We’ve been contacted by the owner of Alfie, a little Beagle boy living in Southampton who just happens to have been fathered by Sheriff (aka Redcap Renaissance). That makes him a half-brother to Beanie & Biggles, and you can really see the family resemblance in the following photo:

I think he’s got a very similar face to Biggles. Alfie’s owner – Hollie – also sent us a recent shot of Sheriff:

He’s looking a little grayer now but he’s still going strong, and is apparently a very laid back kind of a Beagle. His children however seem to be anything but laid back – it sounds like Alfie almost as much a handful as our two. Almost!

All that sunny weather we had in April got me thinking we could be in for an early summer, but the downpours we’ve had this week have put me right on that one!

Torrential rain means soaking wet, muddy dogs and in an effort to save the walls of our house from (even more) mud splats we’ve taken to rinsing our two off in the bath after each walk. I can’t say that shower time is the highlight of Beanie & Biggles’ day, but if the water temperature is right they seem willing to tolerate it.. mostly…

It’s only a rinse, but neither of them are all that keen

And I think I see Beanie’s Clint Eastwood “mean” look coming on…

Remember that quote from Unforgiven? “All right, I’m coming out of this bath. Anybody gets in my way, I’m gonna shoot him. Any sumbitch takes a shot at me, I’m not only gonna kill him, but I’m gonna kill his wife, all his friends, and burn his damn house down”.

Actually mud isn’t the only reason for the showers. The immunotherapy Beanie’s having generally seems to be helping her allergies, but we have noticed that she’s quite itchy when she’s been for a park walk on a wet day. Maybe the moisture makes the allergens cling to her. We’re hoping these post-walk rinses will help counter that.

In between the (external) downpours we have had some dry  – even sunny – spells, and Beanie and Biggles have made the most of them.

Any excuse for a chase. Even a burst ball will do just fine!

Biggles is starting to show more interest in ball games

A quiet sniffing moment

Biggles still looks half-crazed when he’s shaking himself off!

And after long hard day at the Beagle office it’s time to relax with your favorite chew, put your feet up and veg out in front of the telly.

Biggles’ chew is good..

But Beanie’s is better. Chewgasm!

I don’t know what was on the telly, but Biggles found it riveting!

Last night Biggles peed over a substantial part of my DVD collection.

We were sat watching telly, and our boy started hunting around by the living room door. I knew what that probably meant, but the commercial break was coming up and I figured he could hold on for a couple of minutes. I was wrong. He calmly trotted over to one of the DVD racks either side of the TV, cocked his leg and let rip. I was so stunned I didn’t react for a couple of seconds. Susan wasn’t able to do anything about it either; she was pinned down by Beanie who was giving her leg some serious luurve.

Eventually I came to my senses, got Biggles out into to the garden and then went to inspect the damage. The Thirteenth Warrior was soaked. Stanley Kubrik’s Full Metal Jacket was now in danger of rusting. But by a miracle, Armageddon survived. It seems Bruce Willis not only saved the earth from asteriods, he also saved his DVD from The Great Biggles Flood.

When people see us walking our dogs on lead they usually comment on how well behaved they are, because they sit so quietly and neatly while we’re conversing. If only they knew..