Snow Fun!

It's finally come! That much anticipated first good snowfall of the year. I love the snow...I love the quietness that settles all around after a good snowfall. I love the sunshine on the snow. Makes for some fun snowplay with Bronco & Joely! Here are some photos of them having a ball!

New Photos!

Just got pictures from "Meg's" family...take a look and tell me who you think Meg looks like! Gorgeous little girl! And so loved! It's so fun to see the puppies growing up and hearing stories about them...This made my day!

Sharing a Quote

"They are our friends, our partners, our defenders, our pets. We are their lives, their loves, their leaders. They will be ours, faithful and true, to the last beat of their hearts. We owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown.

Take care of your dogs. Teach them how to be good family members. Don't feed them "junk" dog food. Take care of your dogs.

Just a Dog

"Just a dog". Really? This morning I dropped my two year old female beagle Joely off at the vet hospital. Dr. Dalton is, in my opinion, an excellent vet and the facility is staffed by great people and is cutting-edge in equipment, techniques and care. But leaving Joely there for what is most likely a common surgery (spay & removal of some suspicious growths) was more difficult than I expected it to be.

Why?

Maybe because it is the same place and the same people where Rudy, my 11 year old beagle passed away when I thought I'd be taking him home for a little while longer. Maybe it's because it is the same place and people who took care of him and his sister & litter mate Libby for the last years of their lives, and where those two old hound dogs established a reputation that only very special dogs can leave behind. Maybe it's because it's the only place Joely has ever been, where she has had all of her puppy exams. Maybe it's because it was just seven short months ago that Joely delivered her first - and what will be her only sweet litter of gorgeous beagle puppies.

I'm sure that Joely is in excellent care. I'm sure that all will go well and she'll recovery quickly without any complications. But watching her walk away with the vet tech was almost too much.

Only people who truly have a connection with their dogs can relate to my feelings this morning. Joely represents all of those special canine companions that become so much more than our furry four-legged friends. They are family. They belong to us. We belong to them. They grab our hearts and steal their own little place there, never to be taken by anyone or anything else.

Just a dog...when people tell me that I usually don't respond. They don't understand. They are not capable of understanding for they have not been blessed with the gift, yes the gift, that opens hearts a little deeper, allows us to love more fiercely, and enjoy the wonderful dog companions in our lives as they are meant to be.

I will admit it...I love my dogs. I love them as much as I love the people in my life. More often than not, my dogs have been a source of companionship and comfort when loneliness and despair could not be consoled in any other way. They offer a source of entertainment, fun and play that I can't get from anyone else in my life

Rudy, Libby, Joely and Bronco...I love you. You will never know the great gift and blessing you are in my life.

Can Your Dog Do This??

This is so fun...Joely and Bronco are pretty much my "family" right now and so we spend a lot of time together. Whenever I leave, they are THRILLED to see me when I come home. And...apparently Joely is delving into a new career that involves tree-climbing!

Puppy Updates!

Great news! I've heard from all of the puppies' families. They are doing GREAT! As soon as I get photos from all of them, I'll post them. It will be fun to see how much they have grown. It's so fun and heartwarming to hear how much their families love them and how much they are learning. It is obvious to me that Meg, Bailey, Kida, Copper and Hobbes went to wonderful, loving families. Stay tuned for photos!

All Adopted

Little "Meg" went home today. She was the last of our babies to find her forever family, although at 9 1/2 weeks it was beginning to feel like we were her forever family! It's going to be quiet around here until things feel "normal" again.

On the positive side of things I feel very confident that Kida, Bailey, Meg, Copper and Hobbes are in families they will stay with for their lifetimes. They will be loved and played with, well-fed and kept safe and warm.

I wasn't as prepared for Meg to go as I was the other four puppies. With the others, there had been a few weeks knowing they would be leaving on what date. I'm sure I forgot something for Meg's new family because it just kind of happened but they are close enough that I can get anything they need to them.

