Beagles can be some of the cutest and most entertaining dogs around. They can truly live up to the phrase “mans’ best friend”. They also have some characteristics that you need to know and prepare for prior to getting a Beagle pet. If you do prepare for them it will make your life and your Beagle’s life together much more rewarding.
First, Beagles can be stubborn at times. This is never more evident then when you try to potty train them. Potty training a Beagle can take days or it can take weeks or longer. This is not because they are less intelligent than other breeds. This is not true. In fact they tend to score very high in their problem solving abilities when compared to other breeds. They tend to be independent thinkers, some may even say stubborn. Because of this you need to be patient and persistent in your training.
Second, because they are a member of the scent hound family they can be easily distracted by smells. This can cause problems when training as well as keeping them confined to your property. When you are training them you may need to start them indoors while you are working on the basics commands. Once you have the basics down you can try to move outdoors to see if you can continue his learning outside.
As far as confining you Beagle to your yard, it is very important that you do not let your Beagle outside without a leash, a fence or something to keep them in your yard. Once they get on a scent they will follow it no matter where it takes them, even if it leads off your property and to a dangerous location like a road.
Finally, Beagles are known for their barking or “baying”. This is part of their hunting nature. They use their barking to signal a find. They usually don’t bark for “no reason”. Usually they either bark to alert you of an intruder of some sort or they bark because they don’t like being left alone or being neglected. If they are barking at an intruder that is OK, praise him. If he is barking because his is alone you will probably need to bring him inside where you are or at least into his crate where he feels safe to help stop the barking. Barking can be a complex problem that can be hard to solve at times.
The information in this article is not meant to scare you away from owning Beagles. It is meant to inform you of some potential issues you may encounter while owning a Beagle. Beagles can be very enjoyable dogs to own and invite into your family. This article is meant to help you understand your Beagle a little better and hopefully improve your relationship with your Beagle.
Eric is a Beagle enthusiast. He owns and maintains Beagle Training Information, a resource for Beagle lovers and owners.Also check out night sweating.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Daenecke
http://EzineArticles.com/?Must-Know-Information-About-Beagles&id=2758615
