The AKC has approved the National Beagle Club Agility Trial that will be held in conjunction with the National Specialty on Tuesday, October 5. The Agility Trial will be in Delta Park, Portland, Oregon, just across the Columbia River from the host hotel and show site at the Quay in Vancouver, Washington. Jan Weiher from Clermont, Florida will judge the Agility trial. Jan has Beagles and is waiving her fee and paying her own expenses in exchange for a donation to the Beagle Rescue Foundation of America. She will judge all the various classes, including Novice, Open, Excellent, Preferred, Jumpers with Weaves, and FAST.

Rescue Update

Judy,

Back in October of 2005 I adopted two beagles from you, a female named Lacey and a young male beagle/basset mix ( bagel) that you had named Stuart. Lacey has been gone for quite some time now, but "Stuart" now Levi is doing well. When we got them you had said that Stuart was one of you favorites and I just wanted to let you know that he loves chasing bunnies on 10 acres and is happy as can be. He is the envy of many people as he is so darn cute and I just wanted to thank you once again for bringing us together.

Nancy Anderson

BRFOA Auction at National Specialty

Save your soap buckets!

Mtn Brook Riverview was 13” Reserve Winners Bitch on Sunday. She was bred and is owned by Duck & Pat Marlow. Pat handled.

Mtn Brook Wells Fargo was 13” Reserve Winners Dog both days. Fargo was bred and is owned by Pat & Duck Marlow. Pat handled.

Most dogs do.

If you don't give your dog his own personal things to chew, he will be forced to satisfy his natural instincts by chewing the things around him. And trust me, he'll find plenty of things that are pleasing to chew ... like your favorite shoes, those new throw pillows or the living room sofa! Bummer.

Destructive chewing behavior can really test your undying love for your four-legged pal. But did you know that it could also cause a lot of serious health problems for your dog? Eating the stuffing in those pillows and sofa cushions can lead to serious gastro-intestinal problems. Painful splinters from chewed wood can cut your dog's gums or become deeply lodged in his paws or gums. Once swallowed, those buttons from your favorite cardigan sweater can become stuck in your dog's throat, causing him to choke.

Yes, dogs love to chew. It can be a very soothing activity that brings your dog a lot of comfort ... or a very dangerous one that threatens his very life. You can't change your dog's biology. The fact is, he's driven to chew. What can you do? Well, to begin with you can make the activity safe for him (and easier on you) by getting him his very own chew toy.

Every dog needs a great chew toy. It can bring your playful pup tons of fun! A good chew toy will satisfy his natural urge to chew, help keep his life interesting and keep him contentedly entertained for hours on end. It can also help break your dog of those destructive chewing behaviors.

When you're shopping for a good chew toy, choose wisely. The wrong chew toys could lead to serious health problems for your precious pup, including choking, gastro-intestinal blockages and painful dental damage. Here are some important safety tips for choosing chew toys.

• Size matters. Make sure the chew toy is the right size. Avoid toys that are small enough for your dog to swallow or too large for your pup to play with comfortably.

• No spare parts. Make sure the toy has no pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed. Don't buy toys with sewn-on eyes. Some dogs will even tear toys apart to find the squeakers inside ... and swallow them!

• The right stuff. If your dog tends to tear stuffed toys apart and eat the stuffing, look out! It can make him really sick. Look for durable toys that will be hard for your dog to chew apart.

• Get involved. When you first give your dog a new toy, supervise his play to make sure he plays with it appropriately.

• Keep it clean. Between the dirt and drool, your dog's chew toys can become pretty disgusting ... not to mention a natural breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria. Choose a toy that can be washed and keep it clean.

My staff and I are always on the lookout for the best new dog toys, so we've tested plenty of chew toys over the years. Recently, we found a very inventive new chew toy called Bottle Crunchers from Fat Cat. It is available at Petco and online from a number of different vendors.

Has your dog ever chewed an empty water bottle? Lots of dogs do. They can't resist the popping/crunching sound the plastic makes when they chew it. But the sharp edges from the bottle's broken plastic can create a real health hazard for your dog, often slicing his gums and mouth. Bottle Crunchers were designed to give your dog all of the fun of chewing empty water bottles ... without the danger. These brightly colored protective "sleeves" look like cute little critters - an adorable alligator and one very cool cat. They fit snuggly around an empty water bottle. As your dog chews, the bottle inside makes all those wonderful crunching noises he loves ... but the protective sleeve keeps the sharp edges from cutting his mouth. Secure Velcro closures keep the empty bottle tucked safely inside while your dog chews to his heart's delight. It really is an ingenious idea. They can also be washed and re-used once the bottle is no longer crunchy.