It has been so great to see the families with kids that have adopted a puppy. That's probably the BEST possible set up for a beagle, to have kids to grow up with and play with. But the other couples are great people who love their new babies so much.

Best wishes to each of the families - Bartlett's, McCleary's, P & A, Anderson's and Rupe's. You've taken a part of our family into yours.

Homeward Bound

Well, it's about time to say goodbye to these sweet little hounds. Even with the lack of sleep, the "poop" clean up, a few worries here and there and the little bit of stress finding just the perfect families for these little guys and gals, it's been a fun ride. I have mixed feelings about them leaving- how could anyone not love these puppies? I've been the primary caretaker of them -well, besides momma Joely- since they were born. She pretty much turned over the big chores to me a couple of weeks ago but still keeps a watchful eye out for too much rough-housing and doesn't hesitate to put a stop to it.

I've watched these puppies grow physically and mentally and socially. From the day they were born and unable to see, hear or do much more than crawl with their front legs to now over seven weeks old and RUNNING everywhere they go. They each have a unique personality, each their own little hound doggy self, but each so sweet and lovable. They are fun, full of energy and seem pretty bright. I'm grateful for family and friends who have stepped in to help out and cared for them as much as I have.

It's going to be hard to let them go but I take great comfort in the fact that each family - the Bartlett's, the Anderson's, the McLeary's and A. Wilhelm love their new little four-legged family member as much as I love Joely & Bronco. I have no doubt that "Bailey", "Hobbes", "Kida" and "Copper" will be well-fed, kept safe and warm and if they get hurt or sick, given the care they need and deserve. I'm hopeful that at least for the first year each of you will send a photo now and then and short note on how your baby is doing. I'm sure Joely & Bronco, Grandma & Grandpa and all of the extended family will want to know how they are doing as well.

You'll notice I mentioned just four families waiting for their baby. There is one little gorgeous female still waiting for her forever family. She looks exactly like Joely, is very bright, healthy, energetic and interacts well with the litter, Joely, Bronco and everyone she has met. She is a special little girl that promises to provide a lot of love, fun and happy memories for the family that she chooses and that chooses her.

While we wouldn't mind at all keeping this little princess, I am pretty sure she would prefer a family with kids to play with and grow up with. If you know of a family that would love her and be thrilled to have this pretty little girl, please direct them to this blog and give them our contact information.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day as you remember and honor all who have given so much for our safety, liberty and peace.

Puppy Selections

If you noticed the new photos below I have removed names of the puppies. My intent was originally to identify those puppies that have 1)deposits placed for them and 2)potential families had indicated to me that they were interested in a particular puppy and had provided a possible name for that puppy.

Since none of the pups have actually left and been physically placed in homes they are all still "pending" adoptions. However, there are some situations that have required me to make a decision to place a puppy with a particular family because it is the best fit for the puppy. For example, if there was one that has a dominant personality and is more aggressive than the others, I would simply not consider placing that puppy in a home with small children or perhaps any children at all.

So my work is geared towards making what should be the BEST possible match for the success of a new family member going to a forever home. But that doesn't apply to just one puppy, one family. It is my job to place each puppy in what will be their forever home and family. What is a forever home?

To me, that means that even when there are "accidents" in the house, even when he needs out at 3am, even when he is sick or gets hurt or eats someone's sock or chews up the family favorite DVD...that means he is ALWAYS going to have that family. It means that even if he needs correction or redirection that it is done in a firm but loving way, followed by a lot of love and reassurance. A forever family will set appropriate boundaries, not set their dog up for failure that only leads to bad habits. Bad habits take a lot of time, effort and expense to correct later on and must be done with a lifetime of commitment. You can't just "give up" on your dog.

A dog without behavioral boundaries doesn't stand much of a chance to be a successful and happy family member. If they are not trained, taught with firmness, love and patience, they will not be the well-mannered dogs they have the potential to be. I refuse to place a puppy in a home where I do not feel in my heart they will be able to stay forever. They will instead end up being mistreated, "given away", dropped off at a shelter or even abused.

