Baxter the Beaglier

Baxter's Little Sister

2011-07-17T17:43:00.005-04:00

Baxter is now the proud big brother of Wee Baby Sara. He's been the only child for three years, so it's quite an adjustment for him, we're sure. After being home for only six hours, Baxter is still a little skiddish. He's been close enough to sniff her a few times, but he keeps his distance otherwise. The noise and sporatic movement of new little sis has him on guard.

Here's a quick phone shot I got of the two of them hanging out on the bed. I'm sure there will be several more over the next decade or so.

Hey there! It's been a while.

2011-02-20T18:36:00.004-05:00

Baxter's been getting several e-mails lately from other dogs and their owners randomly finding the blog through searches for "Beaglier" or "Baxter." We thank all of you for contacting us. It's great to see others so enthusiastic about your Beagliers. They're truly beautiful animals. And the e-mails have been a constant reminder that we need to update! Trust us, we haven't forgotten about you guys.

Baxter is now two and a half years old, and he'll soon be a big brother. We find out this week if it'll be a boy or girl. Baxter's been a trooper as we've been remodeling and making improvements to our house. Most of the time, he can be found by our side helping out in the only way he knows how (which sometimes isn't the best way to help!!).

Baxter's favorite improvement has definitely been our new windows. Before, our windows were an eye sore, even from the inside, so they were constantly closed and covered by blinds and curtains. Now, we're proud to look at them, and so is Baxter.

Enjoying a Hot Day

2010-08-12T11:42:00.002-04:00

Lucy and Tate

2010-04-24T07:34:00.005-04:00

We gotten a few e-mails from Baxter look-a-likes in the past. I have to say, these two take the cake. Their coloring, their general expressions, and even the markings between the eyes resemble Baxter.

Lucy is now a year old and lives in Australia. She's super hyper and loves to run around and chew on random things. As you can see, she ate through the wire-mesh screen door at her house.

Tate is 2 years old and lives in Boston. He not only looks like Baxter, but he has the same half-beagle bark and apparently has heightened architectural skills like Baxter as well. I'm not sure if that comes from the Beagle side or the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel side, but I know if Baxter's not happy with his sleeping arrangements, he'll make it right. Here's a picture of Tate taking a break on a comfy bench.

Well Hello, 2010!

2010-03-03T20:38:00.006-05:00

It's been a while since Baxter's been online. Things have been busy around here. Christmas came and went (and we got a new camera), we got lots of snow in Kentucky, and we're about to put our house up for sale. Baxter has kept us company and helped us clean the house.

After taking more than 200 photos over the holidays, we've finally gotten the time to sit down and sort through them. We also received some e-mails lately with pictures and stories of other Beagliers from around the world. We'll be sure to share those soon as well.

For now, while we try to play catch up, enjoy some photos from the past three months.

For Christmas, Baxter got a brand new Snuggie...which was way too small for him.

He also got a few new toys, which you can see he was enjoying while Trista opened her giant gift bag.

One of the reasons we're trying to sell our house is that it gets REALLY cold in the winter. Baxter is happy enough to keep us pretty warm though.

And he supports us when we're tired or not feeling very well.

Fortress of Solitude

2009-12-11T20:23:00.005-05:00

Baxter has been known to curl up in a tight ball when he gets chilled. As the temperature drops outside, our old house gets pretty cold. Recently, as I was getting ready for work one morning, Baxter began scratching and making a lot of noise on our guest bed. I checked in on him a few times, but he wasn't causing any damage, so I let him do his thing. A few minutes later I noticed the noise had stopped, so I checked up on him again only to find this fabulous fortress he had built all by himself.

Another angle to show the depth of this architectural wonder:

Apparently, it's VERY cold in our house. Since this was taken, we've cranked on the heating.

Baxter the (Other) Beaglier?

2009-12-04T06:52:00.005-05:00

Chris from South Africa, by way of Melbourne, Australia, commented on an earlier post about a beautiful Beaglier, who just happens to be named Baxter. Both Baxters are, of course, named after the Spanish-speaking, cheese-eating Border Terrier sidekick from “Anchorman.” After following up with Chris about the comment, I was sent a few photos to post to the site. I have to agree with Chris; it is pretty cool that half a world away there’s another dog of the same type with the same name for the same reason. Hope you guys enjoy these pictures of Baxter the (other) Beaglier.

