Everyone loves a new pet but no one loves it when the new pet develops bad habits. You will inevitably find yourself involved in training if you start to encounter problems with your Beagle. Solutions for many of these problems can be found in dog training books written by experienced professionals or even on websites hosted by other Beagle owners who have experience in dealing with many problems that they have developed effective, and friendly solutions.
Training your Beagle.
Training a Beagle can be challenging because of its energetic and curious nature. Common issues like excessive barking, difficulty paying attention, and destructive chewing can all present obstacles to successful training. This guide will help you identify and troubleshoot these common problems so that you and your Beagle can have the best training experience possible!
There are some classic telltale signs of a misbehaving dog that some people think is just the dog being friendly but in reality, is the dog developing bad habits that need to be stopped. If your Beagle jumps on people constantly, will always avoid your touch, grabs things from you and then refuses to give them back without a fight, or constantly barks at you or any company in the house then these are signs of behavioral problems that need to be addressed right away.
Pay Attention to Your Beagle’s Behavior.
Understanding your Beagle’s behavior is key to successful training. Start by observing how he behaves before and during training sessions. Pay attention to his body language and any signals that he is struggling with the task at hand. It may also help to track the times of day when your Beagle is most receptive and attentive so you can plan your training sessions accordingly.
Training your Beagle to avoid problems should be done in stages and there are things a ten-month-old Beagle can do that a three-month-old could never think of. These are all done with patience and understanding and, as was mentioned before, the proper way to go about these steps can be found in many very good dog training books available on the market. Your vet can also give you some insight on how to properly train your Beagle so that it reacts to your commands.
Probably the more frustrating behavioral issue in any Beagle puppy is the refusal to be housebroken. Before you assume it is behavioral you should have your Beagle looked over by the vet first and if the vet gives a clean bill of health then you have a behavioral problem. If you have been trying the standard housebreaking methods and they are not working then it is time to do a little research and find some alternative methods.
Focus On Positive Reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is an effective way to train Beagles and encourage desirable behaviors. Offer rewards during training, such as treats and verbal praise, when your Beagle completes tasks correctly. Be sure to get your Beagle’s attention before offering the reward so that he understands what behavior earned it. This will help reinforce positive behavior in the future.
Understand Their Natural Temperament.
Beagles are known for their sociability and friendly attitudes but this doesn’t mean they don’t have natural temperaments that can make certain behaviors more challenging to address. They tend to be stubborn and distractible which can make obedience training or potty training difficult. Understanding your Beagle’s natural temperament can help you adjust the training techniques so that you can get the best results from them.
Sometimes Beagle problems can have as much to do with your Beagle’s genes and birth situation as any other environmental factors. It is not recommended to remove a dog from its mother before seven weeks old. There are many things that your puppy needs to learn from its mother, and its siblings, before it can learn to do anything on its own. A puppy taken before it is seven weeks old is ill-equipped to be a good dog right from the start.
Beagle puppies left for longer than seven weeks begin to develop a feel for social order and that can cause long-term behavioral problems as well. If your Beagle was used to being the top puppy in its litter for too long then that behavior could follow them for the rest of their lives.
Avoid Aversive Methods and Punishment.
Punishment won’t help get your Beagle to properly follow commands and it can make them afraid or aggressive. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement to reward the behaviors you want to encourage. Discourage the behaviors you don’t like by giving a verbal cue like “No” or “Stop,” but try to address any underlying issues that might be causing your Beagle’s misbehavior first before trying to reprimand them.
Identify and Meet Their Needs for Exercise and Stimulation.
One of the most common problems that Beagles have with training is that they need more physical and mental stimulation than many other breeds. Beagles are active, curious dogs and they need plenty of opportunities to exercise and explore their environment in order to stay mentally stimulated. Provide your Beagle with plenty of opportunities for walks, runs, and playtime throughout the day to help them remain engaged and focused on their training.
