Beagle issues..help please!!

[M.D. Holloway]

my Choco Lab was like that at first, he was a rescue pup - got him when he was 3. Some one tried to make him a bird dog but he is more interested in play and other dogs. He would eat everything. He must have chewed through 14 pairs of Yellowbox sandals, a remote a month, various items that escape memory. A true PITA

I as told they chew / eat due to anxiety - some breeds are more anxious than others. Makes no difference - the behavior was unacceptable and had to stop.

Now I know everyone has different techniques, I shall share mine. Dogs are pack animals and respond to a leaders direction. They do want to fit in and want to be lead. Thats a good basis so when you train them you have to respond to some basic level of correction - not punishment. In the pack the leader doesn't punish he corrects He does so to indicate disapproval of behavior - this doesn't mean a swat or in a dogs case a bite. A nip is severe correction if it is coupled with a growl. Keep that in mind.

So - step one, establish Alpha. Easy to do at first. Take him for a walk, use a correction lead (choke collar), keep him on your left, about 3 feet out - not ahead of you (that means your giving up Alpha to be lead), keep him to your side. Now walk him. He will stray and or try to lead. Correct him. No Verbals! Pull on his lead sharply to the side as to create imbalance - dogs hate being off balance. You don't have to keep pulling merely enough to throw him off balance. He will associate his action with that action and won't like it. He will know that his place is not to lead. When you stop he must stop and be in a sit. If not - correct. This has to be done for at least 15 minutes a day. When he does good - love on him. He has to know.

Dogs need exercise, discipline and affection - not unlike kids!

This simple walking training session establishes a few things, it teaches him his place but it also tells him what is acceptable and what is not. Now, you can use this same method with items of chew interest around the home.

With the lead on, present something to him. He will sniff it and thats ok but the moment he opens his mouth for it you are to correct him which is a sharp pull to the side to get him off balance and release just as quickly. Again, don't say anything. He may look at you - blank stare him. You may have to repeat this for several minutes. If you do this several times a day he will quickly get the idea. Use different objects. Also, offer him one of his chew toys without correction. He may get the idea what is good to chew and what is not.

If by chance he does begin to chew something he isn't supposed to outside of this session - correct it quickly and couple it with a firm know. This means you may have to keep a short lead on him at all times for a few days. The harsh verbal coming from Alpha helps.

This technique worked on my Lab - can't say its fool proof and its not the only one

[cstreit]

Why is it that a vegetable is like poison to a dog, but a cat turd is caviar? Seriously!

[Aggie93]

I guess it is universal with beagles. I had one as a kid. The two most memorable "snacks" were a pin cushion (yes with pins in it) and an electrical cord that was plugged in.

It would dig under our fence and chew up neighbors trash bags at night. Ended up getting rid of it.

[romad]

The problem is the function of a beagle has not been breed out of the breed like many other hunting breeds.....thank God.

That is a beautiful hound that wants nothing more than to hunt rabbits....beagles are not good house dogs..or single pet dogs....they flourish outdoors and in packs. The hound is eating everything because its bored out of her mind. Do her a favor an take her to the woods...then watch the fun.

[matt f]

An exercised, TIRED dog is a happy dog that has a happy owner.

[mikesride]

My thought was that she was more bored than anything. The healer can amuse herself by throwing her own ball and chasing it down!!! This one, finds something to eat and has a go at it! Last summer it was some of the exposed plumbing on the pool pump, flooded the back yard and was tricky to repair. How do you keep them amused for the full day while you are at work? I built a dog run outside that works well for summer, but winter means she spends hours cramped up in a kennel. Somebody comes home at least once per day in the winter to let them both out. The healer excels at agility training, but this darn beagle just wants to eat and sleep...maybe we gotta take up Rabbit hunting? Funny thing is, we have a rabbit in our house, left over from my grown up daughter, that the beagle couldn't care less about! The healer wants to eat it!!! Internet searches on how to keep your beagle amused and engaged are my next step....Thanks again.
Mike

[mikesride]

Oh and I talked to our vet, changed her food up to a higher protein, less filling, no grain product suitable for weight control type of food. WOW!!! PRICEY STUFF!!! We will see if that has any effect on her "appetite".

[aigel]

Definitely run the dog hard every day, twice a day if possible. Wearing a beagle out isn't to tough. Take the bicycle to speed it up. Split the duty in the family. Will be good for the humans too.

The dogs don't play?

Careful taking a beagle out in the field. I'd want telemetry or GPS equipment on one if I'd be serious about it. They tend to wander off on the first good track. People joke about going rabbit hunting for the first hour of the day and spending the rest of the day hunting down the beagle.

G

[romad]

Wearing a beagle out isn't to tough, but take in the field you have to chase them all day?

I had beagles my whole life and half that is true. A single untrained dog in the field can wander, wearing one out....... good luck. Any untrained hunting dog is going to lose you any chance they get....beagles trained and in pairs or packs are a wonder to watch.
I wouldn't recommend a beagle as just a house pet.

[lowyder993s]

/\/\/\/\HAHAHA...I've had a couple hunts like that!

[aigel]

Originally Posted by romad

Wearing a beagle out isn't to tough, but take in the field you have to chase them all day?

They wander off. If in cover, they don't have to be more than 30 yards for you to lose them. You call them and they aren't coming back. You can hike after them and play that game all day. I am not sure if they respond well to a training collar to get them to return, like a big game hound. I never had the desire to hunt rabbits with beagles after I took out that rescue hound once. I am convinced that's how she ended up lost in the first place. Someone was sick of bailing her out at the pound. I was lucky we were able to run her down when she headed for the hills.

G