considering getting a BEAGLE ??

[bigsis1970]

hello Everyone, i have been on the puppy/dog search for about 8 weeks now - at my local shelter.. I found in the newspaper today a 1 yr.old male beagle who is neutered and crate trained.. Do any of you out there own Beagles ?? can you tell me anything.. Thanks Michelle

[rbuzzotta]

OH NO!!!! We had to give our Beagle to a nice family!! I had a difficult time training him even though he graduated from puppy kindergarten and was basically crate trained. We even had to buy an electric fence by our little Copper managed to escape all the time. We live close to a busy road and I was petrified he would get killed. And let me not forget....Beagles howl!!!

My children were heartbroken and still haven't forgiven me for giving him up but I couldn't handle him with 3 children too!! Please get others opinions on this. I just wanted to give you my honest opinion. Good luck.

[luvpooh]

my sister has one....oh boy, the pup is...hmm...feisty??? is that a nice way of putting it? :D

It has a real behavior problem and unless you're going to invest in training classes, I wouldn't recommend one, JUST based on my personal experiences. Unless of course it's already had training. Although I think when a dog is moved to a new environment with new people, it sometimes needs to be retrained...but I'm not an expert.

Good luck with your search!

[Jenzebelle]

I have 2 beagles.

Beagles are great dogs. Very friendly and very affectionate, but they are loud and they are very stubborn - not the easiest to train and if there is food out in the house, they will do anything possible to get it.

Edited to add - my beagles are spoiled rotten and they know it.
With a beagle, you're going to have to invest time in training it and be dilligent about it. Mine have both been through puppy kindergarten and it was suggested they repeat the course.

These are scent hounds so they will never be completely obedient dogs - they lead by their nose and will break a loose lead if they catch an especially interesting scent.

But like I said before, they are wonderful dogs. Excellent with children and very loyal. And very intelligent.

[Desiree]

We have a beagle, Grendel. Overall she is a sweetheart. But she is an adult and very stuck in her ways. She was never properly trained (we think)... so now we have huge messes to clean up all the time. We love her to death and can't bear to get rid of her but she is going to be the death of me yet! I dont know what is going to happen if Chris steps in another "pee" spot! We've tried everything we can think of to get her to stop, but I just think she is too old.

:(

On the other hand, they are VERY kid friendly and tolerent. (Grendel can keep up with my 8 year old kid with ADHD, and tolerate her.. )

Des

[WilmaBud]

I have 4 beagles! They are wonderful dogs. I had another one who died 1 1/2 years ago, too (my heart's still broken). None of them has ever howled because they are inside dogs. They can be hard to train, but they are sweet, docile, loving, and they are amazing with kids, cats, and anyone or anything else you want to bring into the house (with the possible exceptions of squirrels and rabbits). They must be walked on a leash (NEVER let them off) or kept in a yard with a REAL fence because once they catch a scent, they're GONE, and they don't know how to get back. They are a completely misunderstood breed, and it breaks my heart. The shelters are full of them because people make no effort to understand them and just assume they're too difficult. Not so! They are bright, stubborn and completely devoted. They are bred to hunt, so it's a natural tendency for them to wander. You just have to be conscientious with them. Incidentally, they are true pack animals, so they're better in multiples. I LOVE beagles!!! Give a home to the needy little guy. Just be sure that you take the committment seriously. Animals should not be "disposable." I PM'd you, too. Feel free to get back to me with any questions.

[nativetxn]

No, but my neighbor has a beagle. The howl that little baby makes justs attacks my spine. But it's a sweet dog. A little difficult to train to heel, sit, etc., because he just wants to follow scents. But he's a sweet dog :)

[jsmith]

We had one for about 20 years from the time I was 3-great dog with none of the faults people have listed above except that he would get on a trail and you could not call him back. My mother in law is on the second one she has had-this one and the other were both complete pills but I think it is the lack of disipline. None of them have been very good with cats and my MIL's current one is going to get killed if she keeps on insisting on following them under the bed when she is out numbered 3 to one.

