The Rags to Riches Story of Albert the Foster Adopted Beagle!

i will miss you more than anything, my sweet little man

2009-11-21T11:12:00.004-05:00

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I write this. On Friday, November 20 in the wee hours of the night, my beloved boy Albert passed away peacefully after fighting off a major post-operative infection.

Albert had major surgery on Friday, November 6th to remove a blockage. The little guy had decided to eat a throw rug the week before. We think that he had a sore tummy (he'd been eating grass) and because he couldn't get outside for grass overnight, he ripped apart the carpet to get something into his stomach.

I thought he had thrown it all up, but as the week progressed he started to slow down. A trip to the emergency clinic suggested he likely needed surgery. I took him to my amazing vet, Dr. Hannah at St. Clair Veterinary. She did a barium xray and called me to say he needed immediate surgery. She estimated it would take just over an hour.

After 4 hours of surgery, 3 vets working on him, and 7 major incisions in his intestines, Albert's stomach was clear, but he had a long road to recovery ahead of him.

Initially Albert's recovery went well...but he quickly started to decline early this week. His belly slowly got more swollen, he wasn't able to walk very well. I took him to the vet immediately.

Dr. Hannah confirmed that he had peritonitis - an infection in his stomach cavity.

She kept him comfortable on fluids and morphine, but his white blood cell count just kept climbing. His little body just wasn't able to fight it.

I will miss Albert more than you can imagine. That little beagle that could had a profound impact on my life, and I find it hard to believe that he was only with me for 2 years.

The pain of the loss is profound, but I take great comfort in knowing that Arthur, Stella and I gave him the best 2 years of life.

Rest in peace little man...when you feel up to it, go for a stroll and try to find my dad...he could use a good little hound dog and he'll take good care of you.

the boyz

2008-07-13T20:37:00.001-04:00

IMG_2716, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

here they are crashed on the couch. in this kind of heat they'd much rather hang out here in the air conditioned living room than outside in the smoldering hot backyard!!

albert sunning himself

2008-07-11T17:20:00.004-04:00

this afternoon I went out into the backyard, and there was Albert sunning himself. on top of the hot tub (the lid was on!).

how cute is our rescue beagle!?!?!

and just so stella doesn't get jealous...

2008-07-04T19:51:00.001-04:00

IMG_2648, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

This is Stella getting out of the water on our canoe trip. That's our friends son Tavish...he got so excited whenever a dog went into the water.

canoe trip

2008-07-04T19:48:00.001-04:00

IMG_2602, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

Albert went on his very first canoe trip last weekend!! we were a bit nervous, as we had no idea how he would react to water, the canoe, wearing a lifejacket, sleeping in a tent, and hanging out around a camp fire surrounded by a million good smells.

He was amazing!!!

Arthur and Stella are great camping dogs, but Albert blew us away! He stayed on leash the entire weekend and didn't make a peep, he loved sleeping in the tent, and as it turns out...he isn't afraid of water and actually did a little swimming when Adam put him in.

Have I mentioned lately how awesome Albert is???

meet sweet alice!!!

2008-06-25T20:23:00.002-04:00

isn't she the sweetest thing you've ever seen? this little beauty is our newest rescue beagle!! i fell in love with her the second i saw this picture...but then i heard about her emergency dental surgery and loved her even more. this little lady had...are you ready...THIRTY FIVE teeth removed. she has 5 left. but now she's pain and infection free...and hey, she'll get to scarf down Merrick's amazing wet doggie food for the rest of her days!

i never get sick of helping rescue beagles...ever. and i never get tired of the stories we hear from foster parents who experience exactly what my family did when we fostered Albert. it's always amazing for me to hear the same things again and again "she/he is like a new dog", "they are the best pet we've ever had", "we can't believe how much she/he has changed".

if you've never thought about fostering, you should! it's a really amazing experience.

2008-06-23T17:50:00.002-04:00

this is arthur at the park on saturday. he was really hot. check out that tongue!

also wanted to mention that i have added google ads to my blog. if you click on the ads all ad revenues will be donated to Big on Beagles!!!

howling beagles - explained!

2008-06-20T17:29:00.002-04:00

a few people have written to ask me how i got the beagles to howl. i have to say, our 3 guys are usually really quite, and never howl unless encouraged by us.

my very first beagle sarah (back when i was about 15) would howl if she got really, really excited and only if i would howl at her first. it was a great party trick to get her going in a singsong of sweet beagle howls.

so when we got stella we tried to make her howl. she wouldn't...until one day we were on a canoe trip, and my husband and i jumped into the water to go swimming without her. she started baying and howling and we could tell it was out of sadness that we were in the water and she wasn't. so we took that theory and tried it out with other things...like asking her where auntie or uncle so and so were (our beagles know everyone based on their names. so, for example, if we say "where's auntie allee" they will run around the house looking for her, and when they don't see her they will start to howl).

if they don't particularly like someone, they won't howl. and that's how we got them going in the video i posted.

we always use "where's uncle matt" because they *love* their uncle matt and that makes them howl non-stop!

howling beagles

2008-06-17T18:11:00.001-04:00

is there anything cuter than 3 howling beagles? didn't think so. featuring stella, albert and arthur:

the power of dog rescues

2008-06-12T07:42:00.004-04:00

This is Rosie and she is the 65th beagle that Big on Beagles has rescued over the past five years. Rosie wasn't in very good shape when the shelter she found herself in called us. In fact, the shelter was pretty sure that she was a lost cause given her extreme skinniness, an obvious skin condition, and the lack of resources at the shelter to further investigate what could be the issue.

But we took one look at little Rosie's face and we saw a sad little girl who'd had a pretty shitty life...and we knew in our hearts that she deserved a second chance. So we made the arrangements to get her to Toronto, and our vet's spared no expense giving her the tests and surgery required to properly treat her.

Rosie had blood tests, exploratory surgery to take samples from her various organs, and a spay procedure. And, most importantly, we found her an amazingly loving foster home where she is receiving a high quality diet, love and affection galore, and companionship with another doggie.

I just about fell over when I saw the photos her foster mom sent us yesterday...because look at the difference in a few short weeks!!!!

Her skin is clearing up, she has a sparkle in her eye...and now she has her second chance at a great life!!!

It gives me nightmares when I think about all of the dogs that aren't as lucky as Rosie.

woofstock was amazing!

2008-06-09T06:50:00.004-04:00

We had such a blast at Woofstock this weekend!! So many people stopped by the Big on Beagles booth on Saturday, and on Sunday we had the biggest group of dogs and their humans in front of our tent! More than any other breed! We're pretty sure the other dogs were super jealous that so many beagles made it out to walk in the K9 Rescue Me Walk...even if it was 32 degrees out at 11am!

A HUGE thank you to all of our supporters who came out and helped raise money for us. Our friends at K9 Rescue Me are still counting the donations, but we've heard that our supporters stepped up and that we've raised a good amount of money to help our howlers in need. And just in the nick of time too...we've drained the bank account over the past couple of months helping out so many dogs in need. Clark, Nicholas, Cooper, Hazel, Maggie P...the list goes on. And the calls don't stop. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we're in a position to continue saving beagle lives.

Being in the rescue village all weekend I had some time to think. I'm all about the beagles of course, but looking around at all of the other rescues it really hit home that there are thousands of dogs that need help. All of the breed specific rescues are doing exactly what we are doing...trying to save the lives of dogs that have been cast aside, abused, neglected, abandoned...

So a huge thank you to ALL of the rescue supporters that came out to help out their rescue of choice. Because of you so many dogs will be helped.

woofstock tomorrow!!

2008-06-06T16:43:00.003-04:00

we're putting the final touches on the big on beagles booth for woofstock tomorrow! erica and i will be at the big on beagles tent all day, so stop by with your howler and say hi!

sunday is the k9 rescue me walk-a-thon where we'll all leash up our dogs in the name of raising money for a very worthy cause...our dog rescue of choice!

can't make the walk? you can make a tax deductible donation by clicking here (make sure that you designate big on beagles as the rescue so the funds are directed to us!).

i'll leave you with a picture of albert and his dad. they're awfully exhausted from all of the woofstock excitement!!!

life takes over!!

2008-05-30T07:54:00.001-04:00

we have been so busy at big on beagles rescuing dogs in need that i haven't had much time to devote to my beagle blog! that and the fact that i have put together a new website for big on beagles which was a tad time consuming.

anyway - we've launched so go check us out!!

2008-05-05T13:33:00.000-04:00

beagle meetup this saturday!!!

2008-05-05T13:32:00.001-04:00

When
Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 2:00 PM 20080510T180000Z
Where
Ashbridges Bay Park
1681 Lakeshore Blvd. E.
Toronto , ON M4L 3W6

We're gearing up for one of our most important fundraising events of the year --- The K9 Rescue Me Walk-a-thon at WOOFSTOCK on Sunday, June 8th! So, let's get our beagles limbered up for the BIG WALK with a pre-Woofstock Workout on May 10th!

Why?
For the Love of Beagles, Baby!!! Not only will YOUR beagle have fun at every meetup, but you'll have an opportunity to help other not-so-fortunate beagles at the same time! What could be better than that?!!

How to find the organizer(s)
"We'll be meeting beside the parking lot next to the Burger Joint & Pub off Lakeshore in the Beaches! As always, we'll be wearing our signature RED!!! And if that's not enough for you to find us, we'll make sure the beagles HOWL you in our direction!"
--Marna Gale of BIG ON BEAGLES

we're back!

