Sniffergate

My humans celebrated my turning 10 with my annual birthday feast of noodles (for long life), fried calamari (in honour of my 1st favorite toy), fruit from the fridge (this year, it was blueberries), and a birthday cake. Every year, the script remains unchanged: "Happy Birthday" is sung as I bellow out "Aroooos" and run round-and-round the room. I cannot believe that after 10 years, they still remain blind to the fact that my energetic scurrying is borne out of the need to protest the injustice and scandal of having to "sniff" my own feast year in and year out!

Sniffergate shenanigans aside, turning reflective is also another birthday tradition. As I turn 10, I look back and marvel at how I've moved up in this world. This was me when I was 13 weeks old. Back then, my only worldly possession was this plastic laundry crate, converted into my sleeping basket.

This is me today. I share a bed with my humans, have 6 pillows, am the proud owner of a tennis ball and bone collection, possess 3 outfits (Winter, Spring/Summer and Fall) and snow boots! I don't travel without my harness, backpack and water bowl. I have mastered the fine art of lounging, with a petbed in every room at my disposal.

Last but not least, I am also highly educated, having graduated from the The School of Sit, No and Bedstep Training!

At 10, I'm old enough to know that not all beagles are as lucky as me. Not all of my kind  have toys and forever homes, or humans who move halfway around the world and resolutely refuse to leave them behind. Sure, they have their momentary lapses of  "bad parenting", resulting in Sniffergate-type injustices. But at the end of the day, getting to eat the cupcake is just the frosting to an already wonderful life. Now, who would ever have thought a food-deprived beagle like me would ever admit that? Arooooooo!

HypnotEYES Me!

We are a proud breed best known for our floppy ears and the fact that we are stubbornly ruled by our nose. But to get what we want, all beagles turn to our secret weapon: our eyes. Blessed by nature with the roundest, most innocent and melancholy eyes, nobody can say NO whenever we unleash the power of the... beagle stare!   

In my casa, the beagle stare is 100% foolproof when used on Dad. However, I've been very suspicious of mom lately, and have a sneaky feeling that she knows just how hypnotic and powerful my stare can be. In fact, I have proof of her continually distracting me from my task, foiling my everyday attempts to:

1) Have Dad feed and walk me as soon as he goes home after a long day of work, and before he eats his   dinner.

And,

2) Convince Dad to share some (if not all) of his dinner with me, specially if he's having pork chops and/or ham.

If you don't believe me, see for yourself:

Exhibit A.  I'm working it... Dad's pretending he doesn't see me, but I know he does! "I've been home alone all day, and my need to be walked is greater than your need to eat dinner....."

Exhibit B.  "Look into my eyes..." 
Dad is wavering, my wide open eyes convincing him that my needs should be served first.... victory is near.... am almost there!

Exhibit C.  Foiled by Mom, who distracted me by holding up a leg of ham!

Exhibit D. Again attempting to hypnotize Dad, strategically positioning myself so that he sees me every time he lifts his fork. "Am a good, obedient beagle who never shreds tissue, hungry and totally deserving of your pork chop..." *flash* *click*... what was that? Distracted again by mom's camera!

Is Mom sabotaging me, or am I just being paranoid?

Insanity or Eternal Optimism?

As I read this quote from Albert Einstein, one of the world's greatest minds, my humans come to mind:

"Insanity is doing the same things over and over again, yet expecting different results each time."

They certainly do some things over and over again, and yes, expect me and my nose to react differently each time.

For example. Bathroom doors are perennially left open in the mornings. Yet again and again, they expect me to turn up my nose and not succumb to the temptation of such enticing smells, expressing shocked surprise at the shredded pile of cotton and tissue that never fails to greet them once they return from work. 

