of the eye including the external eyelids, third eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea, and sclera. It may also occur with inflammation of the structures inside the eye, with glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or with certain diseases of the orbit (eye socket). Either one or both eyes can become red, depending upon the cause of the problem. Some of the possible causes can be serious and ultimately cause blindness.

8. Jaundice. Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, describes the yellow colour taken on by the tissues throughout the body due to elevated levels of bilirubin, a substance that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells. There are several causes for jaundice and regardless of the cause, jaundice is considered abnormal and serious in the dog.

9. Trouble Urinating. “Trouble urinating” can include straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination, and evidence of discomfort when urinating. Discomfort may be demonstrated by crying out during urination, excessive licking at the urogenital region or turning and looking at the area. There are several underlying causes. Some of the causes if left untreated can result in death in as little as 36 hours.

10. Urinating and Drinking Excessively. These signs are often early signs of disease including kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland problems, uterine infection (called pyometra), as well as other causes. Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 millilitres per pound of body weight per day, or one to two cups per day for a normal sized dog. If you determine that your pet is drinking excessively, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

11. Fever. A fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature resulting from internal controls. It is believed that fever is a method of fighting infection. The body resets the temperature control area of the brain to increase the body temperature – probably in response to invasion of foreign matter such as bacteria or viruses. The normal temperature in dogs is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your pet temperature is high, call your veterinarian.

12. Seizure. A seizure or convulsion is a sudden excessive firing of nerves in the brain. The severity of the seizure can vary between a far-away look and twitching in one part of the face to your dog falling on his side, barking, gnashing his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs. A seizure can last from seconds to minutes. Seizures are symptoms of some neurological disorder – they are not in themselves a disease. They can be caused by several disorders including epilepsy, toxins or tumours.

13. Bruising and Bleeding. Abnormal bruising and bleeding arises with disorders of hemostasis (clotting). Clotting abnormalities are also called coagulopathies, because they reflect the inability of the blood to coagulate or clot. Bleeding from clotting disturbances may occur into the skin, the mucous membranes, and various internal organs, tissues, and body cavities. The impact of such bleeding on the affected individual may be mild or severe depending on the degree of blood loss.

14. Coughing. Coughing is a common protective reflex that clears secretions or foreign matter from the throat, voice box, and/or airways, and protects the lungs against aspiration. It affects the respiratory system by hindering the ability to breathe properly. Common causes include obstruction in the windpipe, bronchitis, pneumonia, heartworm disease, lung tumours, kennel cough and heart failure. Some of the causes are life threatening and all pets with a cough should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

15. Bloated or Distended Abdomen. Abdominal distension is an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal cavity. This term is usually reserved for abdominal enlargement due to causes other than simple obesity. One cause of abdominal distension is abnormal fluid accumulation. Another cause of abdominal distension is enlargement of any abdominal organ including the liver, kidneys, or spleen. Distension of the stomach with air ("bloating") or fluid or distension of the uterus (womb) during pregnancy can result in abdominal distension. Pressure from the abdomen pushing into the chest may make breathing more difficult and pressure within the abdomen may decrease the appetite. NOTE: It is important to recognize abdominal distension because it can be a symptom of potentially life-threatening diseases and should be investigated thoroughly.

16. Bloody Diarrhoea. Blood in the faeces can either appear as “melena” which makes the stools appear black and tarry is the presence suggests digested blood in the faeces. Melena is different from fresh blood in the stool (hematochezia). Bleeding into the colon or rectum appears as fresh blood in the stool. Your veterinarian should evaluate bloody diarrhoea as soon as possible.

17. Bloody Urine. Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. It may be gross (visible to the naked eye) or microscopic. There are several possible causes including bacterial infections, cancer, stones in the urinary tract.

18. Bite Wounds. Bite wounds are often the result when two animals engage in a fight or aggressive play. Bite wounds, which may only appear as a small puncture wound in the skin, can actually be quite extensive. Once the tooth penetrates the skin, severe damage can occur to the underlying tissues without major skin damage. Some wounds may appear deceptively minor but may have the potential to be life threatening, depending on the area of the body bitten. All bite wounds should receive veterinary attention.

19. Bloody Vomit. Vomiting blood can include fresh blood (which is bright red) or partially digested blood (which has the appearance of brown coffee grounds). There are a variety of causes of vomiting blood and the effects on the animal are also variable. Some are subtle and minor ailments, while others are severe or life threatening.

20. Lethargy or Weakness. Lethargy is a state of drowsiness, inactivity, or indifference in which there are delayed responses to external stimuli such as auditory (sound), visual (sight), or tactile (touch) stimuli. Lethargy is a non-specific sign associated with many possible underlying systemic disorders. It may have little to no impact on the affected individual; however its presence may represent severe or life-threatening illness. Lethargy of more than a day’s duration should not be ignored, and should be addressed, especially if it persists.

21. Pale Gums. Pale gums or mucous membranes can indicate blood loss or “shock”. The possible causes for either blood loss or shock are life-threatening and thus should be evaluated immediately.