Increase your Beagle word power

I’m happy to report that Beanie has almost completely recovered from her most recent misadventure. She’s got a spring in her step again, so much spring in fact that Susan’s desk is under constant threat from shock-and-awe Beagle raids. About the only physical reminders of her illness are the shaved patches on her forearms, but even they’re slowly getting re-furred.

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Beanie’s new orange fox toy has already done its fair share of high speed tours of the garden

She is however unusually clingy and I’ve got to be honest, I’m quite enjoying it. If I pick my moment carefully I can get some really soppy cuddles that the Beanie of old would never have tolerated. They don’t last long (the record thus far is 20 seconds) and afterwards she usually has to regain her street-cred by trying to hump Susan, but still, I’ll take what I can get. She’s even been more controllable on the beach during offlead romps, though Biggles is trying hard to fix that and I think he’s likely to win. The only downside to all of this is the thought that it could be happening because she felt abandoned during her stay at the vet. As much as we love her, we’ve often joked that Beanie doesn’t care who she’s with as long as she’s getting regular food and a sofa to stretch out on, but maybe there’s something more than cupboard love there after all. That said, if either Susan or myself were to be struck down by a heart attack on a walk, I’m pretty sure Beanie would see it primarily as an opportunity to raid our pockets.

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Mercenary Beagle? Who? Me?

Another change since Beanie’s illness is that Biggles has expanded his passive vocabulary. Like many dogs he knows about “walkies” and “biccies”; he also knows that if he acquires a sock he can trade it for a “nice thing”, and that he’s got to be ever watchful for a “pussycat”. Recently though he’s learned that “creme fraiche” is definitely worth an urgent departure from the sofa.

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Even if you’re asleep you should keep on ear open for any mention of creme fraiche

Strictly speaking he’s never actually had true creme fraiche, but that’s how we jokingly refer to the dollop of natural yoghurt that’s been on his kibble ever since Beanie finished her course of antibiotics. And it’s good stuff, because no matter how hard he tries to obey the “Wait” command when his bowl is set down, some of that white stuff mysteriously ends up on his nose before he gets the OK to chow down.

6 Replies to “Increase your Beagle word power”

  1. Susan in Delaware

    So glad to hear that all is right in the beagle world in Ayrshire! Yes, take your cuddles when you can get them, Lady is the same way. It’s good that Biggles’ vocabulary is growing, but it’s always tough when you have English as a second language. I don’t recall why we were having this conversation, but once my husband said something about “monkeys” and Josie went racing into the kitchen, hopping up and down in front of the treat cabinet, because she was certain he had said “cookies” (the “biccies” equivalent in our house).

  2. Sue

    I am so glad that her royal highness is feeling better and more snuggly. Our royal highness has even been known to have cookies delivered to her on the sofa. Shhhh don’t tell my husband!
    Yes, take all the cuddles that you can, mine are few and far between. Hugs to the pups

  3. Paul Post author

    @susan: Yes there can be confusion sometimes, at which point you face the dilemma of either playing it strict and having disappointed Beagles, or giving in a dispensing the treat anyway, which sets a precedent according to Beagle Law.

    @Sue: There’ve been some sofa treat deliveries in our house too since Beanie was ill. Hard habit to break!

  4. Julie - JB, Cassie and Buzz's Mum

    So glad that Beanie is recovered. On the subject of yogurt, if beagles suffer from an upset tummy, usually due to all the rubbish they eat whilst on walkies, try giving them bio yogurt two or three times a day. A dog walker who happens to be a nurse recommended this; she said that the active ingredients in bio yogurt has the same effect on doggy tummies as it does on human ones. It usually works when ours have ‘the runs’ and it’s a lot cheaper than keep taking them to the vets for jabs or tablets.

  5. Susan in Delaware

    In addition to words, you have the other problem of verb tenses. I’m sure everyone here has learned to use different words around beagles when not speaking in the present tense, since you don’t want to start a riot. For example, I might tell my husband, “I will perambulate with the hound after we finish our dinner,” or he might say, “Please add beagle comestibles to the shopping list.” I guess it has expanded our vocabulary as well!

  6. Paul Post author

    @Julie: It’s just as well it’s beneficial for our pups because the “creme fraiche” kibble topping is now expected and required by their beaglenesses.

    @Susan: Hehe. We’ve stuck with the same words but either spell them out or pronounce them in a really weird way. It works.. most of the time..

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