We got off to a late start this morning. I’d stayed up way too late last night reading through the reactions to a programme on the Beeb: Pedigree Dogs Exposed. You can still catch it online via the iPlayer if you’re quick – click here, but be warned some scenes aren’t easy to watch if you’re a dog lover.

Anyway I eventually managed to get out of bed, and the three of us headed off to the park. As we walked up the muddy path to the so-called “puppy field” we were met by – very appropriately – a puppy. A very young Beagle called Tara in this case. She’d wandered off from her mum Tess and sister Clara, no doubt giving her owner Louise a minor heart attack. Beanie hadn’t been anywhere near as bold when she was that young! Maybe two puppy siblings really are double trouble!

Beanie, Tara and Clara

We let Beanie off lead, and after a short meet and greet, she started running off some of her boundless energy with anyone who was up for a chase:

Before long, her German Shepherd friend Kirby turned up. Kirby had been lacking confidence for some time following an attack by another dog. She seemed to be doing just fine with our little hooligan though!

Tess’s two pups seemed to be running on Duracell batteries too. When they weren’t boldly exploring..

..they were wrestling each other over twigs and the shredded remains of tennis balls!

The thing I really liked was that Beanie was happy to play with them, but she played gently. Hopefully that’s a sign that she’ll get on well with her baby brother when we get him next year. On the other hand, Tara and Clara are showing us just how fearless and inquisitive Beagle pups can be when they’re together. It’s hard enough keeping an eye on one crazy Beagle. How tough is it going to be when we’ve got two of ‘em!

Our friends Kathleen and Neil of Mochuisle Beagles suggested we meet up on Irvine beach on Tuesday evening. We were both snowed under with work, so of course we agreed!

We arrived first, and went for a little wander on the sand to keep Beanie amused. At first she was happy to swap sniffs with other dogs, but then her nose caught a more interesting scent, and she bolted off, apparently towards the car park. I gave chase as best I could (the days when I could out-pace Beanie are long gone!) and as I approached, I realized she wasn’t headed for the car park at all. Nope, she was hunting the Beagle’s natural prey: the picnicker.

As I closed in on her, I could see Beanie had already carried out a successful raid; she had what appeared to be a large pork pie stuck in her mush. I quickened my pace, and in response Beanie speed-swallowed the whole pie (all Beagles can do this – chewing is just too slow when you’re being naughty).

By the time I caught her, she was already heading in for a second raid. I apologized to the picnickers and made a show of being annoyed with Beanie, but really I was annoyed at them. OK, technically it was all my fault, and I should either have perfect control over my dog, or forever keep her on lead. But the reality is that picnickers are a pest, a nuisance to dog-walking society that should be legislated against, along with cyclists, power-walkers and, in the eyes of some, joggers. Personally I can’t honestly condemn joggers as I dabble in jogging myself. But picnickers and cyclists? Hang ‘em, that’s what I say.

But I digress.

OK, so I got Beanie back on her lead, and we wandered around a bit more until Kathleen and Neil arrived with three of their Beagles: Spike, Breac and Tiarnach. We walked the four dogs a good few hundred yards along the beach and then, thinking they were a safe distance from any trouble, we let them all off lead. Almost immediately they all raced back down the beach. In seconds they turned from dogs to matchstick silhouettes, and then to dots on the horizon. They seemed to be heading for something along the water’s edge. Kathleen speculated that it might be a sewage outlet. Nice. We called them, and after minute or so the dots seemed to be heading back towards us. Then one dot, somewhat smaller than the others (and clearly naughtier), turned and headed away from the water, back towards the picnic site. One by one, the three other dots swung round and followed. A massed attack on the picnic site was under way! Needless to say we retrieved our fourlegged hooligans, apologized again, and dragged them even further away from their prey. Happily, the rest of the walk was free of any more food stealing incidents.

It was interesting to see how Beanie interacted with the other Beagles. In the park, she normally involves herself in the pack very quickly. Here, she seemed to be holding back.

Perhaps it was because Breac and Tiarnach are brothers and obviously very close..

..on the other hand, maybe it was because she had a big unmasticated pork pie rolling around in her stomach. Regardless, she earned her membership when the frisbee toy landed a little too far into the sea. Calling on her swimming experience, she waded into the water, grabbed the toy and brought it back onto dry land.

She was now a fully fledged member of the gang,

..and as such, she was allowed to engage in trials of strength with the other members.

Breac and Beanie battle it out. Is this a sign of things to come on the Beagle race track?

All too soon it was time to head back and go our separate ways, leaving the beach safe for picnics once again. But for how long?

Click here to read part #1
Click here to read part #2

This was it – the Derby final. The four competitors were Beanie, Inca, Milo and Murphy, wearing black, red, white and blue respectively. The light was fading fast as everyone prepared for this last race. It had been a long day – we’d set off at 8:30 in the morning and it was now after 6 – but it would all be over in a matter of seconds.

The four dogs got away cleanly and charged down the track. Beanie, Milo and Murphy quickly opened up a big lead on Inca. As they approached the finish Murphy was edging ahead of Milo, but Beanie was right up there with them.

At the line it was Murphy, followed by Milo, but our little girl finished a close third!

What a result! Her first ever race had been back in May, and she hadn’t understood all this nonsense about chasing the lure. She only made it past the finish line because Susan ran with her. Now she’d taken on a lot of older, more experienced dogs and got third place in the final. At the finish I called her over and gave her a lump of chicken from my stash, intending to stuff the rest back in my pocket while I attached her lead and put the camera away. I was all fingers and thumbs from the excitement, and the little rascal snatched the bag from my hand and tore it open. “Fair enough” I thought, “you’ve earned it!”

Carol -  Murphy’s owner – took her boy’s superb victory very calmly. Yeah, right!

The bubbly was opened in double-quick time, and we all got a taste!

…but wait, what’s that below Murphy’s tummy? Naughty boy!

Everyone gathered for the presentations. The Derby winners were getting more than just a rosette for their dog’s efforts:

As for Beanie, well she did just get a rosette.

But just wait till next year!

There are many more photos of the Fun Day – you can see them in the slideshow below, or you can see and download bigger, better quality versions of the photos on Flickr – just click here. If you see a photo you like, click on it and press “All Sizes” to choose the size you want.