Or. The unrealistic expectation of carpets left pristine when brightly coloured, strong-scented neon magic markers and lipsticks are continually left within reach of my nose and paw!    Oh, the memory of my humans moaning as I greeted them at the door with my face stained a bright electric blue on one side and red on the other; then shrieking as they saw the fate of their once pristine carpet. Really... what did they expect? If anything, I certainly got the raw end of the deal. My face (and the carpet) was vigorously Mr.Clean Magic-Erasered until all telltale stains disappeared. Yet, the only valuable life lesson they seem to have learned? That Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works not only on walls and counter tops, but on carpets AND dogs too. Sigh.

On paper, insanity might be the most logical diagnosis. However, as I am almost sure both of them are of sound mind, there's only one other alternative explanation. That when it comes to their 4-legged hounds, humans are eternally optimistic. Believing that it simply takes time and repetition until, just like little children, we have that eureka moment and "learn our lesson". After all, haven't our working dog cousins, the Shepherds, Border Collies and Retrievers, proven this to be true?

So, are they guilty by reason of insanity or eternal optimism? You be the judge. In the mean-time, excuse me as my hound nose is detecting an open bathroom door that needs my immediate attention.

My 9th Birthday Last Year

I turned 9 last July, and my pack celebrated my adulthood with the works: noodles for long life, carrot cake in honour of my favourite snack, calamari in honour of my favourite stuffed toy and cherries because... well, just because it was in season. I howled through-out, energetically running round and round the living room. Mom & Dad thought it was because I was singing along as they sang "Happy Birthday", but it was actually my way of protesting the indignity of having to only "sniff" my birthday feast as my humans ate it!

However, I certainly am mature enough to set this aside and spend a little time reflecting. Time really flies- I was barely 2 when we moved here, and now I've practically spent majority of my life as a "Canadian" canine. As my human aunt would always ask (and not in jest, mind you),"does Beans speak fluent Canadian now?" Well, I guess so, but truth be told, I still have trouble converting my howling "aroos" to those pesky "eh's". I've been with my peops all these years, through 5 moves and 3 countries in the last 9 years, providing comfort and security in every new chapter of their lives. And for that alone, don't you think my humans should have had the decency to at least give me a crumb of my own birthday cake? Arooooooo,eh?

The Importance of Sleep

I keep a very strict daily regimen to maintain my youthful looks, and so should you. First, a good diet is important. Then, at least 2 30 min walks a day. But the most important part - is my sleeping schedule. Make sure you get AT LEAST 20 hrs of sleep a day !

For a better sleep, quality and quantity of pillows are important. I prefer an Obusforme as my main pillow, as my very fit body fits right into the groove! Did I tell you that my Obusforme was originally my Dad's? But, I managed to convince him that my health would be better served if I used it instead.

Then, surround yourself with AT LEAST 2 extra fluffy pillows for maximum comfort and relaxation. Follow this regimen and you are on your way to maximizing your puppy-good looks and cuteness potential!

It's about time

Well, on July 19, i'm turning 56! In human years, that is. In doggie years, that makes me 8 years old. They say that's when I officially become a "mature" beagle, but try telling that to anyone who meets me- they always think I'm no older than a pup. Is it my youthful looks? My bright disposition? My ever-curious nose? Maybe my energy and stubborn-ness that still matches any year-old puppy? Who knows?

Anyway, I digress. In my 8 years, I have travelled to 3 countries, and have moved 5 times.

I lived in the Philippines until I was 2. Mom and dad chose me 1st from my other brothers and sisters because i was the only one who went over, sat beside them and never left their side. Since then, mom, dad and I have always been a tight pack.

I was destined to live the life of a pet and faithful companion, but my breeder convinced them to enter me in dog shows because of my exceptionally beautiful head and expression. My good looks come from the best pedigree. My grandfather, American Champion Shaws Spirit of the Chase, is also Uno's great-grandfather. If you don't know who Uno is - where have you been? He's only the first ever beagle or hound for that matter to win at Westminster.

So, it goes that the first 2 years of my life centered on competing. My official name and title is Philippine Champion Hardrick's Exploding Boy, and i got my title before turning 2. Then, mom and dad retired me and we moved to Canada where I now live a life of leisure.