Baxter Begs for the Park

2009-12-02T11:50:00.003-05:00

We recently wanted to take Baxter to the park, and we've decided that Baxter has learned our routines so well that he knew exactly what our intentions were. Generally, when we get ready to leave the house, Baxter will bolt into his kennel and sit patiently for us to lock him up. The other day when we were about to go to the park, Baxter kept whining and running to the door. I took him outside, since I thought maybe he needed to potty. We got outside and he immediately ran to my car door. Since I wasn't ready to leave, I had to bring him back inside and listen to him whine and bark at us for a few more minutes.

Here's the video of his pleas!

Baxter's 1st Birthday!

2009-08-14T21:05:00.005-04:00

Today is Baxter's first birthday. Unfortunately, he was stuck in his kennel most of the day since we were at work, but this afternoon he got to join some of his friends at the dog park. Enough words. Enjoy the pictures!

Visiting Friends and a New Cousin

2009-06-27T09:12:00.008-04:00

Baxter's been pretty busy lately visiting with friends and family, destroying toys, and taking a lot of puppy naps.

Recently, my sister added another dog to her family. She already had a miniature white schnauzer named Macie. She has now added a mini black schnauzer named Gracie. Baxter hasn't met Gracie yet, because she's still very small and Baxter sometimes get a little too friendly.

Just before my sister got Gracie, we visited with my mom's side of the family. Baxter and Macie were caught having a good time in the yard, exploring everything together. Normally, Baxter is instigating some sort of wrestling match.

Aside from that, life has been pretty typical. Here's Baxter checking to see if there are any new dog blog posts.

Baxter looks around, pondering where he's hidden his squeaky toy. Sadly, that toys has since been destroyed. If there's even a microscopic hole in any toy, Baxter will find it and he won't stop until it has been ripped wide open.

Baxter had a friend over last week to see how they got along. This is Jersey. She'll be staying with us for a couple of days next week. We'll be sure to post some pictures of the visit.

And lastly, here's a picture I had to snap with my cell phone yesterday as Baxter fell asleep with me on the couch. He loves his naps, especially when he can curl up with someone he loves.

Rainy Day and Nothing on TV

2009-05-11T21:21:00.001-04:00

Behold the Power of Baxter

2009-05-04T18:19:00.004-04:00

This weekend, Trista bought Baxter a Petstages Orka Bone, since he's been chewing through a few other products, like his Blue Hippo and the Hartz Dental Bone (shown in the picture above).

The packaging on the Orka suggested that it was durable and made for large dogs who liked to chew. One Web site we visited after Baxter started ripping it apart said the following.

This unique toy is made of a durable, non-toxic, synthetic rubber that is pliable enough to satisfy your dog's urge to chew. The Orka's heavy-duty material will last through hours of chewing fun, while multiple textures massage gums.

Apparently, this is not entirely true. Our eight-month, 30 pound, furry ball of fun caused the damage in the picture below in less than 30 minutes. I don't want to give the Orka a bad review based solely on Baxter's performance, but if anyone reading this has a dog whose only purpose is to chew, you might shy away from this one.

Baxter's Twin?

2009-04-10T11:23:00.008-04:00

I got an e-mail the other day from Nancy in Vancouver Island, BC with a few surprising pictures. It turns out Nancy's dog, Chloe, looks (and acts) very similar to my favorite Beaglier.

I believe we have twins. It seems our "Chloe" has the same colouring (right down to her spotted belly) and personality. She likes to lie on the cushion on the back of the couch, lies in the sunbeam on the floor and has that "crazy" spell every once in a while when she runs around like a lunatic and then crashes. I couldn't believe the similarities. She is always getting into trouble but we love her dearly. We are even going to go to puppy school at Petsmart.

See for yourself:

I'd say Chloe and Baxter were separated at birth, but Chloe is just a few months younger and lives roughly 2500 miles away. The way we came across our Beagliers is eerily similar as well. Trista and I were originally looking for a Puggle when we came across the Beaglier mix. Nancy's experience wasn't much different.

