The Beau Man

In an effort to post about Beau this morning, I went through quite a few of our 35mm photos. I found a couple of cute ones, but couldn't get the scanner to work. So, in another effort - this one not to post without photos - you're getting recycled photos of my boy. JB had always wanted a bloodhound. There is someone around her semi-locally who is breeding a female far too often (she had 3 litters in 4 heat cycles) and posting ads to get rid of the puppies in a small local paper. JB saw the ad when the 2nd litter had been born, but I said no. Bloodhounds have a short life span and I just couldn't commit my heart to a dog that has an average life of 8 years! By the next litter I gave in. Beau was to be JB's puppy. There were specific things he was looking for in a bloodhound. He want it to be a 'liver' (which is a chocolate color), male, and preferably the runt. Beauregard James met all the requirements. Plus he was sweet! We went out to look at him and brought both him and Lucy home that day - they were 7 weeks old and Beau weight a whoppin' 6 pounds! Don't worry, while he's always been about 5# less than Lucy - they both gained fast.

As it goes with most things, Beau decided that he liked me better than JB. So, when we did obedience school - I worked with Beau and JB had Lucy's leash. Beau & I even did agility for a little over a year (unfortunately there are no pictures of that). He could weave like a champ and his touch was impressive just due to the mass of skin moving when he put his head down. He tolerates being a handknit model, loves ice cream, tracks neighborhood dogs on our walks - and not quietly. He is a big goober, but I love him to death.

Beau and Lucy are now 4 1/2. Occassionally, I look at him and get really sad, but I know that I've been given a blessing and I'll love him and take the best care of him for as long as I'm allowed. He is the first dog in my life who's world revolves around me.