Sorry this is so long -

My husband and I are considering adopting a wonderful little Beagle that I discovered at a local shelter last week while looking for a dog for someone else. He's really a special dog and I feel a certain connection with him that I don't feel with a lot of animals. He's about a year old and is not housebroken, which is the reason why he was brought to the shelter the second time (his first and original owner brought him in because he liked to chase deer instead of rabbits, which is what he was bred for).

One of our main concerns is one of the most common - do we have enough time for this dog? I feel that usually we do, my husband feels less sure. For 9 months out of the year, I work 31 hours a week (four 7-hr. days plus 3 hours on Friday). No problem there.

But for the three main months of tax season, I work about 60 hours/week. My husband usually works 40 hours/week year-round but sometimes works up to 50 or so. This is the part that makes us wonder whether we're home enough. I only work 10 minutes from home, though, and would be able to leave once or twice during the day for a short break to let the dog out for a quick romp and bathroom break. During those three months, my husband would get home around 6pm most days while I'd get home around 8 or 9 (during the rest of the year I get home around 4:30). We rarely travel on the weekends and spend most of our time at home.

My family had a dog when I was younger, a Golden Ret. so I am pretty familiar with what goes into owning one. But I wanted to hear others' thoughts about whether we should go with our hearts and get this little guy, or if we should just wait and hope another special dog comes around when we meet the requirements for having enough time. Thanks.

Likely the only dogs leading the ideal life are the service dogs that are with their person almost 24/7. Most dogs have to live with much less attention. Being able to give it a mid day break or 2 will be great.

Beagles have a reputation for being hard to housebreak and being barkers. On the other hand, they are cute, friendly, little dogs. They will need lots of brushing to control shedding and odor. I think your heart has decided. As for the housebreaking, I will append what I do with young puppies. The chief difference is the timing. Older dogs don't need to relieve themselves right after eating and drinking or as often. Keeping it in a crate when you are away should reduce the barking problem. Labs usually are not a barking problem, but the crate works on the more vocal Shepherds too.

Be prepared to spend more time at the vet than you remember. There are all sorts of problems dogs didn't used to have, heartworm and parvo for example. The good news is that there are a number of very effective flea remedies now. I am very happy with Revolution. I have friends that have good luck with Program and Advantage. Over the counter creams from Wal-Mart may be good enough.

Housebreaking starts before you get home with the new puppy. If you don't have
A crate, buy one. I prefer the more enclosed, den like plastic ones. Skip the
Bedding. At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
Hazards. A wire rack in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
Accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but a piece of closely
Spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. If you
Already have a metal crate, covering it may help. Just make sure you use
Something the puppy can't pull in and chew. Dogs that start in crates as
Little puppies, accept them very well. Never leave an unattended puppy loose
In the house. If nobody can watch it, put it in the crate. I suggest letting
The dog have its crate all its life.

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
The less chance of serious disease. If it is a female, choosing a
Non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it
To the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
Repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
Praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
And maybe a treat. Note, being out there not only means you can praise it,
But it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it
Inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
Go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
Inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
House until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
Needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
Drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
Sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
Have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.

By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
They go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
To going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
Your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
Even gets near the door. A stern "Bad dog!" is all the punishment that is
Effective, and only when you catch it in the act and are sure you didn't miss
It going to the door. Clean up accidents promptly. I mostly keep the little
Puppies out of the carpeted rooms. Still I need the can of carpet foam
Sometimes. First blot up all the urine you can with a dry towel. Keep moving
It and stepping on it until a fresh area stays dry. A couple big putty knives
Work well on bowel movements. Just slide one under it while holding it with
The other. This gets it up with a minimum of pushing it down into the carpet.
This works with even relatively soft ones, vomit, dirt from over turned house
Plants, or anything else from solids to thick liquids. Finish up with a good
Shot of carpet foam. Note, do not let the puppy lick up the carpet foam.
Once the dog is reliably housebroken, your carpet may need a good steam cleaning.

Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents. I am slower to suggest that. Dogs will return to the same spot if they can find it. When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.

Thanks very much for your input, I appreciate it. I went to visit the dog today at the shelter since my husband and I were supposed to decide on this tonight. The dog was gone, though. Someone else adopted him. :( I'm really sad about it right now. But that's the chance you take at shelters I guess. So I don't think we'll be getting a dog anytime soon since this was a special situation. But thank you again.

If the right time comes, count on there being a special dog at the shelter that needs you.

I say go for it. I adopted a beagle 2 1/2 years ago and is the joy of my life. He has never gone in the house and is extremely careful, if something is on the ground, he will walk around it. He is a joy. Like others he does love to bark, but normally at other dogs, he doesn't know and the postman and UPS! A great Alarm system
Good Luck

If you have yet to adopt try the link listed below, this site will allow you to search by state, county and even by breed. It an excellent site that has helped save countless lives. Adopting a pet is a great thing to do. Hope your search goes well

http://www.petfinder.com/