2008-05-05T13:11:00.003-04:00

Albert, Arthur and Stella are all alive and well!! Despite the lack of posting here due to an insane work schedule, the beagles are doing really well and continue to make our lives far richer and significantly funnier than if we were beagle free.

I am also getting back into my work with Big on Beagles. We'll be participating in the K9 Rescue Me walk during Woofstock in June, I'm going to start working on a Bowling for Beagles fundraiser, and have loads of other ideas up my sleeve. We've rescued 5 beagles in the last month and a bit, and the medical costs for those dogs really adds up! But that's why we exist and the beagles we have saved are all amazing dogs who deserve a second chance!!!

I'll be updating regularly again, but for now I will leave you with this little snapshot of our Sunday afternoon...Albert at our favorite local patio (and Arthurs wiggly bum off to the side!)

we'll be back soon! i swear!

2008-04-10T12:08:00.001-04:00

it's been a month since i last posted...shameful, i know.

BUT...the film festival i work for will be over by months end and i promise a summer full of beagle goodness. for now - here is our albert maxin' and relaxin' in his favorite spot!!

2008-03-16T19:41:00.000-04:00

a pair of tri's

2008-03-10T06:16:00.005-04:00

Life is extremely busy right now! So much so, that I haven't even updated about the beagle meetup last weekend! Vada's party was excellent - SO many dogs came out to Urban Dog!! We all had a blast...especially little Vada who was running around like a puppy and enjoying every second. Plus we raised $1,500 to assist with Vada's medical costs...and THAT was the best part!

We took it easy this past weekend. There wasn't much of a choice for us since 30 cm of snow dumped down on us over Friday and Saturday! Yesterday's walk was very funny...three beagles trying to burrow under the snow piles, and me trying not to fall down!

But this was the best part...snuggling on the couch...look at the cute beagles boys!!

2008-03-10T06:14:00.000-04:00

look! beagles are today's daily puppy!!

saturday morning

2008-03-01T10:00:00.007-05:00

The beagles sure now how to kick back and relax! Albert has been laying like this for over 2 hours! They are getting all of their rest in today, because tomorrow is the beagle meetup at Urban Dog in honour of our lovely rescue girl Vada!! Vada is making a special appearance, and from what I understand, there will be a whole whack of beagles in attendance. I'm very happy that this meetup is inside...it's been FREEZING here this week.

Someone asked me how Albert's house training has been coming along (those of you who've been reading the blog for awhile will remember that he was completely untrained...including house training!)

The answer is that he's doing fantastic! He's at about 98% reliability...and actually, I can't remember the last time he pee'd in the house. He's the kind of guy that has to go when he has to go...but he does let us know and has started to run towards the back door to let us know. We've really tuned into his signals, so that helps.

How did we do it? Consistency and patience. After Albert had his dental surgery (remember? 7 teeth removed!!) his training really turned around for him. We think his teeth were causing him a lot of distress, and once they were fixed he was very focused and eager to learn. Arthur and Stella help out a lot too...Albert's really picked up on their signals.

And to think this poor guy was on death row! A little time and energy and he's pretty close to the perfect dog!

i've not abandoned the blog!!!

2008-02-28T07:19:00.004-05:00

Apologies all over the place for my lack of posting! I work for the largest documentary film festival in North America and this is our busiest time of the year. I'm SWAMPED at work! But that doesn't mean the beagles take a back seat! It means, sadly, that the blog does! I have also been developing a brand new website for Big on Beagles, and that has taken up a lot of my spare time. It isn't totally finished, but you can visit us here!

Albert, Arthur and Stella are doing amazingly well. Albert gets more confident, more snuggly and more bossy every single day! He can turn crusty old Stella into a fiesty puppy within seconds, and he and Arthur are best brothers.

The big reminder is for the Beagle Meetup this Sunday!! Given the frigid temperatures in Toronto over the past couple of days, I'm thrilled that this meetup will be indoors at Urban Dog. Details are below...along with a cute photo of Albert sleeping on his 2 bones. He's a total bone-a-holic!!!

WHEN: Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
MEET-UP SPOT: UrbanDog Fitness & Spa!

We're taking it INDOORS this time! Pawing up the volume for Vada at UrbanDog Fitness & Spa! We're asking our members to make a special contribution to help us with Vada's medical costs. Thanks to two dear friends of BIG ON BEAGLES, the rental cost for the play room that day has been completely covered! That means EVERY dollar we receive can go directly to Vada's care! We cannot thank these two individuals enough for their generosity and kindness. On behalf of little Vada, it's appreciated more than you'll ever know! But then again, if Vada is able to attend this party in her honour, she'll make sure you know by covering you with a gazillion kisses!

Come One, Come All and Have a Beagle Ball...for Vada!!!

cute overload!

2008-02-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

How cute are Arthur and Stella this fine Saturday morning??? SUPER cute!

Words cannot do justice to the love I feel for my three beagles. If everyone felt that kind of love our world would be a much better place.

more media! marna was quoted in the globe!!

2008-02-16T09:59:00.002-05:00

Have no fear, underdog is here

REBECCA DUBE

From Friday's Globe and Mail
February 15, 2008 at 9:08 AM EST

In the dog world, it was Rocky Balboa going the distance against Apollo Creed, Henry V triumphing at Agincourt, and the Giants beating the Patriots - all rolled into one.

When a beagle named Uno became the first of his breed to win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in its 132-year history, the normally genteel crowd went nuts.

"We have never had a reaction like this," said USA Network announcer David Frei, who's done wag-by-wag commentary on the show for 18 years, as the audience gave Uno a standing ovation. The humble beagle's victory over perfectly coiffed poodles this week reverberated far beyond the usual wet-nose crowd.

It marked a triumph for the underdog, the rise of a four-legged people's champion, and perhaps a permanent shift in the dog show world.

"It's the greatest thing that could have happened to the Westminster Kennel Club," Mr. Frei told the Today show, before taking Uno to meet Martha Stewart (who even allowed the charming canine to walk on her countertop). "These are real dogs and real people, and what more of a real dog can you have than a beagle?"

Beagle breeder and handler Allison Foley of Nova Scotia wholeheartedly agrees.

"A lot of [past] winners have been these big, hairy, glamorous breeds," she explained. "With the beagle being best in show, people may say, 'Wow, just a plain old dog can be best in show.' "

And as we humans can't resist projecting our own dreams and desires onto our furry friends, Uno's win gives hope to everyone who's ever felt ordinary compared with those "fancy, pretty" types.

Ms. Foley enjoyed secondhand celebrity at Westminster. Her 15-inch beagle, Ella, won a merit award at the New York show, while 13-inch beagle Lil Ed won best of breed. Everywhere she went with her beagles, she said, people would ask, "Is that Uno?"

Dogs in Canada editor-in-chief Kelly Caldwell said even though the sprightly beagle quickly captured the crowd's heart, his victory was far from certain: Not only had a beagle never won Westminster, no beagle had won its group there since 1928 - in dog years, that's a 560-year losing streak.

Ms. Caldwell, who attended the show in New York, heard that bookies were calling this the year of the poodle, while others said the Sealyham terrier was a lock after winning the American Kennel Club/Eukanuba show. But the beagle outshone them all.

"Every time that dog barked the crowd responded," she said. "I've never seen a crowd cheer on a dog like that."

In the past, Westminster wins have spurred public interest in little-known breeds, such as the Kerry blue terrier, which won in 2003, or the papillon in 1999. But because beagles are already a popular pet, they probably won't experience a similar boost from Uno's fame. The beagle ranks 11th in popularity according to the Canadian Kennel Club and scratches its way up to fifth in the American Kennel Club rankings.

From Snoopy to Underdog, beagles are no stranger to the spotlight. They're favourites in Hollywood - and unfortunately for them, among medical researchers - because of their docile nature and their willingness to do anything for food. Though they can be stubborn, their sweet temperament makes them great pets - and it doesn't hurt that they're doggone adorable.

Marna Gale, who runs a rescue organization called Big on Beagles in Toronto, said she hopes Uno's newfound fame makes it easier to find good homes for the 10 dogs she now has in foster homes, some of whom have special medical needs.

"I think it's wonderful. It's a furry feather in our cap," she said. Of course, she predicted, "the poodle people will have their noses out of joint."

Her beagles at home watched Uno win best his group on television, and they seemed pleased but not surprised - beagles generally don't lack for self-esteem, she said. "They are stars in their own minds."

uno's half sister lives in burlington!!

2008-02-16T09:45:00.003-05:00

(thanx to geekboy for sending the article!)

Burlington's Lucy shares famous beagle blood

February 15, 2008
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator
(Feb 15, 2008)

"He's the most perfect beagle I've ever seen," judge J. Donald Jones gushed about Uno, top dog at the world's top dog show this week.

And with that, the 132-year-old Westminster Kennel Club handed a first-ever win to a breed known for its nose, not its dainty demeanour.

Talk shows booked Uno. Restaurants welcomed him.

Life's different for Uno's younger half sister. Lucy lives half a world away, in an artsy Burlington home.

Lucy used to jog with owner Gene Quondamatteo but she'd stop and sniff too often. She chews Lego if kids Julianna, 5, J.J., 8, and Olivia, 10, leave it out.

