Beagles are known as a barking bread. This can make it tough on you as an owner especially if it has the neighbors in an uproar.
I had a friend who had this very problem. She would leave her Beagle in her apartment during the day when she worked and the Beagle would bark constantly while she was gone. The Beagle did not tear up anything , it would just bark at the slightest noise.
A friend of hers suggested a shock collar. A shock collar is a type of collar that a dog wears that emits a mild shock when the dog barks. This is suppose to train the dog not to bark. She thought, as did I, that this was not a humane way to train her beagle not to bark.
Then she found out about citronella collars. These collars spray citronella at the dog’s face when they bark. Dogs don’t like the citronella so this can eventually help train the dog to stop barking.
My friend had great success with her Beagle and the citronella collar. Some people may think this is a cruel way to train you Beagle not to bark. You should always start with the basics first. Get them plenty of exercise. Make sure you socialize them properly and make sure the Beagle isn’t barking due to separation anxiety.
The citronella collar is just one alternative to Beagle training. You should find one that fits both you and your dog’s needs.
Good luck with your Beagle Training!
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Jan 14, 2010 | | Advanced Beagle Training, beagle training, training beagles
Every Beagle out there is unique in his or her own way. While that may be true, there are a lot of commonalities among Beagles and Beagle mixes. Miniature Beagles are not any different. They are often referred to as Pocket Beagles, Toy Beagles, and Teacup Beagles. Whatever you call them, they have the same tenderness, lover and companionship of a standard Beagle packed into a smaller form. Miniature Beagles are great dogs as well.
Throughout history, the Beagle has taken on many sizes and forms. They have been larger and smaller. Currently, the standard Beagle is defined by their height. They stand between thirteen and sixteen inches tall. A Miniature Beagle is anything smaller than that. Between the 14th century and the 18th century, Miniature Beagles were at their height of popularity. Many hunting parties used the smaller version to run through thick brush and chase out game. Through breeding with larger dogs, the bloodline of the Miniature Beagle has become extinct and has been taken placed by the standard.
However, there are still ways in which you can obtain a Miniature Beagle. One way is through breeders who specialize in breeding small Beagles together and progressively finding smaller Beagles every generation. Just like their larger version, they are part of the hound family. They too are driven by their noses and they love to beg. The only difference that you will find is that they are smaller. This is great for anyone looking for a lap dog.
Another way to obtain a Miniature Beagle is by buying the runt of the litter. These dogs often have health issues but with the aid of a vet you can get them back on track. Another problem is that you are not guarantee that they will stay small; but they have a good chance. These dogs might be a little calmer and shy as well.
The important thing to note about Miniature Beagles is that almost everything is the exact same. They are house trained; bark trained and leashed trained the same. They have the same instincts as a standard Beagle and they can be just as lazy or rambunctious as other Beagles. The last thing to remember is that they differ in size therefore you will need to set your house up differently from that of a standard beagle. You will need a smaller crate, food portions and toys. Setting up your house specifically for a Miniature Beagle will be helpful in raising your new dog.
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Sep 24, 2009 | | About Beagles
Everywhere I read, I hear different theories on how to train my beagle. He is 14 weeks old. Need help on proper crate training etiquette so I can get him house-trained as soon as possible.
I believe in crate training completely. My dogs end up loving their crates and go there to be alone. You’ll get to the point, later in your dog’s life, that you don’t have to close the door on the crate…it is just his bedroom/private space. That said, there are tough times in the beginning stages of crate training, too. He doesn’t want to be locked away in the middle of the night. And you will feel horrible at first. Don’t give in!!! Keep it up and after a week or so, it’ll get better. Don’t give in to his lonely wimpering and barking: keep a light on, and maybe some light music. But in the beginning, you must let him out at least once in the middle of the night. Preferrably, when YOU decide to take him out….not when he is crying. There are books, ect. to help. Good luck!!!
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Sep 20, 2009 | | beagle training
One common characteristic of a beagle is their weight. A lot of beagles tend to over eat and become porkers. It is easy to blame the dog but in reality, the owner is allowing the dog to have poor feeding habits. To avoid an oversized beagle, you must be willing to lay down the law on types of foods, begging and eating times. If on a proper diet, your beagle will remain slender and healthy.
Whether you are new to beagles or a long time owner, it is apparent that they love food. They will eat anything you drop, raid the trash and break into the cupboards. This is the first problem that owners encounter with beagles. Just because they will eat anything does not mean they should. As a concerned owner you should want quality food for your beagle.