I had looked at breeds of dogs such as a Boston Terrier, Pug, the Cavalier and the Beagle with each having some characteristics I liked but not necessarily all. When I saw the Beaglier I thought..."that's it"!! I had never seen this cross before until I saw her and knew I just had to have her.

It's nice to know we're not the only ones who get to live with all the "quirky" personality traits of a Beaglier.

Random Baxter Pictures

2009-03-25T16:27:00.006-04:00

Posing on St. Patrick's Day

Enjoying a peanut butter treat!

Showing off his Robert Smith eyes.

Typical Baxter - "Crazy Dog"

2009-02-23T12:16:00.006-05:00

Baxter tends to surprise us during the day with an impromptu running spree around the house. It can last for a few seconds, as he quickly runs into each room with an open door. Sometimes it can last for a few minutes. This often results in random items all over the floor, furniture out of whack, and a very tired dog afterward. I really don't mind picking up his toys or the occasional shoe or even moving the ottoman back where it's supposed to be when he's finished. In fact, I get a kick out of it, because there's nothing that really precedes this behavior. It's completely random. I think he just gets bored with his surroundings and decides to entertain himself.

The only problem I have is that we can never get it on video. Anytime we try to watch from a decent vantage point, he wants us to join in. He'll stop and beg for help in chasing a toy, or sometimes he'll simply chase us!

I was lucky enough today to have the camera ready for whenever he felt the need to play Crazy Dog. Of course, he immediately involved me in his little game. Below is just a little snippet of his insanity.

And here are a couple pictures just moments after. It's almost as if he stopped and fell right where he was.

Winter Storm 2009

2009-02-01T11:10:00.009-05:00

Kentucky was recently hit with, what our governor called, "the biggest natural disaster that this commonwealth has ever experienced." It was basically a big ice storm, followed by inches of snow, more ice, and then more snow. The results were beautiful, but the amount of ice weighed down tree branches and power lines, cutting power to more than 700,000 people in the state.

Luckily, our house wasn't affected as greatly, and we only experienced minor power surges during the storm due to a branch laying on our power and cable lines. After the storm subsided, Baxter and I went out to survey the damage around the house. Here's what we found.

Baxter inspecting the scene:

Here are a few pictures of the neighborhood around our house.

Baxter Meets Jersey and Georgia

2009-01-19T19:44:00.006-05:00

Our friends, Liz and Andy, have two mutts named Jersey and Georgia. Jersey is a black and brown, long-haired dog, and Georgia is short-haired and mostly black with some hints of white. Baxter had a chance to visit them today for the first time, and it was an adventure.

Georgia wasn't quite sure what to think of the little guy, so she played mean most of the time. She continuously growled and bit at Baxter's neck. Jersey was just happy to meet a new puppy and play. Baxter was pretty submissive most of the time, but he did get a few good hits to Georgia's face when he could.

Fun in the Snow

2009-01-19T10:59:00.005-05:00

It snowed a little over an inch in Louisville last night, so Baxter got to enjoy his morning in the front yard.

After Baxter played for a while, he decided to start digging and rooting through the snow to find what was underneath.

Best Friends Animal Society Donation

2009-01-16T11:07:00.008-05:00

We've got some non Baxter-related news today. Every blog that reposts the song “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone (out March 3), Neko Case and ANTI- will make a cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society.

So, check out the PSA, then enjoy the song. If you'd like, you can get the embed code from the Antiblog.

People Got A Lotta Nerve - Neko Case

While you're here, be sure to click the link on the right (or in this post) to play Bow Wow Trivia. Mimi Ausland, a 12 year old girl from Bend, Oregon, wanted to help feed the hungry animals at her local animal shelter. “There are 10’s of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal.” Say hello to freekibble.com and freekibblekat.com!

Graduation Day

2009-01-10T13:47:00.005-05:00

Baxter the Beaglier graduated from his beginner class at PetSmart today. It was relatively easy for him. Lately, we've been attending the class out in the store for more distraction. Today, we were in the "ring" and Baxter had a much better attention span.

The "final exam" consisted of Baxter doing a series of sits, downs, stands, come when called, and a lengthy stay. He actually did really well until halfway through, when his buddy, Kobie, came in late and confused him. All Baxter wanted to do at that point was sniff. Our instructor allowed him some free time, then it was back to the exam.