Lucy runs away if she catches a scent, won't always do the leave-the-treat-there trick, and won't bay to music as beagles do on TV.

As Uno eats lunch at the famed Times Square restaurant Sardi's, Lucy's been known to eat, well, from the garbage can.

"The kids are going crazy, saying, 'Our dog is famous, our dog is famous,'" smiles mom Lisa Quondamatteo, who began searching a couple years ago for a family pet.

They met Ayton, Ont., breeder Tracy Cartwright near Walkerton. They paid $700 for a 14-week-old pup and brought home a dog whose dad won a show or two, they heard.

Little did they know, until this week, that Lucy (formally, Trajam A Mighty Wind) was sired by famed show dog Parker (Windkist A Walk in the Park), who also sired famed Uno (Ch. K-Run's Park Me in First.)

Lucy's owners are not dog show people, just pet owners who named her after the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Much has been made of Uno's win: the unprecedented crowd reactions, the victory for the underdog beagle breed, the adulation.

Gene feels he got a bargain.

"I should put her on eBay now."

And yes, Lucy, he's just joking.

rfaulkner@thespec.com
905-526-2468

and now back to my regularly scheduled happy blog!

2008-02-14T11:55:00.003-05:00

After Uno's win yesterday, Marna received a frenzy of media action wanting to talk beagle with her. Which is, of course, amazing!! The media chose our rescue as the authority on everything beagle! What a great opportunity for us to educate people on the breed, on animal rescue...and on how freaking awesome beagles are!

B.O.B is making a second appearance on Animal Housecalls next Tuesday too (I'll post details soon)!! We'll be featuring our lovely Vada - the newest addition to the B.O.B. family and the subject of our very special meetup on Sunday, March 2nd at Urban Dog here in Toronto.

I have been crafting a very special blog post about Vada that I will post in the next few days. She is such a beautiful dog, and we're overwhelmed by the support she has received already...just wait until you hear more about her!!

I'm also in desperate need of posting an Albert update!!!

Albert is, of course, our special little guy! He has metamorphasized from the scared, sad little boy we met hiding under a table at an animal shelter into a full-on beagle prince who adores his beagle siblings and humans equally. We actually don't remember a time without him :)

Look (this was taken this morning as I was running out the door to work)!!

we can't all be uno

2008-02-14T06:57:00.004-05:00

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE that a beagle won Westminster! But I have very mixed feelings about dog shows at the best of times, and this is no different.

I'm not really that into the notion of the "perfect" dog, and I really loathe the primping, pruning, shaving, cutting and other nonsense that goes into these spectacles. So when a dog like a beagle wins it really is refreshing (not that Uno didn't go through the same primping and pruning as the poodles and afghans because he definitely did!)

Uno's win resonated with me, because it's obvious that his personality played a huge role in his victory - the crowds at Madison Square Gardens went crazy for Uno and his beagle howl! Aside from being a beautiful boy physically, he is obviously personality plus. But then again, so are ALL beagles.

When you are in the beagle rescue business the Uno's of the world are few and far between. And my concern is that sweet little Uno is going to spark a beagle breeding frenzy. Pet stores will want to "stock" beagles to make a buck, backyard breeders will be doing anything possible to spawn as many beagle pups as they can to capitalize on the Uno-mania.

And us here at Big on Beagles? We'll be doing what we've always done. Marna will continue to receive emails like the one she got a few days ago about "a bunch of beagles" in a shelter in Montreal that will be killed because they've been abandoned and a home can't be found for them. We're talking perfectly healthy, young, friendly beagles being killed for no good reason.

We will continue to be here for the beagles that are abandoned after the Uno craze is long forgotten. The Albert's, the Vada's, the Darwin's, the Violet's, the Quince's...the list goes on. You can see the list rescue beagles that need a home here in fact!

I try to keep this blog lighthearted and fun. I don't like to focus on the sadness that is inherent in volunteering with a dog rescue. But the reality is that the work Big on Beagles does is very, very sad. Abused, abandoned, sick, sad dogs are not lighthearted and fun. And rescuing these beagles is hard work, that costs a lot of money, takes the love and compassion of a small army of foster parents and supporters and has little to no fanfare.

As far as I'm concerned, Marna should be receiving a "Best in Show" ribbon alongside Uno.

Marna, Erica and all of us loyal Big on Beagle volunteers do what we do because it makes a difference to a breed of dog we adore (and a breed that is very misunderstood).

And I hope that we can use Uno's victory to help educate people about responsible pet ownership, the work of dog rescues like B.O.B (and many, many others) and the realities of the dog breeding industry.

Because THAT is what really, really matters.

in case you missed uno's big moment...

2008-02-14T06:56:00.001-05:00

Uno's Victory is Repeated TODAY!!

2008-02-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

If you missed Uno the Beagle's big score, you can watch it again tonight at 16:00 on OLN (if you are in Ontario).

Thx for the tip geekboy (and fellow beagle parent!!)

more uno pics!!!

2008-02-13T07:09:00.004-05:00

uno won best in show!!!

2008-02-13T06:57:00.005-05:00

Our favorite celeb-beagle Uno made history yesterday by being the first beagle to be crowned best in show at Westminster!!! We knew he was destined for the crown! Finally, a solid, handsome, rugged beagle sweeps the show! Who need flouncy Afghans and Poodles? Not me!! Apparently the crowd went wild when Uno won too! I know that Albert, Arthur and Stella were very excited to hear the news too - they groaned and rolled over on the couch :)

Here's the article!!

Beagle named Best in Show at Westminster

BY DENISE FLAIM | denise.flaim@newsday.com
11:26 PM EST, February 12, 2008

Snoopy fans, rejoice.

At Madison Square Garden last night, Westminster Best in Show judge J. Donald Jones made history by giving the gargantuan purple-and-gold ribbon to a beagle called Uno (Champion K-Run's Park Me In First to you).

"We just knew he was going to be number one," said handler Aaron Wilkerson about Uno's prescient name, and as he remarked that the dog's favorite toy is a stuffed yellow duck.

The feisty hound's singular names are fitting, as this was the first time a beagle has won top honors in the Westminster show's 132-year history.

It was also only the third time that a hound has won at the Garden, the previous two victors being Afghan hounds.

The No. 6 dog in the country last year, the 15-inch beagle bayed enthusiastically at Wilkerson as a crowd peppered with equally vocal fans screamed its approval. It was a display of approbation that commentator David Frei noted was the most enthusiastic he had ever heard, complete with standing ovation.

The seven-dog Best in Show lineup included Monday's other winners -- a standard poodle called Remy (Champion Brighton Minimoto), a Sealyham terrier dubbed Charmin (Champion Efbe's Hidalgo at Goodspice) and an Australian shepherd who answers to Deuce (Champion Vinelake Collinswood Yablon).

The dog to beat last night was toy poodle Vikki (Champion Smash JP Win A Victory), the nation's top dog. Eating close to a half-pound of steak is the only way Vikki relaxes in the ring, said handler Kaz Hosaka. After reprising last year's Toy group win, the 7-pounder returns to her native Japan, to stay for good.

Earlier in the evening, Sporting group judge Elliott Weiss validated the thundering applause of the audience and pointed to Champion Colsidex Seabreeze Perfect Fit, a Weimaraner nicknamed Marge. "She looks like she could be the perfect athlete," said Weiss of the gray lady, whose 50s-sitcom of a nickname belied her sleek form.

In the Working group, judge Constance Barton did the expected, giving the nod to Macey (Champion Redwitch Reason To Believe). The English-bred Akita, the nation's No. 2 dog, won the group here last year, and is owned by Long Island real-estate developer Roger Rechler.

and look at how handsome uno is!

2008-02-12T09:48:00.000-05:00

uno the beagle is kicking ass at westminster!!!

2008-02-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

Uno the beagle wins early at Westminster
By BEN WALKER, AP National Writer
Mon Feb 11, 3:35 PM ET

NEW YORK - Barking and baying, a precocious beagle called Uno took his first winning steps at Westminster. Uno easily took the best of breed Monday at America's No. 1 dog show, bounding around the ring and trying to grab the lead out of handler Aaron Wilkerson's hand.

"Snoopy would be proud," Wilkerson said.

A perfectly trimmed toy poodle, a top Sealyham terrier and prize-winning Akita were among the 2,627 entries. The dogs came in 169 breeds and varieties, and there were four newly sanctioned types — the Tibetan mastiff, Beauceron, Swedish vallhund and Plott.

Tri-colored and nearly 3, Uno moved into Monday night's judging in the hound group. While best in show will be presented Tuesday night, the playful 15-inch beagle certainly earned one title at Madison Square Garden: noisiest in show.

Uno sounded off every chance he got and clearly became the early crowd favorite, wagging his white-tipped tail and taking a flying leap at one of Wilkerson's cooked pork loin treats.

"He was being his merry little hound self," Wilkerson said.

While the movie "Underdog" was a big winner last year, a beagle is always a long shot on the Garden's green carpet.

The best in show award has been presented 100 times by the Westminster Kennel Club and a beagle has never won. Part of the problem is the breed's engaging, friendly nature.

"Great show dogs often have an air about them. It's like this is their world and we're just living in it," Westminster TV host David Frei said. "But beagles want to be in our world."

They also have another disadvantage: They're far from the fancy-cut, froufrou dogs that often win.

"To some, a beagle may not look as spectacular as the Afghan hound, flying around the ring with all that hair," Frei said.