Your main concern should be the nutritional value of the beagle. It is easy to purchase the cheapest food out there but remember, poorer food leads to poorer health. You will want the best for your beagle. For commercial food, you can purchase dry kibble, canned and semi moist. I encourage you to buy all three and mix it into the beagle’s diet.
Dry kibble is a hard cooked food that comes in bags. It is the most popular food on the market. Dry kibble is composed of meat. Reading the back will allow you to further understand nutritional value that you are giving your beagle. It is the most nutritional out of all three.
Canned food is what beagles love. With the aroma and texture, beagles long for this. As an owner, you should not strictly feed canned food to your beagle. Canned food lacks a lot of the nutrients that are dry kibble. Your beagle will also take in more calories when it is eating nothing but canned food.
There are a couple other options when selecting your food. A raw diet is the healthiest option but it is the most complicated and can have health risk attached. A lot of people also feed cooked meals to their dogs. It is important to remember that the beagle is not human and that they do not have the same digestive system as us.
As mentioned above, diet is important. Your Beagle loves smell, taste and texture. You can partake in all of the options to give your beagle a healthy diet. Mixing the dry food with hot water and canned with give the dog a hearty stew and stay low in calories. It is also ok to give your dog raw discarded pork chop bones. And a few table scraps in the dog’s bowl never hurt anyone either. Also try giving your beagle a cooked egg. This will make their black, brown and white coat shiny.
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Sep 14, 2009 | | Caring for your Beagle
Like any dog, the beagle kennel is in important part of the beagle’s life. To us, the kennel serves as a safe place where we put the beagle when they are to go outside. To the beagle, it is their backyard. It is where they are free to explore and relax in safety. Since your dog will spend a lot of time there, it is important that you find a kennel that is safe and suitable for your beagle.
To make the kennel a safer place, you want to make sure that the Beagle cannot escape. They are small and can wiggle through the smallest of openings. Make sure the kennel is on level ground and that any possible opening is closed off. Once the beagle is out, the nose can lead it miles.
Another way to ensure they will not get out is by installing an underground barrier. Beagles love to dig and if the proper precautions are not taken, they will dig their way out of the kennel. You can also take some extra steps and clean up the kennel as well. Take some of the beagle’s feces and bury them a few inches under the surface near the fence. Once the beagle finds this, it will be deterred from continuing.
Kennels are great because it allows the beagle to get outside while you are busy. Even though that is great, you must consider adding some sort of shelter. If not, your beagle could face long hours of heat and rain. It is recommended that you build a small doghouse that will allow the beagle to seek comfort from weather. It can also serve as a place to nap and rest.
It is also important that you place the kennel in place that has plenty of shade as well. This will protect them from heat and rain when you leave. Also, try to place the kennel in a spot that will allow you to keep an eye on the beagle. This will allow you to loosely monitor the dog throughout the day.
Of course there are alternatives to kenneling your dog. A lead is another great option. By hooking up a long cable run to a leash, your beagle will get the benefits of running, sniffing and enjoying the outdoors. For beagles, leads are better but you have to make sure their running area is clear and that their food dishes are in reach.
Lastly, you will most likely feed your dog inside their kennel. It is important that you take their food out every night. Animals such as other dogs, birds and raccoons can come searching for food. And you do not want them coming around when your beagle is in the kennel.
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Sep 05, 2009 | | Caring for your Beagle
Separation anxiety is a problem that is sometimes associated with Beagles ad well as with a lot of other dog breeds. Separation anxiety is a type of anxiety that dogs feel when they are left alone by their owners. It manifests itself through many behaviors such as destructive chewing, excessive barking and using the bathroom inside the house. Beagles suffering from separation anxiety can even dig or scratch at the door or flooring the whole time you are away. Dogs that have been abandoned or given up to shelters tend to suffer from this ailment more often than other dogs.
The first thing a Beagle owner must do is be aware of how they act when they leave the house and leave their Beagle alone. Leave quickly and act as if it no big deal that you are leaving. A drawn out exit where you make a big deal of leaving can make the separation anxiety worse and make the dog feel even more alone when the owner leaves. This type of farewell can actually work your Beagle up and get him excited. When you finally leave he not only starts to feel the separation anxiety he now has built up energy from the dramatic farewell. This energy combine with your Beagle’s separation anxiety usually leads to destructive behavior. That’s why you should keep your goodbyes short and very low key.
