Dog re-homing charities ... a bit OTT ??

foreign_correspondent

tcr wrote: »

He's actually ... a Beagle LOL !

We've never owned a hound before, hence the learning curve, reading up on the breed, their likes, dislikes, little foibles ... but yeah, he's a Beagle.

cool - but tbh I can see why many rescues may consider a beagle incompatable with an unfenced garden - of course it's not impossible, but you will have your work cut out there! Good luck though - hope the meeting goes well!

tcr_3

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

cool - but tbh I can see why many rescues may consider a beagle incompatable with an unfenced garden - of course it's not impossible, but you will have your work cut out there! Good luck though - hope the meeting goes well!

Well, we hadn't been looking for a Beagle, all the knockbacks had been to our suggestions of a terrier. So we will have to urgently re-visit the whole issue about the unfenced garden, see how that one's going to work out.
Although we're reliably advised little apart from a 15ft wall will stop a determined Beagle from making its escape, but we're in touch with the experts now and we'll be proactively taking their advice !

So. We'll see !!

Kaelea

ooh I had a Beagle x before the dog I have now .. if theres any part of its training your going to work on I would make sure its recall

once that nose goes down and they start following a scent, they are a nightmare ... such fun dogs though, good luck!

catlou

tcr wrote: »

He's actually ... a Beagle LOL !

We've never owned a hound before, hence the learning curve, reading up on the breed, their likes, dislikes, little foibles ... but yeah, he's a Beagle.

Thanks! The suspense was killing me! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Good luck with it all.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

The BEST dogs!!!!!!

As per the 13 years experience I have got of them, I can offer this information, of course, feel free to ignore me as the best person to know is the owner. But, just in case it helps -

The REAL rules of Beagles
(the ones when they've got their leads firmly hung up on the coat rack, not the other ones they follow when they are making you fall in love)

1. They can't hear you.

2. Their plane of existence consists almost solely of smells. If you always have something tasty (and prob. a bit smelly) and do really big gestures when calling - they will recall most of the time. Unless they are an entire male and have just caught a whiff of a female. Then they'll probably come back next Tuesday, when you'll find them snoring on the doorstep and when they finally wake up, they'll have no memory of the event.

3. They can't hear you.

4. They really hate being left alone. But will entertain themselves with shoes, stuffed toys and anything not nailed down or made of steel if you do leave them for too long.

5. For something designed for hunting, they are amazingly soft where bunnies, cats, babies, small yellow birds and anything that isn't stuffed and unattended is concerned. As a whole, they are incredibly docile - something which has always counted against them where animal testing is concerned something like over 97% of all tests on dogs are Beagles because they are usually healthy and tolerant of their treatment

6. They can't hear you.

7. Their world of smell crosses over to ours through the language of food. They will sit, beg, rollover, whimper, anything you tell them to do, just for the tiniest treat. So they can get a bit podgy, especially as they love long wanders.

8. I've never met a Beagle that doesn't pull - something which is usefully harnessed if you're 10 and have a set of rollerskates but is dealt with by the Halti (and the knowledge there is a bag of stinky treats in your jeans pocket)

9. The Spring moult is shocking! The rest of the time, there's not a lot to notice, but their coat thickens quite a lot over winter.

10. And their voice is distinctive - instead of yip-yip or woof-woof, you get a baritone

OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW


11. Their voice is as above because they have to make that noise to get through to other Beagles.

12. You won't ever be able to be cross for more than a second, because they will give you *that* look. If you haven't seen it yet, you will.

They are wonderful. I am so jealous!


Photos please!!!!

jackieglasgow

Lovely post, Jojo. You forgot to mention that they can;t hear.

carefullycautious

The Beagle is the worst possible choice if you have an unfenced/easily get out of garden.

Beagles will get on the scent of something and be gone.

The reason rescues are so strict about fencing is that there have been some heartbreaking stories of dogs being rehomed only to escape and some are never found

I have been using Dog Rescue pages since 2002 and have rescued two dogs from there. I can recommend Hereford and Worcester Dog rescue as they do not discriminate on working hours or unfenced gardens.What they will do is see if they have a dog to fit your requirement. They work extremeley hard and have fosterers who will know the dogs inside out. My terrier cam from them and the fosterer was spot on in her write up of my dog.. If you talk to them Im sure they will be able to help. I know that they have fosterers all over the country.

