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The doghouse

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Original poster

Anyone got a beagle?

36 replies

cantremembermyname · 30/09/2013 15:19

Just like to hear about anyone's experience with beagles please. We've always had cavaliers, but sadly we had to have one put to sleep last year. I've been waiting for dd to be more out of the baby stage until we got another puppy, and I'm thinking after Christmas. We still have a cavalier, he's nearly 9, and we have 3 dc's, aged 7, 4 and 2 (although, after Christmas they'll be 7, 5 and 3!)

I've looked into the best recommended dogs with children, and a beagle sounds perfect for us (plus the boys have fallen in love with them). Previously, we had the dogs before the children arrived (or were even planned!) So it wasn't an issue.

Any advice please?

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JKramer · 30/09/2013 15:29

Neighbour had one...
Very mischievious as pups.
Very lively dogs, can be quite loud too as they howl (something to do with a slightly different vocal chord to other dogs).
Great sense of smell so can be easily distracted by scents.
The neighbours were always saying how the dog was sniffing around in the park and not wanting to come home.
But if trained properly like any breed, they are fantastic pets.

basildonbond · 30/09/2013 15:32

The only beagle I've known well was our next door neighbour's - he got rehomed after a couple of years as they were finding him very difficult to deal with. He was quite stubborn and tricky to train and his recall was dodgy to say the least ...

If you search for beagle on here I don't think you'll find that many posters actively recommending them as a breed with children tbh

Original poster
cantremembermyname · 30/09/2013 15:35

Thank you Smile I'd read that too, and that they can be quite hard to train. Must admit I'm not the best trainer, although our cavaliers luckily turned out brilliant, don't know if it was just their fantastic temperament, or if I haven't done too bad a job. It's just that I've never trained puppies with dc to worry about too. I'm hoping a very lovely retired friend of ours that lives on the next street will give me a hand, or some tips. He's trained quite a few dogs for people over the years, so I'm going to speak to him this week.

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Original poster
cantremembermyname · 30/09/2013 15:37

Just seen your post basildonbond, I'll have a look. Hope I haven't got it wrong that they're good with children.

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Floralnomad · 30/09/2013 15:43

I know some people with a beagle ,their children were about 9&7 when they got the pup . He was ages with toilet training ( but they have an odd upside down house so that may have been partially the problem) ,he is terrible for stealing food ( which may be an issue with very small children ) and his recall is awful . Have you looked at miniature schnauzers , lots of young families seem to have them and I think the only issue is they can be a bit noisy .

ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2013 15:58

I've heard that you can tell a beagle owner because they're the ones holding a lead but no dog in sight. Grin

Have you considered getting an adult dog rather than a pup (of whatever breed)? You might find that easier going. There are rescues who will rehome to families with children, but also breeders sometimes have older dogs needing a pet home - ours was 10 months, had been kept for show till he developed alopecia so we got a lovely well-socialised, housetrained but still 'puppyish' dog.

Good idea to talk to your neighbour!

bassetfeet · 30/09/2013 17:07

Gorgeous friendly dogs . But they are hounds and nose driven so their recall is non existent if a scent comes up on walk [so mostly need to be on leash] .......steal food at any opportunity ..training them has you reaching for a stiff drink Wink.
They get cloth ears and take to the hills barking excitedly with no thought of the training they have been given . I could have read "War and Peace" the amount of times I have stood by a gate on a walk waiting for the bugger to return. Took flask and sandwich in the end .

But they are adorable and talk to you with so many yodels and trills and howls. Love cuddles . Keep em on a long lead is my advice and barricade your worktops . Fabulous dogs though .

Tillypo · 30/09/2013 22:47

We have a Beagle and in my opinion they are great round children. They are a nightmare to train, don't ever let them off the lead as they will just pick up a scent and go, they are great at escaping and will take any food they can get too even bouncing up and down in the kitchen to steal food off the worktops. Wouldn't be without Rosie but would never have another given.

sugarandspite · 30/09/2013 23:31

I have a beagle.

Often I wish I had a Labrador instead.

He is beautiful and loving and cuddly and cheeky and amazing with the toddler but Christ, he's practically untrainable.

I've had lots of dogs before, read tons about beagles being 'more challenging to train' and assumed that with my experience, commitment to training, lots of time spent training, working from home and training classes we'd be ok.

But since puberty, he cannot be let off the lead ever - if he comes across a scent he's gone. Possibly all day and all night. Its not that he's naughty, he basically goes deaf when he's on a scent. And its so frustrating for all of us that he has to be walked on a lead all the time.
The behaviourist for Beagle Welfare told me she has 7 beagles (gulp) and only 2 of them can be let off lead.

He is a massive thief. He is getting better but you can't leave anything on a table or worktops or anywhere under about shoulder height.

I cannot stop him putting his paws on the worktop or table sniffing for food. If he smells something, he just can't help himself.

But to be fair, he would never take food from our 2 year old, he does however follow him around trying to lick marmite from his vest or crumbs from his knees.

But he is so loving and funny and tries to be good (sometimes) and so clever and gorgeous.

