One of my favorite books growing up was about a little kid that gets a puppy in their stocking for Xmas. For about 10 years, beginning at the age of 5, I asked Santa/my mom for a beagle puppy, and every year, I received a brand new stuffed animal. I mean, they weren't even beagle stuffed animals. *shakes head*
Santa (an ex this time, my mom hasn't gotten me Christmas gifts in some time because apparently I am a grown-ass adult who she believes is too old for that kind of thing) brought me this fur baby 2 weeks before Christmas more than 9 years ago. She is my canine companion, adventure partner, and one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Over the years, Tupelo Honey has been given several monikers, so you would be more likely to hear me refer to her as Tupes, Mrs. Bugglesworth, Bugs, Stinky, Stinky Cheese, Cheese-mo, Booger, Boogs, Baby Gorilla, Pack Mule, Pygmy Goat, Jerk Face, and Asshole. Actually, if you are hiking in Oregon and hear someone shouting at their dog to "quit being a dick," its probably me and Tupes-Tupes.
Now, this special lady did not always look quite so distinguished. Once upon a time all of her gray was brown. Her belly spots were a little darker. Her paws a little pinker.
Santa (an ex this time, my mom hasn't gotten me Christmas gifts in some time because apparently I am a grown-ass adult who she believes is too old for that kind of thing) brought me this fur baby 2 weeks before Christmas more than 9 years ago. She is my canine companion, adventure partner, and one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Over the years, Tupelo Honey has been given several monikers, so you would be more likely to hear me refer to her as Tupes, Mrs. Bugglesworth, Bugs, Stinky, Stinky Cheese, Cheese-mo, Booger, Boogs, Baby Gorilla, Pack Mule, Pygmy Goat, Jerk Face, and Asshole. Actually, if you are hiking in Oregon and hear someone shouting at their dog to "quit being a dick," its probably me and Tupes-Tupes.
Now, this special lady did not always look quite so distinguished. Once upon a time all of her gray was brown. Her belly spots were a little darker. Her paws a little pinker.
I'm pretty sure that this foxy lady is mixed with Dachshund or Miniature Pinscher or something. Beagles don't typically stay quite so fit and trim. Nor is their nose so very pointy. But don't let her looks fool you. That attitude, howl, and sniffer are 100% pure hound.
There are some general rules that beagle owners live by:
1) DO NOT leave your beagle unattended in a fenced in yard. You may think it is secure. They WILL find a way out. By the time you locate them, they will be 10 miles away and smell like horse shit.
2) DO NOT leave trash or food unattended. Ever. They will eat anything. Actually, just never leave anything unattended. Shoes, glasses, the door frame...beagles think everything that smells like you or food is delicious and will attempt to put it in their tummies. They are fatties. They eat ALL the things.
3) ALWAYS carry dog treats to distract your asshole from getting into trouble or doing naughty things.
4) Use a harness. They are escape artists. They can get out of their collars. Also, collars are bad for beags. More on this later.
It took me several years into my beagle ownership to learn these principles.
Tupelo once absconded to an Alpaca farm (Portland.) And another time to a goat farm (Portland.) She chased a neighbor's chickens (Portland. Did I mention that I live IN the city?) She tried to become the token mascot of a New Seasons after they found her rifling through their dumpster... I can't hate on her for trying to weasel her way into fancy dehydrated chicken treats and cuddles from attractive stock boys.
So this little trouble maker is a feisty, independent explorer. I wonder where she gets that from.
Let me regale you with tales of Tupelo's sassiness. She is not shy about letting her feelings be known. If she is pissed at me, she will literally pee on something. She will also rub herself in disgusting stinky stuff, and then wipe it off on all of my things. Like so:
1) DO NOT leave your beagle unattended in a fenced in yard. You may think it is secure. They WILL find a way out. By the time you locate them, they will be 10 miles away and smell like horse shit.
2) DO NOT leave trash or food unattended. Ever. They will eat anything. Actually, just never leave anything unattended. Shoes, glasses, the door frame...beagles think everything that smells like you or food is delicious and will attempt to put it in their tummies. They are fatties. They eat ALL the things.
3) ALWAYS carry dog treats to distract your asshole from getting into trouble or doing naughty things.
4) Use a harness. They are escape artists. They can get out of their collars. Also, collars are bad for beags. More on this later.
It took me several years into my beagle ownership to learn these principles.
Tupelo once absconded to an Alpaca farm (Portland.) And another time to a goat farm (Portland.) She chased a neighbor's chickens (Portland. Did I mention that I live IN the city?) She tried to become the token mascot of a New Seasons after they found her rifling through their dumpster... I can't hate on her for trying to weasel her way into fancy dehydrated chicken treats and cuddles from attractive stock boys.
So this little trouble maker is a feisty, independent explorer. I wonder where she gets that from.
Let me regale you with tales of Tupelo's sassiness. She is not shy about letting her feelings be known. If she is pissed at me, she will literally pee on something. She will also rub herself in disgusting stinky stuff, and then wipe it off on all of my things. Like so:
And if she gets tired, she will just stop in the middle of a trail and lay down. This is exactly what happened when I slid and hit my knee on the Steelhead Falls trail. She had laid down, and I literally toppled right over her. And I can't even get mad at her because she is an asshole and I know this, and I know the breed is stubborn and scent-driven and I wanted her anyway, and because her time on this earth is limited, and because she lays down when she cannot walk another step sometimes...so I can't be sure if she is tricking me, or if she is ready to be carried.
This is the middle of a fossil bed by John Day where I had been digging to find buried treasure/fossils. She wanted to convey to me that she did not want to be here anymore, by literally laying down right where I was digging and giving me side eye. Message received.
