Ramblings of a Beagler

By Chuck Terry

This book is a celebration of the beagle as both a pet and loyal hunting companion. It is a collection of the author's experiences with these wonderful little canine gems from their birth to their death. Hopefully, the reader's love for beagles and/or hunting will be ignited (or rekindled) by the sharing stories of real people and the bonds formed by their common interest (obsession?) known as "beagling" .

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781624889356

Book preview

Chuck

Chapter 1: Beagle Puppies

So you have decided to try your hand at raising a litter and you have a bred female beagle? Note: If you plan to buy a pup rather than breed your own, skip down about ten paragraphs.

It is advisable to consult your vet or trusted reference before administering any medication (including flea products) to a pregnant female. However, I think it is important to keep a mother free of worms (and fleas/ticks). I have successfully used generic Drontal Plus. Two such products are Paratak Plus and Canine All-wormer. I have found them safe and effective like Drontal Plus – only cheaper. A simple internet search should allow you to find a current source for these products. Although, it is my opinion that this type wormer is generally less risky than worms for pups, be sure to read the product label for risks and warnings! Another very safe option is to use liquid puppy worm. Of course, a bottle will contain only a couple of doses for the average adult female beagle making this option relatively expensive.

You should keep your bitch well-fed with a quality dry dog food or puppy chow. However, avoid letting her get fat as the puppies can become fat and increase the risk of a troubled delivery. She will need about one and a half times as her normal amount of kibble but, again, keep her trim. Moderate daily exercise is good but running, climbing, and jumping should be discouraged toward the end of the pregnancy. A shiny coat, alert eyes, and bright red gums are indicators of good health. Morning sickness is possible but usually occurs for only a week or two in the middle of the gestation period.

If it is a planned breeding (or if you witnessed the accidental mating) and can recall the date, count 63 days from that date and you will know just when to expect your pups. The majority will be born 63 days plus or minus a day. Births outside the range from 59 to 66 days are rare in my experience. Looking back, most of my litters have been born starting in the late evening hours. Then again, most of the breeding have taken place at this time of day as well as this was the time of day I got home from work. The entire birthing process takes normally takes several hours. However, birthing time can vary from less than an hour to over a day depending on the dam and the size of the litter. A friend of mine had a lab that delivered ten healthy pups with her labor lasting in excess of 24 hours!

Assuming the sire and dam are both beagles, you should have little to worry about. Watch a little more closely if it is the female’s first litter. You should put the mother in a warm (but not hot!), clean, dry area - off the ground is best. The mother will need to be somewhere she can hem up the pups to make it easy for her to care for them. A whelping box (36 X 36 X 6") with an inside rail is nice but is not an absolute necessity. I currently use shredded paper for bedding material, which I replace after the birth and as needed thereafter. Old blankets are fine but they will need to be washed frequently (or discarded and replaced). Failure to replace bedding in the warmer months can lead to odor and flies as well.

I have had only three troubled deliveries out of 30 or so litters. One was a female who neglected her pups due to toxic milk syndrome. I eventually gave her to a friend and she later raised a litter of mixed breed pups with no problem according to her new owner. The other two difficult deliveries were both breech births. One evening in about 1987, I came home from work to find my pregnant female in the squatting in the bushes as if having a bowel movement with a pup’s rear half hanging out of her. I do not know how long she had been in this predicament but the pup appeared to be dead already. Being unsure at the time as to how to proceed, I called my vet who said I had to pull the pup ASAP.

I did as instructed over the phone but, as I had feared, the pup was dead. My female continued giving birth and the rest of the pups born fine and healthy. I did not include this story to scare anyone or discourage him/her from breeding his/her beagles. However, I wanted to be sure the reader was aware of the possible scenarios - both good and bad. My second breech delivery had a bit happier outcome thanks to experience and prompt intervention using KY Jelly and a rubber glove. With a gentle push back while wearing the well-lubricated glove, the pup emerged alive