Reece- From Monster to Angel

My cute bundle of joy that now lies on my lap and snores louder than my husband, looks so peaceful while he is sleeping, and loves to be loved, used to be a monster! Yes, a crazy, hyper monster! I could not even believe how fast he could run in circles, jump up on the couch, and run all through the house like something just bit him in the behind! I literally wondered what I got myself and my family of six plus three dogs into!

My Story:
My husband decided he wanted a hunting dog. So, I made it happen. I called around and found the perfect Beagle. So, we got in the van, drove to the place where our Beagle was, paid for her, with the intentions of bringing home our new hunting dog – and ended up with two dogs!

There Reece was staring out of that cage. I just couldn’t leave him. He was so cute and so sad looking. So, there we were on our way home, with our hunting dog, Daisy and our new puggle, Reece. Daisy was the calmest, sweetest dog. She was very reserved, at first, but with four kids under the age of nine, she was bound to warm up. Now, Reece had no problem at all warming up. He was like a tornado, right there in my living room!

I thought that after a few days, he would get used to our house and settle down. After all, I have three other dogs, and they are all pretty calm and actually rather lazy. I just was not used to this tornado!

Not only was he a spaz, he also liked to eat out of the garbage, poop in my living room and literally steal my food right off of my plate. Boy, he was amazingly sneaky about that. Anytime anyone came in through that door, he was on them and biting at them. Of course, he was only playing, but those claws and teeth do hurt, no matter how much he is playing! Although these things are rather annoying, nothing compares to the fact that he was always sneaking out the front door, and he would run and run- right into the street. One day, he ran right out the door along with Daisy, and didn’t come back. I was so heartbroken.

Boy, although he could be annoying, he sure had a presence in our home, and I missed them both so much. Luckily, a truck driver found them on the highway, and turned them in. I was so extremely blessed that day. God was looking out for them and my family. It was amazing they did not get hit crossing that highway.
Once I got my babies back, I was determined to find a way to control Reece. It was now crucial that I find a way to contain him, for his own safety, and for my own heart.

So, I got online and tried to find information on how to train a puggle. There were so many things to choose from, but it was imperative that I find a training program that I could do at home, and that could tailor to my dog specifically.

Finally, I found an e-book called SitStayFetch. I was skeptical at first, because it said something about dog whispering. But, that is what caught my eye to begin with. I had tried everything, and being in a family of six with four dogs, I needed some control without any more screaming than was needed! Learning the dog whispering technique has truly made a difference in my household. And best of all, the techniques I learned in this e-book changed my house from crazy to calm. One thing that I did not realize is how important it was to show Reece who is boss. And, he was able to learn this by a couple simple techniques, like making him sit before he could have his food. I learned a lot of dog behaviors that I never even realized, and learned to look Reece right in the eye.

The best thing I learned was how to train him not to run out that front door, and how to stop him from jumping and lovingly bite people who walk through that door!
Because I took the time to learn how to connect with Reece, our lives are much calmer, and I can enjoy my time with Reece, rather than frustrated! He is so much fun, and such a joy to be around. I am so glad I came upon this e-book, SitStayFetch.

Please take time to help your puggle become the best friend he can be. They cannot do it on their own. They need guidance and love. It is your responsibility. And with a little time and effort, your little monster could turn into the sweetest, loving member of your family.

***************ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF DAISY AND REECE’S PUGGLES*****************

Wow, it is hard to believe that I am going to have more babies in my house again! I am so excited to see those cute little puggles. It is such an exhilarating feeling to see them being born, and I can’t wait to see whether they look more like Reece or Daisy.

My last batch, most of them looked like Reece. He is such a cutie. Of course, Daisy is cute, too, especially with that big round belly!

Reece knows something is up. He is always sniffing around her belly. With his last batch of puppies, he was SCARED TO DEATH of those little puggles! It was so cute. Reece is such a spaz; I was scared he would crush them. But, instead, he was very cautious and really just stayed away, until they started moving around and then he wanted to play.

Daisy was very protective of her babies. She was such an attentive mother. I was so proud of how she took care of her babies. When people came over to see them, she was okay with it; however, she made sure she was right up there in their laps, making sure her babies were okay.

Daisy and Reece’s puggles are due on February 29th. Although, it will be very hard for me to part with these cute little puggles, I have found that I get such a special feeling in my heart when I do put them in the arms of someone I know is just as excited about bringing a new baby into their home. I am very particular in where my puggles will end up. It is such an amazing feeling to be a part of bringing in a new member to someone’s family.