I would get another one in a second-just be sure you have time for training because they are really cool little dogs.

[hercamore]

Oh my,

I think WilmaBud and the other posters have given you good pros and cons for beagle owning.

My beagle is such a good dog...he howls only occassionally when there is real toruble in the yard (like deer). I sit up and take notice when he howls. We have about 5 beagles in the area. The females have a much different bark tone than the males. Males are easier on the ears.

Beagles are so sweet and loving. I hope you give the guy a home.

Sam is sweet tempered and calm. He loves everyone and adores visitors. So great with kids.
Herc.

[zurgswife]

I have four kids and one beagle...the beagle is work ...but so affectionate....we have just started having trouble with her...peeing and pooping in the house the past 2 weeks....

We llive next to a path that has quite a bit of traffic...she tends to howl at peopel on theis path as they pass...drives DH crazy....

She is a great dog for the kids....I'm thinking of sending her to puppy school to break some of her bad habits and to get her better at the basics..

We got a beagle cause we wanted a med. breed that was beefy enough to deal with kids..and had a good tempermetn...beagles fell into the catagory...she is a great puppy but will take a little more TLC ....

[kathleen]

My sister and her family used to have a beagle but they had to give it away. They weren't home enough because the kids got to be teenagers and weren't home as much, and my sister and BIL both work. The dog wasn't getting the attention it needed or deserved. It howled and barked all the time and craved more attention. It broke their heart but they didn't realize how much attention it would need - neither my sister or BIL had ever had a dog before. So they ended up giving it to my BIL's brother who lives on a farm in Vermont and has little kids who give it a lot of love. So make sure you have the time for it because the poor thing just craved attention when it was with my sister's family. But it was really adorable and if you have the time for it, it gives back so much love. It's very playful and loving. :)

[TigerBear]

I have one, but she is more of a spoiled baby than a beagle :) Today I just told a friend of mine that it is only when Copper is around other beagles that she acts like a beagle. Around our other three she is quiet and submissive. But get her with my moms beagles, and she is all hound - barking and howling. There are five beagles in my family and they all have such different personalities!!

[Bunchkin]

I'd pass on the beagle, IMO.
They are hard to train. And do sometimes need to be retrained after taking on bad habits. They do tend to bark &/or howl a lot too. And sometimes can be mean as they age. This of course is just from my own personal experience.

[WilmaBud]

Sorry, can't let the last post go without comment. I've know LOTS of Beagles and have NEVER met a mean one! Anyone familiar with Beagles will tell you that the most positive asset of the breed is their sweet temperaments. My little guy who passed away was @ 14 years old, and he was a sweetie. My 2 old ladies are 12 and almost 12, and they are as sweet as the day we got them when they were puppies. Any older dog can get a bit grumpy (just like people;) ), but it has nothing to do with the breed.

I'm going to be honest, you should be a "dog person" with a sense of humor to own a Beagle. Too many times, people end up giving them up because they require some extra effort to train. But if you take them on as a member of your family (which is how you should treat ANY pet), you should do fine.

[hercamore]

Yes, several of the dogs in our neighborhoold are older, as well as my own dog. Just getting more and more mellow. Never have seen a mean one, old or puppy!


Herc.

[yoopermom]

Everyone has said important things, but I would add (as the owner of two beagle crosses) that you have a good start if this one is crate trained. There was a thread on this a while back, and I am a complete and total advocate of crate use with a beagle. It is their "den", and will help with housetraining, as well. The fact that yours (to be) is neutered is also a good point, since we have enough unwanted beagles in this world as it is! Best thing to do is to go and meet it, and then, if you take it, go to basic obedience classes immediately with it. Beagles are great!
Terri the Yoopermom

[bigsis1970]

When i went to the house it was love at first sight.. He really is a good dog, I will be working on the house training and getting a fence installed so he will have a safe spot to be in the yard.. he LOVED the kids and they were totally in love with him .. but the way TigerBear , his name is Copper too ! he did pee on my bed , i think he smelled the cat and was marking his territory .. he went right into his crate at bed time and wimped a few times and then out like a light till he heard my alarm - which i am now setting a bit earlier so he can get in a good walk before we leave for school.. went right out and peed in on of the spots he had used earlier..
he knows his name and i have found it a bit more effective to clap and say his name and he comes - in the house only - he will never run loose in the yard ( well till i get the fence.) Thanks for all the response - all very honest and most of what i knew - i had 3 beagles growing up 2 who housetrained easily and one who didnt'.. thanks again Michelle

[rbuzzotta]

Congratulations and I wish you and your family all the best with Copper!!