Here are a few shots from the class.

We Just Got New Furniture

2009-01-06T08:13:00.001-05:00

And Baxter has found his favorite spot...

Apparently, the Cavalier King Charles in him likes to be in the highest spot possible. It's loads of fun when you're sitting in that particular spot and he wants to nibble on your ear while you watch TV.

Christmas with the Grandmothers

2008-12-26T10:26:00.008-05:00

Baxter got to visit both of his Grandmothers for the holidays, which was exciting and tiring all at the same time. At my mom's house on the 23rd, Baxter got to play with Macie, my sister's dog. It seems Baxter is a bit too much puppy for Macie's liking. We actually had to put Baxter in a kennel for a while to let the little kids open presents and give Macie some rest.

On Christmas Eve, our Aunt Tracy got Baxter a nice Milkbone chew toy, which he immediately destroyed once we got home.

On Christmas, we dropped Baxter off at my mother-in-law's house for a while before we came back to eat and celebrate with Trista's family. When we got back, Baxter was barricaded in the basement because he was scaring all the little kids with his high-pitched bark and his energetic attitude. Luckily, I brought a Dingo bone and that calmed him down for about 10 minutes.

Then, he went back to barking like a raving lunatic until we put him in a bedroom upstairs and locked him in his kennel. That's when he fell asleep for a couple of hours.

Once he was awake and all the little kids left, we let Baxter roam around the house freely looking for scraps of food that might have hit the floor. He seemed pleased.

Today, the day after Christmas, Baxter woke up late to go out and to get food. He then immediately fell asleep for another 3 hours. I'd say he really enjoyed his first Christmas.

Baxter, It's Cold Outside!

2008-12-21T09:05:00.004-05:00

The windchill outside right now is 4 degrees. Our house lacks any real insulation, and the windows are very old, so there's a bit of a draft in the house. Even Baxter is noticing the temperature drop, since he was just at the Dog Park two days ago enjoying the 70 degree weather.

This morning, I snapped this picture of Baxter in our spare bedroom. He's not usually too fond of having blankets or towels wrapped around him, so it was rare to find him in this state.

As soon as I took the picture, I was reminded of one of the pictures I took of him the first night we had him. He was in his cage, curled up and chewing on his hippo. His snout has definitely gotten longer, and the brown around his eyes has spread a bit more as well. I realize it's a trick of the camera, but it also looks like his eyes have changed color.

A Trip to the Dog Park

2008-12-19T18:14:00.010-05:00

Four days ago, Louisville was covered in ice. Schools in surrounding counties were closed, and road crews were out in full force spreading salt. Today, the weather shifted nearly 40 degrees for a high of 70, the clouds parted for a nice, sunny (yet windy!) afternoon, and Baxter's Dog Park tags came in the mail. It was the perfect recipe for a happy, muddy, very tired dog.

When we first arrived, Baxter and I were the only ones at the park. He wasn't quite sure what to do or where to go, and he actually wanted to go back toward my car instead of in the fenced area. After about five minutes, another dog joined the fun, and allowed Baxter to get used to the idea of the dog park.

Within 10 minutes, several other dogs--all bigger than Baxter--showed up. Baxter tried to play with them, but he was the obvious runt of the group, so they all picked on him. This week's ice and this morning's rain absolutely drenched the ground. This was bad news for Baxter, since his defense is to quickly roll on his back to claw and bite. Every time he got up, there was more mud and hay caked to his fur.

About halfway through our visit, a couple walked in with their Border Collie, Sage. Baxter and Sage, both being relatively small and over four months old, became friends rather quickly. They stayed mostly on the concrete and enjoyed each others company away from the bigger dogs.

Below are videos of Baxter and Sage playing at my feet. The first one was when they first met. Later, once they got to know each other a bit more, Baxter became a bit more vocal and tried to get Sage to play more.

The Death (and Return) of the Blue Hippo

2008-12-13T22:16:00.008-05:00

Before we brought Baxter home, we picked up a few essentials we thought dog owners should have. We got a collar, a leash, food and water bowls, food, treats, a crate, and some toys. The one toy Baxter clung to immediately was his blue hippo.

