DP would love to get a beagle - please can you give some advice?

[Get0rf]

We have been thinking about getting a dog for a couple of years now. We both would love one - however we both work full time, and don't think that doggy day care would be fair.

However, my PILs are dog lovers, and in speaking to DP have said that they would look after a dog during the day for us. DP could either drop the dog off on the way to work and pick it up, or they would come over. This would be temporary as DP is aiming to work from home in the near future for about two years, after which the dog would presumably be old enough (and settled) for doggy day care.

DP had a beagle when he was younger and would love one. I am sure that I have read on here that beagles can be a nightmare - has someone any information?

Plus - please can you give feedback on our idea. I have no preference as to puppy or adult dog (I would actually prefer an older dog) but woulkd this be fair do you think to have DP's mum and dad look after the dog during the day? Or woiuld this be unsettling for the dog? They are great walkers so the dog would be out a lot, I am not worried about that, rather thjinking that lots of caregivers may be unsettling to a dog. I have never owned a dog as an adult so have lots to think about before we go ahead.

Thanks.

Beagles are cute, but naughty and they run away! They get the scent of something and take off...sometimes for hours. They can also be quite stubborn and difficult to train. But they are all generalisations, I'm sure there are plenty of non-naughty non-absconding beagles as well. But personally I would want a dog that can be let off the lead regularly without giving me a nervous breakdown.

Why don't you have a baby instead?

Oh God, that video! Ach, you've got to get a beagle now. those are American Beagles though - prettier and daintier than the English type. I'm sure you can get American Beagles in the UK.

Our neighbours have an escapologist beagle. She's a pretty little thing, but always getting out - when we took her back home last time her owners told us that she had apparently got out through their skylight! My children tell me that she sometimes turns up at school (that's why they knew which house to return her too, as they go to school with her owner's dd)

Dh loves Beagles too. There are a few where I walk my naughty hound and they are all very friendly and happy to play but none of them are allowed off the lead in the woods, unlike every other breed I see.

I've just watched the video -

It's an absolute killer isn't it Alousee. When that first beagle puts his tiny paws on the grass for the first time

The bit that sent me over the edge was the Beagle snuggling up next to the driver, they have been living in a lab yet still trust humans, frankly no one would blame them if they savaged every human they saw.

I've got a beagle puppy. she is 7 months old and is absoultely gorgeous! We had her from a local breeder. So far, she has been very easy to train. She is completely toilet trained now, she listens and responds to most commands. She is happy to keep herself entertained in the garden while me and DP work. She has a kennel so is sheltered.

We walk her for 40mins a day during the week and 2 hours a day on sat and sun. She is freaking CRAZY if she doesnt have her walk though. She is brilliant with DD(20months) and DS (6months). They both think she is wonderful and her and DD are the best of friends and take their nap together cuddled up on the sofa (very cute).

She isnt very naughty (DP doesn't agree with this point at the moment as she dug up the garden yesterday). She comes back when called when we are walking (unless she sees someone with food, no chance then).

I love my puppy, wouldnt change her for the world.

I think we might a photo of her please LalasMama :o

*might need

There will be loads of unwanted puppies come March/April time (Xmas pressies) - you could prob find a nice one then.
Greyhounds are lovely too - and don't need much walking. Just make sure you take out pet insurance as soon as you get your dog though.

We had a beagle and she was an absolute nightmare. They are hunting dogs, and difficult to train as a family pet IME.

Friends of ours have a long haired dachsund and he is the sweetest natured pleasant little dog.

I do think you have to be very careful when choosing a dog that will mix with children.

Good point TracyK, my Dad has a gorgeous Finnish Lapphund which my friends liked the idea of at Christmas but were worn out by at Easter.

Greyhound enthusiast here. Around 20% of greys are potentially cat trainable - poor prey drive. Some even live with rabbits. Obviously you will have to wait slightly longer for a cat friendly one, but they do come up regularly.

I'd be more concerned about your parents super active lifestyle - greys prefer a nice quick sprint round the park in the morning followed by a great deal of quality sofa time - they'd be worn out by hours of rambling! They are incredibly gentle, affectionate dogs - calm, slightly eccentric, and very addictive. And of course supermodel good looks, plenty of collar shopping but unfortunately satanic bottoms.

Beagles are lovely but very, very demanding. We had two for several years - took them on as rescue dogs and it took us forever to get even a tiny bit of training into them.