Another way to help avoid separation anxiety is to give your Beagle safe, happy feal while you are away. Make sure to leave your Beagle plenty of toys and chew toys when you leave. This will help him pass the time while you are gone and hopefully help reduce the stress. Also, leaving a t-shirt or something that has your scent on it is a good way to help comfort him while you are gone. Getting your Beagle a companion can also help. Another dog will play with your dog and help keep his mind off of the stress of the separation.
Finally, it is important for you’re to set aside time with your Beagle. Take time out to play with him, get him some exercise and give him some attention. This will help make him feel more secure and also alleviate any excess energy.
Remember, your Beagle can feel stress like you do. Try to keep in mind the guidelines above and you should be able to reduce the chance that your Beagle has of suffering from separation anxiety.
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Aug 22, 2009 | | Advanced Beagle Training
Once you have brought beagle puppy home the work, and fun, really begins. When we first brought Jack, our Beagle mix home, we already had two other dogs. We have a lot of experience caring for dogs because both my wife and I have had dogs most of our lives. Caring for a Beagle is very similar to caring for most other dogs. They do have a few differences you need to be aware of. We will cover them in this article and the following article.
First, prior to getting your dog you want to make sure you have the proper tools and supplies for training and caring for your Beagle. You will need at least the following: A leash/lead, a collar, dog bowls for water and food, dog toys (especially for puppies for chewing), a crate and dog food and treats.
The crate may or may not be something you decide to keep for the life of your Beagle. Some people use a crate for potty training the Beagle and nothing else. Others use it as the Beagle’s “safe place” or “den” for life. This is a choice you will need to make. I have a dog that loves her crate. You can take the door off of the crate and she sleeps in it every night. This is her safe haven. Both of my Beagle mixes do not like crates and once we potty trained them we never used a crate with them again.
Also, with a beagle puppy, you will probably want some baby gates inside the house to restrict its access to certain areas. At least until you potty train your Beagle as well as house train him. You don’t want your Beagle puppy wandering through your house chewing on furniture and using the bathroom wherever they please.
You will also want a safe secure area outside for you Beagle to run and play. As with most puppies it is important for Beagle puppies to get plenty of exercise. In fact you will want to your Beagle to get plenty of exercise throughout their life.
Beagles are notorious for wandering off more than most other breads. They can get on a scent a not stop for anything or anybody. Because of this you want a secure area for your dog. A fenced yard or portion of the yard is perfect. Just make sure there is no place the Beagle can crawl under the fence.
You can also try an underground fence or invisible fence. Some people don’t like underground fences because they feel it is cruel that your dog gets shocked if they wander into the underground fence area. However, the underground fence allows you to fence in a larger area for a lot less money than an above ground fence would cost. This can give your dog more area to run and play. Also, the underground fences give the dog a beeping warning sound before they get to the actual fence shock area. There is an initial training that goes along with an underground fence to teach them the boundaries and to keep them safe.
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Aug 16, 2009 | | Caring for your Beagle
It is normal for a would-be dog owner to first want to understand the nature of the breed that he or she will get. After all, taking care of a pet is similar to caring for a child. Now, if you wish to learn about Beagles then this article will help give some of the information that you are looking for.
Originally, Beagles were a breed that was bred and raised for hunting and it was able to perform the task extremely well. It is still used for hunting and does very well when hunting for rabbit. Because it is a scent hound, this dog will normally follow his nose and just ignore everything and anything around him. This is the reason why obedience training is a must at a young age.
As for the temperament, the Beagle is a happy creature which makes it a great companion for the whole family. Generally, this breed is able to adapt to different environments. They are extremely active making them a good companion of your child as long as the dog is given proper socialization. Most Beagles never show signs of aggression.
Beagles are intelligent, although training them can be tough because they tend to be stubborn and very independent. These are traits that serve them well when they are hunting but can make training them a challenge.
If you were wondering what a Beagle looks like, well the Beagles hair is short, hard and flat coat of medium length with an undercoat of finer hair. The dog resembles the look of a Foxhound in that the coat is sleek and short.
As with any other kinds of dogs, Beagles need care and affection from their owners. Routine brushings helps keep their hair looking good. For bathing, there will be times when damp cloth will suffice and other times they will need a good bath. You should also clean their ears regularly to help prevent infections. Their nails should be trimmed as needed. As a rule, this is a breed which is an average shedder which can further be controlled by mans of regular combing.
Beagles are wonderful dogs and make good pets. There is a lot to know about Beagles. These basic facts will give you a good start.
