Beagle - Make a good pet?

INEEDANID · 15-08-2011 1:56pm #1

Hi all

First time posting in here.

Myself and mrs.Ineedanid are getting our first dog:D

Think it will be a Beagle. We have plenty of room in the back yard and are home for more time than we are away and will be bringing the dog on plenty of walks so it will get plenty of attention.

Will a Beagle make a good pet? We have read up about them as much as possible as have seen that they will need to brought on leash when walking and need there area to be well fenced in.

cocker5 · 15-08-2011 2:19pm

ok...

To be very honest if this is your first dog.. then NO def dont get a beagle... while they are fab dogs and very clever... they require MASSIVE excercise and i mean 1 hour of pure running per day... they are a hunting dog so will have strong instint to run when off lead... if the get a scent they are gone... if left alone for long period of time they will get destructive (although lots of dogs will do this) as beagles are very clever they will need to be mentally stimulated alot in order to reduce the chance of wrecking stuff....

The hunting instinct is very strong and drives them all the time...

While they are lovely dogs... they are high maintenance and require lots of exercise and work... for a first time dog I wouldnt recommend a beagle Sorry

they are also great at scaling any fence ... so unless yopur fencing is very high they may escape etc...

No offence to any beagle owners

Tranceypoo · 15-08-2011 2:36pm

Why don't you have a look online and contact some rescues, there are quite a few that will match a dog to your lifestyle and expertise, it might not be a dog you would necessarily pick but I've found myself that a lot of times you're not the best person to actually pick a dog for yourself, by that I mean you (that's a general 'you', not you specifically) might tend to go on looks, maybe be taken in by a cute pup but it wouldn't turn out to suit you and your lifestyle. An example - our second dog was taken in as a foster for a rescue, she is not a dog I would have chosen because she is a collie/boxer cross and I would have thought 'too high energy, I won't have the time to put into her' but she's actually fitted in so well we're keeping her!! The lady who runs the rescue knew I wanted a second dog at some stage and knew foster dog would fit with our current dog, that was that.

Just please don't do what one our neighbours has done - bought a beagle (from God knows where) and left it out the back with an electric collar round it's neck because it got out on the road a couple of times (probably because they didn't walk it or socialise it very much), poor thing just barks whenever we pass, that awful sad howling that beagles do.

are you serious · 15-08-2011 3:03pm

Have not got a Bealge myself but I have a friend who has one, his fella is very friendly, well behaved but even after 2 hour long walks a day fella still pulls to go further when its home time.

Going to some rescue's would be perfect for one as a lot of people do not realise how high energy they need to be to meet this dog's requirements!!

Best of luck anyway, i'd say get a rottie (not biased I swear

)

Discodog · 15-08-2011 4:25pm

Tranceypoo wrote: »

poor thing just barks whenever we pass, that awful sad howling that beagles do.

I know one that does the bark/howl for a couple of hours every day - a friend of mine lives next door & it drives them nuts. Poor dog is shut in a small back garden.

Cherry Blossom · 15-08-2011 9:05pm

Hi OP,

Hounds are the most social orientated dogs there are. You say you are home more than you are away, this doesn't really tell me enough. 3-4 hours is too long to leave a beagle on its own, you will honestly be evicted with the noise, so unless someone is home all the time or you at least have another dog I would stay well clear. This doesn't just apply to when the dog is a pup but for the duration of it's life.

Do you jog or cycle at all? This is another necessary requirement I'm afraid, the dog will need hours of running every day, and unless you have a large secure area to do this in (like a football pitch) s/he will have to stay on a lead. You haven't said either if you intend to keep the dog indoors or outdoors, again outdoors isn't going to work.

Another point is that this breed is very focused on scent and you will have to both accept this as part of the animal and find ways to focus this instinct so it doesn't get used for destruction. Another point to note is that because their sense of smell is so strong it can result in a dog that is very hard to house train, once it has one accident in the house it's extremely difficult to get rid of the sent completely, so the dog keeps going in the same spot.

That said, they are one of my favourite breeds, brilliant personality and disposition but they are so incredibly needy and high-maintenance I've accepted the fact that I personally am not in the best circumstances to own one.

Bullseye1 · 15-08-2011 9:17pm

Hounds are the best but probably not for a first dog. Cocker Spaniels are a very nice dog and similar size. But like the Beagle will require lots of walk time. Probably not as difficult as the Beagle though.

theparish · 15-08-2011 9:30pm

I have a pale beagle,lighter patches than the regular breed.From my personal experience(previously owned labs) they are difficult to train.I walk mine off the lead most days and I have to watch him like a hawk and never let him walk behind me:) as he can wonder off or sniff the same patch of grass for 20 minutes.He definetly does not like being left alone for long periods and is a great escape artist.However he is lovely on the eye and would not harm a fly.

fred funk }{ · 15-08-2011 9:33pm

I have a beagle. Yes they do need alot of exercise and mental stimulation. I let my dog off the lead all the time and he has yet to run off and not come back but I have spent alot of time training him.

