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Are beagles are hard to train? Are they stubborn? There is no simple answer to this question because, like people, and most other breeds of dogs, individuals do vary. However, in general, most hounds are somewhat more challenging to train. When talking about beagles, it is often said that they "live on their own agenda". This doesn't necessarily make training difficult, it just means you have to find the training method that works for your dog. Most people find that food is the best motivator for beagles. The use of food in training is not accepted by all dog trainers, so when you take your dog to obedience school, it is important to find both an instructor who understands beagles (or scent hounds in general) and is willing to use different methods, depending on what is effective for your beagle.
Beagles are actually quite intelligent dogs, and very good problem solvers, which can cause problems in training. They can get bored very quickly with an exercise and find another way to have fun.
You should count on having several short training sessions everyday for at least the first two years of your dog's life if you want a perfectly obedient dog. There aren't many beagles out there with Obedience titles, but there are some, and it can be done.
If you want a dog that is easily trained to be a 100% reliable dog, don't get a beagle.Are beagles hard to housebreak? As stated above, beagles can be a bit more challenging to train than other breeds, and this can (but not necessarily does) carry over into housebreaking.
There are many methods for house-breaking dogs. Your best bet is to read up on as many methods as possible and to choose the one that will work for you and your dog. You may find that you like one method, but your dog does not respond, don't despair, just try another way.
For many beagle owners, crate-training has proved to be invaluable in house-breaking (as well as other problems such as destructive chewing). Crate training is fairly easy, both on you and the dog, and allows you to establish a schedule, which is very important in house- training. Consistency and vigilance will almost always result in a properly trained dog.
Be warned however, there are some beagles that take up to a year to be fully house-broken, and there are the odd few that are never completely reliable.What are beagles like with children? Beagles generally adore children and will play for hours with them, however, like any breed of dog, beagles need to be socialized properly with children, and also like any breed, you should never leave young children and beagles alone together. If socialized properly and supervised properly, you shouldn't have any problems. However, there are two things you should be aware of. First off, beagles play rambunctiously and can accidentally hurt younger children. Secondly, beagles are often "mouthy", which means they like to play with their mouths, or chew on things. This is not biting, but rather grabbing on to things with their mouth, it is not done in anger or fear, but is for beagles, a way to play. This can of course be trained out of them, but it seems to be rather instinctive in many beagles and something that you should be aware of when considering a beagle.Do beagles shed? Do they require regular grooming? Yes, beagles shed. Don't be fooled by the short coat, however, the shedding is sometimes not as noticeable because the hairs they shed are so much shorter. The Beagle's coat is actually classified as a medium length, as opposed to a breed like a Doberman, which is a short coated breed. Also, the coat is a double-coat, meaning that they have a coarser outer coat and a soft undercoat. They will generally shed more in the spring, as their coats tend to thicken over the winter. This isn't necessarily due to climate. Dogs hair growth is dependent more on how much light there is as opposed to the cold.
In the winter, there is less day-light and this encourages hair growth. However, Beagles will also go through a shed in the Fall as well as the spring. Beagles should be brushed with a medium bristled brush or a hound glove at least once a week. This will help loosen and remove dead hair and allow for new hair growth, as well as being good for the skin.
Beagles are fairly clean dogs and as long as they aren't rolling in really-nice-dead-things, they don't require frequent baths. However, if you are trying to control fleas, you may be bathing more often.
Because beagles have ears that hang, their ears must be checked at least every two weeks for any sign of infection or waxy build-up. There are many ear washes you can get from your vet that will help clean out the ears. If you ever notice odor from your dog's ears, it is likely that the dog has a yeast build-up or some other kind of infection and may need stronger treatment. Other signs of ear infections are constant head shaking, scratching at the ears, and scratching just below the ears.Do beagles bark? are they excessively noisy? Beagles do not tend to be 'yappy' dogs, however, they can and will bark when given the right stimulation. Most will bark/growl when strange dogs/people/things-you-can't-see come in their territory. They will also bark when excited, although this varies from dog to dog. Most beagles will become very vocal if they are left alone a lot. Some beagles can be extremely vocal, although this can vary by individual as to amount of vocalization and type.
Beagles can also howl, this sound was useful in hunting as it would alert the hunters when the beagles had cornered their prey. Again, not all beagles will howl, but you should be prepared for the possibility.
A third noise beagles can make is hard to describe, kind of like a half-howl, called baying. Beagles will often make this noise when they catch the scent of something, again, this was useful in hunting.
The amount of any barking/howling/etc will always vary from dog to dog. If you want your dog to be quiet, you can train them to be. But again, when training beagles, patience is the key, it could take several months for your dog to understand the 'quiet' command. Some beagles never do understand the idea that you want them to be quiet, and if this is a necessity for you, you may want to consider another breed, or more radical training methods such as anti-bark collars, or to have the dog surgically altered.What colors do Beagles come in? The most common color you will see is called tricolor. It means a black saddle, white legs, chest, and belly, with a tan head, and often around the edges of the saddle. Many dogs have a white blaze on their face, but a solid tan face is common too. Tricolor puppies are born black and white, the tan develops as the puppy gets older.
Red and White: There is no black at all, and the red can range from a light tan to a darker red. These puppies are born as red and whites, or sometimes even a solid white, with the color developing later.
Lemon and White: The lemon varies from an off-white, to a dark lemon. These puppies are often born completely white, with the color developing later.
Black and White: Very rare.
With all of these colors, you can have freckling, mottling, ticking, and grizzling. Occasionally, an all white hound appears, but this is very very rare. These are not albinos, simply white dogs. |
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