Here's a real life example of that. I know a really great family with 5 great boys. They had a dog...a beagle. He was cute and sweet and friendly and smart. I'm not sure how they ended up with him but he wasn't a puppy when they got him. So he had to have at least been in one other home prior to coming to them. Recently I heard from one of the boys now almost 17 years old. I asked him about "Doogie". Here's what he told me :
"We lost interest in him a few years ago and gave him to our grandfather. He took him to his landlord so the landlord's kids could have him. Doogie ran away from them and no one has seen him since."

"Lost interest in him"? Here's the thing in this situation. Good family, really good people, good kids. But they are NOT a dog family. They were not willing to be a "forever" family for Doogie. I'm sure they didn't know what they were getting into, the commitment to train with patience, everyone helping take care of him, the walks, the play time, the brushing, the feeding, the cleaning up after him. And then he got bounced to someone else. Why did he run off? Who knows. But these stories happen too often and are sad.

My job- and my FIRST responsibility to these puppies is to do the work to meet with all family members, to see them interact with the puppies, to get a "feel" for them. If it doesn't feel right, I will return a deposit or turn down a request to purchase one of our puppies. For a placement to be the right one, it needs to feel that way to me. This is not a one-sided puppy placement situation. The family or person seeking a puppy is not the only person deciding if or which puppy they will take. A positive placement is agreed upon by both sides as well as the puppy responsiveness.

The process we follow includes multiple visits to see the puppies, to meet the sire and dam, to see how the litter interacts and then in one on one situations with the potential family. Today I saw some distinct behavior from one such interaction. It reconfirmed in my heart and mind that THIS puppy needs to be with THAT family. And that family will provide everything she needs to be a happy, well-adjusted family dog. I trust them enough that if I had to place either of my own dogs for some reason, that family would be at the top of my list outside some of my own extended family members.

Hopefully this isn't coming off sounding harsh or elitist. It is not my intention to offend anyone but those who know me know I am very direct. I am very passionate about doing what is best for these dogs. Since I cannot keep them myself and never had any intention to do so, I have made a commitment to do the very best I can for them. The bar's too high? Maybe but I prefer to err on the side of caution. I owe them that.

I'm just hoping to provide clarification for the process and why my approach is what it has been. For those who "just want a puppy" there are plenty of places that will sell or give a puppy to anyone. Idaho Iron Rod Beagles isn't one of those places.

Preparing to take Your Puppy Home

Just a few comments to help you start preparing to bring your little beagle puppy home. Here's a list of items to begin pricing out and gathering so you are well prepared for your little hound dog:

• Veterinarian Formula Puppy Food (this is the food they will be eating in about 2 weeks - VERY important to keep them on the same food!)
  
• Dog crate/indoor kennel - your puppy will grow to about 25-28 lbs as an adult and stand about 13-15 inches at the shoulder - Make SURE you get a crate that will be big enough for an adult beagle. A crate is the proper size when a dog can stand up and turn completely around in it with ease but not a lot bigger than that. Look on Craigslist, zidaho or other online classifieds for a good used one or be prepared to pay about $100 for a new one from a pet store.
• 6 foot leash and an adjustable collar (waited until I had my dogs to get a feel for their personality and what color of collar I thought would look good on them)
  
• Food & water bowls (I recommend metal bowls with rubber bottoms on the outside - non-skid type)
• If you want a dog bed, shop around. The "bean bag" type beds have been a favorite of our hounds because they allow "nesting" and they can kind of sink into them. Drs. Smith & Foster is a good resource as an online store and offer high quality beds and other items.
  
• One or two small puppy toys - I have some recommendations for "chewing" prevention on your personal and household belongings!

You might also want to begin a fence patrol to make sure you secure your yard and close up any puppy-size holes or gaps. You'd be surprised at how small a space they can escape from! The other thing to keep an eye out for is spaces where your pup could get it's head caught. Strangulation or broken necks are a possibility.

