Bringing home a baby Beagle

[dornhoffer]

Hi all, I am new here and would like to hear some opinions
I have always had a dog ....or 2
I generally buy registered pure bred dogs , but have also saved one special girl from the spca.
Last summer my American cocker died.
The kids and I were on a camping/fishing trip when it happened and my wife was home to deal with the tragedy by herself .( I am so glad the girls did not have to be there when it happened)
Now I think I am ready for a new four legged personality in the house.
I have a deposit on a Beagle
Will be picking her up on father's day.
From all accounts that I have read it seems like a fairly safe choice.
I live on an acreage , have three kids (8, 6 and 3)
Is the breed a good family pet , and what should I know that I have not read yet.

[agilityk9trainer]

I don't know what you have read, but one is that Beagles should never be allowed off leash out of a fenced yard. They take off and don't come back. Their desire to follow their noses is so strong it's very hard for people to get good recalls on their Beagles. :)

Second, they eat themselves into obesity very easily. You must moniter and limit their food intake and keep their weight down. They need lots of exercise to help with this. Overweight Beagles are unfortunately all too common. If you can't feel the ribs, they're overweight. (Now, the exception is a baby puppy. They do need their puppy fat, but by five to six months should be slimmed down.)

[Borzoi mad]

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and my Gang

Good advice there by Agility K9

Here is a site I found very helpful inn pros and cons of owning a Beagle if you have not already read it , I think that for anyone thinking of having a beagle it is well worth reading.

www.BeagleSavvy.com


Good luck when youpick up your new puppy. Look forward to seeingsome pics. and hearing how you get on.

[Melamaphine]

I think beagles can be great family pets, but they're one of the breeds that have to be selected carefully from pet lines and not the high prey drive working ones for the reasons mentioned by AgilityK9trainer. My uncle had a very aggressive one, but it was used as a working hunting hound so I think that's why it wasn't too social (my uncle is a hard-nosed farmer type and all dogs are 'tools' to him so he never really showed it affection).

They're noisy, I lived near some people who had two. You could hear them 'ba-ra-ra-oooooooo' ing from quite a distance. They never were able to let them off their leads because they'd be gone off after scents and they used to lunge at my dogs when we walked past them.

However, in the same town was a pretty little lemon beagle that was always walked off lead, very friendly to me and my dogs and seemingly quite calm. I think like a lot of hounds, if you get one from the show/pet lines then the prey drive/scenting instinct isn't quite as strong and you may get a calmer pet.

[skunkstripe]

Hi dornhoffer and welcome to the forum.
I adore Beagles but at the same time would not want to have one myself. The reason is that hubby and I hike a lot, and they make terrible hiking buddies. Hubby had a Beagle years ago who would take off into the woods after a scent and not come back. They do have nice personalities, and who can resist those eyes!
So good luck whatever you decide!

[dornhoffer]

Thanx all, This is my wife's decision (on the breed that is)
I was a little unsure, but I know I will love her once I get her.
I guess since all the kids are potty trained and gaining there independence we figured we had to start over again.
I will check out the site mentioned by Borzoi mad.
I was warned against Dalmations when I got my dal anf I was warned against cockers when I got my cocker,
So I figured I would check with people that woudl actually know what owning a beagle would be like .
I honestly do not know anybody that has or had one
I will put up some pics in late june when she arrives

[lassie]

my gang meet up with one each morning, hes a great little chap , very friendly , loves kids but letting him off the lead is a no no.
good luck .

[erl1391]

I currently own a field bred beagle and absolutely love the breed. Carley is my first beagle but definitely not my last.
Beagles are one of the best family dogs, IMO. All of the ones that I’ve been in contact with are wonderful with children as well as other dogs. My beagle gets along with everyone- from toddlers to guinea pigs. I have yet to meet an aggressive beagle.
As previously stated, most beagles should not be let offleash. A solid recall needs to be taught as soon as you get your beagle. Enroll in some puppy classes as well to help with socializing and training with distractions. Although the breed is said to be hard to train, I do not see that. Carley is super smart and learns really quickly.
Obesity is a major problem in beagles. They do not know when to stop eating. You must carefully measure their food and feed them on a schedule. Never free feed with this breed. Daily exercise is also necessary. Once they gain the weight it’s nearly impossible to get it off.
Best of luck with your new family member!

[erl1391]

I forgot to mention the noise issue many people have with beagles. If you keep your dog well exercised it's not really a problem. My beagle pretty much only barks at strangers at the door and when she's running (like when playing fetch or agility not on actual runs).

[dornhoffer]

If I am outside playing with the dog , I am assuming she can be off leash, just dont start a project and forgrt she is off leash, is this accurate I mean , I dont know of too many dogs that will bolt if you are paying attention..... well , less my old dalmation that is

[agilityk9trainer]

No. A Beagle should never be off leash outside a fenced in area. Their noses are so strong they follow them too easily. While I've known some Beagles who have had good recalls trained on them, I've known far more where the owners couldn't train a good recall. (These were average Beagle owners, Erl. Not an agility trainer like yourself.)

If I had a Beagle, it would never go off leash outside a fenced in area even IF I had a good recall. You can never know when their nose will rule out their good sense and they can (and do) take off - even in the middle of play.