[emhoward50]

Gracie is a 6 year old spayed, rescue beagle I acquired at the end of May. I do not know much about her background other than that is is from a breeder in GA. Have no idea if she was given up or taken, or why. She was at an animal "sanctuary" when I found her on petfinder.com where the conditions were less than desirable. They told me she had been adopted out by a couple who returned her after a month because she could not be left alone - either outside or in a crate due to her non-stop barking and howling.
In the 6 weeks she has been with us, she has not howled and let out a bark only a handful of times. She does not react to the doorbell or anyone entering the house. She is super sweet and gentle and absorbs affection like a sponge. While I don't consider any of the following problems, I do have some questions...
I take her out for walks every 3 - 4 hours and yet she still will urinate in the house at times. Not sure what to do.
She almost never runs - mostly walks and might jog at times. Does not show any interest in toys or games. She will watch a ball roll by without any reaction.
We live on the west coast of FL and she just started shedding like crazy this past week...is this normal?
I've been told that rescues can take up to a year to feel secure and adjust to their new home.
Your responses will be greatly appreciated. We love her so much and want her to have the best life possible.

 

[Mom2Beagles]

Sounds like Gracie is a good girl that just needs to settle in. Who knows how many places she has lived or how she lived prior to you adopting her. Both of my beags had accidents in the house at times after we adopted them. It really is important to get them on a schedule for potty breaks and reward the potties outside with praise. Be sure to clean up the areas in the house where she has pee'd, using a special cleaner for pet accidents. beags don't often have an easy signal to tell when they have to go, that's why I suggest the schedule. Watch for her sniffing around in one area or walking to the door and back to you.

As for shedding, some beags are notorious shedders! Vazzle doesn't shed much at all but Molly does. I find that brushing several times a week is a big help.

 

[emhoward50]

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm already doing all the things you have suggested, so I have to believe that it really is a matter of allowing her plenty of time to adjust and settle in with us. She does new and often funny things almost every day which indicates to me that her sense of security is growing.