Have a beagle? :)

[hjova]

Ok...so we now have a beagle! Her name is Arie. Anybody else out there have a beagle? She's just about 9 weeks old so I have plenty of time to train her and want to do this asap! What should I know about beagles? Should I take her to obedience puppy classes? She is learning things quickly already like where to go potty, go get the ball and bring back, to come when called by name. I hear beagles can wander, can be stubborn, dig, chew...but are they any worse than other breeds? I already addressed my first problem in another thread about her playing too aggressively with my little pom, got some good advice and I'm feeling much better about this now so I thought I'd ask more! Tell me all you know beagle lovers!

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Hounds can be pretty stubborn dogs. They follow their nose...and yes, have been known to wander off and not have the best recall.

I would definitely start training. But since she is 9 weeks old, you want to start off with small sessions (Like 5 minutes or less) and basic things like sit. My pug/beagle mix Zen learned sit in 2 minutes..seriously! I just pushed his but down saying sit ONCE and then the next time I asked him to sit, he did. (And he was about that age, maybe younger).

And hounds do dig. My dachshunds are dig machines!

 

[SisMorphine]

Get into a puppy class ASAP! Not only will it be good socialization and training, but it will also give you guys the tools to be good puppy raisers!

Also do a search and start crate training PROPERLY ASAP. Beagles are amongst the most difficult breed to housebreak. At my training center the number of Beagles we see with housebreaking issues is second only to Maltese.

They are a very stubborn dog (as are most hounds) and can be difficult to train if you don't put the correct base on them from the get go.

Good luck and POST PICTURES! Beagle puppies are the cutest!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

My Baxter is a beagle mix---he is a very loving, goofy, and enjoyable guy. But I don't trust him to not be on a leash--even though he will come when I call, it's not 100% reliable if he were to get a scent of something. Then he is off like the wind!
As far as training goes--he is very food motivated, so that sure helps him to want to work for me. But he's not perfect and neither I am. I love beagles though--so I am a little biased on the topic!
I second the thought of puppy class, and training classes after that. It's a great way to bond with your pup and to be sure you are really training properly. Good luck--and, ahem....where are the photos?

 

[Saintgirl]

I have a beagle who is just iver a year now. I swore to my husband that we would never have a beagle, but here he is and I love the little guy to death!!!

They can be very stubborn!! It isn't that beagles are a dumb breed, even though they have been classified as one of the dumbest breeds by some lists (I seriously disagree with how they test for intellegence), they can just be stubborn and not respond the same way a different breed will. They can be difficult to train because they are more interested in following their noses, you just have to be patient and consistent. Enrolling in obedience lessons early will help you get a start on the training. They are VERY food motivated and this can help during training.

Off leash they WILL follow their nose. They are scent hounds and it is what they do best!! A puppy may be content to stick close but as they age they will become curious and their nose will get the best of them.

On top of it all, they are great companions. They are hearty little dogs who get along great with children and other dogs in general, but because they can be stubborn and follow their noses they aren't meant for everyone.

 

[hjova]

She's absolutely adorable for sure I will post pics soon! Yes you are right beagles aren't dumb...but I've decided Arie a little ADD if you know what I mean.... She get's distracted VERY easily and yes picks up scents. It's actually very cute...she'll lift one paw off the ground and tip her nose up into the air both at the same time, then points her tail staight backwards...and she's off! I think I will enroll her in an obedience class just to keep up on things. I know I have my hands full! She's 8 weeks & 2 days today. She can already 'sit'! This is good I think for her age! Thanks everyone for all the advice and keep it coming!

 

[Lizmo]

Hey, Hjova. My brother just got a beagle pup around the same age as your girl.

I was wondering, does your dog have a horrible breath? It's not like any puppy breath I've smelled before And he's eating Innova Puppy.

 

[hjova]

No...Arie has the most adorable puppy breath! Do you have a cat? Maybe he got into the catbox! I feed Arie Purina ONE for puppies. She loves it!

 

[Lizmo]

No, we don't have a cat. Jake's on Innova Puppy. But the breeder had him on Pedigree. So dunno.

