The long road to recovery

Hey everyone.

I had surgery on Thursday to repair a partial tear in my shoulder ligament. I don't know which one, I'm just a dog and not a Vet.

At first they thought I was going to have to stay the night there at the hospital, which had me and my mom kind of upset because we've never been apart overnight since I came to live with her. But, as luck would have it, the Dr. said I could go home after 6 pm and so Mom was there at 6:30 to pick me up!

I have to wear a sling for two weeks. :( It's uncomfortable and awkward. I can only hobble around on three legs, and the only time I get to go outside is when I have to go potty. The rest of the time, I just lay on the couch or on a big cushion on the floor. I watch TV, I chew on my Kong, I sleep. *sigh*

After the sling comes off, I have to wear Dog Leggs Hobbles -- which is a vest type thing that allows me to walk while keeping the shoulder in place.

Hopefully by Christmas, I'll be able to play with all my friends again!

Until then, I'll just be hanging out, going for rides in my Beagle Buggie, and over-indulging in vegetables. Bleh!

What's a Rotator Cuff?

I went to the Specialist on Monday and they said I had a torn Rotator Cuff. Mom and everyone she's talked to have never heard of this sort of thing in dogs before, so she's a little baffled by it all.

They want to do an Anthroscopy on my shoulder -- but Mom isn't sure that's the best thing for me. So she's looking into alternatives that might provide a less evassive way of helping me heal properly.

I just want to be able to play again. *howls*

ho-hum

hello everyone.

I'm a little sad today. I've been limping for an awful long time, and after many trips to the vet and x-rays, they are still unable to find anything wrong with me. So tomorrow I go to the specialist to see if she can find anything.

I haven't been to school in a long time and I miss all my class mates. I am unable to play like I use to, and I'm not having much fun these days.

Mom is sad too, because she doesn't like for me to be unhappy, and knows that we can't take our daily walks like we used to because of the restrictions put on me.

*sigh*

Hopefully, the Specialist Dr. will have some words of encouragement, and I can get better and go back to school and playing.

Keep your paws crossed for me, okay?

Howls and Kisses,
Bailey

PS: I didn't get a new baby sister yet. Mom said that maybe Basset Hounds are too big for our living situation right now -- but maybe we'll take in another Beagle from the shelter or Beagle Rescue.

*gulp*

Wow. Where does the time go?

I've been so busy since last we talked. Training for the first part of the year, and then, taking a break for a while. I developed a limp and it has taken a considerable amount of time to heal -- but I am getting better and looking forward to going back to school!

Yesterday was my Birthday! I turned 14, [that's 2 in human years!]. It rained all day. Came down in buckets so Mom kept me inside where it was warm and dry and we played a lot of indoor games like Hide and Seek and Retrieve. Then we wrestled some and at the end of the day, we watched Firehouse Dog and ate lots of plain popcorn and cheerios!

It was great!

I got new toys too! And Merrick Sausages! It was fun.

Today I am kind of sad though because Mom is going to Washington to look at a Basset Hound puppy and I have to stay home. She said I might be able to go next time, when the puppies are older, to meet my potential new baby sister.

*sigh* I wish I could meet her today.

2007 already?

Where does the time go? I guess I'm not very good at keeping this thing updated. *sigh*

So, since last I barked, I've been bumped up to a more advanced class. I'm learning more utility stuff now and still working on my Obedience CD.

I'm on a diet now. I weighed in at 30 pounds in January and Mom says that's just a little too big for a Beagle. The diet thing is okay though, because when Mom goes to bed, I beg Grandpa and Auntie for food and they always give it to me. I've got them trained real good! *woof*

2007!

Howl-O! everyone!

I've been really busy with school and practicing my obedience. I've been to a Physical Therapy Facility twice in the last week to visit with the people there and it's been a real adventure. Everyone says I'm so handsome and so well behaved. I think I'm going to be a good Therapy Dog. *woof!*

It's really cold outside. 13 degrees this morning and it's supposed to be colder tomorrow. Mom says I can't spend as much time outside as I normally do because she doesn't want me to freeze. I've been really bummed about it, but yesterday she bought me a Dingo Rawhide Bone and that cheered me up a little. I still want to go outside and run and sniff and bay at the squirrels and the crows.

-

Woof!

Wow. It's been a while since we've last talked.

I've been busy busy busy. I'm getting ready for Obedience Trials in January! *woof!*

I had a birthday, and am now officially a "dog" -- but mom says I'll always be a puppy to her.

I have a fenced yard that I can run free in which makes me uber happy!

My friends come over and play with me, and we run and run and run. Then I sleep and sleep and sleep.

It's been a great summer -- but I can't wait until it SNOWS! I LOVE THE SNOW!!!

I'm in the first grade

Yesterday was the first day of intermediate obedience school, which mom calls the First Grade.

We had a lot of fun. I managed to end up in the same class as everyone from the last class. Bear, Quinn, Rocket and Zeke are all there, and that makes me absolutely happy.

Yesterday we started learning how to jump over obstacles and retrieve objects. It was fun. I had a good time and can't wait until next Saturday to see what we learn next.

The dog run is also finished. I got to go out in it yesterday after school for the very first time. It's really big. Mom says it's about 100x50. It's ALL grass too. There are a couple of good sized shade trees, and some larger shrubs that I can get under when we play hide and seek. I had a lot of fun and didn't want to come back inside when it got dark, but Mom let me go out first thing this morning and I played for a couple of hours before she made me come back inside. [She said it was getting too hot outside for Dogs and I needed to come sit in front of the A/C and eat ice cubes for the rest of the day!]

Mom makes the best ice cubes. She freezes pieces of treats in them. She said she got the idea while she was visiting her cousin who works at the zoo. She was prepairing treats for the polar bears and the sea otters by freezing shell fish and mackerel in big buckets of water. Mom figured if Polar Bears liked it, so would Beagles.

And We Do!!! *woof*

I is a Graduate!

Well, I did it! I graduated puppy school yesterday. Level one obedience training is complete.

Next Saturday, I start the intermediate class. It's gonna be really fun because I'll be in the same class as my friends Quinn and Bear! I'm so Happy!

Mom is making me some liver treats right now. YUM. I can't wait till they're done!

*woof*

School Days

Hey everyone!

Yesterday at school, the trainer said I was doing really well. They called me Wonder Beagle and I was the first dog that got to train off leash -- Mom was so proud.

Next Saturday is my last day at school. Mom is trying to decide if we'll go to the next level right away, or take the rest of the summer off so that we can have some free time to play and travel.

We want to do the next level, and then get into the scent training class cuz my nose works overtime. :) Mom already hides treats around the house for me to find. That's one of my favorite games.

It's been really hot too. I don't like it when it's hot. I hide under the couch waiting for the sun to go down. Mom makes sure that I always have ice cubes in a separate bowl, but sometimes that doesn't even help. Yesterday, she even soaked my favorite chew rope in water and the stuck it in the freezer for an hour. It was nice and icy cold when she gave it too me, but it thawed out pretty quickly.

Today she said she's going to freeze some treats in ice cube trays. That should be interesting. *woof*

I hope it cools down soon so I can go outside and play.

Stay Cool ~
Bug