Like most people of her time, Queen Elizabeth I wasn’t big on regular bathing. Like most contemporary Beagles, Princess Beanie is even less keen on bath time; in fact the last time she and Biggles had a proper all-over wash was two years ago.
Nevertheless, the Beanster has recently developed an obsession with getting into the bath. Don’t go thinking this indicates a sudden desire to smell of something other than poo and dead things however! Nope, this has nothing to do with cleanliness, and everything to do with cocoa. You see Susan often likes a cup of hot chocolate with her post-training bath; sometimes (well, pretty often it turns out) she leaves the mostly drained mug on the ledge of the bathtub, where it’s just begging for Beagle attention.
Traditionally something about the shape of the bath or its association with a good scrubbing has kept Beanie from tapping this sugary food source, but not anymore! A few days ago we heard scrabbling followed by a thud, followed by lapping, and discovered Beanie in the bath with her snout in Susan’s cocoa mug. Since then Beanie has apparently honed her technique for bath entry because there’s no longer any scrabbling noise; it’s just “thud” and “lap-lap-lap”, but still neither of us has actually seen her getting in there.
This weekend I decided to remedy this. Some time after Susan’s bath I opened the bedroom door, got my camera, and camped out on the loo seat to see what would transpire. As it happened, I didn’t have long to wait before our floppy-eared cocoa hunter made an appearance..
Beanie’s entry was certainly confident if not particularly elegant
There was still some foam and water on the bath floor which made the going slippy, but this didn’t deter the intrepid Beanster
She paused briefly above the mug for sniffs, like a wine expert checking out the “nose” of a fine vintage
Then the snout went in and the lapping started.
I think my presence was cramping Beanie’s style a bit; as I took more photos the lapping grew more hurried and the mug fell off the ledge and into the bath. The remaining cocoa mixed with the bath foam, but apparently this did nothing to lessen its desirability.
Eventually all the lapping that was to be done had been done, and we came to the bit that Beanie hasn’t quite worked out yet: exiting the bath without human assistance.
Whoa, that looks a bit tricky!
Er Dad, a little help please!
The picture with the suds on her head is priceless!!
Isn’t it amazing how they can manage to look so innocent, no matter what they’ve been up to ?!!!! Beanie’s such a pretty girl!
Nothing will come between a beagle and what she desires! Beanie should see if she can modify Biggles’ boinging technique, it might be useful for both entry and exit of the tub.
Thanks Julie & Kaye. I think the fact they look so cute is one reason Beagles don’t get throttled by their owners!
@Susan: Shhh! If Beanie & Biggles ever managed to combine their talents we’d be in BIG trouble!
@ Paul, I totally agree that beagle cuteness is what keeps them alive. I tell Lady that all the time! (Josie used to be the “bad dog”, but now when Lady does something bad, which is way worse than Josie ever did, Josie just laughs and laughs and laughs at us!)
It’s nice to know that yours isn’t the only naughty/very cute Beagle :)