Since my baby is having babies, I thought it would be a good time to share a little of facts with you pertaining to pregnant Beagles! I know I was pretty much in the dark on what to expect while my beagle was expecting.

What to expect when they are expecting!
The average gestation is 63 days, but can vary from 57 to 65 days
Provide her with a safe, warm and fairly isolated area where she can deliver and raise her puppies once they are born.

A whelping box of some kind would be beneficial in keeping the puppies contained. This box should be large enough for her to be able to stretch out with some extra room for her litter. I would try to find something that is almost three times her size. You can purchase prefabricated ones online or you can have one built. It would very wise to have puppy guard rails that are about an inch in width and place around the inside of the box about two to four inches from the bottom to help prevent a puppy from getting smothered.

Get her used to her whelping box at least a week before delivery.
Begin taking her temperature at least twice daily about one week before her due date. A normal temperature is 101 – 102.5. When her temperature reaches below 98 degrees, she will likely be in labor with 24 hours.

Signs of labor include: shivering, rapid panting, refusal of food and occasionally vomiting. She will probably begin a nesting behavior, such as digging at bedding, etc.

THE DELIVERY:
Finally the day you have been looking for! Your puggles are on their way! Although the mother instinctively knows what to do, there are still a few things to look for during delivery. Contact your vet ASAP if she is straining yet no puppies appear within an hour or two, at the most. This could indicate that the babies are too big, and a C-section is necessary. During a natural delivery, a half hour between puppies is the average time it takes for delivery, a longer time could indicate a problem. Unfortunately, it is very common for her to deliver several puppies and have difficulty with the last one or two. Delivery is extremely exhausting. However, all she may need is a simple injection of oxytocin, which is a drug that helps the uterus to contract, to finish the delivery.

Thanks to a man who saved my Beagle and Puggle on the highway!

After reading the news story about the stolen Puggle and some comments from my readers, I remembered an incident that I forgot to share with all of you. Actually, I can’t believe I didn’t share it with you back when it happened. It all happened one evening back in the fall of last year. I had let Reece, my puggle, and Daisy, my beagle, out to go “potty” in the backyard, keep in mind I have a pretty decent size yard and a privacy fence. When I went to let them back in, to my surprise, they were both missing. I about had a heart attack!

I drove all over the neighborhood looking for them and could not find them anywhere. I live on a dead-end street and off of a very busy road. At the end of my road, there is a fence with holes in it that lead to a highway. So not only did I drive around the neighborhood looking for my puggle and beagle, but also drove on the highway to see if they had gotten through the holes. Nothing! I came home empty handed as well as empty hearted.

My house that night was so different. Although I have four kids and two other dogs, two of my babies were missing and I felt like my life had come to a complete stop! For those of you who know, puggles are very excited dogs and Reece was always adding excitement to the house by running crazy and constantly jumping up on me as well as others. He also loves to play with Daisy.

My husband kept telling me that they could possibly be running around and show up on the front step in the morning. Well, morning came and went, and my babies were not on the front step. Then, my husband gave me the idea to call the local pound to see if maybe they got picked up. Sure enough, when I called they stated that they had a Puggle and a Beagle dropped off last night. I was so excited and so relieved. The operator said that some man was driving a semi on the highway and noticed my two dogs roaming together. He told the pound that he knew that they had to belong to someone because they were roaming together and had collars. (Unfortunately, collars with no name tags) What I found out that day was that God was watching over my babies and that there was compassion in the world, even on the highway! :)

Interesting Story

I felt that this story was important and very interesting to share with all of you! It amazes me how the community came together to find a stolen puggle. It really gave me a little bit of hope that their is still compassion out there in our world where things seem to be falling apart! :) Enjoy.

Little Dog Lost - And Found


It was every pet lover's worst nightmare.

When Elizabeth Zagarino's six-month-old Puggle Bella went missing from their Laurel home recently, she was devastated.

But a story that could have turned out badly had a happy ending, and Zagarino believes it was the outpouring of support and concern from her North Fork community that brought her beloved little dog back home.

Zagarino's nightmare began over a week ago, when she let out Rascal, her pit bull mix, on a wire line. Bella and Rascal, said Zagarino, "are the best of friends." And so when Rascal wanted out, "Bella got upset and wanted to go out, too." After scratching at the door, Zagarino let her out and Bella bolted off to join her buddy.