The hippo was nothing special; just a stuffed squeaky toy on the shelf amongst several other stuffed squeaky toys. Initially, Baxter was so small, he couldn’t even make the squeaker squeak. It wasn’t for a lack of trying. I guess there was just something about that blue hippo. Maybe it was the bright blue color, the soft cloth material it was made of, or maybe it was because it was the smallest, most unintimidating toy we got that day.

During the past couple of months, Baxter has hidden and lost the blue hippo more times that I care to count. Trista and I have both played hero and rescued the blue hippo from under the couch on several occasions. Hippo’s bright blue color has now faded to a dingy blue with hints of grey. The soft material has since been chewed to bits, and is now ragged and crusty. Stuffing pokes out of tiny holes left from tiny teeth.

But nothing could have prepared me for the horror I witnessed this week. As Baxter was playing with the dingy, grey hippo, I heard a loud tear and saw Baxter run wildly out of the room. I feared the worst.

Baxter had demolished the hippo’s head, ripping off its ear and pulling out all the stuffing in the poor, formerly-stuffed creature’s head. Baxter knew he had done a bad thing, and I’m not sure if the look on his face was fear that I would yell a corrective tone, or sadness that he would soon lose his favorite toy. I sure know I was crushed.

Luckily, we are resourceful dog owners…and fairly nice ones at that. This weekend, while I was finishing up my Christmas shopping, I headed to Wal-Mart to search for another blue hippo. I wasn’t optimistic, because I know dog toys are a dime a dozen, and I’m sure they change their inventory quite often. To my surprise, I wasn’t able to find a single blue hippo. I was able to find three!

So, now Baxter has a nice, new, fully-stuffed favorite toy again…and again…and again. Hopefully this time each one will last longer than 2 months. If not, I believe we may finally have to say goodbye.

On another note; while I was shopping at Target, I happened upon this sign in the pet section. I can’t prove it’s a Beaglier, but I’ll say it is until someone proves me wrong.

Post Op Blues

2008-12-12T11:59:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, Baxter went to the vet and had surgery to remove some of his "boy parts." The surgery went well, and he only got three staples, but Baxter was VERY tired when I went to pick him up. Usually, he'll whine and moan when he's in the car. This trip was spent mostly sleeping. He did let out one very loud yelp, which scared me half to death.

When we got home, his attitude was a lot better, and he seemed more willing to play. He did try to jump on the couch, which resulted in another loud yelp and no more attempts to conquer such high platforms. After a little food and some water, I gently picked him up and put him on the couch with me, where he spent the rest of the night.

On my lunch break today, I stopped by the house to see how he was doing and give him some more food. He was anxious to see me, and he's now leaping on the couch and running from room to room with a random toy in his mouth, following me like he normally does. I have a feeling that won't last too much longer as his pain meds will soon wear off.

Baxter's Vicious Bark

2008-12-10T12:04:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted in a while. We've been busy this month with work, puppy training, and cleaning house. In the meantime, enjoy these short videos of Baxter sitting on the couch barking.

For the longest time, whenever he wanted something he would just whine. It was fairly cute, but I'm glad he's finally found his grown-up voice...although he does whine occasionally, as you'll see in the last video.

Notice in the first video that he puts his whole body into the bark. He means serious business. The way he cocks his head back reminds me a lot of Snoopy.

In this video, I'm not really sure what he's doing with his ears or his voice. It sounds like a mix of several different emotions.

Baxter the Elf, What's Your Favorite Color!?

2008-12-01T14:34:00.004-05:00

Trista and I ended our Thanksgiving weekend by shopping for a few needed items on Sunday. We stopped by the Sprint store to fix our bill and make a payment. We also headed to Meijer because we needed a filter for our furnace, some dog food for Baxter, and apparently this horrible, cruel, and unusual torture device. The look on the poor dog's face says it all.

Busy Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-01T14:21:00.006-05:00

We spent a lot of time with family and friends this weekend, and Baxter went along with us for a lot of it. On Thanksgiving day, Trista and I visited with my mother's side of the family, and then we headed to her mom's house. We keep forgetting to take our camera with us (I guess we're too busy with getting Baxter in the car). At my mom's, Baxter got to finally meet my sister and hang out with Macie again. Too bad for Macie, who was in dire need of a haircut, Baxter got most of the attention. Everyone wanted to pet him.