With pleading, golden-brown eyes and plenty of tail-wagging personality, Uno could break out of the Westminster doghouse. No beagle has even won the hound group since 1939.

"To have the general public see an average dog going and competing and actually winning would send a signal that everyone can do it," said Eddie Dziuk, one of Uno's co-owners.

Uno came with his favorite stuffed frog toy and the fluffy pillow he sleeps on, the one with a Hollywood star. His official name is K-Run's Park Me in First, and he bested 12 other entries in the 15-inch category.

Beagles also come in the 13-inch variety, though both types can come from the same litter. In show parlance, Uno is a "big beagle."

Judge J. Donald Jones, former a dean at Emory University, will point to his choice as the champion right before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Uno already has earned 32 best in show titles, and finished 2007 as the sixth-ranked show dog in the country. He took the hound group at the AKC/Eukanuba show in December.

A Sealyham terrier with a gray splotch over his left eye won that big competition in Long Beach, Calif. Called Charmin, he wound up as the No. 4 dog last year.

Also in contention will be a neatly primped white toy poodle born in Japan. Vikki has won 83 best in show ribbons and enters as the nation's top dog.

An Akita that reached the best in show ring last year in New York will return. Missing will be James, an English springer spaniel who retired after winning last February.

USA Network and CNBC will split the coverage the first night, with USA doing the second night alone. Frei was hesitant to pick a favorite, though he did offer a prediction.

"What better choice could there be to win America's dog show than an all-American dog?" he said. "A beagle winning would bring down the house."

don't miss a very special beagle meetup!!!

2008-02-09T10:31:00.000-05:00

blizzards and beagles

2008-02-03T16:42:00.001-05:00

I apologize for not posting more this week. Life was extremely busy on the work AND home fronts...complete with a blizzard on Friday! We got close to 30cm in 24 hours. And that, of course, meant hours of beagle fun in the snow.

Here are a couple of pictures of the beagles in the yard mid-storm, and Albert and Arthur running into the house with a fresh layer of snowflakes on their backs.

Got to run - but there will be more posts this week...we promise!!

it's all ebay's fault!

2008-01-31T10:15:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I log on to ebay and search the word "beagle". I haven't done it in quite some time because...well...I've been busy with my three real beagles!

Last night everyone was snuggled up on the couch, and I decided to see what was happening on ebay. Well let me tell you...there was beagle-stuff galore! I ended up bidding (and winning) a vintage ink and paper sketch of beagles that is gorgeous. I also found some really cute beagle bag/purses. Lots of beagle accessories of course (I restrained myself, but only because Adam was sitting right there)...and this thing!

What is it you might ask?

It is a fake beagle puppy sleeping on a dog bed. But get this...it breathes!

CREEPY!!!

I told Marna that she should keep a few of these on hand in case she gets any more calls from people asking her if "she has any beagle puppies in stock".

I'm not even joking...someone called her and asked if she had puppies in stock. Like a dog rescue is a store and a beagle is a pair of socks.

Reminded me why Big on Beagles exists in the first place.

it's official!

2008-01-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

Albert and I headed over to the Big on Beagles headquarters this afternoon to sign our adoption papers...it's official!!! Albert is officially ours!

Adam greeted him at our door when we got home with a firm paw shake and said "welcome aboard son!".

We were surrounded by cute beagles at Marna's place...you met Huck in the previous entry, but here are the others! (The only one I didn't get a photo of was Quid, who is 17! At 17 you are allowed to fan away the paparazzi! Trust me, he's a gorgeous guy)
Albert making himself at home with Matty (sprawled out up top) and Darwin.

I know I'm not allowed to have favorites...but this is Violet, and well...she's my favorite :)

Ruby Sue is a sweetheart!

Darwin's handsome close up (you can tell that he is so over being photographed)

And Matty's handsome close up!

a 20 year old beagle!!

2008-01-27T18:50:00.000-05:00

I have never met a 20 year old dog before...never mind a beagle...until today! This is Huck and man, is he old! But the *sweetest* dog you will ever meet! You would never know it from seeing him that he's such a senior. He wears diapers and has some neurological problems that make his back legs a little wonky...but he's first in line for a pet, loves his walks, and is perfectly happy crashed out on a beagle bed with all of his pals.

Marna is beagle-sitting Huck while his foster parents are away getting married.

We love you Huck!!!

albert loves balls!

2008-01-26T21:11:00.000-05:00

The dog park tonight was rockin'! Who knew that Saturday nights at the park are more fun than hanging out at a bar (OK, well, maybe you all knew that...I'm just confirming!).

There were SO many dogs out! And there was a sprinkling of fresh snow, so everything was crisp and fresh. It was so amazing.

Albert found a ball in the snow and went crazy! He gets more and more puppy like every single day. The video is dark (because it was night!), but you get the jist of how kooky he went for his ball!

new beagle tent!

2008-01-25T22:57:00.000-05:00

Adam and I do a lot of canoing and camping in the summer, so when I went shopping tonight for a birthday present for our friends dog Zack (he's having a party tomorrow night) and saw this fantastic doggie tent - well, I had to buy it!

We have a smaller one, but with Albert in the family we needed something a little roomier :) And boy was it a hit! Albert is currently snoring away in the tent, and Arther and Stella have both taken turns as well. By tomorrow I'm sure there will be a pile of beagles sleeping in it!!

i'll never get sick of this image!

2008-01-25T17:13:00.000-05:00

(Taken 5 minutes ago!)

is albert a puppy???

2008-01-25T07:52:00.000-05:00

When we adopted Albert there was some uncertainty about his age. At first he was estimated at about 8 years old. Then after a full examination with the vet, his age was reduced to about 6. Well...I am beginning to wonder if he isn't younger than that!

We were at the park last night, and met a gorgeous little 16 month old BEAGLE PUPPY!!!! Anyone who knows me, knows that you canNOT put a beagle puppy in front of me and not expect me to flip out. Well, apparently the same holds true for Albert!

Albert quite literally flipped out when he met Misha the beagle puppy! We have never seen him so happy! He and the puppy chased each other, rolled around in the snow, pawed each other...it was SO funny to watch. Albert regressed to 6 months old! Arthur and Stella were both very good with the puppy as well, though not nearly as playful. Stella, who is usually extremely crusty when it comes to puppies, actually tolerated Misha (probably because he was so CUTE!).

I was very sad that I didn't bring my camera to the park! I took a few photos with my cell phone and I'll see if any turned out, but now that we know a beagle puppy goes to our dog park I will not be leaving the house with the camera!

we're going to be on the radio!!

2008-01-23T21:28:00.000-05:00

Marna and I both did interviews tonight for a radio show that will air in the next month or so on CHUM FM. We'll be sure to post the MP3 after it airs!

Marna is talking about the rescue, and I'm talking about being a beagle owner!!

hi. my name's albert and i'm a bone-a-holic

2008-01-23T18:34:00.000-05:00

Apparently Albert's old life didn't consist of bones. The first time we gave him one, he looked at us like we were trying to make him eat a brick. But then he gave it a lick, and his entire attitude changed.

This dog *loves* bones! These photos were taken over the course of an entire evening (and yes, I know there is a sticker on his bone. We tried everything and it refused to come off!). Albert took this bone everywhere he went last night. And then he buried it :)

PS
The middle shot is my favorite. That's Albert demonstrating his patented "couch groove" maneuver. This is where he sticks the bone down the couch cushion for stability, and then chews with all of his might with the bone in an upright position.

if you happen to be in michigan and reading this...

2008-01-23T08:31:00.000-05:00

Big on Beagles got an email yesterday letting us know about 2 older beagles who are in a shelter in Michigan and *desperately* need a home. The photo is them - Buddy and Becky, and this is the message about them...if you can help, please call the shelter and then let us know!!!

Hi Everyone,

Here I am making another plead for help. Seems like our work is never done. Here's the story on these two beagles.

Their names are Becky and Buddy and they are about 10 years old. The gentleman who owned them since they were puppies recently passed away. Most of his family lived out of state and none of them would take them. So the neighbors called me to pick them up because they were abandoned. He trained them to be hunting dogs and they lived outside in a kennel. We did find a family to adopt them but now they want to give them back. They are complaining that they keep getting out of the yard.

The male is neutered. They both are up to date on their shots and are microchipped. They are both very sweet and just crave attention. Please let me know if you know of anyone who could help and/or if you could post them on your websites. I am hopeful that we can find a place for these two cuties to live out the rest of their lives. Thanks!!!

Suzette Gysel
Animal Control Officer
Code Enforcement Officer
City of Madison Heights
248-837-2745 or 248-837-2669
suzettegysel@madison-heights.org

a new year, a new look

2008-01-23T07:57:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed that we've changed the look of the blog - Albert felt that since he's no longer a foster dog, we should spruce things up a bit...and who am I to argue with Mister Albert??

Things are back to their usual organized chaos here at home. We've all gotten back into the routine following vacation and the house is humming again. And guess what? Stella must have heard the good news about Albert, because over the past 2 days she has been playing with him in the house (this is unheard of for our grumpy little old lady I might add!).

They've been pawing each other, chasing each other around the main floor, and generally acting like puppies! It's extremely cute, and while they always got along, it's so awesome to see them actually playing with each other!

As for Arthur? Well, he and Albert have been best buddies since the get go. That bond is only growing stronger :)

another beagle saved!