Can we have pictures?

 

[SmexyPibble]

Yes, Beagles can be worse than other dogs on the... stubborn side.

I watched this boy for a while...and he was one of the most stubborn, toughest-to-train dogs I'd ever worked with! You need to start working with your puppy now, start training from the beginning. Socialize him with other dogs, take him out so he's familiar with people of all types. And definetly start training now, especially the command "heel". Give him boundaries, and take him outside off leash as a pup, be sure he knows he is not allowed to leave the boundaries selected by you (the yard, the neighborhood, the driveway, etc. (whatever you choose)). He needs to know this from the beginning. Whenever he leaves the boundaries, push him back and say "In the yard". He needs to know that unless he's on the leash, he needs to stay inside the boundaries.

They have one hell of a bark. Be sure he knows better than to bark continously when someone comes to the door, or any other time you are not okay with him barking.

Beagles need lots of exercise. He needs to run. Having him pull you on your rollerblades with a harness on (a collar will choke him when he's doing this activity) is a great way to relieve his energy.

Also, Beagles like to have a job. Once my neighbor's dog got loose in the neighborhood. Charlie understood the ruckus, and chased him down until the dog was tired out, and then rounded him back up to us! It was amazing, I was so proud of him! If you can find a dog pack that dogs carry on their packs the right size for Beagles, that is great. If you have a harness, let him pull you on your rollerblades. This is something Charlie absolutly LOVED and he got tried very, very quickly from it.


Charlie, the Beagle I watched for a while.

The owners ended up rehoming Charlie because they weren't aware of the persistance he needed. He was a sweetheart, but they soon noticed how stubborn he was and how much he needed to be worked with. Don't let this happen to your Beagle! Start working with him from the beginning, and realize the characteristics, etc. of the Beagle breed. Be sure this is the right breed for you.

Without boundaries and training from the beginning, you'll end up with a dog that will run off, pull on the leash, etc.

Remember, you are the boss! He should do what you want him to do, you shouldn't be doing what he wants you to do.

I hope you're ready for this! Beagles are a real challange and need strict training and boundaries 0_o

Good luck!

 

[hjova]

Thanks for the advice smexy! I have a half acre thats fully fenced so this is good unless she decides to dig her way out. She'll be an indoor/outdoor dog. Were crate training right now along with other basics.

The one thing I notice more than anything is she will not always come when I call her. Also she loses attention quickly. I have taught her to 'sit' and she is learning not to play rough w/ my pomeranian Bean. This we have ALL been very persistent about because I was so worried she could hurt Bean trying to play. Arie has caught on to this faster than anything else and I know it's because we are all so religious about saying "NO!" to her when she jumps at Bean.

Also I'm discovering she is not as easy to train as my lab was but she does catch on with persistence. The one thing I really love about her is she is sooo sweet! She makes everyone feel special...she'll cuddle up in your neck and go to sleep...so lovable She's so adorable too. I must admit she was love at first sight for all of us! You look at her and seriously melt!

I will enroll her in a puppy class for sure but I think I'd like for her to have had her 2nd set of shots first. She'll get those in a few weeks. I just want her to stay healthy. She's in good hands...one thing I stick to is when I get a pup it's a commitment forever. Were not the type of family that gets a puppy just for fun while they are a puppy than when it gets bigger give it away or take it to the pound. Not our style!

Our lab Bailey was a hand full as a pup...she ran, she chewed, she would dig up the garden, once she ate my fillet minon right off my plate before I had even had my first bite! But Bailey turned out to be an amazing dog that was a part of our family for 12 years until she passed away from old age in my son's arms a few months ago...RIP . I see a little 'Bailey' in 'Arie' and we will work with her just like we did Bailey! I know she'll be a great addition of our family!

Any more advice let me know!

 

[JennSLK]

Regardless how good your recall is NEVER in that dogs life time can it be off leash. The dont just need a fenced yard they are escape artists. They are so stuborn and they can and will howl. They shed. Verry high energy. They are pack dogs so should not be DA. Many suffer from seperation anxiety.