Tips
Beagle Tips
Having any dog is a big responsibility, having a Beagle is a lifestyle! This amazing, wonderful and beautiful breed will be loyal to you beyond belief…And also he or she will be keeping you on your toes.
Here, we offer you some of the best Beagle tips to help you with some of the most common problems or issues that may arise when you own this dog. Also, be sure to look to the navigation on the left for all sorts of detailed information on just about every topic.
Let’s Talk about Care Tips
Some people say that Beagles smell, but this is not true at all. Well, any canine will have an odor
if they are not properly groomed….so let’s look at what this entails.
Brushing:
This is a main element of grooming of course. One of the best Beagle tips to remember is that even though the coat is short and you may not see an immediate need for brushing, it is very important to do so.
When this breed sheds, and it happens all throughout the year at varying rates of speed, not all of the hairs fall to the ground or onto your sofa…Some fall back into the coat. For this reason, an important tip is to do a good, all over body brush at least 1 time per week. It is best to use a bristle brush or horse hair brush. As you go over your dog, you will be picking up dead hairs and also removing any dirt & debris. Additionally, this will keep the coat healthy, as it helps to distribute skin oils.
Baths:
It is easy to think that the more the better…However too many baths will strip the coat and skin of natural oils…and this often leaves the coat very dry and brittle. It can also cause skin irritation, which in some cases can progress to quite a problem.
So, your Beagle tip for bathing is to give him or her a good, thorough bath only about 1 time every 3 weeks. Exceptions? Of course, there are always exceptions!...If he runs through mud, it is bath time! Another thing to keep in mind is that you should never use human products. Always use a quality canine shampoo and conditioner.
Ears:
With those big floppy ears, of course they will need care! A great tip is to choose a certain day, let’s say the 1st day of each month. On those days, it will be ‘ear checking time’. You will want to inspect each one to check for any odors (a clear sign of infection), look for bites, cuts, mites, excessive redness, etc. Report any issues to your vet right away.
A certain amount of wax is needed…it works to catch dust and debris that otherwise would enter the ear way. However, too much wax is not good…report this to your vet as well. If the ears appear that they need to be cleaned, be careful not to push any ear wax down deeper into the ear, as this can be the cause of infection. It is best to use a quality canine ear cleanser solution and sterile gauze pads to gently clean out any dirt, lint, etc.
Activity - A Very Important Element in Taking Care of a Beagle
One of the best Beagle tips that any owner can receive is to understand the importance of exercise and activity. This is not a lazy breed. They have the instinct to hunt, they have the instinct to trot or run through fields for hours! Pets need to have daily exercise…without it, they will have pent up energy…and that needs to be released. Pets who are not taken outside for exercise just about every day usually end up releasing their energy by destroying the home or showing negative behavior.
A daily walk is a must. 2 walks is even better. While it is important to teach your Beagle to heel (for safety reasons), it is also important to choose times when he or she is allowed to explore. They love this! They will want to smell new scents…see new sights…hear new noises…follow new trails. One idea is to do a daily morning controlled walk and then offer an early evening exploration walk. In this way, your Beagle will learn the routine and know what you expect from each venture out…When doing this, be sure to go to different areas for each activity. For example, the daily controlled walk can be around your neighborhood…and the exploration walk can be in a nearby field, dog park, or other location.
- This breed has strong instincts to pick up a scent and follow. Read more here: Beagle Running Away and Chasing
- The Beagle also can have a strong digging habit. Read more here: Beagle Digging
Whiskey, 21 months old
Photo courtesy of owner: Jessica
Barking Issues
If you wanted a quite lap dog, you should not have chosen a Beagle. This breed does bark and this breed bays (howls). However, there are steps that you can take to cut down on the barking and baying.
There are many reasons that your Beagle may be barking… some include:
• They feel a need to protect the home when seeing a car, a person, etc.
• They sense a potential danger to themselves, the family or the property even if it cannot be seen. (Their hearing and sense of smell is quite amazing).
• They want attention
• They are bored and are trying to communicate a need
• They need to go to the bathroom
• They are lonely (Separation anxiety
can be quite an issue).
Note: If you Beagle is howling (baying) at what appears to be nothing, this is different than barking…They are, by instinct, calling out to other dogs in an effort to ‘round up the gang’.
It will help if you can try to identify the reason for any excessive barking. It may take a few days to pinpoint it. It can help to take notes of the time of day, what is happening at that moment, if you notice any ‘triggers’, etc.
If you believe that their behavior is due to wanting to protect the home and the family, it can help to show him or her that YOU are calm. When a dog sees that an owner is not concerned, this can cause them to calm down themselves…they may begin to understand that ‘after all, if you are not worries, perhaps they shouldn’t be’.
Many owners talk so much and give so many commands for the dog to be quiet, that it cause a commotion…The Beagle can then interpret that as the owners being worried as well. It can often help to completely ignore the dog…no praise, no negative words, no attention…nothing. Only when they stop barking will they receive attention, pats, a snack and so forth. Dogs most often choose the behavior or action that brings about the best results.
It can also help to close any curtains if they are looking out of the window and seeing things that set them off such as people walking by or small animals such as squirrel or birds. If they are outside and making a racket, it can help to change their location from the front yard to the back or vice-versa.
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