2008-01-22T11:53:00.000-05:00

I'm very pleased to introduce you to a VERY pretty beagle girl. Her name is Vada and, thanks to Big on Beagles, Marna was able to save her life.

Vada had some health problems that didn't add up. At first they thought she might be pregnant, given the expanding size of her belly. When that turned out to be negative, BOB took her in to the fantastic vets at the Beaches Animal Hospital where she had an 8 hour test to see if the problem might be Cushings Disease.

Unfortunately the test came back positive. But Cushings is a manageable illness with the proper treatment and medicine. The good news is that Vada is safe and sound in her new rescue home getting herself settled and ready to feel better!

Just another little reminder that the money raised for Big on Beagles goes directly to saving the lives of little cuties like Vada!

UPDATE:

I've just heard word that Vada is doing very well in her new foster home and that she has made friends with 2 doggie friends name Violet and Sophie. She'll begin her Cushings medication very soon as well and should feel better quite quickly. Her medication isn't cheap - approximately $100/month! Soooo...if anyone feels like sponsoring Vada while she is in foster care, email the rescue at bigonbeagles@primus.ca!

cold!

2008-01-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

Today was SO cold at the dog park. The wind chill was crazy, and even though we were all bundled up we were still freezing!

The dogs, on the other hand, seemed fine! They were all bundled up and running around like, well, beagles!

I've updated the slide show on the right hand side so you can see all of the meetup photos but I've put a couple of cute ones here below.

And the news I spoke about this morning? Well...Albert is no longer going to be a foster beagle. That's right! He's found his forever family!

OURS!!!!! We're officially adopting Albert!

How could we not? He's become a core part of our family. He loves Arthur and Stella, he's so comfortable at our house, and he's good as gold! We love this little guy and couldn't imagine EVER parting with him!

SO...the official paperwork will likely be completed this weekend. And Albert's story ends with his placement in a wonderful forever home. With us!

(But don't worry - it doesn't mean the end of the blog! We're still going to update you with Albert news as well as other beagle rescue stories!!)

Albert running so fast we thought we might take off!

we're off to the beagle meet up!

2008-01-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

And it's really freakin' cold out! -12 I believe. Which means we have 3 beagles and 2 people to bundle up like crazy!

ANNNND....stay tuned! We have some very exciting news to share this afternoon (along with some great beagle meetup photos of course!)

back to the routine

2008-01-19T10:44:00.001-05:00

We got back from our vacation last Sunday night...so the week has been a flurry of work, unpacking, and generally getting back to our usual routine. Last night was a very welcome opportunity to sit back, relax and not do much of anything (except beagle snuggling, of course!)

After a very cold, but very fun trip to the park (where we discovered that Albert LOVES chasing balls) we came home, popped in a DVD and relaxed.

And this was the scene in our living room!

Nothing like a couch full of lazy, cute, snuggly beagles!

And here they are individually:

Stella!

Arthur (licking his lips!)

Albert

Beagle Meetup this Sunday!!!

2008-01-18T16:31:00.000-05:00

When: Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Where: Totoredaca Park
2715 Meadowvale Blvd., Mississauga
Toronto, ON M4E 2X4

Everyone should attend! There's no better way to chase the blues away than to watch our beagles PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!!!
Why: If you've got a beagle, you've gotta join BYOB! Beagles LOVE to be with other Beagles! Just imagine a sea of beagle tails in the snow! You'll love it!

"Follow the sound of the howls when you get to Toto Park! That and we humans plan to wear a lot of RED!"
--Marna Gale of BIG ON BEAGLES

Happy New Year!

2008-01-15T07:11:00.000-05:00

We're back!!! After a glorious 2 week vacation, the beagles are back in town! Adam and I went to the Florida Keys for a week to scuba dive (unfortunately it we experienced the coldest day in Key West in 110 years, so no diving for us!) and then went on a cruise with our family that took us to Grand Cayman, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.

Where was little Albert during that time you might ask? Well, the wonderful Marna from Big on Beagles graciously offered to care for Albert while we were away. Arthur and Stella went to their favorite kennel where they are treated like a King and a Queen, but because Albert is newly rescued, we wanted him to stay in a home situation so he wouldn't think he was being abandoned again.

Albert definitely had some adventures while we were away...and I'll save THAT story for an entirely different post. In the meantime, here is a shot of Albert hanging out with his best buddy Matty, Albert in a food coma at Marna's and Albert on his first night away from us snuggled up to a pillow case that smelled like us.

We're so happy to be home!! Albert updates are now back to their regularly scheduled program!!!

a week's worth of posts...

2007-12-30T17:16:00.002-05:00

I got a new cell phone over the holidays, but for the life of me, I'm not able to post with it. It's very frustrating because I have taken so many cute photos on the phone, and the main reason I got it was to be able to update the blog while on the go! I'm a pretty tech oriented person, so it's really frustrating me!

So until I can figure out the phone here's some of the photos!

This is Albert at my office on Thursday:

This is Albert yawning under my desk:

And this is our dog park - it's as icy as a skating rink! The poor doggies can't go until the ice melts...don't want them (or me) to hurt ourselves!

albert's at the office!!!!

2007-12-27T12:41:00.001-05:00

And I wish I could post photos, but I can't get my new phone to work on the various mobile posting settings. It's driving me nuts...he looks SO cute sitting in my chair and under my desk. He's doing so well! My two colleagues who are here have been great with him too. I think he should be the office mascot!

2007-12-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

This is how Albert spent his first Xmas with us...rolling around in his new little doggie bed! He always curls up in a tiny little ball when he sleeps, so we thought we'd get him a small little bed that he could sleep in. He loved it! He spend the holidays rolling around in his little bed, then curling up and sleeping in it.

Then he and his brother Arthur spend the evening relaxing with Adam alternating between belly rubs and jowler pulls. They feasted on Grammy's Pot Pie by Merricks and, from what I can gather from the beagle banter, all three beagles had the best Xmas ever.

We spent Boxing Day digesting...and watching Underdog! We'd never seen it...and as silly as it was, it was the perfect way to spend the day after Xmas when you have a house full of beagles.

xmas darwin!

2007-12-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

We're so excited that Darwin is going to be OK...we just HAD to post this adorable photo of him in his Santa hat! Because he's going to be home for the holidays!

We love you Darwin!!!

darwin makes a triumphant recovery!!!

2007-12-21T09:37:00.001-05:00

IMG_2427, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

I couldn't be happier to post this very happy news (and so close to the holidays!) Darwin is going to be OK!!! The vets called Marna last night and said that all of the tests were negative for cancer, and that it looked like a massive infection that had spread throughout his little body. He's going to be fine!!! *yay* Darwin!

(Darwin is pictured here napping on his couch at home...exactly where he should be!!)

beagle daddy and his dogs

2007-12-20T16:21:00.001-05:00

IMG_2409, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

I took this photo of my husband Adam a couple of weeks ago while we were walking the beagles in the snow. Adam is the best doggy dad you could ever ask for, and I always tell the beagles how lucky they are to have him!

Adam claims that he was raised by dogs and has many fond memories of his childhood woofs. I love hearing him talk about his border collie Terry. They literally grew up together.

With Marna's little Darwin falling ill, it's really made me think about the impact our dogs (and pets in general) have on the quality of our lives. They bring so much joy and purpose to my life, and it's a big part of the reason I wanted to get involved in beagle recueing.

I'm sure I get way more out of my beagles than they get out of me. And if I can help a sad little beagle who's been abandoned and abused I'm happy to do it.

From our beagle family to yours - we're wishing you all the very best of the holiday season!

sending all our love to sweet darwin...

2007-12-20T13:18:00.001-05:00

IMG_2412, originally uploaded by estrojennie.

While our beagles were enjoying the snowstorm, Marna and her family were rushing her eldest beagle (and the reason that Big on Beagles even exists!) to the vet. He didn't want to eat or drink, and they were quite worried about him. Long story short, the vet rushed him to Guelph (the best vetrinary facilities in Ontario) and they weren't sure he'd make it though the night.

Marna reports that while his condition is serious, he was able to greet her and Bill when they went to visit yesterday and with any luck, he'll be able to come home on the weekend.

We're wishing our very best wishes to Darwin and his family and have our beagles have all paws crossed that he'll be OK.

albert the snow beagle!!

2007-12-16T19:05:00.000-05:00

The blizzard of the year hit Toronto hard today...I haven't seen this much snow in Toronto in years! Adam and I have four wheel drive, so we had no problems getting around! Lucky for the beagles too...we took them tobogganing at our favorite dog park this afternoon! Albert had a blast - he was up to his arm pits in snow. The tobogganing wasn't so great because the snow was just too fluffy, but the beagles had a ball hopping through the snow and barreling after each other. We took some video too, which I'll upload shortly. For now you can get your fill with our beagle blizzard photo shoot!!

(nothing to do with beagles, but cute regardless!

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sad but happy beagle news...

2007-12-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

This is Nicholas. Until yesterday he was referred to as "No Name" :(

This guy is SO sad (what else is new?). He was at a rural shelter and they couldn't do much in the way of vet care...but luckily they called Big on Beagles! The problem wasn't cash this time (remember? we raised over $500 at the keg party last weekend! And the Beagle Bash for Cash raised some $$ as well!)...finding a foster parent was the issue. Marna didn't have any pre-approved foster parents in the wings, and so the poor little beagle with no name was at the mercy of the powers that be :(

But as Marna says, when you are surrounded by angels, miracles happen. This angel came in the form of a foster parent who was able to take on yet another beagle in need. And now the beagle with no name is officially known as Nicholas! What a perfect name for our Christmas beagle!!! He is getting treatment for his eye issue, and will likely also require some much needed dental work (his eyes are obviously the priority!).