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Aug 09, 2009 | | About Beagles
If you are in a place where you want to adopt a beagle, you will find that there are a number of different things that you need to consider. Beagles are a a lovely, sweet breed, and they have been around and loving people since the Elizabethan era; are they the right dog to share your home and your life with? Before you adopt a beagle, there are number of things that you need to consider.
In the first place, you will find that beagles make great family pets. When well-trained, they are good around children and they are also good watchdogs, due to their propensity to howl or bark when they see something new. They are extremely helpful, and their high intelligence makes them a great dog to have around. On the other hand, you should also be aware that they have high prey drives and this might make them a poor choice if you have pets other than dogs. They were bred to hunt rabbits, after all, and any small animal of that size can trigger that impulse.
What are the basics when it comes to the beagle itself? They are a smaller dog, weighing in around eighteen to thirty pounds when they are full grown, and they will stand a little more than thirteen inches at the shoulder. They live longer than large dogs and with good care can live upwards of thirteen to fifteen years.
When you are looking for a dog with a good temperament, you don’t need to look much further than a beagle. They are very friendly and social dogs and they will bond quite firmly to your family, seeing it as their pack. You should remember that they can be a little standoffish and aloof with strangers, but this is usually easily cured. They are very intent dogs and they have been known to be highly excitable thanks to the fact that they are single minded and rather prey driven. They do have a great nose and they can be distracted by an interesting sent.
When you are thinking about whether you should adopt a beagle, think about your own lifestyle. Remember that a beagle is originally a working dog and that they do need a fair amount of exercise to be happy. A beagle that does not get enough of a workout might be prone to fretfulness, restlessness and destruction, not to mention weight gain, which the breed is prone to later in life.
If you are in a place where you want to adopt a beagle, make sure that you consider a beagle rescue. A beagle rescue is an organization that takes in dogs that have been abandoned by their owners, and depending on the rescue, you will find dogs of all ages. These dogs are not defective, and in many cases have been abandoned due to things like their owner moving or even dying. In many cases, you can get a dog that is already housebroken and through their troublesome chewing phase!
Don’t tread lightly into getting a Beagle or any other dog for that matter. They can be a lot of work. However, the fun and happiness they can bring is well worth the work.
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Jul 24, 2009 | | Picking out a Beagle
My family adopted a new dog last November. We named him Jack. His mother was a Beagle and his father was a Shepherd. He is not a full blooded Beagle but he does look and act quite a bit like a Beagle. He is very friendly and social. He does not like it when we leave him alone. If we take him outside and he gets a scent he likes he will ignore me if I let him. He can be very stubborn. Because of this I had to do some research on Beagles and how to approach Beagle training. There were three things that I learned.
First, as with most dogs, you must be the pack leader. A Beagle needs a leader or else it will become the pack leader. If it assumes the pack leader role some serious behavior problems could arise. Excessive barking, biting and other aggressive behavior problems could develop. I made sure that Jack, like my other two dogs, knows that I am the pack leader. He has not had a problem with this and it makes training him easier.
Second, Beagles can be tough to potty train. I have another beagle mix that was potty trained in one day. Jack on the other hand was stubborn. The way we trained him was by using the crate training method. Dogs will view the crate as their den and will not want to mess it up. When you cannot be in the room with your Beagle keep it in its crate. Make sure to take it outside to go to the bathroom often as puppies have small bladders and less control over their bladders. When you are able to stay in the room with it make sure you keep an eye on it at all times and at the slightest sign of trouble take the dog outside to see if it needs to use the bathroom. If it does make a mistake do not scold it. Put the dog back in its crate and clean the area with the proper cleaner to get rid of any scent that may attract the Beagle back to that area again. You can find the proper cleaners at your local pet store. Also, don’t forget to praise your puppy every time he or she goes to the bathroom outside. Be patient, potty training a Beagle can take a while.
Third, Beagles can have a mind of their own. Especially if they catch a scent they like. If your Beagle gets on a scent it might ignore every command you try to give it. This behavior is normal and frustrating. The only way to try to deal with this is through consistent training and making sure you let them know that you are the pack leader. This can be a lifelong challenge depending on the Beagle. You must stay consistent with your training.
Beagles can make great pets. Jack has fit right into our family. He is very social and very loving. He is also very stubborn. However, by following the guidelines above in your Beagle training you can have a wonderful pet and family member.
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May 05, 2009 | | beagle training
