Would you keep this dog? (Beagle pics)

[TartanHare]

I have been doing a bit of dog sitting on and off for various friends and neighbours recently.
2 weeks ago I recieved a message asking me if I could have a beagle as it was being unruly whilst the family had visitors with young children, I look after this dog fairly often so told them just to bring him round.
They have now said that they don't want him back.
He is 11 months old, he has a lovely nature but is very enthusiastic about everything and needs a LOT of training.
My own dog is almost 4 years old colliexlab. I also have cats.
I have been told beagles can be challenging and I cant walk them together alone. They pull! DH is v on board in theory and is pushing to give him a home here.
However I know in reality the bulk of the work will fall to me.
Questions: How trainable are beagles?
Is it true they can never be trusted off lead?
Are they generally ok with cats? (he seems ok supervised) but keep separate when I'm not about.
I know the sensible answer is to take him to the dogs home or try to rehome him, but he's lying here curled up and snoring and my heart has melted
Maybe I could make this work

😍😍

LOL, I think you are lost OP, so forgive this sanctimonious bit below, it's general rather than aimed at you. You are looking realistically and working out whether it's the right thing to do.

So much of the reason why we have a huge problem with dogs in rescue is because people choose a dog based on how adorable it looks, rather than how it will fit in with their family. Presumably that's the reason this boy finds himself in need of a home already at 11 months old, poor lad, because he was bought as a puppy without taking Beagle characteristics in to account. It is a huge worry.

Doesn't matter how adorable the two dogs look together. OP needs to work out realistically whether she can cope with Beagle traits, or whether it would be better for this already passed-on boy to go to a home who knows the breed well and can give him a loving home for life.

Omg I'll take him!! 😍😍

You rehome him now op and I'll call RSPCA for your current dog

Yep, beagle boy is definitely trying every trick in the book to ensure his continuing accommodation chez Tartan.

Shameless.

It's amazing how quickly they've bonded. That's so sweet.

I hope it all works out for you. He looks like a lovely dog.

He is a lovely dog.
I wish my dog could talk, they seem to get on really well but sometimes beagle boy doesn't know when enough is enough, (puppy stuff I suppose) ddog is too soft and passive for his own good sometimes eg. Stands back and watches the kitten eat from his bowl and waits till she has finished before eating.
He is playful and loves other dogs but its different having one live with you.
God knows, I have friends and family I love dearly but give a sigh of relief when they leave!!
We do have the time for him, I work full time Dh 30 hours but our shifts mean they are rarely left for more than 3/4 hours a day total.
Fertility wasn't our friend so no dc.

Oh no they love each other you have to keep him lol.

I have no idea on beagles but I'm sure they are trainable they are a working breed.

You sound like you are a great dog mum and he will be lucky to have you.

We have a beagle. Contrary to PP's, he couldn't care less about food! Unless is meat or cheese, he's not interested.
It did take us a while to perfect his recall but we got there. He's fab on the lead after a lot of work.
We had a bit of trouble with separation anxiety but as you have another dog I don't think you should have a problem. We have two pre schoolers and he's amazing with them.
So... hard work but absolutely amazing. Keep him!

If things don't work out please get in touch with beagle welfare rather than any normal rescue place xx

He looks lovely!

I think it will be nice for your dog to have a brother and they should soon settle down together. That's probably not a worry. Even though 3-4hrs alone is fine they will be good company for each other.
If you are willing and able to put the extra work into training him properly I think it will work out.

I love both of your dogs - I actually was going to say don't keep him if you aren't sure because it would be awful for him to think he was "home" but reading the thread I think this is fate!! He's fallen on his feet and you have a new dog!

This is my Jackabea Bumble "helping" me make my bed!
He joined us over six years ago now and is quite a MN celebrity now!
Prior to us owning him he had lived on the streets! (Didnt find out until we met his second owner an old man who kept him for three days and took him back!!!)
In 2014 he took part in Scrufts and was named second most handsome crossbreed dog in the whole country which we are very proud of!
My advice would be to make sure the whole garden is secure. I lost count of how many times i retrieved him from neighbours gardens and the field next to ours which is the size of Wembley Football Stadium! Having a friend who is a thatcher has its benefits as he gave me a huge roll of chicken wire as a welcome to Bumble gift!

scarymonsters Bumble is gorgeous💜
whitney The family who bought him have 2 young children, he's bouncy and enthusiastic and just wants to play. He knocks the children over, steals their food and chews toys i.e. he's a puppy!
I believe that their friend was going to get a female and they wanted to breed but this fell through

I think that most of us on here have been through the "why on earth did I do this?" phase with dogs of around this age.
I know I have twice (r.i.p perfect girl) it's bloody hard work but the payoff is soooo worth it a bit down the line.

He is such a lovely boy and I need to know that my decision is right for him, us, ddog and the cats.

Cute

The loaner beagle. Picture by DD.

Tartan, I'd keep him purely so they couldn't breed any more. Ignorant buggers.

Try again!

There is no way I could give him up knowing his first home didn't want him. He'd be staying with me for life. Particularly having seen those photos of the two of them together! If, as you say, they're alone at times, companionship for your current dog would be no bad thing.

Obviously you need to make a sensible decision about what's right for you- but generally I think if you can handle one dog you can handle two (particularly as you have experience of various dogs). He may be a handful, but is that such a terrible thing? He can learn to settle into your family's way of life.

My beagle was eager and a little destructive until he was about 2 - then he was v relaxed, didn't ruin things, liked to be left alone but was fine with other dogs.
Obviously every dog is different but I do think beagles get a bad wrap sometimes x

Although he was always a puller

Mine was always 'the beagle' or 'the beag' too !!

Haha, my 2 year old calls ours 'the beagle'

Beagles are great. They enjoy learning commands and are very responsive if you can get the right incentives going (food and fear ignore missing out we're how we trained for recall!). Ours goes off lead every day, but at 7am when there's no danger of finding a picnic to be raided.

He pulled a lot as a puppy, but we found a Lupi type harness useful for that - the kind that looks like string and pinches slightly under the armpits if they lean into it hard. He grew out of the pulling by about age 2.

I say go for it. They are stubborn and self-interested characters, but there are so many redeeming features!