Beanie and Biggles both started agility lessons at just under a year old, although Biggles was joining his big sister during training sessions from that age of about three months. He’d play in the tunnels and run around little courses with jump poles on the ground. We have no plans to compete. It’d be nice – especially now that we’re starting to see that they can be really good at the sport. But competition requires a lot of travel, waiting and long days – which means less time for other activities! Maybe one day.

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Beanie started flyball lessons at about 16 months old. Biggles tagged along from the age of about 7 months, doing little bits that were appropriate to his age.  As with agility, we had no plans to compete. But we have entered them in one local competition and they did very well.

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Beanie started swimming at a hydrotherapy pool at around 7 months of age .  She wasn’t overly keen at first  as the first pool she went to was small and the water too cold for a sensitive little princess. But after switching to Allers Farm Kennels hydrotherapy pool she started to really enjoy her swims – the pool was big, the water warm and I was allowed in the pool with her! Biggles started getting used to water at the tender age of 12 weeks old and has since become a strong swimmer.

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Beanie and Biggles both started Beagle Racing (chasing a lure over a straight, short track) at the tender age of 7 months old. They both loved it and were very good.

Then we discovered Lure Coursing and Beanie and Biggles thought they were in heaven! It’s much more suited to the natural instincts of the Beagle, and it really lets them open up and run over longer distances (500 yards).  The lure changes direction as it zooms around the field – designed to be like the path a rabit would take.

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We did quite a few road races prior to being dog owners so it was always the plan to introduce our dogs to it when they were old enough.  Beanie loves participating in 5k road races.  The way she struts over the finish line I’m sure she thinks that the crowds are there just for her!  But when it comes to training runs without crowds to cheer her on then forget it – she doesn’t want to know! So for Beanie I don’t think running will ever be more than an activity to enjoy two or three times a year.

Biggles on the other hand likes nothing more than to go running with his mum or dad. He really enjoys it and makes a great running partner.

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Beagles need a lot of exercise. In dogs and people it’s best for the joints if they have lots of variety – a good combination of anaerobic (sprint) type exercise and endurance work. Beanie and Biggles have ample opportunity to do high intensity sports, and they regularly get a good couple of hours walking each day. But it’s good for them to get a steady, long walk across country every so often.  Fortunately we have lots of fantastic walks and mountains nearby so any time the weather is good and there’s nothing else on we head for the hills.

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Mountain Biking

Beagles are renowned for running off on adventures and taking very little notice of their two legged companions whilst off-lead. Our two were especially naughty when off-lead together so we were forced to do the impossible and train them to stay close and be very obedient. Things have gone pretty well and whilst they’re far from reliable they are typically very good off lead in safe places. The downside is that if you insist on two young beagles staying close to two decrepid old farts at all times then they’re soon going to be as unfit as those decrepid old farts. We tried taking them running but we’re too slow for them! So, at the advice of Sam and her Beagle Chigley (readers of our blog) we decided to take up mountaing biking. We now have the means to go fast enough to keep up with our Beagles….in theory.

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