But that's when things went horribly awry. After heading upstairs to talk briefly with her husband Frank, who was renovating the bathroom, Zagarino ran right back down to let the dogs in. "Rascal was right there," she said. "Bella wasn't."

Zagarino realized a dog napper had grabbed Bella, pulled into a neighbor's driveway, and hastily backed up, hitting the mailbox.

And so began an odyssey of fear and despair that had Zagarino waiting and hoping fervently for a miracle.

"I called for her. Usually, if she's not in sight, I can hear the little jingle from her collar and there was just deafening silence. Immediately, I panicked. I just knew. I began yelling for her and yelling for her. My husband came right out and we went frantically looking everywhere for her."

Soon, the whole family, including Zagarino's sons, Frankie, 14, and Tanner, 9, were desperately searching for their lost dog.

The following days were dark for Zagarino, who was wracked with guilt. "She's my daughter," she said. "This little dog is so nervous – all she wants is her mom. She's always near my feet, always right next to me."

"My husband realized when he went out front that our mail was all over the ground. Someone crashed into our mailbox."

Indeed, a rash of robberies across the country has been reported as thieves pilfer the pricey designer puggles – a mix between a pug and a beagle – hiding them in purses and in one case, a man's pants, as they pull off the heist. Because the dogs are small – Bella is only 15 pounds – they're easily stashed and are often stolen from pet stores and off the streets.

"When I told them what kind of dog I was looking for, every single person said, 'Oh, you have a hot ticket,'" said Zagarino.

The situation appeared even more dire when Zagarino's husband read an article in the paper about puggles being one of the most commonly poached pooches – thieves often steal and resell the designer dogs. Part of the impetus for peeling off with the pooches? Their pricey pedigree – most puggles fetch between $600 and $800 and up to $1000 when purchased.

"Any small dog is at risk. No dog should be left outside. It's like leaving a child alone," said Peg Gugliotta of the Kent Animal Shelter.

Determined to find her dog, Zagarino got serious. Her friend Danielle Cardinale helped her to plaster the North Fork with over 400 flyers, and soon, concerned neighbors and residents were calling Zagarino with news of prayer groups and search parties. Zagarino even got in touch with an animal communicator to help guide her to an answer. "I didn't care what I had to do," she said. "The whole neighborhood was looking."

Soon, though, the dedication of an entire community paid off when Bella was returned home, safe and sound, last Wednesday.

As soon as her husband turned on the kitchen light to get ready for work at 4:45 a.m., there was a tap on the door – Bella was scratching at the door, eager to get home.

"It's pretty self-explanatory that someone waited until there were signs of life in our house until they let her loose so she could get in," said Zagarino.

Whoever had brought Bella was already gone when Zagarino's husband went running to investigate.

And then, the most joyful of reunions unfolded. "I couldn't breathe for a minute," said Zagarino. "She just ran into my arms, I was crying so hard. I told my kids, 'Please tell me I'm awake right now.' I felt like I'd been in a nightmare for five days."

Once home, Bella was one tired pup, snuggled up to Rascal. "She's skinny and thirsty, but she doesn't seem traumatized. She came home with her collar and tags."

As for why she was swiped, Zagarino has her suspicions. "Maybe it was some teenagers who thought she was cute. Maybe it was someone who wanted to steal her but then saw all the flyers and thought, 'This town's way too small and too proactive,' and they had to abort the project."

What brought her dog home, believes Zagarino, was her refusal to give up – and a community that rallied behind a family in crisis.

"I just literally could not stop putting the word out there," she said. "I kept talking, kept driving, and I had everyone talking. People were praying and searching. There were over hundreds of e-mails sent out."

Now that her ordeal is over, Zagarino, who moved to the North Fork from California four and a half years ago, has a newfound appreciation for the community she now firmly believes is home. "I just want to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers, help and concern," she said. "All those people praying, grabbing flyers and putting them up, helped to get my baby back."

For years after moving from Los Angeles, Zagarino was homesick. "I wanted to go home. But after this I realized this is my home. These people are really great. I learned something valuable – this is a really special place, these people are so special. The outpouring of support and love speaks volumes. It's been an amazing lesson for me."

lfinn@indyeastend.com

The Independent