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Original poster

Does anyone have a Beagle?

19 replies

McDreamy · 14/06/2010 17:40

Do they make good family pets? DH had a lab but he was very smelly (esp when wet) and shed a fair bit of hair BUT he was the sweetest dog. Very good with children.

OP posts:
MrsJohnDeere · 14/06/2010 17:49

The ones I've known have lovely temperaments but are VERY noisy (that distinctive howling they do). I'm a doggy person but I wouldn't want one or to live next door to one!

Original poster
McDreamy · 14/06/2010 17:50

Oh really I had no idea they were prone to that

OP posts:
DecorHate · 14/06/2010 17:53

More suited to country living IMO and they need a lit of exercise...

MrsJohnDeere · 14/06/2010 17:56

That's true. The ones I knew (I used to walk my springers with their owners) had 2 x 2 hour walks per day.

WoodRose · 14/06/2010 19:11

My family had beagles when I was a child. I adore them - character in spades! However, as mentioned by other MNers, they do enjoy a good old howl and they tend to have a mind of their own.

bamboobutton · 14/06/2010 19:21

i would never have a beagle as a family pet.

my sister has one and it's howl is deafening and it howls at the slightest thing at all hours of the day and night.

her dog is also very possesive and growls and snarls and raises his hackles if he takes something and you try to get him to drop it, it snapped at my face once!
i think you have to be quite a dominant owner with these dogs.

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 14/06/2010 19:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

Batteryhuman · 14/06/2010 19:35

IME they run away and do not have good recall

JaxTellersOldLady · 14/06/2010 19:38

Beagles, they are suited to working and I personally wouldnt have one as a family pet. They are hard work (well all dogs/puppies are) but Beagles do as they please, when they please and if they dont get enough exercise...

They howl and bugger off at the slightest sniff and you can chase them for hours, says the person who had a friend with 2 of the bloody things, gorgeous looking, very characterful, but a total pain in the 'arris.

beautifulgirls · 14/06/2010 21:14

Agreed, they are not calm family pets - they are very strong willed and vocal. Only for very experienced and committed dog owners please! Take a hunt about for other breeds of dog. You want something small and good natured, then maybe consider a border terrier?

Madsometimes · 15/06/2010 10:42

A friend in the park has a beagle. He is beautiful to look at, but his recall is terrible. You often hear the owner calling for his dog across the park! My children love the dog, and so do I, but only because he belongs to someone else. He is certainly big on character, but not a breed I would go for.

We nearly did choose a beagle, and I consider that we made a lucky escape. If you want a medium size dog you cannot go wrong with a spaniel. (Btw all dogs can be quite smelly)!

Jaynerae · 16/06/2010 12:55

There are pros and cons for all breeds of dog. Some have health issues, others have supposed behavioural problems, no breed is perfect. You have to choose a dog that mostly suits you and your family. I have owned shelties for 26 years, and after my last girl died three years ago I decided to wait before we got our next dog as the children were young. We have recently bought home our lovely Beagle, she is 11 weeks old now. She did howl cry and bark for a few hours the first week, but she soon settled down. She now sleeps from 11pm to 7pm without a peep. We go out during the day, longest she has been left so far was 3 hours (that was only becasue the car broke down!) when we come back we check to see if we can hear her before we pout key in the lock, and we haven't heard a peep. I have checked with neighbours on regular basis and they say sinece first week they have not heard a peep. We read about the breed before we decided on a beagle, I spoke to a well known dog trainer who assured me that if trained correctly Beagles are just as good as other breeds at recall. They have wonderful temperments and are wonderful with children. We do not regret our decision to get a Beagle. But we will ensure she and we are trained properly, we start puppy training this weekend! PLease remember dogs are like children in the respect that how they turn out depends on how you treat them and deal with them. Our children are who they are becasue of how we bring them up.

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 17/06/2010 20:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

sharbiebowtiesarecool · 17/06/2010 20:12

A friend of a friend was going to get a pup but was told they are generally not reliable with children.

Original poster
McDreamy · 18/06/2010 21:53

I am going to start another thread but what breed would you recommend?

OP posts:
kid · 19/06/2010 20:24

DH has just seen some beagles and he quite likes the look of them. I knew I had seen a post about them and I'm glad I came to check it now.

I will make sure we won't get one if they are howlers!
I'd hate to get one for a neighbour to complain and for us to be told to get rid of him.

Back to our original choice of a springer I think.

hatwoman · 19/06/2010 20:31

as far as I know it's true that "if trained correctly" a beagle will have a good recall -- but "training correctly" will mean about 50 per cent more time and effort than training, for example, a lab. a lot of training is about making an action (eg coming back to you) more attractive than the thing their instinct makes them want to do (eg follow a scent). so the stronger the instinct, the harder that is.

ConnorTraceptive · 19/06/2010 20:37

As long as I had ham in my pockets my beagles came back everytime

lukeysmummy · 11/07/2010 09:17

Hi we had a beagle he didnt howl or bark not even when someone knocked on the door
the re call wasnt perfect but food always worked a treat.
Excellant with my 3 kids i wouldnt think twice a bout a beagle they are great

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