If you have ever thought about possibly being a foster parent contact Big on Beagles! Having a pre-approved foster parent in the wings allows the rescue to move faster to save a dogs life, and gives them the confidence of knowing a great family is out there to save the day! As much as nobody likes to think about it...when a call comes in to save a beagle, the clock is usually ticking for that little beag's life. No foster parents on call can often delay the process of pulling the dog out of the shelter or other bad situation it is in, and sometimes there is no time to wait. (And if my experience fostering our Albert hasn't convinced you about the amazing benefits and rewards of working with a rescue as a foster parent...the I don't know what will!!!)

In other good beagle news...I got a message from ANOTHER awesome rescue beagle, who also has a blog! Go visit Duke at his blog (he's SO super cute!) I LOVE beagle blogs !!

http://www.bayingbeagle.com/

Finally, if you are interested in meeting lots of fantastic beaglers...join the Big on Beagles Meetup group at meetup.com! http://beagles.meetup.com/221/ There are monthly beagle meet-ups, and you'll also be kept up to date on all of the Big on Beagles news!!

our gorgeous beagle boys...

2007-12-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

We're pretty sure that part of Albert's speedy transformation has a lot to do with his relationship to Arthur. Arthur is the nicest, friendliest beagle boy you could ever meet. And while he was a little out of sorts the first day or so after Albert's arrival, he quickly warmed to him. They are now, as you can see, the very best of friends.

It's hilarious to watch Albert mimick Arthur, follow him around and snuggle up to him. Arthur is his beagle mentor in the truest of forms, and they are two beagles who absolutely adore each other :)

livin' the good life!

2007-12-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

Albert has been SUPER snuggly the last few days. He's totally into being in our laps or pinning himself against us on the couch. He used to be extremely timid...until the past week, he wouldn't dream of showing enough confidence or affection to actually snuggle up with us. Now he's loving it...see for yourself!!!

beach beagles!

2007-12-10T18:57:00.000-05:00

EDIT: Beach beagle photo shoot is now in the slideshow!!

We had the best time at the beach yesterday! I know it's December, and yes, it was freezing (and snowing!), but being at the beach in the winter with a pack of beagles was one of the funnest things we've done in a really long time!

After our beagle convention, Marna invited us back to her place for a drink and that was even more fun! I'm not entirely sure what the beagle head count was in her house, but I can say that we have never seen that many beagles in one house before EVER!

All the dogs got along very well, I must say. Albert played with Marna's spunky youngster Matthew, while Arthur made himself at home on the couch and Stella curled up in my lap.

All in all it was a fun day with great people and super cute beagles. I'm trying to figure out how I can make all of my photos appear on the slideshow! Until I figure it out, here are some pics of the festivities!

Charlie the (female) beagle:

Albert and a pack 'o beagles:

Stanley:

Albert, Arthur and Stella!

bed beagle :)

2007-12-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the changes we've seen in Albert over the past 6 weeks are nothing short of astonishing. I remember when this little guy was afraid of the bed (probably because he'd never seen one before!)

And now? Well...you be the judge. We think Albert has graduated to the new status of "common variety bed beagle".

(And that's a very good thing!)

beagle meetup...beaches style!

2007-12-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

Big on Beagles has organized a beagle meetup this afternoon in the beaches! If you have beagles you should come...and even if you don't have a beagle, you can still come and hang out with all the cute doggies!!!

WHEN: Sunday, December 9th at 2:00PM
MEET-UP SPOT: Ashbridges Bay Parking Lot

Our Merry Marching Band of Beagles will be heading East on the Boardwalk and making paw-stops at the off-leash play areas along the way!

Come One, Come All and Have a Beagle Ball!!!

albert's kristmas keg party!!!

2007-12-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

First off, Albert and I apologize profusely for the lack of posts on the blog since I returned from NYC. We have a good excuse though...we were busy planning our First Annual Kristmas Keg Party which was also a fundraiser for Big on Beagles!

We're still counting the beagle bucks, but it's looking like we raised in and around $500 for the beagle rescue! My goal was $1,000 (hey, you have to go big or go home!) but Adam and I are absolutely thrilled that we were able to gather together such amazing friends, colleagues and neighbours at our home to celebrate the true spirit of the holidays.

Our very good friends at Steam Whistle Brewing donated the keg and I want to thank Chris Goddard for being such a lovely and awesome human being.

Albert really enjoyed the party too! We were a little nervous that he might be overwhelmed by all of the people, but he quickly found his confidence and inner rock star, and he spent the majority of the evening receiving rotating pets and snuggles from our guests.

Our good friend Ron (pictured above) even brought the beagles some doggie gingerbread cookies from their favorite store! (Ron was also our biggest donor I might add, in loving memory of his beagle Digby...how much do we love Ron???)

We still have a lot of beer left in the keg (well...not if Adam gets his way :p) and a shrimp ring in the fridge. We're thinking we'll do Keg Party 2 Electric Boogaloo tonight to see if we can top up the beagle fund :)

PS
Another shameless plug for the Big on Beagles donation link. (Remember to select Big on Beagles in your fund designation) You get a tax receipt! 100% of your donation goes toward vet care for the dogs being rescued! Trust me...giving to such a worthy organization feels AMAZING...you should try it!

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man it's cold out!

2007-12-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

This morning was our coldest yet this season - minus 10, but minus 16 with windchill (and it was super windy!). Albert hasn't needed a coat so far, which means we haven't tried on the cozy coat that Big on Beagles provided. Unfortunately it was a bit tight across his chest and his little legs were splayed at a very amusing angle...though I must say Albert was not particularly amused :)

We cracked out the bright orange coat we had bought for Arthur last year - it was too snug on Arthur, but fit Albert perfectly! I love the orange on him (thought Marna thinks he looks like a Creamsicle!). He got many compliments on his new outfit, and we all stayed nice and warm on our walk and visit to the park.

treacherous is an understatement!

2007-12-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

I was excited to take the beagles for a walk this morning since I'd been away for so long. I love starting the day with a nice brisk walk and time with the babies!

I knew it was going to be cold out this morning, but I had NO idea that the sidewalks would be so icy, slippery and, well, treacherous. I was a little surprised at how few people had shoveled their walks or, at the very least, put some salt down. I almost fell on several occasions...I have a terrible back, so I'm extra cautious. But I saw many people who weren't so lucky.

What was that saying from the mid 90's...oh yeah...be nice, clear your ice!!

beagle from brooklyn

2007-12-03T18:54:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't see any beagles on my recent trip to New York City...but my awesome colleague Ron sent me this photo that he took while wandering around the DUMBO district of Brooklyn.

Homeless beagles are a phenomenon around North America I suppose.

If you live near Brooklyn...rescue this poor girl!

home!

2007-12-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

I'm back home and have spent the last day and a half snuggling the beagles. Albert, Arthur and Stella were happy to see me (phew!) but faired very well with their daddy as a sole caregiver. In fact, I've had to coax them to come snuggle with me since they seem just fine at home in Adam's lap.

Last night there was a big snowstorm here in Toronto. When the beagles woke up they weren't sure what to think!

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2007-11-27T16:55:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy here in NYC that I've hardly had a chance to sleep, nevermind going out on a beagle hunt! I miss Arthur, Albert and Stella terribly, but their daddy says they are doing just fine going for long walks in new parks to keep life interesting (and them tired out!).

I'll be back home on Friday night, so only three more sleeps until I get to see my beagle babies!

I have to run (more work to do)...but here is a doggie I met in the East Village on Sunday night...he's part beagle!!

going to NYC

2007-11-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

I get to travel a few times a year for work, and this year the event we are producing is taking us to the Big Apple! I LOVE New York City and can't wait to run a super-successful event (and do a little shopping at Target!).

As much as I love to travel, I loathe leaving my beagles. I know they are fine with their beagle daddy, and I'm sure I miss them more than they miss me. Either way, leaving my beagles for an extended period of time sucks! (Take a look at the detailed notes I leave for my very loving and very tolerant husband!)

But traveling is also a good opportunity to meet new beagles! Two years ago, work took me to Japan. I met TWO beagles within five minutes of each other on the beach at Kamakura! I even took photos of them! Look! Japanese beagles (one was 18 years old!)

The last time I was in NYC I met a beagle and his person late at night in Greenwich Village. I was on my way back to my hotel when I ran into said beagle. I had nice chat with the person, and he told me that beagles were perfect NYC dogs - good size, good temperament...their sniffers didn't matter because they had to be on a leash in the city anyway, and most of the dog parks are fenced in.

My fingers are crossed that I run into some more New York Beagles! I'm close to Central Park, so if luck is with me perhaps I'll run into a beagle bash!

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a couple of changes to the blog

2007-11-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

I've added a couple of new features to the blog - the first is a slide show in the top right corner...it's generated from flickr.com, and I've put the keyword as 'beagles' so the photos you'll see are all the photos tagged 'beagle' on flickr. I'll probably change it every now and then to run slideshows of Big on Beagles events, or photo shoots of Albert, Arthur and Stella.