This magical creature is dying.
About three months ago, I woke up to find her barely able to move, drooling, with a ticking movement and unable to move her head. She had been trying to get my attention and had licked me awake. We went straight to the vet, me sobbing hysterically and her wide-eyed and whimpering in the passenger seat wrapped in her furry binky (Yes, my dog has a blanket that she has had since she was a puppy. Get over it.)
We discovered that she has a degenerative disc disease. There has also been some seizure activity. Degenerative disc disease usually makes itself known earlier and is common in Beagles and Dachshunds. (This is also why collars are bad for these breeds...it puts extra strain on the neck and can cause trauma). Since she has always been really lean and active, it had remained hidden until that day. I have to wonder, in hindsight there are times when I realize she may have been in pain, and maybe I accused her of being rude or purposely disobeying, and there are times when I thought she was being passive aggressive and Beagle-like, but it was maybe the pain...
So we began a treatment regimen to put her into remission. At this point we want to increase quality of life and decrease pain. If it gets to a point where she is in more pain or is consistently uncomfortable, then I will have to let her go. I'm not ready though. We still have so much to do. There are so many things she needs to smell...more naps in the sun....more dead things to roll in.
About three months ago, I woke up to find her barely able to move, drooling, with a ticking movement and unable to move her head. She had been trying to get my attention and had licked me awake. We went straight to the vet, me sobbing hysterically and her wide-eyed and whimpering in the passenger seat wrapped in her furry binky (Yes, my dog has a blanket that she has had since she was a puppy. Get over it.)
We discovered that she has a degenerative disc disease. There has also been some seizure activity. Degenerative disc disease usually makes itself known earlier and is common in Beagles and Dachshunds. (This is also why collars are bad for these breeds...it puts extra strain on the neck and can cause trauma). Since she has always been really lean and active, it had remained hidden until that day. I have to wonder, in hindsight there are times when I realize she may have been in pain, and maybe I accused her of being rude or purposely disobeying, and there are times when I thought she was being passive aggressive and Beagle-like, but it was maybe the pain...
So we began a treatment regimen to put her into remission. At this point we want to increase quality of life and decrease pain. If it gets to a point where she is in more pain or is consistently uncomfortable, then I will have to let her go. I'm not ready though. We still have so much to do. There are so many things she needs to smell...more naps in the sun....more dead things to roll in.
Here is where a little more of the Portlandia thing comes in: my dog gets acupuncture. Regularly. I know. I'm judging myself. But when my vet told me that it works, and I researched it and it IS an evidence-based practice for pain management, and I was desperate to make her feel better, we tried it. And it fucking works! Tupes is on a pain management regimen of muscle relaxants and pain meds during flare ups, and acupuncture, massage therapy, and B12 injections for preventative and regenerative care.
So before long hikes we get acupuncture from the vet (there are a ton here that do it, and mine is THE best), and then some B12 injections to prolong the effects over the weekend ...then I pack muscle relaxants and pain killers just in case, and I am always prepared to carry her out. All the way. A lot of the time she can make it most of the way, but then she just gets really tired...I had to carry her back down Angel's Rest and Ramona Falls, but they are intense and I had already been aware that this would be the case. We even have a command and she knows how to signal me now to let me know that she needs to be carried. That diva actually kinda likes it.
Her food dishes had to be raised, the bed lowered, and you have to minimize jumping down and up on things and going up and down stairs....but Tupes is stubborn and it's hard to keep her from bounding down the stairs after her Buddy. The dog is literally named Buddy. Or to jump off of the couch when someone knocks on the door. Or to jump up on a tree or boulder when hiking. That's why I gave her the pet name goat.
And then there's the diet. I make all of her food now. The vet suggested a prescription food that was really expensive. And with all of her massage and acupuncture appointments costs had to be cut somewhere, but food is medicine. So she gets a blend of turkey, sweet potato, rice, streamed green vegetable, egg and cottage cheese with a calcium and Omega supplement. She is a fancy beast. A pain-free fancy beast in remission for about 8 weeks now. Pain free. Off the muscle relaxants and pain meds. Living life.
And I know that this is degenerative. That she will have flare ups. That it will get worse. Always worse. But we are living the shit out of the now. And now she is effing amazing.
So before long hikes we get acupuncture from the vet (there are a ton here that do it, and mine is THE best), and then some B12 injections to prolong the effects over the weekend ...then I pack muscle relaxants and pain killers just in case, and I am always prepared to carry her out. All the way. A lot of the time she can make it most of the way, but then she just gets really tired...I had to carry her back down Angel's Rest and Ramona Falls, but they are intense and I had already been aware that this would be the case. We even have a command and she knows how to signal me now to let me know that she needs to be carried. That diva actually kinda likes it.
Her food dishes had to be raised, the bed lowered, and you have to minimize jumping down and up on things and going up and down stairs....but Tupes is stubborn and it's hard to keep her from bounding down the stairs after her Buddy. The dog is literally named Buddy. Or to jump off of the couch when someone knocks on the door. Or to jump up on a tree or boulder when hiking. That's why I gave her the pet name goat.
And then there's the diet. I make all of her food now. The vet suggested a prescription food that was really expensive. And with all of her massage and acupuncture appointments costs had to be cut somewhere, but food is medicine. So she gets a blend of turkey, sweet potato, rice, streamed green vegetable, egg and cottage cheese with a calcium and Omega supplement. She is a fancy beast. A pain-free fancy beast in remission for about 8 weeks now. Pain free. Off the muscle relaxants and pain meds. Living life.
And I know that this is degenerative. That she will have flare ups. That it will get worse. Always worse. But we are living the shit out of the now. And now she is effing amazing.