I will never own another one though.

sugarandspite · 30/09/2013 23:38

Ha cross post with Tilly 'love it but will never have another!'

Also - our beagle will eat anything - the stinkier, grosser deader the better. And if you're unlucky, he'll then vomit it up and before you can get to him to clean it up, will eat it back up again. Mmmmmm

RIZZ0 · 30/09/2013 23:43

They are gorgeous.

We really wanted one but were a bit out off by the possible vet bills, Beagles being prone to problems like allergies, orthopaedic problems, eye problems etc.,
...but the reason I'm posting is that we did a couple of dog "compatibility" tests online, where you put in the kind of expectations/requirements you'd have of a dog in terms of shedding, exercise, trainability, behaviour around kids and other pets etc, and the three ideal matches for us were Border Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer and Beagle.
So after discounting Beagle we moved to looking at a Border Terrier litter and fell in love.

Awesome dogs, I have an old one and a pup and although am a massive lover of all dogs, you just can't beat a Border - bags of personality, affectionate, the best with dogs and kids out of the terriers. Recommended Wink

Original poster
cantremembermyname · 01/10/2013 06:51

Thank you so much for your replies. I don't know if I'm terrified/excited or just plain daft still considering one!! Smile

Must admit, me and the boys had out heart set on one, but I can see me ending up hairless! I'll talk to my friend (dog trainer). We may lean more toward a border terrier (dh isn't keen on miniature schnauzers, but I have read they're great with children).

Thank you for your experiences.

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fanoftheinvisibleman · 01/10/2013 07:29

I did the same ad RIZZO, fell in love with Beagles but posted on here and was talked out of it by Beagle owners.

We too now have a Border Terrier and love him to bits.

chocolatelime · 01/10/2013 07:44

Beagles are lovely dogs, but I would never have one. Following their nose is far more important than listening to any commands you give. We had one who used to visit & we had to be very careful of the front door as he was a bolter. One second and he would be gone and everyone would be out chasing after him for the next 3 hours. It made it very difficult for the children to go in and out to play as they were terrified of letting the dog slip out accidently.

I think some of them are more trainable than others, but you would not know when you bought a puppy which one to choose. The beagle I knew would think nothing of taking himself off for hours and we always had anxiety as to whether he would come back. He was a terrible food thief in the house and would go to any lengths to open cupboards etc to get at the food.

They are good natured, lovely looking dogs but would I have one? Never!!

Original poster
cantremembermyname · 01/10/2013 08:19

Really really glad I posted on here now. I'm gutted, I was really hoping for positive responses, but I'd much rather know.

Back to the drawing board!! (bet we end up with another spaniel Smile)

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Floralnomad · 01/10/2013 15:44

If you are going for a spaniel what about a working cocker ,they seem to be increasingly popular .

Original poster
cantremembermyname · 01/10/2013 16:40

That's what I'm thinking floralnomad, just got to find a dog everyone wants. My eldest is very dissapointed a beagle looks like a no no, so I'm going to let him look at other options to see if he (hopefully) picks it himself.

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sugarandspite · 01/10/2013 17:20

Just one thought, it might be worth you and DH (no kids!) getting in touch with Beagle Welfare and seeing if they have some past-puppyhood dogs in the refuge?

They will have a good idea of each dog's personality, training potential and strength of instincts so you might find a lovely lazy one with no interest in bolting and decent house manners.

Because they are such gorgeous puppies but so hard to train and live with, lots end up in rescue ages about a year - no serious behavioural issues just people who bought the cute puppy without knowing enough about the dog it would grow into.

We contacted them once for advice when we were really struggling with training - not that we would ever have rehomed him but needed to talk to trainers who specifically knew beagles as many many usual dog trainers haven't worked with them - and they were so nice and helpful and supportive.

www.beagleadvice.org.uk/

sugarandspite · 01/10/2013 17:22

Sorry clicky link

www.beagleadvice.org.uk/

harrietlichman · 01/10/2013 17:54

On here after following advice from my thread about being offered a 9 month old beagle...am backing away reluctantly, the dog in question is gorgeous, but they sound like an absolute nightmare!

ErrolTheDragon · 01/10/2013 18:34

Perhaps you should contact the people at sugar's link, harriet - if you don't take this dog then they might be the best bet for the current owners to rehome through.

VerySmallSqueak · 01/10/2013 18:39

Go for a border.Lovely dogs.

everlong · 01/10/2013 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
cantremembermyname · 01/10/2013 19:20

Thank you sugarandspite, I'll definately have a look at that. I didn't realise how much I'd set my heart on a beagle until I was advised so much against it! I love the sound of their personalities, think they remind me of ds2, I read somewhere that their snoopy like curiosity always overcomes obedience, and I think I was hooked then.

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Alad · 01/10/2013 19:31

Beagles are hunting dogs by nature. Yes sweet, but as other posters say not great pets. They really need huge amounts of exercise a day (10-15 miles - but they will run that round you!) or they become fat. They are very social (pack) and love families but you will be making a rod for your own back.