Today was Biggles’ first ever Christmas, and Beanie’s first Christmas with us (we picked her up from Newlin Beagles on the 27th Dec 2007). Susan’s cousin Margaret had invited us over to Edinburgh to spend the day with her family. The invitation included our Beagles. I figured there were two possible explanations for this:

1) She’s crazy and wants her house to be done over by our two-dog demolition squad

OR

2) She has no idea what she’s letting herself in for

Somehow (2) seemed more likely, and that meant we had to find some way to keep Beanie and Biggles in check when we were over there. Well, either that or be banned for life. So at 8.30 this morning – before it was even properly light –  we were running round like lunatics in the dog enclosure at Bellahouston park in the hope that we could burn off just a little of that effervescent Beagle energy.  Then it was back home to get changed and load up our tiny car with dog toys and the play pen we bought to contain Biggles when Beanie was recovering from her stomach op.

Within minutes of arriving at Margaret’s, we’d erected the play pen and sealed both Beanie and Biggles inside it. That would at least limit the damage, if any, to one small area of the living room. To help reduce noise pollution, we also handed out extra presents to the play pen’s inmates – two identical, chicken-flavored Nylabones.

Biggles expertly unwraps his Nylabone…

…and like countless other youngsters, finds the packaging way more fun than the present!

The first few hours went quite well. There were occasional minor squabbles naturally, and some pathetic wailing (thank you Beanie!) while us human types were tucking into our brilliant Christmas dinner, but no major disturbances.

Then of course someone suggested that we let them out of the play pen. “Go on, how bad can it be?”

Well quite bad actually! By a small miracle no damage was done, but it was close. Beanie nearly got to destroy a Santa figure (revenge for scaring her at the Dog Training Christmas Party). Biggles nearly got to to demonstrate his tugging skills by toppling the Christmas tree. Assorted electrical wires nearly got chewed, wrapping paper and gift tags were chewed but avoided being swallowed by the narrowest of margins, and the floors stayed mostly clear of Biggles pee.

There was however plenty of this:

and this

There’s one really good thing about Beagles though: bring out a tub of treats and they’ll turn into little angels.

But only as long as the treats last!

We stopped off at Pets At Home yesterday and got a couple of sturdy plastic dog baskets in addition to our usual provisions. It seemed like such a good idea: it would make their daytime bedding look neater, and may even encourage them to respect each others’ space.

Initially things went quite well. Biggles was the first to try one out. He seemed to think it was a new chew at first, but then discovered that while it wasn’t very yielding to his teeth, it was kind of comfy to rest in.

Then  the trouble started. Beanie went to try her basket, and Biggles decided he wanted that one, so they swapped. Fine. But then it became apparent that somehow, Beanie still had the better of the two identical baskets. Things quickly got out of hand…

… and for the rest of the evening, it was near impossible to get them to stop squabbling. On the rare occasions where we succeeded, we enjoyed less than five minutes of peace before one or both of them decided to chew their cushions, or failing that the door frame. When we intervened, the play fighting soon kicked off again.

By late in the evening they had finally tired themselves out. Beanie went into a deep coma on our bed, while Biggles crashed out in his basket, waking only to grab the odd tummy tickle when one of us passed.

Baskets. Another thing not to get when you’ve got two naughty Beagles.