Care & Feeding Tips for Your Pet Beagle

Beagles are a small breed of hunting dogs that have been around in one form or another since ancient Greek times. These little guys are hearty, even tempered dogs with a happy alert demeanor. They are not normally aggressive but they will guard their territory. Their colors are usually a combination of black, white and tan. Their long ears and big brown eyes make them easy to recognize as Beagles.

Some people think their pet Beagle will be hard to train because of what they have heard. It's true that you can't force them to learn something, they have to want to learn. It seems the key to training them is to find a method of training that will suit them. Beagles tend to get bored easily so you need to find a way to keep their attention. Many of them prefer food as a reward as they do like to eat. Although some trainers disagree with this method, you might have to resort to it if other methods don't appear to be working. If your pet turns out to be extra stubborn to train then food might be the secret. If you try to exert your will on your pet Beagle you will likely lose against this intelligent, clever hound.

When determining your method of training your pet, be sure you include crate training. This is especially if they will be indoors much of the time. This is likely one of the easiest things in training them as it will give them a place of their own where they can feel safe and secure. A crate is the perfect solution if you leave your pet inside when you leave for a short time. For some Beagles, it can take a year or more to be fully house-broken but consistency and patience will win the day.

You will find that your pet Beagle will love playing with and being around children. Although this may seem like a match made in heaven, Beagles like to use their mouths to play, therefore it is wise to supervise any interaction between them and children. Train your children how best to play with their pet and play time will be much happier for both the pet and the child.

Like most other dogs Beagles have a two-layered coat and they do shed. A brushing every day with a good grooming mitt or brush will be something your pet Beagle will start to look forward to and you will be happy with less dog hair in the house.

Under certain circumstances they will bark but thankfully they are not constant yappers. They will growl if a stranger comes into their territories, and they will bark sometimes if left alone. Crate training is a good way to keep your pet Beagle from barking when you need to leave. Another trait of hunter dogs which Beagles can have is a tendency to howl or bay. See How to Stop A Beagle From Howling

Try not to leave your pet Beagle outside by themselves for long periods of time. Because they are not getting enough attention, or are lonely it cause them to create problems such as chewing and digging. This is another place where crate training can help out. You can bring them inside and they will spend much of the time in their crate or house within the house.

Although Beagles require a strong leader, they never respond well to any kind of physical correcting. Usually, they get along fine with other dogs and even the occasional cat. If your pet Beagle shows any aggression toward a human, it means you have to get more consistent, self-assured, and serious about your training program.

Because these are hunting dogs and tend to chase other animals, you should keep them on a leash especially in populated areas. If they come across a smell they like you'll have to keep a tight rein on them as they will try to trail it. They do like to run free so try to find places where you can turn them loose. They normally play well with other dogs so a dog park is great for them.

Like other dogs, Beagles are susceptible to some diseases and disorders. A few of these include: cataracts and other eye issues, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. Having regular checkups by your vet and monitoring their diets will go a long ways toward preventing these problems.

When feeding your pet Beagle it is advisable to prepare natural food for them at home. This way you will know exactly what kind of food they are getting. Beagles do tend to obesity so in making their food should ensure you pet stays slim and trim. Only feed them what they will eat in a certain period of time will also help as they will eat if it's available. If you can't prepare home made food then you should buy them the best that you can afford.

Happy is one word that is often used to describe Beagles. Just think of Snoopy. To keep your pet happy, love him, train him, and feed him nutritional natural dog food. By doing this your pet Beagle will be a faithful and fun pet for your entire family.

Don Levy Beagles The American Kennel Club

Don Levy How to Stop A Beagle From Howling Ehow Website