The same happened at Trista's mom's house. All the cousins, aunts, and uncles couldn't get enough of him. He even playfully bit one of them on the lip, and they still came back for more. All the attention did cause him to tucker out long before bedtime. We did remember that our cell phones have cameras in them, so I took this shot of Baxter lounging on the coffee table after the long Thanksgiving day.

Baxter and I both were caught napping again over the weekend. I believe I could have used a shower and a shave before the cameragirl snapped this shot.

Enjoying a Wonderful Autumn Day

2008-11-25T13:29:00.005-05:00

Baxter Meets Susie

2008-11-24T08:04:00.008-05:00

Baxter got to meet his other cousin this weekend. Susie, a 4 year old miniture white schnauzer, is my brother's dog. I guess my brother and my sister both have a thing for the breed.

When we arrived, Susie was already outside to greet us. She was very curious of Baxter, and he was anxious as well. They sniffed each other for a while, and began to run around the back yard and play. Instant friends! Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me since this was an impromptu stop.

Baxter stayed at Uncle Nick's house overnight and got to explore a whole new house. He even accidentally marked his territory once during the evening. Whoops! Nick says Baxter was very well behaved. Susie and he got along just fine. Once bedtime came around, Susie was starting to get a little jealous and wasn't so sure this new puppy was so cute anymore. He had already been chewing on all her toys.

Nick put Baxter in a caged-in area in the kitchen, but Baxter wasn't happy to be left alone in a strange new place. He whined and whimpered until Nick finally let him sleep in a real bed (that's something we can't do because of my allergies!). Susie was definitely upset now, and she climbed out of bed and slept on a pillow on the floor.

In the morning, Nick had to go to work, so I went to get Baxter...again, without the camera! He wasn't very eager to leave, and he whined and whimpered all the way home. When we got home and he saw Trista, his complaining stopped.

Baxter's First Snow

2008-11-20T18:12:00.005-05:00

It's only a slight flurry, but this is a lot of snow for Kentucky this early in the season. It's also the first time our crazy Beaglier has seen snow. I figured I'd bring out the camera to see how he reacted. Hopefully, we'll get a reasonable amount of snow later so he can be reintroduced. I think he was more interested in running around the yard than he was the flakes hitting him in the head.

Baxter is Growing!

2008-11-19T20:06:00.005-05:00

Baxter is now three months old and has nearly doubled his weight since we got him a month ago. He's now 11 lbs. Tonight while playing with him, he got a bit scared and was able to effortlessly leap onto the couch for safety. Luckily, Trista and I were both present to experience his excitement. It actually brought tears to Trista's eyes...in the form of laughter.

This first instance was completely cute and hilarious all at the same time. I'm almost certain we're going to have to put a stop to it sooner or later. For now, we'll deal...

Update: I just went through the camera and found this photo from last week.

Baxter Meets Maggie and Rosie

2008-11-11T12:32:00.015-05:00

Baxter got to meet two BIG dogs today. I took him to visit Mary (from work) and her two dogs, Maggie the Golden Retriever and Rosie the Black Lab. At first, Baxter was very excited to be in a new house and to smell all the new smells. Maggie and Rosie were a bit more skittish around this new, smaller, energetic creature. I took a few photos, then I left Baxter to play with his new friends.

By the time I came back to pick him up, Baxter and Maggie had become best friends. Rosie was still unsure of the whole experience. Maggie was even sharing some of her favorite toys and treats.

When I got Baxter home, he was so worn out he headed straight to his bed and began snoring very loudly! Apparently, Maggie passed out soon after we left.

Mary took some video of Maggie and Baxter playing in the living room.

Puppy Training - Week 2

2008-11-10T09:52:00.007-05:00

Baxter spent his Saturday traveling. We started the day by visiting the vet to get the next round of vaccinations. The vet's office is about 30 miles away. We picked this particular vet, because I went to high school with both docs, and it's close to my parents' house. It gives me an excuse to go see them, since I'm in the area.

