I
had already previously owned a beagle x bitch for a
number of years while growing up, losing her finally
to old age. I missed the companionship a dog can bring
and when the time was right, finally convinced my parents
(of whom I was living with at the time) that I needed
a new dog in my life.
Already I had been checking out the
RSPCA and leaving my details for the breed of pup that
I was on the lookout for. In time I got word that a
litter of beagle x puppies was available, so I hurried
down to the centre.
When I arrived I found I had a choice
of 6 puppies, mostly all full tan, some with white markings.
I ‘tested’ each pup out – seeing how
responsive they were to being called, their confidence
with being handled & overall personality. I thought
I had wanted another bitch – because our family
had always tended to have female pets! (Under the guise
we somehow had the understanding they were cleaner.)
I kept coming back to this dog puppy.
Apart from his personality and build, his markings were
simply gorgeous – such pretty boy – couldn’t
resist him then and still can’t to this day (he
is so photogenic – I’m only slightly biased).
Well we headed off to BDOC and had
a wonderful introduction to the club in puppy pre-school
with Carol Hodges. Since then I have been convinced
of the importance of socialisation at an early age –
the difference in confidence between my first dog and
Charlie is immense. But I guess that is what hindsight
is for.
Over
the years since joining the club we have made it to
Class 4, having only just competed in our first obedience
trial – where at least now we can say –
been there, tried that. In moving through the classes
during training our biggest hurdle was the ‘stand
for examination’ (he has always been such a sociable
dog). I won’t even begin to explain my personal
anguish of a recall – most who know us understand
our on-going challenge. Many a laugh has been at Charlie’s
& my expense.
Our real love is for the tracking
discipline, of roaming the bush – and for the
most part being on task of finding the person at the
other end (unless of course the kangaroos have been
visiting). At least with tracking he has to stay on
a lead to do the work! I then undertook a new challenge
– that of owning and training two canines. So
then I got Lucy.
But that is another story....
oooOOOooo
