May 17, 2025

My Current Dog and My First Dog

Charlie

My current dog is Charlie, a tri-colored beagle. I'll show a second picture of him in a minute, but first I'll show you my first dog.


Spotsy was a pointer mix. I named him after the county that he came from, Spotsylvania. I was an adult when we got him. I didn’t have any dogs as a child because my father had asthma and reacted to dogs and cats. I had no idea how to care for a hunting dog and did not give him enough exercise. As a result, he learned to escape from our small backyard. We built a taller fence but he figured out how to unlatch the gate. But mostly he was a house dog. My kids adored him.


I should have learned from that experience that I should not choose a hunting dog breed when I only have a small yard. Yet I always liked beagles, and when 4000 beagles were rescued from Envigo, I wanted to adopt one.

There were none up for adoption from the shelters near me. My daughters located a shelter in Charlottesville that had some. Lynn and I drove over the mountains to get Charlie.

He has been a challenge. I take him for several walks a day, and almost every day we go for an adventure. It might be a trip to the dog park, or a sniffari in the state park, or a play date with his friend Sadie. Once he gets enough exercise, he takes a long nap.

 Charlie is a good boy.

11 comments:

  1. It sounds like you have put a lot of love and effort into giving Charlie the active and fulfilling life he needs, and he is lucky to have you.

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  2. I don't have a dog - I am owned by two cats - but I enjoy meeting them on the street and normally say hello (if owners are OK with that). I would definitely say hello to these!
    Cheers - Stewart M - just back from Europe!

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  3. Hello,
    Charlie found a good home with you. He is lucky to have you. Spotsy is a cutie too. Adorable photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great week. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  4. I am sure that Charlie tests your patience at times.

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  5. A "sniffari"? What a great word!

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  6. Lovely dogs. It's so horrific what they do to animals. Animal testing should be banned forever!
    Well done for rescuing Charlie.

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  7. I love these hunting dogs too but I don't have a fenced in yard OR enough energy to walk them. They are all the best companions though!

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  8. Thank you for sharing and showing both of your dogs.
    Aww Charlie looks so sweet in your last photograph.

    All the best Jan

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  9. Thank you for sharing your dogs. Considering what Charlie had to put up with in his early life, I greatly admire your love and attention you give him now.

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  10. Lovely and sweet dogs. Charlie is fortunate to have you.

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