Synopses & Reviews
Dedicated to the irresistible little dog with the big nose and personality, the Beagle, this Smart Owners Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining.
Each Smart Owners Guide offers a description of the breeds character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppys homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more.
Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call Its a Fact,” Smart Tip,” Notable and Quotable,” and Did You Know?” Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called Pop Pups” and True Tails.” Recipes, training, and care tips are highlighted in the Try This” feature pages.
The Smart Owners Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club Beagle, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, theres a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes.
The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owners Guide is fully indexed.
Synopsis
Smart Owners Guide Beagle is the first interactive breed book of it kind to offer owners a fun way to learn about caring for their loyal companions. The book contains easy-to-read information full of smart tips, notable quotations, fun facts, and more than 100 adorable photos of your favorite hound that will keep you flipping through the pages. Beagle also offers online support with instant access to Club Beagle™ where owners can meet and interact with other dedicated Beagle owners, download charts and checklists, play Beagle-specific games, create their Beagle avatar, take quizzes, and send Beagle themed e-cards. Besides the online component, Smart Owners Guide Beagle has two bonus DVDs one from Comfort Zone with D.A.P. on training and building the bond with your dog with dog trainer, Andrea Arden; and the second, a compilation of tips, do-it-yourself projects, and cooking videos from Dog Fancy and DogChannel.com. This comprehensive package is a must-have for every Beagle owner.
About the Author
Written By:
The experts from Dog Fancy® magazine, the worlds most widely read dog magazine for almost 40 years, brings you the ultimate series of dog breed books. With the collaborative minds of Dog Fancy® Editors resulting in the creation of this exceptional line of up-to-date, interactive and information-packed books that will set the standard for all breed books.
Table of Contents
K9 Expert Education 4
By Allan Reznik, Editor-at-Large, Dog Fancy magazine
The Regal Beagle 6
The Beagle makes a high-energy, bursting-with-love and all-around family dog.
The Beagle Bulletin 20
Our simple two-page guide gives you all the necessary information about the Beagle in 300 words or less!
One Hounds History 22
From King Arthurs round table to kings and queens of Europe, the Beagle has a long and
fascinating history.
Beagles and Breeders 34
Find out how to choose a reputable breeder and pick a healthy puppy,
or maybe youd like to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization.
Either way, there are plenty of Beagles out there waiting for homes.
Home Essentials 48
You cant bring home a dog and hope everything will take care
of itself. You need to puppy-proof or hound-proof your house.
Plus, you need to make sure that you have all the things he
requires to be comfortable, such as bedding, toys and lots more.
Successful Housetraining 64
Your first job is getting your Beagle to do the doo where you want him to. Using a crate
aka a modern-day den will expedite the process.
Vet Visits and Everyday Care 76
Selecting a vet means doing some research and planning your Beagles first vet visit.
Also, learn what to do when everyday bumps and bruises occur.
On the Topic of Health 88
Learn how to deal with external and internal parasites, skin problems, and common medical and behavioral conditions.
Chowhound Food Guide 100
With proper knowledge and know-how, you can feed your Beagle a sound diet so he wont end up a pudgy pooch.
Grooming Basics 112
From nail clipping instructions to brushing and bathing basics, well have your
hound dog looking like a hot” dog.
Time to Train 126
Every Beagle needs to learn the basics of sit, down, stay and come, and
additional training advice will make him well behaved without hassle.
Changing Bad Behavior 140
A well-behaved Beagle isnt born that way. When behavioral problems arise, prompt
training will turn bad habits into appropriate behavior. If you teach your dog that
there are better ways to get attention, youll save yourself a lot of headaches.
For the Fun of It 154
The high energy of the Beagle demands exercise and attention, and his athletic and
strong body makes him perfect for dog sports, from agility to field trials.
Resources 166
Index 174