Because I know you're worried...

I taking a moment to let you all know that I am doing very well, in fact, I think I am doing better than ever before! Next week I will have my stitches removed. Right now my belly looks like my duckie's belly, but soon it will look back to normal. And I have been very good--I have not bit one stitch.

I have also learned how to sleep in the kitchen at night. Mommy puts my new giant cave in the kitchen and puts up a gate in the doorway. So I have the WHOLE KITCHEN to myself all night long! And all day, whenever they leave the house. It is really nice. I feel like a grown-up dog.

I have pictures to show you but I hid Mommy's cord that takes the pictures off her camera and puts them on my computer (That's right, it is mine, but don't tell Mommy). I like to hide things. It is a fun game. Especially with things that smell good like socks.

Ok, time for dinner--oh, did I tell you, I get to eat BIG DOG FOOD now?

*puppy licks*

February Favorites

THIS MONTH I'M INTO...

Color: Chocolate

Flower: Crocus

Listening to: Mommy singing silly songs

Watching: Snowflakes fall on my nose

Eating: Baby Dog Training Treats

Learning: Roll Over, Dance

Playing: Fetch the Snowball, Betcha Can't Catch Me

Reading: Basil's diary on Dogster.

Current Playmate: Baby (Beagle puppy plush toy)

Pet Peeves: Mommy's laptop gets in the way of her lap

How to Charm Me: Focus 100% of your attention on me

How to Annoy Me: Pay attention to anyone or anything BUT me


*puppy licks*

In the Animal Hospital

This morning I am at the animal hospital to have my "operation" done. Mommy says it will be ok, but I am scared. She left me here about an hour ago. Luckily I know one of the dogs staying here! My neighbor Luca (a big Boxer pup) is here for something on his skin. So I guess that is not so bad.

What was bad--I had to wear a clear shiny cone thing on my head all night and a "pain patch" on my belly that I was not allowed to scratch or lick (no fair!). When they put that cone on my head I could not move without it following me. So I just stood still. And drooled a lot. But Mommy and Daddy were extra, extra nice to me and I got a lot of attention out of it. So I guess that is not so bad either.

And now I have experience staying overnight with other dogs, because I did that last weekend. But something tells me this time will be different.

All I know is, whatever this operation is, they must be doing it because they love me. Think of me today.

*puppy licks*

Home.

I made it home from "boarding," pups. I did alllllright.



I must admit I was a bit scared at first, when they took me and my Mommy into the room with all the dogs.



Two walls of LOUD, barking, whining doggies in their caves. I slunk as low to the ground as one can slink.



But after my Mommy left, I got to know them dogs, and they were alllllright.



Twice a day we got to go outside and see the ducks and geese in the pen next to our runs. That's when we'd chat it up and exchange stories about our peoples and our toys.



After a few days I made some great friends. Shout out to my new diggity dawgs.



But when Mommy came to pick me up, well, needless to say I was HAPPY!



I let her know that I was happy... then I let her know that I was also a little ticked at how we parted on Thursday. Then, after she made it up to me with games and treats and hugs and loves, well, I could not stay mad at her for long.



I did make my mark on this bed though. I think they forgot it is MINE!

Now, my Mommy asked me to post a petition here on my site today... a petition for Good Thoughts for a Beagle named Izzie. Izzie had a tumor removed from her gums and needs more surgery. Izzie is a VIB--a Very Important Beagle--because her Mommy really needs her. Izzie also has 3 doggie siblings that need her too. So please let Izzie's Mommy know that you heard about her, and send some happy thoughts her way.

*puppy licks*

Bum Beagle

Well the snow is melting, so I can't play my footprint game anymore. But I have some great indoor games too so it is ok.

Still, I can not even think about playing games because I heard some things that I think are not good, I heard my Mommy and Daddy talking about "boarding" me this weekend while they go away and play in the snow on a mountain somewhere far away. What does this mean? Why are they going away? What if they do not come back? Why would they want to go anywhere without me? Why can I not stay with my pack?

The OTHER thing I keep hearing about is my "operation." I was supposed to have my operation tomorrow, but they rescheduled it for next week. What does all this mean? Am I sick? I do not feel sick. I am very confused. I do not know what to do.

So this morning when my Daddy was leaving for work, I slipped out the front door before anyone could catch me. Boy oh boy, how exciting! To be outside without a fence, without a leash! Mommy and Daddy seemed a little freaked out by it though. But when they convinced me that I would get some treats I came back inside. Blasted treats. They get me every time.

*puppy licks*

The 2005 Winter Beagle Games

My ear shake brings all the dogs to the yard.
Argyle sweater by Posh Poochy. Ask my Mommy about it if you really want one too.

Now I will tell you about the winter games I have invented, all by myself, not Mommy or Daddy... Me. Maggie. You do not have to be a Beagle to enjoy these games, they are meant for everydog, from Afghan to Weimerarner, and designed to help make these cold, dark winter days fly on by.

GAME #1
Who Made This Footprint?

To play this game, you need your Mommy or Daddy to take you for a walk (whichever one stays out the longest). In my case it is Mommy. It is best played on a day when there is snow on the ground. It does not need to be new snow, it can be a week old or even more. Actually, the older, the better, because the more footprints there will be. Oh, what fun!

So you start out on your walk. WAIT! LOOK! There is your first footprint. Approach with care and stick your nose in it. Take a deep whiff. A real gutteral whiff followed by several smaller whiffs, exploring each and every angle of that print. It can be small, it can be huge, no matter. Keep on sniffin' the heck outta that thing until you have figured out not only WHO left that print, but what kind of shoe or fur they were wearing, what they may have stepped in before they left the print, whether they were running or walking, and perhaps the last thing they ate. Make a mental note of all these details. Take one last whiff to confirm your accuracy. Now move on to the next footprint.

Points: 10 bones for human prints, 50 bones for a non-human, 0 bones for cats. Add 5 bones if your human prints belonged to a trash man, mail man or gas man. Subtract 5 bones if you see the person who left the print right in front of you. Minus 10 if that person is your owner. That's just cheating. SUPER BONUS TREAT: Add 100 bones if the print is planted in yellow snow! Talk about good luck!

That's it, pups! Pretty simple, huh? Try it out and let me know how it goes. If nothing else, your walk should take a lot longer, which will make the day go by that much faster. One day closer to spring. Let me know how you do!

And in honor of the Super Ball this weekend (that's my version of the game), I must chant my Mommy's favorite chant:

B!
E!
A!
G!
L!
E!
S!
BEAGLES!!!!

(Except Mom forgets the "B" every time. Sigh.)

*puppy licks*