I have also added Google ads to the blog. They aren't intrusive (lower right hand side), but money is generated for every click through from this blog, and all proceeds from Google ads will be 100% donated to Big on Beagles...so if you find yourself bored on the interweeb, feel free to visit us and visit a few Google ads while you are at it!

In other news, I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow morning (5am...ugh!)...but don't worry! I'm going to make blog posts from New York City! Some will be about Albert (my husband has strict instructions to send me photos daily along with an update on how the beagles are doing), but since I'm traveling with my colleagues, I will also post a few interesting stories about them. One of my colleagues is doing a documentary on 'cat ladies' and several other colleagues are pet owners and lovers. So for the next week it'll be a pet lovers smorgasborg! I'm back home on Nov. 30th and will be very strict about posting LOADS of beagle posts!

I also wanted to mention that I'm helping Big on Beagle with a new website and we'll be going live in early December.

I will post once more before I hit the road...until then, click away on the Google ads and check out the slide show!!

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spirit of the season!

2007-11-23T17:20:00.000-05:00

(This post will stay on the main page until the end of the holidays!)

With the first major storm here in Toronto comes the realization that Christmas is just around the corner! And in the spirit of the holidays, I would like to encourage everyone to keep Big on Beagles in mind when considering your holiday charitable gifts.

I know - there are a million organizations calling, mailing, emailing and knocking on your door. Like most people, our family has a limited budget for our "pet causes" (pun fully intended!).

Why support Big on Beagles you might ask? Why not the Humane Society, or any other amazing animal-focued charity?

Well, I'll tell you why I support Big on Beagles:

Beagles are one of the most surrendered breeds out there...they are super-cute puppies, and highly intelligent...but also very stubborn. Training a dog is hard and beagles are even more challenging. Hence they often find themselves in need of a new home.

B.O.B is run by one passionate woman who loves beagles and cares about the lives of animals. She works tirelessly to ensure that beagles in need across Ontario (and often across North America) are given a shot at a second life. These are dogs that have often been abused, abandoned, dogs with critical illnesses, elderly dogs that have been disposed of because they are no longer young and spry.

She is not a registered charity, and is not eligible for grants or government sponsorship. She relies solely on the generosity of beagle and dog lovers.

Marna makes it possible for these sad and mistreated dogs to find a loving home, and that warms my heart. In turn, she gives me hope that there are, indeed, still some decent, kinds souls on this planet and that means a lot to me.

Fostering Albert is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done and I am grateful that B.O.B. exists so that people like me can make a difference.

You can make a donation to B.O.B via their website - you can even get a charitable tax reciept for your donation if you donate online via K-9 Rescue Me - a charitable organization that allows small private rescues like B.O.B. to offer a tax reciept (which often makes it more appealing to the donor!)

This will be Albert's first holiday season with a family - if you donate via K-9 Rescue Me remember to select Big on Beagles and note "Albert" on the donation...I'll thank all donors on the blog (and so will Albert!). Our goal is to help cover the costs of Albert's vet bills (the removal of 7 teeth plus neutering cost the rescue over $1,000!).

Please dig deep for this most worthy organization!! The beagles thank you :)

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rainy day beagles...

2007-11-21T08:52:00.000-05:00

When you have a beagle (or three!) you can't let the weather get in the way of the morning walk! Dogs need their exercise...and when they are at home during the day while mommy and daddy are at work, a morning walk is the perfect way to give them some physical and mental stimulation before they hang out and rest for the rest of the day.

Our beagles have raincoats - and they *really* do help keep their little beagle bodies dry. When we get home, all we have to do is towel off their heads and paws and off they go!

Anyway, we had a great brisk walk (jumping over puddles) and now everyone is sound asleep on their beds.

albert's fav pass time...

2007-11-20T20:20:00.000-05:00

When Albert first came to us, he wasn't quite sure what a doggie bed was. Within the first week, though, he was fully down with the doggie bed (and doggie blanket, and people bed...you get the picture).

This is his newest favorite thing to do. Over and over and over. It warms our hearts, because it shows just how happy he is to have left his crappy past life behind.

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stella's a bad ass beagle!

2007-11-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

This is Stella modelling part of the gift basket we won at the Beagle Bash. We are motorcycle enthusiasts, and though we don't ride Harley's, we thought this was a very hilarious costume for the second baddest beagle in the Universe to sport :)

And now for an Albert update! He is doing very well and is slowly coming out of his shell more and more. He is still very shy around strangers though, and is a bit skidish in public without Arthur and Stella. Adam tried to take him for a jog last night by himself, and he didn't want to go. He was great with Arthur, but on his own he is still quite timid.

And we've had a bit of a house training lapse as well. We think Albert might have been paper trained, because he has had a couple of accidents at the back door, on the towel we have on the floor to clean doggie feet. We decided to go back to crate training basics with him to teach him to hold himself. I left for work with him happily licking a rawhide.

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another foster blog!

2007-11-19T21:26:00.000-05:00

Sam, who is a member of the Toronto beagle meeting up at meetup.com emailed to tell me about her rescue dog blog! Her dogs are super-cute...so you should go read about them to!

http://olcsvaryhouse.blogspot.com/

beagle feeding frenzy

2007-11-19T14:55:00.000-05:00

This video illustrates the second funniest thing that happened at the Beagle Bash - a room full of beagles jockeying for position at the doggie cake lineup! Even our little Albert couldn't help himself...he stood underneath the cake table for about 87% of the entire event. My friend Mark's beagle Jake actually jumped up ON to the human cake table and then spent approximatly 92.3% of the rest of the event sitting nicely at the feet of any pretty lady who looked like she might give up some of her cake.

This guy got caught by Marna's husband Bill and was quickly swatted off!

And Marna, being the woman of style that she is, also ensured that there was human cake AND beverages...complimentary no less?! Check out this beauty of a cake!

If you weren't able to make it out to the event, or you had so much fun you feel compelled to show your love through money, feel free to make a fully tax deductable donation to Big on Beagles via their website! After all, those vet bills don't pay themselves!

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beagle bash was beagle-icious!!!

2007-11-18T21:48:00.000-05:00

We had SO much fun at the beagle bash today! I'm not sure who enjoyed themselves more...Adam and I, or Albert, Arthur and Stella! We're all exhausted from an afternoon of beagles, cake (for dogs and people) old and new friends...and more beagles! Stella placed second in the "Baddest Beagle in the Universe" competition, and Arthur tied for first place for the beagle with the longest ears contest. All in all...what a great day!

We took photos galore and we'll post them throughout the week to keep you coming back to the blog :)

It was also great to meet so many people who are READING this blog! Albert thanks you from the bottom of his beagle heart!

We'll leave you with one of the funniest moments of the beagle bash - a beagle decided that Quince the Foster Dog needed to be taken for a walk...by another beagle!

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caught!

2007-11-18T08:53:00.000-05:00

So lately bags of doggie food that were safely on the counter have been making their way onto the floor so that a certain beagle can supplement her diet. It happened again yesterday and I was stumped as to how the bag of food could have possibly gone from the counter onto the floor without the help of invisible beagles.

Well...mystery solved. Stella found her way on top of Albert's crate, and onto the counter. And, as fate would have it, the mystery was solved just as I was entering Stella into the 'Baddest Beagle in the Universe' contest for the Beagle Bash for Cash that is taking place this afternoon at 2:30pm at Urban Dog (you really should go!)

While we don't expect that Stella will take the crown, we did think she would give the inevitable winner a run for his or her money. Here's her entry:

"Aside from being the boss of EVERY dog park she goes to, she’s peed on her daddy in his sleep (daddy thought the roof was leaking), scaled the dog crate, onto the counter to eat everything on TOP of the counter, she’s eaten her way THROUGH the fly of a tent on more than one camping trip, she was solely responsible for DUMPING A CANOE with 2 humans in it, she’s peed all over a sleeping bag on a camping trip, eaten glasses and through a backpack (more than once) to get food, scratched a hole clean through a pine door to be let in, went for the jugular of a dog four times her size to stick up for her brother Arthur AND WON, has eaten a cell phone while her daddy was on call and last but not least…Stella has eaten her way through her doggie gated area – that was wrapped in Tobasco AND tinfoil. Clean through!"

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tomorrow is the beagle bash for cash!

2007-11-17T17:56:00.000-05:00

Albert, Arthur and Stella have had a very low-key day today. They've been relaxing so they have all of their energy saved up for tomorrow's Beagle Bash for Cash at Urban Dog from 2:30pm - 4:30pm here in Toronto. All the details are at the Big on Beagles website, of course.

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albert wants to run free!

2007-11-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before that Albert needs to be on-leash at all times, unless he is at a fenced in park. There aren't any fenced-in parks in Toronto, so Albert has to work with his leash and me. This morning he was super-frisky and was really wanting to run and chase like Arthur and Stella. He looked so cute I shot a (not great quality) video of him. Tomorrow we'll try his extra long training lead to see if that will allow him to do a little more chasing!

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first snowfall of the season!

2007-11-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

OK, so it wasn't really a "snow storm" per say, but it was definitely snowing a little on our walk this morning! It was below zero, and the cool weather seemed to make the dogs extra energetic (probably to keep warm!).

Here's Albert - look, you can see tiny little snow flakes on his back!

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beagle bash for cash!!