When we left the vet's office, Baxter and I stopped by my parents' house, where he met one of his cousins (my sister's dog), Macie. Macie is a two year old white miniture schnauzer, but she is just a bit bigger than Baxter. Macie and Baxter got to run around in the front yard and the driveway. Macie was rather dominant and aggressive at first, but once we went inside I let Baxter play with a few of Macie's toys and he completely ignored her.

After about an hour, we headed off to puppy training at PetSmart. Mike the trainer explained how to sit and stand and how to train a dog to walk on a leash beside you. Baxter did really well during the first half of the training. He mostly sat or laid at my feet. He didn't fall asleep this week. I believe with some training, he should learn to sit and stand on command fairly quickly.

During the second half of the training, he got anxious. We went to a small aisle, dogs were everywhere, and he was just too overwhelmed to walk on the leash like Mike had showed us. Hopefully, with this class, he'll get used to other dogs and he'll get over that anxiety. Hopefully.

Once we got home, Baxter went straight to his cage and passed out.

Dogs with Blogs #1031

2008-11-10T09:32:00.005-05:00

This weekend Baxter's Blog was added to the Dogs with Blogs listing at number 1031. Dogs with Blogs is a world wide listing of...well...dogs with blogs. Click the link below to visit the site and learn more.

Photograpy and Puppy

2008-11-05T08:24:00.006-05:00

Mary at work sent me this slightly outdated version of "How to Photograph a New Puppy." I found it rather fitting.

Remove film from box and load camera.
Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.
Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from muzzle.
Choose a suitable background for photo.
Mount camera on tripod and focus.
Find puppy and take dirty sock from mouth.
Place puppy in pre-focused spot and return to camera.
Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on knees.
Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand.
Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.
Take flashcube from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.
Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy's nose.
Put magazines back on coffee table.
Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head.
Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say, "No, outside! No, outside!"
Call spouse to clean up mess.
Fix a drink.
Sit back in Lazy Boy with drink and resolve to teach puppy "sit" and "stay" the first thing in the morning.

I've noticed when I pull out the camera, Baxter gets anxious and wants to explore this new toy. Once I get the lens cap off and point it at him, he is usually striking a pose something like this...

Obstacle Course

2008-11-04T18:49:00.005-05:00

Puppy Training at PetSmart

2008-11-04T14:12:00.005-05:00

This past weekend marked the first of eight puppy training classes at our local PetSmart. We'd already read several books and visited many Web sites to learn about training dogs, but it was refreshing to have a chance to expose Baxter to other dogs and watch their behaviors as well. It also helped to see we weren't the only owners suffering through biting and the occasional accident on the dining room floor.

The first class was more of a training course for humans. Mike, the trainer, introduced us to the idea that maybe we're the cause for some of Baxter's bad habits. We even got a study sheet to remind us of things we might need to work on (tone of voice seems to be a big one). Baxter was very anxious at first, but once we walked him around the store and introduced him to a couple of the other dogs, he calmed down. I was surprised at how well he behaved. Of course, not to be outdone by any of the other dogs, he actually fell asleep during part of the lecture.

Our take-home assignment this week is to work on focus exercises using food rewards. So far, Baxter is a quick study. He does love the attention and his treats! He's beginning to recognize his name when I call him, but I think he gets distracted fairly easily. I've noticed if he's in the house, he'll acknowledge his name most of the time. If he's outside playing, forget about it.

Attack of the Aquafina Bottle

2008-10-31T18:54:00.011-04:00

It's Halloween night. Ghosts and goblins are out to haunt the town. Demons and devils prowl the streets. But our scaredy dog, Baxter, is terrified of a simple, plastic water bottle.

Baxter Sleeping Pt. 2

2008-10-31T18:49:00.004-04:00

Baxter is still very young, and he gets tired fairly easily. A few nights ago, he crawled into Trista's lap to snuggle and fall asleep. Little did we know he'd end up relaxing like this...

He's definitely getting comfortable in his new home.

Why the Name Baxter?

2008-10-26T18:48:00.006-04:00

Trista and I both love the adorable little gentleman who eats an entire wheel of cheese, speaks Spanish, travels the world, and looks like a miniature Buddha covered in hair from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. We thought it was best to pay homage to our favorite pooch by naming our first dog Baxter as well.