[Blondie's Mom]

HELLO, I am Blondie's Mom and I have a female beagle,our 2nd one. Our 1st one was 10 yrs old and she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge March 25th 2001) and my heart has a huge hole that she has left.There isn't a day passes that Idon't mourn her passing. She had end=stage renal failure and passed with her beautiful head in my hands. I missed her so much I started looking for another and saw an ad in the paper I called the breeder and went to see what he had and we brought our 11 wk old pup home.She is now a little over a yr old and I finally have her housebroken. I put "piddle pads" on the floor and with the help of treats every time she did her business outside and praised her it's done.They are stubborn but very irresistible.Get one! Good luck! .

[hercamore]

Hey Bigsis

Glad to hear you all decided on Copper...hope things are conitnuing to work out, and of course, we expect pictures!

Blondies MOM, welcome to the DiS. Another beagle momma.



Herc.

[bigsis1970]

:D

Copper is doing wonderfully at our house.. he does his business outside
( he has had only 2 accidents ) he has chewed one pair of sandals, 2 bones,
a hole in the baby gate which was blocking the upstairs off for the cat, and is
completely devoted to the 3 of us ! what a great addition to our family ( well i
am sure the cat doesn't think so but hey they will work it out ) I am so glad
I decided to bring him home.. thanks for all support. Michelle

[TigerBear]

Congratulations on your new edition! I can tell you will be a perfect beagle Mom. :D


:bounce: :bounce: :D :bounce: :bounce:

[Boots]

Got one when I was about 11 and I guess Rusty lived for 16 years or so. He was one of the sweetest and most lovable dogs ever.

[hercamore]

Glad to hear Copper's fitting in...

Beagle are a breed that loves everyone, they don't just devote themselves to one person.


Herc:D :D

[bigsis1970]

Hi everyone - thought i'd post a futher update on ol' Copper Boy ..

he hasn't had and accident in the house for over a month ( almost 6 weeks ) and the ones before that was only once in a while..maybe once every three weeks or so

He is getting along better with the cat - not chasing him around the house quite as much and the cat is tolorating more of Copper

He is also getting better at not chasing the kids around and chewing on their clothing as they walk by him . or their ankles LOL !!

he has not slept in his crate for the last 4 night and has not had an accident - he is making himself right at home on the foot of my bed each night and far as i can tell is staying there the entire night.

He only howls on occasion - when he see the cat or deer in the yard... and once he can ran round the house with his hair on the back of his neck making a gruffing sound ( think there was someting in the yard - but it was freaking me out so he stayed in ! LOL )

I am so glad that i got him !! Thanks everyone.. Michelle

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm glad that he is working out so well for you. :)

I have a beagle and the one word I can use to describe him is joyful. He runs and goes full blast until about 9:00pm everynight -- when he just collapses in his crate with the ears spread out.

Thankfully I have two young boys to run and play with him, because I could never keep up.

[Dodie]

EDIT: SORRY. I JUST NOW READ YOUR UPDATE - TO SEE THAT YOU HAD ALREADY GOTTEN HIM. CONGRATULATIONS. I'LL LEAVE MY POST HERE THOUGH - IN CASE ANYONE ELSE IS CONSIDERING ADOPTING A BEAGLE.


Please make sure he has a yard in which to run - with a TALL fence. That business about Beagles getting the scent and going after something (i.e., squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks...) is true. I have known several who even CLIMBED fences to chase things.

Are you in town? That braying, howling bark can be annoying to some people.

