Beagles and their characteristics?

Question

Hi i have been thinking about purchasing a beagle however someone told me they knew 2 people who had beagles and that they were impossible to train and misbehaved..... is this true?? what are beagles like their main characterisitcs... i am looking for one for my 6 year old son, i want a dog that dosent yap too much and loves lots of walking fairly small and low maintenance.... i have been told a beagle is great for that

also i heard they howl alot when your away

Answer 1

They are pack dogs, which means they will be vocal, scenthounds generally are. They are a hound, which means they are not as eager to please as many other breeds.

Wonderful breed, very sweet, but you have to be accepting of their basic characteristics. I love the intelligence and independence of my hounds, but I know those characteristics would drive some people crazy!

Answer 2

It depends on the individual dog as to what they do when you are away. The howling is seperation anxiety. I have only met a few Beagles, but they were well behaved and were fairly well trained. I can't say if this was due to the owners not training them more or because the dog didn't learn everything that the owner tried teaching it. I haven't known them to bark too much, but when they DO bark, they have a distinct bark.

And you must have a fenced yard unless you always take them out on leashes. They are scent dogs, which means if they catch a scent they are off to find it and most probably will not look back. Better safe than sorry, I say.

Answer 3

Very scent-oriented. Very food-oriented. VERY VOCAL. While they don't "yap too much" they sure can howl. They were originally meant as a pack hunting dog, so their goal was to follow a quarry by scent, and bark/howl to let the hunters know where they were.

They will howl while you're away. They will howl at strangers at the door. They will howl at noises they hear. They will howl when they're unhappy. And while you can train some of that out of them, you will not be able to remove it - it's what they DO. (It's like asking a Mini Schnauzer never to bark, or a Border Collie not to herd.)

Very energetic as I recall, and while they are trainable, it takes consistency.

I would recommend going to http://www.petfinder.com and clicking "Shelter and Rescue Groups" in the upper right, then contacting a Rescue Group in your area that has dogs in foster situations. They should be able to match you up with a dog that would be good for your family.

Please remember that if you're getting it "for your son", the dog will still need to be fed, walked, groomed, and cared for even if (and when) your son gets bored with it. Odds are, YOU will end up with that task and that responsibility.

A dog is a living, feeling being - not a toy that can be put on the shelf or forgotten until it's "convenient" or until your son is "in the mood". It's not something that can just be left in the yard until your son wants to play with it. Please take all of the responsibilities into consideration when thinking about getting a dog "for your son".

Answer 4

Like everybody else said-these are scent dogs...they were bred for hunting. But they are highly trainable and intelligent. It depends on if you are committed to training the dog and devoting alot of time to it. They do howl-alot..but if they are content it wouldn't be a problem. This is not a dog that will just hang out and be happy-they need to work and be involved. Please research the breed before you decide...Also consider a mixed-breed from the shelter..maybe a beagle mix?

Answer 5

I have a Beagle our first she's a wonderful dog don't let people
scare you they love childern and people, you do have to bribe them with food, but it works when training them, there are some great beagle sights on the internet, One thing is you have to keep them on a leash or they will follow there nose as they are a scent
hound and you will lose your dog I would have another happy beagle hunting

Answer 6

my beagle is a GREAT dog. we trained him to do everything any other dog can do. and he really cought on quick. you just have to use lots of treats. they love food mor then anything. he is also great with kids and very tollerent to the kinds of things kids do to him lol. when we 1st got him he did bark a little but we used a spray bottle with water in it and sprayed him every time he barked for no reason and he got the point quick. now the only time he howls is durring jepordy and thats just cause of the music. he is very energetic and loves walks but it is important that you teach him when on the walk you are in control cause if he does see a bunny of something he will try to get it.
i love my beagle and i'm sure ur son would love one too
check the site www.petfinder.com for the ones in your area.

Answer 7

I rescued a beagle from the pound several years ago and I would NEVER get another one. She was impossible to train! She dug and chewed everything, including her crate. She barked every time something moved. She howled everytime I walked out the door and continued for hours at a time. (My neighbors told me about this.) I had a mini-daschund that was perfect for my 5-yr. old. didn't bark much, eat much or shed.

Answer 8

you need to go on the web and look in the beagles. they bark a lot. they tear thing up. if you give them lots of food they will eat until they are sick. but they are a loving dog and they are very trainable. they love to run and play and love ya. but BEFORE YOU GET A BEAGLE you need to know all you can about them. and see if they are what you want get to know all you can about this dear sweet dogs. but they are not for everyone

Answer 9

I love Beagles.I used to have one.His name was Wingnut.I housebroke him and he was real good with the kids.Any dog is gonna have trouble training one way or another.I haven't always had much luck with housebreaking dogs.I would have to say Wingnut was probably the easiest.I think it would be a good choice for a little boy.Good luck!!