by Kelly Linman

Created on: May 17, 2009   Last Updated: May 18, 2009

I never knew that I could love a dog as much as I love Ruger. Ruger is my baby girl, one of two dog children. She is the little-big sister to our lab, often times forgetting that she is a little beagle. My baby is almost one year old now, and I can't believe how it seems like she has been in my life for forever.

When my husband and I got married, we knew we wanted a dog, but were torn between a beagle and a lab. Ultimately, we chose the beagle for its great personality, and kid friendliness. We don't have kids, but they might be in the plan later. We decided on a beagle because they are small and won't knock somebody over if they forget their manners and jump. We began to scan the paper for our new baby, and found some puppies in a town out in the middle of nowhere.

We loaded up, got lost along the way, and finally found the house. A young girl had taken care of the puppies since they were born, and she carried two as one ran ahead. The puppies gathered around the food bowl, and one jumped up on my husband's leg and gave him a kiss. She then did the same to me. We knew immediately that she had chosen us and we didn't even give the other two a second look. We watched the puppies play for a little while longer and then told her to tell her mom and dad bye bye. She ran over, gave her mom and dad a kiss and came back, ready for her new adventure.

We called her Ruger. She cried the whole way home, but she snuggled up to me the whole time. I fell in love on that ride, and so did my husband. Once we got home, we got to know her personality, and she was the sweetest beagle puppy in the world. She would fall asleep on my chest for hours at a time, and follow me around we went outside for potty breaks.

Potty training was a struggle. Actually all training was a struggle. Beagles are stubborn, but are motivated by food. After every successful potty, she got a treat...within a few days, she scratched at the door, within a few months, she was accident free. I am proud of my little girl.

Beagles are famous for their howl, but Ruger's didn't emerge until recently. She was a quiet little girl, only letting out a whimper when she was a little bit sad. I was convinced she didn't howl, but one day she began howling when the cat was hiding. She has a beautiful howl, even though I told her "that doesn't mean you get to do it all the time!"

Ruger loves food and her ball. She is a better retriever than our lab. We won't let her hunt though, because she might follow her beagle nose and get lost. That is the one downfall of having a beagle.

Ruger has grown up to be a loving, loyal beagle. I look forward to coming home everyday to her wagging tail. She is there for me when I have bad days, and will always make me smile. I don't know what I would do without this little girl.

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