Pluses are that they are very affectionate and have the cutest faces ever, plus those gorgeous tails. Good with kids and love fuss.

Minuses - we could never, ever let them off the lead. Ever. They would escape regularly and one nearly ended up on the motorway. They are awful scavengers - will eat anything and everything. Also prone to back problems, and not very long lived - lost one aged 9 and the other aged 12.

Be aware too that they are very vocal - some call it speaking, but howling is more accurate. When one was hospitalised, the other was alone and howled for eight hours, according to my neighbours.

I would love another one, but with two boys, really couldn't cope. Thinking about a dachshund or miniature schnauzer instead when kids a little bit older.

If you enjoy your life as it is right now -DO NOT GET A BEAGLE.

I am being totally serious. I have 21 month old Beagle and my life has not changed for the better.

I have had dogs for 30 years, various breeds, currently have a Cavalier King Charles aswell, who is just perfect!

If you want a bin raiding, cupboard chewing, destructive, poo eating, noisy, garden digging escapologist - then don't bother buying a puppy - just take my Beagle.

She is a total nightmare. When I tell people this they roll their eyes and think yeah, you just don't train the dog and put enough time in to her.

I take her training every week and have done since she was 8 weeks old, we have silver award and she is best in the class, but she chooses not to always listen to me when not in training class.

I have trained her to recall and I can let her run free, as long as it is in one secluded park a 10 minute drive away, but I have to avoid the section by the lake, and avoid the path by the horses field as she will bugger off, will come back to whistle - but scaring horses and chasing ducks is not ideal even for 2 minutes!

She will only come back to whistle not voice. Must have treats at all times or she will run off.

I walk her 1.45mins every day, most of that off lead. She is not too bad when we are out, but if lead walking has to be on halti as she thinks leads are just to drag the human along faster.

At home she is horrendous. Eats everything, whether food or not. Destroys everything within reach so we have had to re-organise house and can't put anything down. Can't leave her in a room alone unless in cage. She whines the entire time we are cooking as she can smell food, although we never ever give her anything but kibble, as this would reward the whinning.

She escapes from the garden, we have replaced 6 fence panels this year, she just rips them up, so now have to chain her up when in garden so we can't leave her out for more than 15 mins as she starts barking.

She has to be walked no matter what the weather other wise she climbs the walls and drives us nuts. Life with her is so so stressful. Neighbours complain about her barking.

The pooh eating in park really does revolt me and no amount of calling will stop her or the whistle till she has finished that pile, and it's a waste of time trying to get to her quick enough as she can eat faster than you can move 2 steps.

Think I have made my point! Beagles are not easy dogs to live with.

Bleeeeeurgh at the poo eating!

Interesting that you have a much Cavalier though- I would thoroughly recommend them, as they adapt to the amount of exercise on offer, and can be just as happy with a long yomp as a twenty minute circuit round the park, and they do enjoy their sleep, especially if they can cuddle up to you on the sofa. They are also fine with cats, and aren't notorious escapologists- if anything, their recall is usually naturally good because they are so soppily affectionate with their humans, and they don't like to venture too far away from you. The only reason I didn't recommend them earlier was that GetOrf said they wanted a bigger dog, and they tend to be on the small side, although not to a handbag extent. Personally, I think they're perfect family pets.

Oh my god *jayne^

Thanks very much for posting all that - that sounds like a bloody nightmare. TBH the whole chewing thing would make me very miserable - but then again I expect most dogs chew stuff, so perhaps that is something I will just have to be vigilant about. I would be very worried about the dog escaping, we have 6 foot high fences but if they can destroy the things it would be a major worry, we live in a city centre near a railway line, so I shudder to think what would happen.

Thanks very much - I will talk to DP and think some more about greyhounds.

But OH little beagle faces.

I think I meant 'much easier', not 'much' there.

Oh, but little Cavvie faces!

like this...

X posts BOF.

I will have to think of another breed - cavaliers are rather small aren't they, but they are not too girly (like bichon frise girly). The one thing which puts me off is the fact they have quite long hair don't they - is that a grooming issue?

It's a shame that all the dogs I like are hounds which run like fuck and won't come back. I don't want to be like that poor git in Richmond Park shouting Fenton.

Just trying to think of the perfect pet who is not highly strung, so is going to be fine with cats and different people looking after it.

or this... or when she was a baby...

Awww BOF that is soooo cute.

Isn't he called Pickle? (iirc). One of my kittens is called Pickle.