I think if you try to use too many different rescues you become despondant and frustrated at the differences in how they work.

Im sure the right dog is out there for you. But untill that dog is trained to a good recall you are going to have to be extremeley careful that it doesnt run off in the first few weeks of being with you.

I am glad that you are not able to rush into this. It needs time to make sure you make the right choice so that you and your new four legged friend need not have the heartache of having the adoption break down

Anyway good luck in your search.

tcr_3

Got a bit more history about the dog today. OH went to visit owner no 2 today, the lady whose ill health has prompted the dog's rehoming.

Police & RSPCA inspectors removed him from owner no 1, members of the public had observed the owner beating him. Owner surrendered the dog to RSPCA, gave them the KC papers etc. The dog had various "mental health" issues, hardly surprising but with the love & support of both the RSPCA & owner no 2 those issues have largely been overcome. But he's still almost feral when it comes to his meals, very defensive if approached when he's feeding. He also isn't keen on men, although we're reliably advised that barrier comes down after regular contact.

As to the choice of a Beagle, some people are saying great ! Others are saying disaster ... there's no rhyme nor reason, no consistency. Some have been disappointed with Beagles because they were expecting a dog which was totally trainable or which behaved as other dogs did ... and we're not expecting that at all. We know he's a hound, that he'll be strong on the lead and a runner off it. We appreciate that scent plays an important part in his life and we're fully aware of what that means when we're out and about. And we both understand that regular exercise is another important requirement, there's no doubting he'll get that.

As to the "unsecured garden", yes, we'll have to be very careful. I think I've said that a number of times now, we'll listen to the advice we're given on that one and act accordingly.

Jojo, your last contribution was hilarious !!! But I think there's so much of it which rings true !!! I hope so much that he'll be the dog for us. OH, she's wearing her heart on her sleeve, me well I'm not heartless but I'm going into this re-homing with my brain fully engaged, I'm listening intently to everything folks are telling us and I'm grateful for your advice, good wishes, your doubts ... it all helps us make our decision.

So. We see him on Sunday for the first time. Am all excited !

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Beating a Beagle? £@^@£$^@£@£%&£$^£$&£^$£^$&@!$$£^!£%&@$&@&@! :mad:


Perhaps you could start by feeding by hand, just a few scraps at a time, as dogs in kennels learn the possessiveness as part of their being institutionalised or have it reinforced by the kennel if they were partially starved at their first home?

The cats used to shove mine out of the way if he was still eating when they had finished their own food, just by walking up and squeezing in front of him at his bowl.

With the rescue dogs I have had (Staff cross - or a Pitbull, it's been hard to tell for a good few years now and a Dobie), I taught them that, not only do they have to sit and wait for their food (a throwback to making my Beagle beg, motionless, before giving him anything - no logic to it, as this was the days of the choke chain and the like, I just liked him doing tricks for me in exchange for his food), but that if I go near the bowl, there is usually extra treats/food coming their way.


But, no matter what a little s*d he may turn out to be, or no matter how much you want to argue with your OH, try not to raise your voice or shout around him. They are very, very docile dogs & it is horrible to see them cowed - and I think men's voices are at a very similar frequency to the male hound when aggressive.

And if he's been beaten, try not to be seen holding a stick/broom handle/cricket bat - he might attack it or be terrified, the quivering and weeing in the corner being the most likely for a Beagle.

He will also enjoy having his own bed. Some breeds of dog are happier on their owner's beds, but Beagles like their own place, close enough to be involved if they want, far enough away for a good snore if they don't. Mine had a bed and homemade cushion in front of the radiator in the kitchen. He was usually there, in front of the fire in winter or most often, wherever I happened to be.

Extending dog leads - the longest ones - are good for Sunday mooches over the fields, as they can wander and sniff, get themselves the wrong side of the tree three times over, and do all the things that Beagles love but never get the chance to do.

I hope he's the dog for you both too!

hethmar

Cor, not an easy choice! Our friends had two beagles (you remember the ones rescued from the fag smoking establishment?) They had to put a chain and lock on the fridge as the little sods would open it and have all the food. They would even get up on the work top and eat newly baked cakes. One day I was there and the husband was on the phone asking for some new paperwork and maps for a marathon cycle he was going on as the lot had been eaten as the postman put them through the door. pmsl.

And the baying noise from the pair of them!

Very best of luck Hope it all goes well.