Also, take a look around your home and puppy-proof cleaning products, fertilizers, lawn & garden-care products and things like anti-freeze, oil, gasoline, etc. Keep them out of reach of your puppy and securely locked away. Even if they are in "child-proof" containers with locking lids, PUT THEM UP HIGH. Puppies like to chew and can chew off locked lids or through containers and hoses of all types of material. These items can be fatal and are often enticing to dogs.

On another note, if you have a garden be conscious of the type of compost you are using. There is a popular "cocoa" based compost sold at WalMart, Shopko, Home Depot and other stores that is DEADLY to dogs but they LOVE the taste. You might also want to consider securing your garden from your puppy or they will enjoy the fruits of your labor before you do. Joely decided last year that the strawberry patch was HER personal one and besides fending off the birds, she trampled a lot of berries and ate a whole lot more! Bronco decided he enjoyed crunchy baby brussel sprouts...I'll leave it to your imagination to come up with the killer-odor that resulted from that!

As far as indoors goes, be prepared to keep cell phones, portable house phones, remotes for tv, stereo, etc, car keys, shoes, slippers, belts, pillows and books out of puppy reach! I once rescued the tv remote from Bronco who thought it would make a great chew toy...outside...in the snow...at night! Books, movies or CDs on the bottom two shelves of a storage unit are in danger as well! Check and see where your electrical and phone cords are located. Anything exposed is at risk of being chewed.

More photos and notes to come. Please let your friends or family know we still have one puppy available for reservation. It's easy to make that deposit, just click the "Pay Now" button to the right.

We want all of our puppies to go to their forever families - where they will be loved, trained, fed healthy DOG diets, walked, snuggled and have as many belly rubs as they need for their lifetime.

Pet Health Care - All Natural

In the years I've been a pet-person I have had the familiar experience of going through various pet health challenges. Everything from chronic ear infections, Cushing's disease, and different types of canine cancers. Here's what I have learned:
*Prevention is less expensive - financially and emotionally
*We pretty much set our pets up on a path of healthy lives or not-so-healthy lives
*A little education goes a long way
*"Traditional" vet care isn't always the best option

I've learned about and used -with great success-homeopathic remedies. I've learned about changing dog foods and seen the improved health of dogs by switching from dry, processed food (one that is toted as a high quality one) to all natural, raw food. And I've learned to make an easy, healthy and according to the dogs, a very tasty doggie biscuit.

There are a lot of websites and books available. I'm not promoting any particular product but wanted to just give a "heads up" since flea & tick season is coming upon us. You can go to the following link for more information. ONLY NATURAL PET is an online store. Take whatever information you find there and use it if it fits.

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/default.aspx

About Beagles

Families interested in a getting a dog should carefully consider what characteristics they are looking for. Remember, you are adopting a new family member and the choice you make will either enrich your family or bring chaos and frustration.

Beagles are small, sturdy hunting hounds. They are led by their noses, literally! They are energetic and love to run and play. These little hounds are also bright and intelligent, eager to please and willing to learn. They can be stubborn and willful at times as well. They love people and children especially and get along well with other dogs. If they are raised early with cats, they usually do fine but remember, they are looking for "prey" so a chase could turn into a BIG chase.

Like other hounds and most short-haired dogs, beagles are pretty low-maintenance. They do not shed a lot but it is a good idea to regularly brush out their coats (2-3 times a week). Brushing also keeps their coats clean.

Please consider the following if you are thinking about adding one of our beagle pups to your family:
* Do you have an adequately fenced yard that allows for some room to run and play?
* Will your beagle have the opportunity to go on regular walks?
* What training options have you considered?
(Basic training for ANY dog is strongly encouraged - this includes "come", "sit", "down", "stay" and learning to heel and walk nicely on a leash.)
* What type of family interaction will your beagle have?

Your Idaho Iron Rod puppy will come with a new puppy guide. But if you have any questions, feel free to contact us any time. Our puppies are bred to be family dogs but it's up to the family to teach them how to be a great family member!