Beagle(ish) dogs

[Pigeonpost]

We are still looking for a rescue dog after losing our foster spaniel earlier this year. On the horizon this week is a 2 year (ish) old beagle from a rescue recommended by several people on here. My experience of dog ownership is limited to our 2 year female spaniel (mainly cocker, bit of springer), DH had springers growing up. Kids are 4, 6 and 9 and well used to being bowled over by a bouncy spaniel. I have read varying things online about beagles and the extent to which they can ever be walked off lead. We live in a rural area and most of our spaniel's walks are off lead along country footpaths, open fields and beaches. LOTS to sniff at for beagles obvs. This rescue dog was abandoned in Cyprus and found as a stray, they think because he wasn't very good at hunting and is best suited as a companion dog. Our garden is securely fenced (about 4ft high) and we have artificial grass.

Can anyone with beagle experience tell me whether they think a beagle/beagle cross would be a good fit? I'm a bit worried about howling as our dearly departed foster dog was a howling spaniel (with health issues mind you) and it was hard-going sometimes. I don't want to ship a dog over from abroad and it turn into a nightmare and I'm trying not to let my head be overruled by the fact that the poor dog spends most of his time behind bars in cage in the rescue :(

Any breed specific tips gratefully received, I'm happy to be told if a beagle is not a good fit for us, there will be a poor sad dog locked in a cage waiting for us somewhere, we just need to find the right one.

I adore our beagle cross, she's wonderful with kids. I canicross with her and book a secure field weekly as I can't let her off lead. I do have a REALLY long tracking line which allows her to play and run a bit in fields but not through woodland. I have done loads of workshops and training but ultimately her prey Drive is too high and she would just go yipping off into the distance,

No problems with separation anxiety or chewing. She lives with a collie so has company.

We've had our beagle from a pup, so I can't necessarily speak to what it's like training for recall with an adult beagle who may already have some bad habits! They are extremely stubborn and have elephant-like memories for anything they've got away with in the past, so if they discover food in a particular area, for example, they'll always make a break for that spot just in case. It's just in their nature to be opportunists, and while they understand what you're asking very quickly, they will always do the maths on whether it's worth obeying.

Having said that, you can get a long way by understanding the beagle mentality. They aren't trying to leave you - they are very attached to their people, and will happily follow you along to see where you're going. Food treats and fear of missing out are your best chance of keeping them honest. Mine has impeccable recall in new places as he doesn't want to lose me, but can be sketchy in our local park as he knows the terrain like it's his own garden, and doesn't mind going solo there.

The key is positive reinforcement to show them that coming back to you is always the way to get a reward. My experience is that you can build 95% recall using treats and a long line during the training period. But you do need to walk somewhere safe, i.e. not near main roads because even with a good beagle there's going to be the odd day when they go on a crime spree and don't want to be caught, in which case your main concern is that they don't get run over before deciding it's time to come home!

They're really lovely dogs, great fun and lovely family pets, but very different motivations to spaniels so you'd have to get to grips with that. If you decide to go ahead, feel free to PM me for specific training tips!

A beagle can easily scale a 4 foot fence!