Beagle Puppy Training Tips
Beagle puppy training can be a little more than you bargained for if you aren’t aware of the breed’s personality traits and physical abilities. The beagle is a very loveable and loyal breed of dog; however like all dogs it does have its quirks and flaws. The point of downfall for a beagle is his sense of adventure, which also happens to be the reason this breed is so popular! A beagle can be easily distracted when something more interesting catches his attention—especially if he picks up a scent that he would like to explore. Because of this, many new beagle owners find themselves with a seemingly stubborn puppy that just won’t pay attention to training lessons long enough to learn something!
Potty training is one of the first lessons most dog owners want to hit first. With the beagle’s tendency to become easily distracted, you may find more accidents with this breed than with another you may have had previously. A lot of beagle owners recommend crate-assisted potty training for the beagle, as it creates a limitation to the beagle’s curiosity. You should begin training as soon as you are able to bring your beagle puppy home, which is usually around six weeks of age. It sounds awfully early to start training, but at this age dogs are very open to learning which makes it the best time to train. The key to crate training is to give your dog a dependable schedule. This not only gives him a sense of routine and dependability, but it will aid your puppy in learning that you are a leader worthy of trust.
If you place your puppy in the crate during the night time hours, you may choose to start off with a bathroom break before he goes into the crate, sometime halfway through the night (yes, this means you have to wake up from your slumber, but puppies have a much smaller bladder than humans and he may not make it throughout the night), as well as a trip outside in the morning. You can choose to leave him outside of the crate during the day time, only placing him in it when you have to leave the house, or devise your own crate routine that works best for your schedule. Remember, the key is to keep a dependable routine. For the first few weeks of potty training, you will need to bear in mind that every time your beagle eats, he will be ready to potty roughly 20 – 30 minutes after his meal or drinking. So, you may want to set up meals for times that are convenient to your schedule, making sure you include the half-hour wait and trip outside. As for drinking, you should have water available to your beagle at all times, which means you will simply have to keep a keen eye on him and make note of when he drinks so that you can prepare to take him out in half an hour’s time.
Beagles definitely need positive reinforcement during the training process. They are a sensitive breed that may respond in a spiteful nature to shouting or heavy-handed training techniques. Now that you know about the beagle’s tendency for distraction, it is up to you to be determined and persistent in training lessons. Treats may help to keep your pup’s attention when his concentration seems to be wavering. You can also keep his attention by keeping the training sessions fun and happy. You want your dog to be able to look forward to this one-on-one time with his favorite person—you!—instead of dreading and eventually resenting this time.
Lots of praise when your pup does something right will go a long way with this breed. Encouraging words or a cheerful ruffle of his fur are good ways of showing your pup that he has pleased you. When your puppy does something negative, look him straight in the eyes and in a firm but clear voice say “no”. The tone of your voice when you praise or correct will be the first clue your beagle has to discerning whether his actions are good or bad. That being said, mistakes will happen. Simply repeat “no” when necessary and keep a dependable routine. Your puppy genuinely wants to please you and will eventually catch on to what behavior is and isn’t acceptable.
Don’t let yourself get discouraged if it seems to be taking ages to get your beagle trained. Persistence, dependability, and positive correction methods are the keys to successfully training your little guy. Best of luck!