They are, er, um, rather "energetic" dogs...

We had one growing up. He was a GREAT dog, but he admittedly had all of the faults I've listed above.

[hercamore]

Hi,

Copper sounds like a great dog!

My Sam howls very little too, but when he DOES, I pay attention! It means he is reallky upset. When that howling starts, there has been always someone or something "not normal" in the yard.

A couple times we had some strange men in the neibhorhood that he scared off. And once there were some deer in the yard that I was glad I knew about.

We need pictures, btw!


Herc .

[bigsis1970]

Hi Herc, i would love to post pictures but don't have a digital camera or scanner.. If you really want one i can send it out..
he has lots of black but his head is mostly "copper" and lots of freckles !!

[Blondie's Mom]

Hi Michelle, I just read your post and I am so glad you are happy with Copper. Our little lady will be 21 months old on the 24th and I am so glad we have her Even though, to this day I still grieve for the darling who passed away last year. Our Samantha is more than just a member of our family, she is my "baby" Can you believe this,I can even imagine her in a little pink dress with flowers on it, especially when she sits up on her hind legs (like a bunny). No, I'm not looney Just in love with my beagle. God bless you,Michelle and your family and continued good luck with your angel

[minniemmom]

So glad you decided to go with Copper! We have a beagle named Belle (yes, after Beauty & the Beast, of course!), who is the princess in our lives. She loves the kids, loves to hog the bed, loves our Bichon, and is the joy of our lives! Yes she has to be on a leash, although when she was younger she did break the metal loop on the her collar chasing after a coyote that came up to our house, that I didn't know was standing there! She chased the coyote over a rock wall, I heard her yelp, and the coyote came back over the wall chasing her! I screamed and the coyote ran, but I was petrified for her! But thank God, she was fine. Nothing happened to her at all! She does go crazy when animals are around. Today she barked at a flock (is that the correct word?!) of wild turkeys in our yard. I don't think she knew what they were! You'll be so happy to have a beagle in your life! Congratulations!

:D :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :D

[Dizzy-Disney4]

Congratulations on Copper. We just adopted Ruby, a Beagle Hound mix from the shelter. She was actually rescued in Virginia and is part of the Homebound Hounds program between a shelter there and one in Massachusetts. I guess there is an abundance of stray hounds down in the South from irresponsible hunters who abandon their hounds if they don't make good tracking dogs...they mate and their are puppies everywhere. Our Ruby was found by a woman at the Virginia shelter named Sandy. She was cowering at a dumpster, wet, shivering, and very sick. She was named Ruby by this wonderful woman and nursed back to health and eventually came to New England and adopted by us. She is so much a part of our family I can't even describe it. Maxie (our cat) isn't too thrilled with her just yet, but I'm sure in more time they'll be ok. I'll try to post a pic of her...haven't tried in a long time and not sure if I remember how.
http://dizzydisney4.homestead.com/files/Mvc_002f.jpg

[lisajl]

Funny you should ask about beagles!

I work at a veterinary hospital. We had a beagle in today that we removed a tumor from her abdomen.

She is a cutie...over 8 years old. When we left her alone in a cage, she howled. (and howled, and howled), well, you get the picture.
It was quite funny, my boss was howling right along with her.
She was extremely friendly, but a bit stubborn.

Be careful of beagles! They melt your heart, but are hard to train, like everyone before me has said. Not to mention the howling. If you live in an apartment, not a good choice.
lisajl

[ahutton]

Our dog is a beagle mix. She is a great dog, but not a good "first dog". She is partially trained, but follows her nose more than antyhing. She is a bandit and can sniff out food from anywhere, and will eat almost anything. She's had a 1/2 dozen blueberry muffins, a pound of frozen hamburger and some frozen chicken breasts. She barks at dogs, kids and anyone who walks past our house, and very loudly. But she is wonderful with both kids, and is very loving.

[Zurg]

Bump

[snowwhitemom]

Ilove them!!! I had one for 17 years...yes in human years, I think they are the best, however as any puppy...they love to bark but since he is one year old he may have out grown it by now.