Around the house he's brilliant, very friendly and very child tolerant. They are an extremely intelligent dog and even though my dog is two he still does things that supprise me.

boomerang · 15-08-2011 9:35pm

Cottage Rescue in Tipp have a lovely Beagle boy for rehoming, 12 months old. Seems like a real sweetie.

endabob1 · 20-09-2011 3:31pm

A bit late coming to this but I would echo the general sentiments;
We have a beagle who is almost 2, he's a beautiful intelligent loving dog BUT he is also hard work, needs lots of exercise, attention, they can be very needy, are stubborn and difficult to train, because of their nose, getting their attention away from a scent is nigh on impossible.
My wife is at home most of the time & if she's out for a day he goes to a day kennel where he's in with other puppies in a large run, it helps with the socialising and stops him getting bored at home. we take him on dry hunts (they lay a trail and the dogs follow the scent for a sausage reward

)in the winter time
Because they are hunters, be prepared for some serious digging in your garden, our boy likes to bury his treasure (rawhide chewy chips or pigs ears that he gets as treats, end up in a sandy hole) and they dig it up later. We moved house recently and while we were hacking down the garden I watched him move the one thing 6 times!!!

So in short, they are lovely dogs but they are a handful, be sure you can give them lots of attention and lots of exercise.

INEEDANID · 20-09-2011 3:45pm

Thats the pup! Having a nap.

Have found him to be a great little dog. Likes to chew and play all of the time. He loves to play and go for walks.

We have trained him to sit so far and trying at the moment for the paw.

Name is Bailey.

barbiegirl · 20-09-2011 5:44pm

He's gorgeous, the very best of luck with him

personaltrainer · 20-09-2011 6:37pm

i have a beagle have her since a pup shes 3 now. found her very easy to train..shes very relaxed when in the house alone...and am currenly looking for a boy beagle to have more little beagles

Delancey · 20-09-2011 8:37pm

I have always admired Beagles and often thought I would like to get one , I was aware of their reputation for escaping but I must admit I didn't know they could be so demanding of exercise and stimulation.

Maybe I'd best settle for a French Bulldog instead :rolleyes:

boxerly · 20-09-2011 11:37pm

Beagles are lovely likkle dogs

but not sure I could keep up with one

xx

J-Fit · 22-09-2011 12:55am

Some of the stuff said here might well be true but I really am scratching my head as to what all the fuss and worrying is about. I have a 6 month old Beagle pup and he is the most pleasant, playful, good natured and clever dog I've ever come across. He makes barely any noise in the apartment, has been extremely easy to set boundaries for and is beginning to conform to all the rules that are set for him. He has been tough to house train and he is getting there but other than that OP, I don't see the problem. He goes on the newspaper we lay out on the floor for him most of the time. Like any dog he requires exercise and despite the fact he eats for Ireland, has stayed extremely lean on much less that 1 hour of walking per day. He does get destructive by running around the house with dirty socks, bras, thongs etc! But I find that endearing as opposed to annoying. Again, I don't know what people are fussing about but, again it is only my own personal experience.

Roxbb · 22-09-2011 1:01am

Proud owner of a beagle who's 3 plus I have 2 cavaliers...I also work with dogs and tbh my beagle is the hardest work out of them all she's stubborn very demanding if she sets her mind to something she will not stop her determination is unbelievable she was hard to train at first due to the fact she would pick it up easy what was expected of her but would get bored very quickly of doing it so I constantly do training with her because her mind is so active but also it's hard to say to no to them huge brown eyes they do sad eyes so well

In saying this I LOVE beagles my favourite breed hands down they are amazingly intelligent they learn SO fast she has a fantastic recall so she's off lead when we are in forests big parks etc...if I miss one day of walking her she will drive me demented in the house...in saying this a good 1.5/2hours out she's fine....I would have hundreds of beagles if I had the space the love compassion companionship and just joy she brings to me life is 2nd to none...(other than my 2 cavaliers)...best of luck with Bailey

Azureus · 22-09-2011 7:32am

I had a beagle and while I loved him to bits, he was a LOT of work. Hyper as hell, nice and strong beautiful dogs but will also own you/have life on their terms if you dont train them well! Needed a good amount of exercise a day-nothing seemed to be enough for our guy! Half hour run in the morning and an hour in the evenings and he'd still come home and play like crazy out the back garden for hours! Kept me fit anyway

If you have a lot of time to spend training, and know that you will maintain a heavy exercise program with him then go for it: if not, youll have to do the heartbreaking thing that we had to do and give him to someone that can! My buddy was fine when I worked 9-5 or had college, but when my job got more demanding it wasnty fair on him and I had to give him to a friend who could handle his needs-now he lives on a massive farm and is happy out, imo thats where beagles are gonna be happiest. make sure you have the spacem the energy and the time-youre gonna need it

endabob1 · 22-09-2011 8:18am

J-Fit wrote: »