Even though our Beaglier bears no resemblance to the on-screen Border Terrier, nearly everyone we introduce him to understands the origins of his name.

What is a Beaglier?

2008-10-24T16:41:00.003-04:00

A Beaglier, classified as a hybrid breed of dog, is a mix of a beagle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKC). The mix is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Beagliers may not always be a 50-50 mix between the two breeds, and we believe Baxter shows a few more traits of the beagle than of the CKC. He simply looks more like a beagle, and his personality (so far) more resembles that of a beagle pup.

Temperament:
When considering hybrid breeds, it’s important to learn about behavioral traits for all breeds in the mix. In our Beaglier, we’ve noticed a very strong sense of smell, taken from the beagle side. Baxter loves to sniff, and he’s constantly finding new things he probably shouldn’t. He’s also a horrible guard dog. Whenever someone comes to the door, or even when we come home from work, he simply sits and stares at the door. Often his nose can be seen sniffing the air for a familiar scent. He also seems to be very smart, which can sometimes be a nuisance. If he wants something, and he’s very determined to get it, he’ll find a way.

Baxter does have his fair share of CKC traits as well. Although Baxter is still a young puppy, it appears as though he may be smaller than a pure bred beagle. He is extremely social, and he whimpers almost as soon as someone leaves the room. While walking through the house or through the park, Baxter is always at our ankles, ready to be rubbed or scratched or picked up. CKCs also often show traits similar to cats, which we’ve seen in Baxter. He loves to pounce on his unsuspecting toys, and he’s always in search of a higher place to sit; usually on the couch.

Health:
Both the beagle and the CKC have relatively large, floppy ears. Beagliers are no different. At only 8 weeks old, Baxter was diagnosed with a yeast infection in his ears. Our vet says this is not uncommon. According to Wikipedia, Beagliers may suffer from a list of ailments handed down from both breeds, including epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and a range of eye conditions.

For more information about Beagliers, visit the following links.
http://beaglier.org/
http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/1100334/

For more information about beagles or CKCs, visit these links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle
http://www.akc.org/breeds/beagle/index.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel
http://www.akc.org/breeds/cavalier_king_charles_spaniel/

Baxter Sleeping

2008-10-21T21:46:00.006-04:00

Baxter has been especially rambunctious the past couple of days. I believe he's finding his niche in the house and testing his limits (and maybe testing his dominance). He has taken to biting just about everything in sight, including hands and feet. Sometimes, this isn't the greatest experience, and we're doing our best to teach him this is bad. We'll see how our efforts pay off.

The upside of this terrible habit is that he gets tired very quickly, which presents many opportunities to take pictures. Here are just a few from the past two days.

Baxter Visits the Vet

2008-10-21T21:35:00.005-04:00

On Monday, October 20, Baxter made his first trek to the vet. He got to socialize with a couple of other dogs. One of his encounters was with a beagle named Copper. Imagine that!

The vet alerted us to a yeast infection in Baxter's ears. He's on a 10 day medicine, which he doesn't really like. Of course, I doubt any puppy would like ear drops, especially in big floppy ears like Baxter's.

Baxter weighed in at 6.1 pounds, and he also received his scheduled vaccinations and deworming. Overall, he did really well. He showed no real signs of anxiety, and he was eager to explore the waiting area and the other animals.

Introducing Baxter the Beaglier

2008-10-21T14:30:00.008-04:00

As our one year anniversary gift to each other, Trista and I picked up our new best friend, Baxter. Baxter is a tricolor Beaglier, which is a mix of Beagle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He was born on August 14, 2008 and was introduced to us at eight weeks old.

When we first brought him home, Baxter showed a keen curiosity of his new home and began showing his beagle traits immediately. He sniffed everywhere! Of course, he was always sure to have someone near him at all times. During his first day home, Baxter was quite clingy, and he would whine if he was too far from his new owners.

We're using the cage training technique with Baxter, which has proven very effective. Baxter immediately fell in love with his makeshift towel bed and his new toys, and has since taken ownership of his cage. Any toys he plays with eventually get stored in the corners of the cage where we're not supposed to find them.

Being so young and curious, and also taking so much time and energy to whine, Baxter quickly wore himself out. He was found several times passed out during his first evening home.