To not want a beagle?

[tired1245]

We've always wanted a dog, house just feels empty without one as both had one when living at parents house.
He's got his heart set on a beagle, when i would love a cockapoo.
I've just heard always bad things about beagles, how they're hard to train and recall is awful.
I don't really want the hair either!
He won't be able to take a month off to train the dog when we get it, maximum 2 weeks.
With a cockapoo I just think they'll be a lot better to train, don't malt nowhere near as much as a beagle would and we've got a 3 month old, so the last thing I need is a dog running off on a walk when I've got a baby with me. What do we do?

My username says it all OP. Although we got lucky with ours, they are stubborn little feckers and won’t do anything unless there’s something in it for them.

And the moulting - jeez.

@Thubten most shelters won't let you rehome if you have a baby (which probably means you shouldn't even if you find a shelter that will let you!)

Aren't beagles short haired though? I think a cockapoo would shed more.

I know 3 people with cockerpoos - each one of them incredibly naughty and hard work. I know 2 people with beagles (one has 2 and 2 of another breed) and they are great dogs. Basically, anything you get told on here is anecdotal. You could get a wonderful or terrible example of whatever breed you pick. Accept that you will have to put in the work to train, it will be hard, and you may still end up with a twat dog (I have). If that sounds ok, get one.

I wouldn't go for a beagle at all - scent driven, noisy.
But there's no way I would go for a cockapoo either - high maintenance, nervy, intense, need a lot of training.
I know a fair few spaniel crosses who are very prone to running off.

I say this on a lot of threads, but what about a staffy?

I’d rather a beagle over a hybrid.
I must admit though my neighbours have a cockerpoo and it’s fucking annoying which colours my perception .
Barks constantly at anything and everything and it’s bloody high pitched too . I can hear it in it’s back garden while I’m the other side of my house with all my windows shut and it’s 2 houses away .. wish I was exaggerating

There’s no breed of dog that will be trained within 2 weeks...

I’d scrap trying to decide between those two - have a think about what it is that’ll suit you in a more general way.

How much exercise can you give? If not shedding is important to you, are you ok with the amount of time grooming a long coated dog takes up? What are you classing as well behaved?... because often that’s down to time put in training but if you need more than that you need to think about intelligence and biddability... but the pay off for that usually comes with high energy levels.

Also... babies/toddlers aren’t the best mix with puppies, puppies are bitey little gits tbh.

Have you thought about getting a poodle, very clever dogs. Also if you are getting any dog you won't be able to train it in two weeks or a month. Training is an ongoing thing.
I think you are very brave to be considering it with a small baby, much braver than me

Dogs are wonderful companions but they are a huge commitment. Training takes time, effort and persistence. I took my dog to a trainer who told me training was a lifetime commitment, even when the dog has basic obedience mastered you will still have to keep up your techniques so that the dog doesn't learn bad habits. The dog needs plenty of exercise regardless of the weather and puppies can be very destructive. Beagles are notoriously difficult to train and have a reputation for howling but to be fair any dog can exhibit that behaviour if they develop separation anxiety.

Is now a good time to get a dog when you've got your hands full with a young baby?

Puppy and 3 month old? Don't do it, seriously it's a mistake.
Wait until the child is older and do more research, puppies are a nightmare.

I have a beagle.

He's two and he's fantastic now but he was very hard work as a puppy and teenager. He's fantastic with children but like all dogs he needs to be supervised and even though my niece is ten now I would never leave them alone together.

Recall was hard work at first but it's fine now - I just need to make sure I have the right treats 😂

Get neither.

Cocker spaniel x poodle is a real pain in the bum, you will get a very very busy, worky, easily frustrated, attention needing dog who finds it intensely difficult to be left out of anything, or left at home.

Yes, recall will be marginally better than a Beagle but otherwise, far more demanding in almost every single respect.

They have the business of the spaniel, and the business of the poodle AND the desire to be with you all the time of the poodle and the intense problem solving abilities of both and that is wrapped in a very cute 'lapdog' exterior that people assume will be an easy going fluffy cute dog... and really really isn't.

Oh and the grooming requirements are hard to predict, some will be easy, some will require lots of work daily and professional grooming regularly (every six weeks from the day you get them).

There are also not many ethical breeders of crossbreeds - cockerpoos are a designer cross and the majority of breeders are not using health tested dogs and really, only after your money.

I'd pick a greyhound or a whippet over either of these breeds for a more independant yet easy going dog.

Dont get a beagle, get a brick. Take it to the woods, throw it into the undergrowth then spend two days calling for it to come back. Then go home, destroy your favourite piece of furniture and download some beagle howling and play it on a loop. Sorted.

Mine has never destroyed anything and barely ever barks in the house.

Like every dog it's down to training, not breed. I wish people wouldn't post stereotypes like that.

Im sure any breed of dog can be naughty, hard to train, howl all the time. I think I would join breed specific groups on Facebook to a better idea of the breed. Or go to a rescue centre where you could be matched. I have a 14 year old beagle and at times he has been naughty but I honestly would not have another breed. He has been amazing with my children. Good luck in your hunt and remember its best to be 110% sure before you take the leap.

Also he never howled or destroyed the furniture.

Agreed, Beagles are a pain in the arse.
But Cockapoos won’t sit still for 5 minutes, ever!

MN in general is very negative towards beagles in my experience. If I'd listened to people on here (most of whom have never actually owned one) I'd have been seriously put off.

My beagle is fantastic and I'm so glad I ignored the MN hive mind of "stubborn, awful to train, smelly and noisy" because he's a fantastic little hound and so affectionate. He's the best addition to our house.

When we got our Jack Russell a vet delighted in telling us they were untrainable. Nothing like a challenge! Her recall’s better than any other dog either of us has had and she was easily trained because she’s so bright. Beagles are gorgeous.

If a non-moulting breed is important to you what about a Tibetan terrier. I love mine. He is a very happy dog and destroyed nothing as a puppy other than the odd sock. He doesn't shed but does require regular grooming.

Dont get either
You can only have 2 weeks off work to settle the pup
You have a baby
You don’t like dog hair

Do you use a sling with your baby? I found it much easier to walk with a dog and a baby that way.
I'd definitely look for a breed that is less bitey as a puppy, for when baby starts crawling & toddling.
Whippet is a good shout.

Do not get a puppy when you have a 3 month old! Are you crazy???? You might as well get another newborn, but a mobile, bitey one that doesn't wear nappies!

Don't get a puppy in lockdown when ability to socialise and access vet services and training support is limited.

And definitely don't get a daschound which are notoriously difficult to house train.

OP I really don't want to pee on your bonfire but you need to read some of the puppy threads where there are people in tears and testing their hair out.
I think it's far too much to take in with a new baby.
I can't believe there are more people discouraging you rather than getting antsy about breeds.

Don't get a puppy with a baby. You have enough on your plate. Revisit when DC is 3 years or better yet at school!

So many mistakes in that pis T but you get the gist.