Any Beagle owners out there?

[feedtheghoul]

We are at the thinking stage of wanting to get a dog. Dh and I both had dogs until we left home. Now our elderly cat has passed away and ds (6) is growing up we want a dog.

I have always adored Beagles. I love their slightly bonkers personality as much as the way they look. I have read lots about them. The lots of exercise, keeping on lead/scenthound, escape artist tendencies things don't worry me. We are looking for a 4th family member and are fully prepared to adapt our lives.

The only thing that really concerns me is the oft mentioned separation anxiety they are prone to. Please don't misunderstand me, I have no expectation of wanting to leave a dog frequently, or for hours on end. But more, how much of a problem would it be to leave an adult beagle for 2 or 3 hours occasionally? I am thinking more the odd meal out or kids party where dog really couldn't come along.

As I say, it isn't about leaving it all day, I wouldn't do that. My mum has already agreed to dog sit aswell as child sit the 2 days a week I do work. I just know that realistically, once a week, we are likely to need to leave it for 2 or 3 hours, and I don't want to get a dog and cause it distress, just because I like a specific breed, if our lifestyle is inappropriate. Any experience or advice from Beagle owners?

this is him

Bit late to this thread by the looks of things, but yes, I had 2 beagles (had to put old boy to sleep a couple of weeks ago, aged 16.5 ), still have witchydog.

I try to put off anyone who says they want a beagle! They are hard work. Not like all dogs are hard work. I know lots of dogs and beagles are a different kind of work.

A friend of mine wanted a beagle, desperately. I lent her oldboy (then only 3) for the weekend (sat pm onwards) She called me sun at 8am to ask if I would take him back, because, as she said "he never stops!"

While out with my beagles I have been approached by so many people who say "Oh- we used to have a beagle......but we had to rehome it"

Witchydog is now 12. She comes to work with me, but could never be left to snooze behind reception like some other surgery dogs I've known- she would be into everything, looking for the slightest crumb, breaking into bags of food, trying to see in people's pockets...She still needs a good run at lunchtime. if let off the lead she WILL roll in fox shit. every time. then refuse to come back until she is ready.

Even at 12, she will still occasionally chew things if she feels like it, and could never be given the run of the house (god only knows what we would come home to!) She is a smelly hound- loves rolling in things, hates baths, is a nightmare to bath. She still sometimes pees and poos in the porch if she feels like it, and has no remorse at all about it. Oh, and yes, she runs away if given even the slightest chance.

I love beagles, and will always always have a soft spot for them. But i don't think i'll ever have another one. Ever.

joolyjoolyjoo you have just described my beagle. I've just come back from the vets with him (to buy the hideously expensive Hill's diet food for the fat little bugger) and he snuffled all round the exam room, found the tin of treats and stuck his head in it before I realised what he had done because I was chatting happily to the nice vet and not paying attention .

,And that's the problem, it's relentless - he pulls on the lead every time we go out, and I HAVE to keep working at the training with him. And yes, little bugger happily pees and poos on the living room floor (no carpet, don't worry my house not that revolting) if he feels like it overnight even though he's done 3 poos that day, one of them just before bedtime. How can any one dog crap so much?

I love him to bits, but another one? Only if I suffer dementia and forget I ever had one in the first place.

I know all that you say should make me run for the hills. But on the other hand, I also have a lot of time which I would be prepared to dedicate to the dog, whatever breed we go for.

The relentless energy and a love of all things filthy and disgusting sounds a little like ds too so maybe I could kill two birds with one stone and wear them both out at once with constant daily foraging in woods. To a certain extent, I think we need a dog with enthusiasm or ds will probably drive it crazy. But, at the same time I do take on board what you all say. Mmmm tricky! I shan't lose sleep over it all at this stage as don't yet know if we can even consider it yet, until we have let ds (for want of a better description!) have a good sniff of one!