"Happiness is a warm puppy" (Snoopy)
It is just as the great kennel roof philosopher says.
Well, it looks like the beagle boy is starting to get into a routine of our making. He gets put to bed at night about 11pm by G (he is far more circumspect about saying good night and shutting the door) and then stays pretty quiet until about 6am when I get out of bed and let him out again. We have got him a crate to sleep in and call his own little den. Its big enough to allow him plenty movement but small enough to take away with us if we go camping or visiting. His own secure space that smells of home no matter where he is.
The only serious issue at the moment is watching him carefully because the garden is full of dangers for a puppy exploring with its mouth and stomach...I am probably a little bit protective but would hate for him to ingest something nasty and I know theres plenty of our plants that are not recommended in a beagle garden. Its just a case of deciding whether to remove them completely or just be aware of where he is in relation to them. His love of plastic has me lifting the weedmat since it shreds into long lengths of plastic tape.
The other issue is that he LOVES to chase the cat and the cat seems to encourage him. Or it's just thick. Jury is out on this at the moment! But he has needle sharp teeth and a lot of energy and strength and doesn't seem to realise this; I fear that the cat is no match for his grip if he was to get serious.
The cat has taken to scrambling up a tree to avoid him when he gets too boisterous but will lie in his path, rolling about to taunt him in the first place. It's not always Mik who starts it. But the cat senses I am the human shield and will sometimes use me as such. I am in two minds whether its right to intervene or whether I should let them work it out for themselves.
We took him round the meet the neighbours closest to us yesterday - the three young boys seemed quite taken with him and then (eek!) brought out their new baby rabbit to meet him. Luckily he was too interested in the attention from the kids to notice the rabbit!
