Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband and I are getting a beagle puppy in 2 weeks and have done a lot of research but we would like to know more about what we are getting into. We adopted a dog tje end of December and have had dogs growing up. Neither of us though have had a beagle and everything we have read has been negative. Please let us know if we shouldn't be getting our puppy or what info we need to get our puppy started off on the right foot.

Beagles are wonderful dogs for people who understand beagles are not golden retrievers. Ultimately, people who have success with beagles understand you need a sence of humor and a lot of patience. These dogs view the world with their noses and getting them to do otherwise is difficult- not impossible- but difficult.

Quite honestly, getting a puppy is always a bit scary. The reading you've done will prepare you to be proactive and able to circumvent problems in the future.

Get some puppy books- I recommend anything written by Dr. Ian Dunbar. That will point you in the best direction possible. Have fun and post pictures of your puppy when you get it. It will be an adventure. Have fun.
-----
PHReign
Email me: HReign@pethobbyist.com" target="_blank">PHReign@pethobbyist.com
Dear dog,
I can not buy anything larger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to your fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straigt out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing more than doggy sarcasm.

>>My husband and I are getting a beagle puppy in 2 weeks and have done a lot of research but we would like to know more about what we are getting into. We adopted a dog tje end of December and have had dogs growing up. Neither of us though have had a beagle and everything we have read has been negative. Please let us know if we shouldn't be getting our puppy or what info we need to get our puppy started off on the right foot.

>>>>>>>>>>

If you want to know the downsides of Beagles, it would be mainly two things. They can be a bit difficult to housetrain, males more so than females. So I would suggest a female, and that you familiarize yourselves with top housetraining techniques prior to getting a dog and do it right from the very first minute so as not to confuse the puppy. Also get a puppy or dog from a clean source, not one who has been forced to lie in her own waste.

Second, Beagles bay. They were bred to be very loud. Don't get a Beagle if you live in housing where you share a wall with another residence, because that is too much to ask of any neighbor. Also don't leave a Beagle outside, because the noise will definitely disturb neighbors. As with other breeds, your Beagle would tend to be reasonably quiet indoors with the family at night. That means in your bedroom.

Sometimes Beagles can be aggressive, but I think this is largely due to poor breeders and poor handling in the home. The puppy is not a stuffed toy to be treated without regard to pain or fear. If treated well and from a reasonable bloodline, I would expect a Beagle to generally be a good-natured dog.

Like other hounds, Beagles can be smelly, but daily grooming will greatly reduce this. Whenever the skin oil builds up and the odor is unpleasant, a simple "spongebath" with plain warm water on a cloth and then drying the dog with a clean towel will make her smell fresh again.

Yeah, they use their noses. Nothing wrong with that. A Beagle will do ANYTHING for a treat, so with tiny treats (not big ones that would make her fat), you can train one of these smart little dogs to your heart's content.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I can't speak for all beagles, but my family has always had beagles, and I think they're great dogs. I grew up with a beagle, who was the sweetest dog ever. He was never aggressive. In fact, he was completely gentle. All the beagles I've known personally have loved belly scratches, and they have eyes that will make you melt and help give you patience in the trying times (when they're baying, sniffing endlessly, or having difficulty with house training--the problems others have mentioned, which I've also experienced).

Yes, beagles can be noisy. The dog I grew up with was nick-named "Woofer," and my brother's current dog will sound off if anyone comes to the door. (Sometimes it's hard to calm her down.)

With every dog--especially puppies!--there are challenges, but patience and positive reinforcement training can make a big difference.

Good luck with your new puppy!