Does this sound familiar? You take your dog for a walk, and it pulls so hard on the leash it ends up walking on 2 legs instead of 4? It doesn’t have to be that way. Beagles in particular are prone to following scents, but it doesn’t mean training is an impossible task. Take it from a beagle owner, follow these 6 training tips and you’re well on your way to a happy, well-trained dog:
1. Start early. From the time he or she is a puppy, training can begin. Put the dog on a feeding schedule to assure it eats at the same times each day. It’s never too early to get your dog used to strict schedules. Also, if you begin to reward good behavior early, the greater the likelihood your dog will develop fewer bad habits.
2. Start with the basics. Even simple commands such as “come,” “stay,” and “sit” are vital. The obvious benefit here is that it teaches discipline. But it also let’s your dog know that you’re the leader. Beagles are pack animals and, believe me, they’ll establish dominance if you let them.
3. The best training sessions are the short ones. Even with as little as 5 to 10 minutes twice a day, you should see amazing results. Remember, beagles can get unfocused very quickly, especially because of their desire to follow smells. If the sessions are short and entertaining, he’ll want to learn.
4. Don’t abuse your dog. We all get frustrated occasionally. It’s human nature. But to take it out on the dog will only have the reverse effect. Physical punishment can make him more aggressive and cause him to be more fearful of you. It stands to reason that he won’t do what you want him to do if he’s afraid.
5. Positive reinforcement works. Who doesn’t like a treat? A beagle is a hound, and hounds are motivated by food. One word of caution, though. Don’t let the dog see the treat before the command is given. To him, it may be a form of bribery and he’ll only obey if he can see the treat.
6. Use training methods that are appropriate to beagles. Again, a beagle is a scent hound, so anything involving the nose, such as uncovering buried objects, would be very beneficial. Since beagles are bred to hunt, anything involving running and retrieving also would be quite useful.
Can beagles be difficult? Of course they can, just as other breeds can be. But if you stick with these basic guidelines, you’ll find that it can be an enjoyable experience for both of you, and you’ll get a well-behaved beagle out of it at the same time.
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