Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Beagle Puppy Questions….

I read the post on Beagles eating feeces of other animals. I also have the issue when I let my beagle off the leash while walking her in a very large field behind my house. She loves to explore and get a lot more exercise off the leash. She is good about staying relatively close although she doesn’t respond yet to a come command when she doesn’t want to.

I know Beagles have historically been trained for use as hunting dogs for small game and for fox hunting as well.

I do have a pair of foxes that are present in the field where I walk her. I think its fox and deer feeces that she gets into.

OK so my current questions are….

Regarding Feeces-
Will she grow out of eating the fox and deer feeces? Training with a head halter would be inconvenient and also restrict the exercise. Is this habit dangerous or just disgusting?

Regarding other animals –
She has gotten after deer and chased them. They, of course, always get away and she gives up the chase. I’m not too worried if she gets into rabbits, squirrels, mice or whatever. What has me concerned is if she goes after a fox or if a fox goes after her. We have never even come close, the foxes keep their distance and she has never noticed them (other than their scent or their scat). If she does go for a fox, will the fox run or will it turn and fight? If it runs I suspect it will out-run the beagle. If it turns and fights I suspect in may do some damage. The foxes are bigger than my 6mos old beagle. Beagles were used as fox hounds, for fox hunting, were they not? Fox hunts were traditionally done with packs of dogs and there is strength in numbers.

Thanks

Hi!

I'm glad you're enjoying your puppy! Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful life with her.

Personally, I wouldn't let her off leash yet until you got her to obey your command at all times. This is MY personal opinion. I would continue to work soley on recall with an incredibly long lead or rope so she can move far away, yet you have control of bringing her back.

As to the feces, I doubt you will ever break her of this. I haven't been able to break my greyhounds from eating bunny droppings. I'm far from an expert, but I think my girls got worms from eating it. I'm not sure if there are other possible problems and hopefully someone else can answer that.

I can't give you any thoughts on the fox either. I would think as long as it can get away, it will run and not fight. However, it got cornered, then it might fight.
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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog

My furkids:
Shadow, Jadzia and Lyta.
Kira waiting at the bridge.

Dogs come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

>>Beagle Puppy Questions….
>>
>>I read the post on Beagles eating feeces of other animals. I also have the issue when I let my beagle off the leash while walking her in a very large field behind my house. She loves to explore and get a lot more exercise off the leash. She is good about staying relatively close although she doesn’t respond yet to a come command when she doesn’t want to.
>>
>>I know Beagles have historically been trained for use as hunting dogs for small game and for fox hunting as well.
>>
>>I do have a pair of foxes that are present in the field where I walk her. I think its fox and deer feeces that she gets into.
>>
>>OK so my current questions are….
>>
>>Regarding Feeces-
>>Will she grow out of eating the fox and deer feeces? Training with a head halter would be inconvenient and also restrict the exercise. Is this habit dangerous or just disgusting?
>>
>>Regarding other animals –
>>She has gotten after deer and chased them. They, of course, always get away and she gives up the chase. I’m not too worried if she gets into rabbits, squirrels, mice or whatever. What has me concerned is if she goes after a fox or if a fox goes after her. We have never even come close, the foxes keep their distance and she has never noticed them (other than their scent or their scat). If she does go for a fox, will the fox run or will it turn and fight? If it runs I suspect it will out-run the beagle. If it turns and fights I suspect in may do some damage. The foxes are bigger than my 6mos old beagle. Beagles were used as fox hounds, for fox hunting, were they not? Fox hunts were traditionally done with packs of dogs and there is strength in numbers.
>>
>>Thanks

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dogs don't reduce eating of feces unless you prevent them from doing it long enough to get them out of the habit. Otherwise it's likely to be lifelong.

I recommend not allowing your dog to go after any other animal. If it doesn't injure her by fighting back, it may give her a disease or cause her to run into danger and be hurt or killed. It's also against rules and laws in many places to let your dog chase wildlife. It's just not a good idea, unless you are engaged in a legitimate, properly-done hunting training program.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Beagles were NOT bred to run or hunt foxes. They are a scaled down Foxhound, but were bred specifically and ONLY to hunt Rabbits and Hares.

Wild animal scat can hold bacteria and worms not found commonly in domestic animals, including worms and such. Not to mention the off chance she'd scare up a carcass of an animal killed by poison.

I'd leash her or use a elec collar to train her to recall at once when told to do so. This is the method most hunter use that hunt with pairs or packs over large open areas.
RyngWrayth Beagles

Since we're on the subject - my beagle (about 9 mos. old) has been eating cat feces as well as bringing it knto the house to play with. We're pretty sure it's only one cat that's leaving these treats in our fenced yard, but not sure if it's the neighbor's cat or a stray. Anyway, anyone know of a good way to repel the cats that won't hurt the dogs?