Is A Beagle The Right Dog For You?
When you think of Beagles, you probably picture a pack of these little guys baying at the top of their lungs as they race after a fox or rabbit. While it is true that these dogs are popular Hunting dogs and have been used to hunt for several centuries, they also make wonderful family pets. The Beagle has a keen sense of smell and a strong hunting instinct. This member of the American Kennel Club’s hound group actually comes in two sizes, under thirteen inches and thirteen to fifteen inches.
Except for the difference in size, both Beagle varieties are identical. The beagle has dark eyes, droopy ears, and a long tail.
Its coat is short and most commonly comes in a combination of tan, black and white colors. You can also find orange, black, or tan dogs with white markings.
The Beagle can adapt to apartment life, but may prove to be annoying to neighbors if he constantly warns you of strange noises.
These dogs are tireless hunters and need a way to burn off some of that energy, so you will need to take your Beagle for long walks or go for a romp in the park. Think twice before letting him off the leash, however, since a Beagle who is hot on the trail of a rabbit will forget all of his obedience training while he tracks down his prey.
The Beagle loves children and other dogs, but will probably take every available opportunity to harass the family cat. These dogs are very playful and affectionate, but they do tend to sulk if they don’t get their own way.
In fact, these dogs are so sensitive that something as simple as someone laughing at one of them when he has gotten into some mishap can cause the Beagle to brood for days.
You may need to warn your children to avoid upsetting your dog’s delicate sensibilities.
Although Beagles occasionally get too caught up in the chase to obey commands, they still should learn at least basic obedience.
It will require patience and hard work to teach your dog, and you may want to consider getting some professional help by enrolling your little guy in puppy obedience classes.
Beagles love to eat and they aren’t picky. If you put your dog on a diet, he will happily eat garbage.
In fact, even if he isn’t on a diet, he may still hit the trashcans for an after dinner snack.
Your Beagle should be groomed once a week to alleviate shedding.
Beagles usually get enough exercise to wear down their toenails on their own, but you may want to check your dog’s nails to see if they need to be trimmed at least once a month.
Beagles are generally a healthy breed. However, some of these dogs can develop heart disease or epilepsy. Of course, with their propensity to overeat, Beagles can also develop weight related diseases.
If you want a dog who is a happy, well mannered little companion, then a Beagle may be the right dog for you.
Colin Philips
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/is-a-beagle-the-right-dog-for-you-114533.html
Is a beagle the right dog for me?
I’m wanting to get a beagle puppy this summer. I used to have a Golden Retriever in my backyard that I had to give away because he was so hyper (I picked him up as a stray), and I didn’t realize I couldn’t handle such a large dog. I’m thinking a beagle is the way to go. I don’t want a very small dog and I don’t want a dog as big as my last. Any thoughts/suggestions?
Beagles are a good pet but they bark a lot.
References :
A beagle has a lot of energy too. They put a lot of their energy into trying to figure out ways to get food. They have such an inclination for food, that many end up obese when put in the hands of people who don’t know how often to feed them. They are also very, very stubborn dogs – moderately difficult to train.
If you’ve really done your homework, and believe it is the breed for you, go for it.
References :
Beagle’s are very energetic also but do great inside. If you are planing on having a beagle you should really have a fenced yard where there is no where they can get out. Beagles do bark and howl but that is trainable for them not to do it and if you get them as a puppy they usually do better about not barking and howling. Once a beagle catches a scent they are stubborn and will be very hard to call back to you. You must be a strong dog owner. All dogs need lots of exercise and interaction. They must be walked at least 5 times a week with a walk averaging about 1 hours time.
References :
Beagle owner
I think that beagles make very good pets. They are very friendly and smart. They are also very energetic, in a sense they might be somewhat hyper. if the only reason you did not like your golden being hyper was because of the size then a beagle should be fine. they do need to be exercised a lot and if you live in a neighborhood that like peace and quiet, I’m not sure this is your dog, considering their unique bark and howl.
References :
Look at this picture of one and then decide:
http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/AGF/2794~Beagle-Pup-Posters.jpg
They are awesome, but I hear they can have a lot of energy and need attention often too. Like most dogs, they are a demanding, but very rewarding, bunch.
References :
Beagles are strong willed dogs, and can be difficult to train, so training needs to start as soon as you get the puppy. Teaching it to come is really important, because beagles are scent hounds… all hound breeds tend to get on a scent and totally ignore their owners.
Beagles like to bark/howl. This is a "normal" behavior for a beagle. So, say you are walking the beagle and it starts howling when it sees another dog. This isn’t aggression, it’s more like "hey, there is another dog!"
Beagles are loveable, though, and can make good pets.. I’ve found a website which discusses them:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/beagle.html
You might also brush up on your dog training skills by doing a yahoo or google search for Training a Puppy. Lots of free advice out there and different training techniques, so you can choose the ones which seem to work best for you.
good luck.
References :
Hi! You may want to find out your perfect dog match by taking the short quiz below. The goal here is to help you figure out what type of dog best suits you and your personality.
http://dogtime.com/matchup/question/1
References :
If you don’t like hyper dogs then a Beagle is not for you. They are hyper and good escape artists.
They’re nice dogs but you really have to commit to obedience training.
References :
Beagles have a lot of energy and bark constantly. It’s a horrible bark too. A long howl. The people who live behind us have a few and it’s not a good sound. That’s a nice way of saying it. Why not go for a Boston Terrier or something. I actually don’t like beagles at all. They are just not my type of dog. But if you got rid of a Golden for hyperness – then a beagle is not the way to go. GL.
Why don’t you get something cute like a corgi, pug, or some sort of terrier. Look thru breeds online and see what you like.
References :
If you couldn’t handle Golden, what makes you think you’ll be able to handle a Beagle ? They’re twice the energy.
Believe me, I owned one and despite what alot of websites say about how they’re "calm" and " great for apartments", is a bunch of BS. My dog was completely the opposite, he was very high energy and he needed to be walk 3 times a day for an 1 hour or more because if he didn’t, he would howl. Don’t be fooled by the small and cute structure of the beagle, they can be a handleful in the wrong hands and they often end up in shelters because people buy into there cuteness, not realizing they’re a high energy breed that needs to be walked constantly.
If you are not equipped to handle a high energy dog, then the Beagle is not right for you.
References :