Some of the stuff said here might well be true but I really am scratching my head as to what all the fuss and worrying is about. I have a 6 month old Beagle pup and he is the most pleasant, playful, good natured and clever dog I've ever come across. He makes barely any noise in the apartment, has been extremely easy to set boundaries for and is beginning to conform to all the rules that are set for him. He has been tough to house train and he is getting there but other than that OP, I don't see the problem. He goes on the newspaper we lay out on the floor for him most of the time. Like any dog he requires exercise and despite the fact he eats for Ireland, has stayed extremely lean on much less that 1 hour of walking per day. He does get destructive by running around the house with dirty socks, bras, thongs etc! But I find that endearing as opposed to annoying. Again, I don't know what people are fussing about but, again it is only my own personal experience.

I don't think anyone is doubting their temprament or intelligence, I love my boy but it's important to make people aware of just how much attention & exercise they need. Compared to the dogs I had as a kid, my Beagle needs much more time, that's not a bad thing, but it's important that people don't end up with a dog that they can't handle.
As I said my mrs is home most days, if she wasn't I wouldn't have a Beagle because it's not fair on them to be alone in a relatively small space for 10 hours a day while I'm at work.

Sportsmad_Mick · 24-09-2011 9:39pm

They are just the most gorgeous looking dogs and our kids have fallen in love with one they saw recently. Slightly daunting that people say you cant leave them alone for more than 3-4 hours? Is this even for beagles that are based with the run of a lot of land or is this just for people who keep their dogs in houses all the time?
Are they the type of dog to go hunt lambs or anything like that? (I've previously had to put dogs down for attacking neighbours lambs...something I dont want to have to do again)

andreac · 24-09-2011 10:02pm

Beagles are big big hunters and major escape artists so they shouldnt be given "the run of the land" or you wont have a dog for long...

So please dont get a Beagle if its not going to be an fully enclosed garden.

Also any dog can go chasing and attacking livestock so you really shouldnt get a dog unless you can keep it safely enclosed. Its the owners responsibility to ensure this and its very unfair on dogs that get pts because they go chasing livestock which is in their nature and then they get killed by their owner for it, very sad really...

ziggy23 · 25-09-2011 2:24pm

Hi OP

I begged my mam to get me a beagle when I was 13. We got a male one called Charlie. He was a beautiful dog and very very clever. He would do tricks for food etc, but he required a LOT of exercise and would pull non stop on the lead. He'd also stop at EVERY tree, lamp post etc to sniff. They are lovely dogs but so disobedient if I called him he'd just ignore and run off after a scent. As the other posters said they also do a lot of damage if left alone and bored. Our charlie used to go through the hedge into neighbours gardens and dig and rip washing off the line:eek:. We had to get 2 huge walls built! Charlie was a really loved dog and was treated well but looking back he should have been living on a farm or somewhere with loads of land. It's cruel to have a beagle unless there is someone at home with it all day. I agree with what others say about going to a rescue centre there are beautiful dogs out there that need a home.

Sportsmad_Mick · 25-09-2011 2:41pm

andreac wrote: »

Beagles are big big hunters and major escape artists so they shouldnt be given "the run of the land" or you wont have a dog for long...

So please dont get a Beagle if its not going to be an fully enclosed garden.

Also any dog can go chasing and attacking livestock so you really shouldnt get a dog unless you can keep it safely enclosed. Its the owners responsibility to ensure this and its very unfair on dogs that get pts because they go chasing livestock which is in their nature and then they get killed by their owner for it, very sad really...

Point taken on the beagle needing to be kept in enclosed all the time.

Couldnt disagree with you more re dogs having the run of the land- we have had over 40 dogs (we breed and sell alot of terriers) and only one incident ever of chasing livestock. Any of the dogs we had knew it was wrong to chase animals and just wouldnt do it but also would know the boundary of the land and would not go outside of it. Its a sad state of affairs when people think dogs getting a bit of a walk in the evening is better than them living as nature intended and having the freedom to run around our own land all day long.

Im currently looking out the window at my two jackies, border collie and three cats playing in a field where I've the late calves and there is a cock pheasant, hen and chick just down from them. Then only thing I would worry about is the cats having a go for the chick.

andreac · 25-09-2011 7:03pm

Sorry, but dogs dont just know its wrong to chase livestock, they are animals and they have instinct and most of the time their instinct is to chase a moving creature.

You must have very clever dogs if they all knew this automatically. I think its irresponsible to give dogs run of the land when a farmer has livestock close by that are in calf, in lamb and so on and you run the risk of these animals being terrorised and injured due to being chased.

You can never 100% say a dog will never chase a sheep, calf etc if it gets a notion in its head and unless its kept enclosed there is ALWAYS a risk of this happening and i would never let this happen one of my dogs by giving them the run of the land.

I think its more responsible to make sure your dog isnt at risk of being shot by a farmer if its gets onto their land due to not being fenced in, than giving it the run of the land.

Beagle - Make a good pet?

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