2007-11-16T07:35:00.000-05:00

One more plug for the Beagle Bash for Cash this Sunday from 2:30pm - 4:30pm at Urban Dog @ 37 Parliament Street. All breeds of dogs are welcome (of course) and it'll be a fantastically fun afternoon for the doggies! There are gift baskets galore to bid on, a 50/50 draw (i LOVE 50/50 draws...imagine winning half of the pot??), prizes and surprises! Admission is free so bring the whole family along for afternoon of beagle madness!

And on the subject of "beagle madness"...we keep hearing that you can't teach a beagle to fetch, what, with beagles being scent hounds and all. Well, as with all things beagle, you can't believe everything you hear or read. Wanna see a beagle fetch? Check out Little Ms. Stella - she fetches more consistently than any dog I have ever met EVER! See you at the Beagle Bash!!

beagles everywhere!

2007-11-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

I shot this video at a Big On Beagles event in the summer. We're getting very excited about the Bash for Cash this Sunday and thought this video might get you excited too! Look! Beagles everywhere...how fun is that???

autumn days

2007-11-15T08:44:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like autumn walks...the weather is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, the dogs don't get overheated. I could walk the dogs all day in the fall!

beagle expansion!

2007-11-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

So my poor little Stella (she's the "original beagle" in our household) is feeling a little miffed that Albert is getting so much attention - what, with his own blog and everything. And after hanging out with all the rescue beagles yesterday, it occurred to me...it's time to expand!

Albert is, of course, the inspiration for the blog. But ultimately that inspiration is intrinsically linked to Big on Beagles and the work that they do.

SO...I've decided to broaden the scope of the blog! We're going to begin work on securing our own domain...and we would love to feature more stories about rescue beagles - from all over the world!

Have you rescued a beagle? Send your story and pictures to me at: savethebeaglesavetheworld@gmail.com

Albert, Stella, Arthur and I will take great pleasure in reading your beagle rescue stories and sharing them with the world!

And stay tuned for our new web address!!!

albert makes his TV debut!!

2007-11-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

For a beagle with such humble beginnings, Albert was VERY at home in the TV studio at City TV this afternoon. Big on Beagles was featured on today's Animal House Calls (airs again tonight at 11:25pm) and Albert was invited to join Quince, Rose and Junebug (AKA the twins) and Daisy-May. All 5 beagles are in foster care with Big on Beagles, so it was amazing to be able to have a platform to showcase how sweet all of the dogs are.

One of the big misconceptions about beagles is that they howl incessantly. NOT TRUE! All 5 beagles were beautifully behaved at the TV station - we had to wait for about an hour and Albert fell asleep on the studio floor!

After meeting all of these dogs I have to say...they are ALL beautiful beagles who would make amazing pets. Rescue dogs? You'd never know! They are all very well socialized, friendly, affectionate and all have very loving dispositions.

Quince was hired by Disney this summer as the "real live" Underdog! I couldn't get a better photo of Quince because he's a beagle on the move (being a youthful 2 years old and all)...but this guy has the most beautiful eyes! On a scale of 1 - 10, Quince is a super-handsome 11.

Rose and Junebug are fondly referred to as "the twins". We aren't sure if these girls are related (although they look a lot alike), but the biology of it doesn't matter. These girls are sisters at heart and, thus, come as a pair. A pair of cute beagle girls!! If you adopt these sweeties you have won the beagle lottery.

And beautiful little Daisy-May...she melted my heart the first day I met her back in the summer. Daisy-May is about 9 years old, but you'd never know it. She is, possibly, the perfect dog! Active, but not afraid to relax and hang out (she was a gem at the TV studio)...beagles have a healthy life-span (18 is not unheard of)...so really, Daisy-May is in her prime! She is a beautiful dog who deserves a beautiful life.

And, last but not least, our little Albert! Albert was (if I say so myself) the best behaved beagle of the bunch! He wasn't the least bit phased by the lights, camera, action...in fact he loved the spotlight! His highlight was, perhaps, his visit to my office where he is a certifiable celebrity. One of my colleagues felt faint when he walked in the room! She's a huge fan of Albert's blog and she couldn't believe she was meeting "Albert" in real life.

We'll leave you with my favorite thing in the world....a big pile of beagles!

still rockin' the cone

2007-11-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

Albert is still wearing his cone. Not 24 hours a day...it comes off for walks, and for snuggle time. He only wears it when we have to go out and can't monitor his licking. His incision is almost all healed...but not 100% and we don't want him taking a step back in the healing process by licking himself.

Today we are going for a nice sunny fall walk, and when we return there will be a camera full of beagle goodness to upload here!

also very cute...

2007-11-10T12:38:00.000-05:00

fall saturdays...

2007-11-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

It's been pretty cold the last few days, so it was a nice surprise to be able to go for a walk in the sun. We stopped at the first park on our route for a sniff and a run. There weren't any other dogs though, so we continued on to the second park on our route. It really was a beautiful day for a walk! We had better luck at park numero two...lots of dogs, lots of running around for Arthur and Stella and lots of friendly sniffing for Albert.

Albert is becoming a familiar face at our doggie parks! He has lots of fans, and everyone is noticing how much more confident he is! He loves every single dog he meets, and he is now allowing people at the park to pet him without being nervous!!

bash for cash reminder...

2007-11-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

a day in the life of a conehead...

2007-11-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

Well, Mister Cone-head is doing great (as per usual). He's running around with his cone on, has mastered the stairs, can jump on the couch, and has figured out how to navigate through tight spots with his new accessory. In fact, we think he kind of likes it!

The other big news? Well, Albert and his cone were a little bulky for his crate. So for the first time since we got him, Albert spent the day with Arthur and Stella sans crate. And....NO ACCIDENTS!!

We have ourselves a house trained rescue beagle! In only three weeks I might add! We also have a beagle who has a best friend named Arthur!

PS
Albert has a busy weekend ahead. He's got a photo shoot lined up, a couple of parks to run through, a play date to attend, and some exciting news about his first television appearance next week!!!

cone-head! very cute, or very sad...you decide!

2007-11-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

(pardon the glare in his eye...the light is reflecting off of his cone-head).

poor albie! over the last day or so, he's been licking his incision more than i was comfortable with...the last straw was last night when he was whimpering because he was trying to chew the incision. it's obviously itchy...and it's healing well, but licking and biting are bad for business. so i called his vet, and they said he needed a cone.

ahhhh! not the dreaded cone-head!

i'm pretty busy this week and didn't have time to drive all the way over to the beaches to pick up a cone, so we walked up to arthur and stella's vet this morning (st. clair vetrinary - hi dr. hannah!)

we bought albert his cone, and he is currently walking around the house trying to figure out a way to get it off. he looks sad...but he won't be hurting his incision, and hopefully we'll be able to take it off in a day or two once his healing is finished.

three dog pile up

2007-11-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

So the other day on our morning walk, something seemed to spook Albert (probably a noise from the construction site we were walking past). He stopped dead in his tracks, and I couldn't stop fast enough. I tripped, went flying and landed directly on my left hand. I have a sprained wrist, and a ridiculously bruised palm and thumb. I also ripped my pants and tore up my knee. As much as it likely looked hilarious to a by stander....it hurt like hell!

We've now modified our leash configuration so I don't kill myself!

As for Albert, well, he has a new love of cookies. I'm pretty sure he didn't take them when he first came because he was scared. He's still very gentle and a little shy about taking a treat, but he definitely loves them, and he's definitely starting to get the idea that he gets them for being a very good boy.

Well...if that was true he'd be getting cookies every minute on the minute 24/7 :)

albert has a fan!

2007-11-06T12:20:00.000-05:00

Albert's mommy has been crazy busy at work and hasn't updated in TWO days. And he just got his first fan mail asking about him and asking when the blog would be updated.

Now that we know he has a fan we'll definitely update daily...or more!

Albert's doing amazingly well. We think he might be housetrained as there have been no accidents since Friday. Photos and video coming soon...promise!

PS
Feel free to comment on our entries...the more fans Albert knows about the more the more we'll update!!!

more firsts!

2007-11-04T21:02:00.000-05:00

you've seen arthur and albert snuggled up all over the place...but for the first time tonight, Stella and Albert snuggled up! AND...Albert ran to the door to be let out tonight when he had to go to the bathroom! He ran! It was so deliberate. He's learning!

We all knew Albert was a diamond in the rough, but nobody dreamed he would be so quick to sparkle!

little changes

2007-11-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

We've noticed a few changes in Albert since he returned home from his surgery. First - and by far the biggest change - is that he is not spraying all over the house like he used to. In fact, he has had 1 accident in the house since Friday. Before he would have 3 or 4 if we didn't have him in our sight line 24/7. We can now leave him downstairs with Arthur and Stella if we need to go upstairs for a minute...and no surprises for us to clean up! In addition, he is no longer pacing around the house. Prior to surgery he would wander around the house constantly and it was difficult for him to sit still and relax without a lot of coaxing. He is now totally confident to jump up on the couch and snuggle with the other dogs. We're thinking that the dental surgery has likely made his mouth feel way better than it did, and the neutering seems to have curbed the need to mark his territory everywhere.

The other change is that he took a treat from us today! He refused treats until today. I bought some organic whole grain treats that wouldn't be hard on his healing mouth. He didn't take it at first, so I put it on the ground and he ate it. We've been practicing his 'sit' command along with Arthur and Stella and giving everyone a little treat..he's clearly feeling happy and comfortable and confident. This guy is a super star!