When attempting to understand how to train a beagle effectively, it is best if you first have some basic understanding of this unique and popular breed. Beagles are very lovable dogs, with an agreeable temperament which makes them popular for families with children. Beagles are also very alert, though may be prone to weight gain if not given sufficient exercise. They do love treats, and need to be trained with a training program that only incorporates low-sugar, low-fat treats with high protein. Beagles are able to get along well with other dogs, though may be apprehensive of strangers at first. Here is some information about beagle training that will help you to be able to train this lovable breed.
How to Train a Beagle Puppy
Beagle puppies are playful, mischievous and always eager to please. However, proper beagle training means that you do need to begin training your beagle puppy as soon as possible. Since some beagles may take a significant amount of time to train, begin training your beagle puppy as soon as they become an official member of your household. Beagle puppies are best trained when they are less than six months old.
First, choose a name for your beagle, one that is easy to pronounce and that has a distinct syllable sound. It’s best if you begin helping your beagle puppy to become familiar with their name right when they come under your care. Once your beagle puppy responds easily to their name, you can begin teaching some of the basic commands. In general, basic commands are generally the simplest of the training commands, such as “Come”, “Sit”, “Lie Down” and “Stay”. Though beagle puppies are extremely lovable, they may require some patience before they are able to understand and identify the desired behavior with the verbal command. It’s best if you use treats to help motivate your beagle puppy, since this can help them associate the behavior with positive rewards.
How to Crate Train a Beagle
Crate training a beagle is usually able to be accomplished with little difficulty, as long as you are familiar with the most effective crate training methods. A beagle will need a fairly small crate, that gives them just enough room to lie down in. It’s best if you avoid purchasing a crate that is too large, especially in the early stages of crate training. An adult beagle will grow to be from 13 to 16 inches tall, and will weight from 18 to 35 lbs. Since beagle puppies are slightly smaller, you may have to purchase a second larger crate as your beagle outgrows their puppy crate.
A mistake that many beagle owners make is purchasing a crate that does not have enough ventilation. In general, you have a choice of three different types of crate materials when shopping for a crate: wire, plastic and reinforced fabric. Since a beagle is a smaller dog, it’s best to first consider size, then begin deciding on a material. Though a wire crate gives the most ventilation, it also does not feel as much like a “den” due to its openness. A plastic crate is more den-like, but you need to make sure that it has sufficient ventilation for good airflow.
How to House Train a Beagle
Since some beagles may be a bit slow to learn, house training a beagle may be a challenge at first. Beagle puppies are especially notorious for their resistance to house training. To improve your chances of success, it’s best if you use your dog’s crate as a tool to help you house train your dog. Don’t ever use crate confinement as a punishment, since this can reduce the effectiveness of its use for house training.
A way to increase the effectiveness of a house training program is to feed your beagle their daily meals inside the crate. Once they are finished, close the door to the crate and allow them to sit for about an hour. After this time, put a leash on your beagle, and immediately take them outdoors. Most beagles will go to the bathroom while outdoors, since they have a natural instinct to avoid going to the bathroom in their sleeping area (crate). If they do, be sure to give them lots of praise, as well as a food-based treat. Eventually, your beagle will wait until being outdoors to go to the bathroom.
Beagle Training Tips
In “The Intelligence of Dogs”, beagles are cited as being of the lowest class of intelligence. However, this does not necessarily mean that a beagle is impossible to train! Beagles were bred to be scent hounds, and have a single-minded determination that does make training a challenge sometimes. Above all, the best advice for training a beagle is to be patient. Beagles are loving dogs, and are generally eager to please their owners.
8 Responses to “Beagle Training – How to train a beagle”
Hello,
All for the barking when in the crate, try getting one of those hot water bottles that have wheat in that you put in the micro wave.( so no water )
Wrap this up in a t shirt you’ve been wearing that day( water some thing old ). Wrap the wheat hot water bottle in the t shirt and put it in the crate with your dog. The dog will be happy as they can smell your sent and have some gentle heat. Don’t keep your dog in the crate for to long.
Hope this helps
Chris
I have a 6 month beagle. He has a firm understanding of all the basics & I can even work him off his lead. He also settles down nicely in the kitchen when I go out…Hmmm what’s her problem I hear your mutter. Well he is so stubborn only doing it when I offer him food. His at that stage now where he wants to be the dominate male of the house & can rough play alot. His barking is loud & at times he just wont stop until he has your full attention. But the he gets tired and all he wants to do is snuggle up to you. I would love to know how to break this stubborn streak so I can enjoy my Bert full time
Hi I have a 10 month old bench beagle she is still very hyper but I dont use a crate for her because she hates it. All she wants to do is run and be loved on my biggest problem with her is her jumping the gate and ive put her on a chan but with as much as she likes to run around with the other dogs I dont like making her stay on it so how do I keep her in the yard.
Hi, i have a female beagle she about 6 to 7 months. I have her when she was 2 months. I been training her the basics. She know it all but she’ll only do it with treats. She’ll bark non-stop, driving everyone in the house crazy when you put her in the crate. Someone advice me to ignore but its impossible when you can hear her 4 houses down when your outside. She tend not to listen all she eager to do is play and eat. I did do my research of how to break those habits but nothing seem to work. Any suggestion of how to stop this annoying adorable beagle?
Hi, we have a 2 year old beagle/lab mix and she is VERY STUBBORN, we try to train her on just the basics but it seems like nothing works, she eats everything, chews on everything and barks and even nips at me still… any suggestions. She will only sit and lay down or come and off if it requires her getting food.. other than that she doesn’t do any commands.
i have the very same problem and he does all the same if i go out i am worried what he has eating in the house my dog is a beagle cross lab 2. My big problem is he dosnt like being on his own when i have to work.
Hi. How long are you leaving your beagle in the crate for? And why are you crating the beagle at night? The reason I ask is it sounds like you may be crating the beagle too much. An adult beagle should be crated for no longer than 6 hours consecutively per day, and should be exersized well before and after this period. If the dog is chewing through that many crates I would assume there is definately some type of anxiety, boredom or frustration issue; and your dog is not happy with being crated. Beagles require a lot of exersize, plenty of chew toys, play/interaction with owners and even opportunities to dig, as they are hard wired with these instincts. Most importantly being scent hounds they need to be walked at least two times per day for no less than a half an hour each time, and be allowed to use their nose/scenting ability. Meaning if the dog wants to stop and sniff during the walk they should be allowed to do so, within reason, you do not need to get off your path to do this. Seperation anxiety is a probable cause but before subjecting the animal to medications or punishment of any type, I would honestly make sure you are taking into consideration the beagles specific needs and if they are being met or not.
My girlfriend and I have a beagel that she has had since a puppy. The beagel is now almost 2 years of age. We are looking for any advice on how to handle a dog that is so stressed when you leave it in it’s crate for any period of time that you are not home. He has chewed trough 9 plastic crates and one metal crate. Every technique that has been written and most trainers who have given their advise does not work with this dog. Is it possible that a dog can be born with an anxiety disorder? Is there a way to change this? He is loved and treated like one of the family. He only flips out when we leave, otherwise he sleeps in his crate at night or if we are home.
Any suggestions?
Lance