Fiona'n'Theo

Hello, I was wondering if my ridgeback would protect me if I was in a dodgy situation out on a walk but since he has such a lovely nature I think he would lick someone to death first. It got me thinking that maybe I could teach him to bark on cue? Ridgebacks don't bark much so I'm not sure how I would even start with something like that. Anyone have any ideas? Cheers, Fiona

Beagles have to be the world's best shedders!! I use the furminator once a week -it's excellent - really gets rid of the loose hair and he loves it! we also bought a second washing machine for dogs stuff - really worth it if you can afford it. Cheers Fiona furminator

helloo My beagle has just introduced the ridgie pup to the joys of passionfruit. They eat them whole although most times they bite a chunk out and lick out the fruit and sometimes a couple at a time. The only problem I have is that they fight if one gets a passionfruit and the other doesn't!! They also eat pawpaw.

That is so cute!!!!

I use Interceptor to cover all the worms and heartworm. When had Theo checked out the vet herself preferred the monthly chew over the injection due to worries over the vaccine. Then I use Advantix for fleas, ticks, and mossies. Here in Brisbane it's been a bad mossie season and they carry heartworm so I'm improving the protection. It's pretty expensive though which is a downer and the top spot stuff causes a bit of a mess on a smooth coated dog. the Interceptor comes as tasty chews so no probs as they are snaffled up.

Hello, I have a beagle and he's lovely, has not dug holes or run away, or howl (though he's barking in his old age - 9) , and is a nice size and good with kids. They shed a lot of hair and will not listen to a thing you say if food is anywhere around. I can't have him off lead because he could just find a scent and go and he's a bit of a steam train on a run/walk but he goes 5km a day and loves it. As a puppy he chewed our bromiliads and agapanthus down to the ground and destroyed the watering system. He currently eats our passion fruit and paw paws - he likes to market garden! A beagle is a gorgeous dog for a family and your OH cannot help but fall in love with that face!! Our family was out for most of the working day but he was walked daily and played with at night - they do love to be around people. The only slight issue I have is with the hair but give them a brush and a hydrobath regularly. Any puppy will chew, jump up, go for shoes and socks, need to be toilet trained, and need attention but what you put in is what you get out and if you spend the time and effort early on he'll turn into a lovely dog no matter the breed. Cheers Fiona

My beagle is a constant shedder - it's everywhere!!! I think it's because he has a double coat. Still gorgeous though!!

Hope it works out for you. When you were 'shown' the how to's of the check chain, did it help to make at least some difference to yourself and your dog there and then? Thanks Erny, yes it did although he is much easier to handle at the end of a class. He does most things in the class really well but he does like to drag the chain when he's had enough and doesn't seem to like doing u turns. My biggest problem though is when starting a walk he will pull and I don't have enough slack to check him so I get towed along. I'm guessing I just have to have treats handy all the time?

Hi, I know - I'm in the same boat with our 9yr old beagle and 5.5mth old RR who is relentless at wanting to play rough. I have been separating them when things get out of hand - otherwise I'm hoping the ridgie will grow out of nipping and jumping on the poor curmudgeonly beagle who just wants to spend his days lying on his back in the sun. Any advice also appreciated. :p

HAhahahahah - this is too funny!!! Theo is also a machine when it comes to poos - about 6/day!!! I can't believe it since I know the amount that goes in the other end! thank god it seems to be roughly normal - his output is almost a daily source of conversation in our family now (pretty sad I know!). Our 9yr old beagle is also a bowel on legs - about 4 per walk but it's hard to guage how much he eats as he does scavenge from the garden! Just a quick question - has it slowed up? theo is also on two large feeds of dry food per day. cheers Fiona

Hi Erny and Corvus, Thanks for the replies - I take Theo to obedience and after class today asked to be shown how to use the check chain properly so I hopefully it will work out this week. He's generally pretty good and the check chain doesn't irritate half as much as the halti. I'm using plenty of food rewards and praise so hopefully the check chain won't spook him too much - he does heel tons better with a liver treat in my left hand!! Cheers Fiona

Hello Way back we used a halti on our beagle to help him keep his nose up from the ground on walks and stop him from pulling and it worked really well. For the ridgeback though the halti really aggravates him and throughout the walks he would scratch at his head or rub against things to try and get it off. I got it originally to help train him and to stop him from pulling but after 6 weeks of this (maybe not long enough?) I'm now trialling a check chain. He still pulls and I feel bad when it tightens when he pulls but for the most part he looks like he's enjoying his walks a lot more. What's a front attaching harness? Fiona

Hi Nik - our beagle (9yo and vacc'd) just had his first ever bout of what we thought was kennel cough - he really did sound like he was trying to hack something up - and this was all times of day. When I felt his ears they were really hot (very non specific test!) so after a couple of days of this we took him to the vet and he was placed on antibiotics (doxycycline) and a cough elixir. the cough syrup was next to useless as even for a beagle he didn't want to touch it and I'm not sure the Abs did much good either and I do wonder if it would've been ok just to let it run it's course than go to the vet. Having said that - losing the Mont unnecessarily or having him suffer would have been truly awful so I went with the safe option. I'd prob go to the vet again nxt time too if that's any help. Cheers Fi