Dealing With Your Dog’s Barking – Step...

Some owners just want their dogs to be quiet. Is this what you expect from your pet? When dealing with your dogs’ barking, remember, dogs bark, it is just what they do, and for many reasons. Beagles love to bark, but their bark is more like an “Aroooo.” Some beagles bark a lot, others, like Winnie the Beagle, rarely.

If you train your dog to stop barking completely, you are keeping him from communicating with you. Remember, he is a part of your family and should be allowed to verbalize just like everyone else in your home.

You have a voice and so does your dog. He will use it to try to communicate with you. This is not a bad thing. After all, you would certainly want him to alert you to any potential danger. Even though the barking can be annoying, you need to learn to read the body language that goes along with the barking before you attempt to stop it. If you are looking for the answer to “why do dogs bark?” you would need to know “why people talk”. We have our way of communicating and dogs have theirs.

Some dogs were bred to bark. German Shepherds, Rottweiler’s and Doberman Pinchers were bred for this purpose. These dogs are used, most commonly, to guard and protect. Whereas, Beagles and Bloodhounds are used more for sport, such as hunting. Their bark is really more of a baying sound, which alerts their handler of the results of their hunting efforts.

Then, there is the dog that just likes to hear himself bark. That is when it gets annoying. There are so many different reasons for dog barking…

• He might have to go potty
• He is lonely
• He wants your attention
• He wants to play
• He is hungry and is reminding you it is time for his meal
• He may hear or sense danger

In any of these cases, you really do not want to quiet your pet. After all, how would you like it if you were not allowed to tell someone about something you feel is important? On the other hand, there are some unacceptable situations…

• If you are busy, even if it is just watching your favorite television show, and your dog barks to get your attention, you first need to determine why he wants your attention. If he just wants to play, and you do not, and he just will not let up, then that is not acceptable. Try ignoring him and if he just keeps getting louder and more persistent try turning your back on him. There is no reason to acknowledge him at all, so no talking.
• If that does not work, give him ‘the look’. In most cases that should end it but if not, literally, get up and walk away from him. Whatever you do, do not give in just to stop the barking. Your dog needs to know that you are the boss, not him. He is actually more comfortable with your relationship if you define it. If you give in, he will get the idea that the longer he barks the better chance he has of getting his way.
• When nothing else works, it is time to get physical. No, I do not mean hitting your dog. Hitting him is not acceptable. It will only cause more problems down the road. What I mean is use your hand to muzzle him. He will probably struggle to get away, but do not let him. Take hold of his collar to give yourself more control, while continuing to hold his muzzle. Wait for him to settle down and then release him. If he gets the message, be sure to praise him for understanding what you expect from him.
• When your dog barks out of boredom, give him some playtime and exercise. You have taken on the responsibility of dog-ownership and this means that you have an obligation to keep your pet fit, happy and healthy. If you think about it, it is very little that our pets ask of us. Take him for a walk or go out back and throw a ball or Frisbee. You might even enjoy it and get some exercise yourself.

Always remember, barking is just talking.

Beagle Puppy Potty Training...

Once you get past all of the things you find so adorable about your new little beagle puppy, and they sure are cute, reality sets in.  The reality is that beagle puppies, like another puppies, require a lot of love, training and discipline, especially when it comes to potty training.

If you have ever been the proud “parent” of a new puppy, you will surely agree that potty training can be the most challenging and frustrating elements of owning a puppy.  Just when you think they are getting the hang of it, they undoubtedly have an accident somewhere in the house, maybe a few times a day. So, how long does it take to potty train a puppy, especially a beagle puppy?

Puppies are babies and continue to grow and develop in that first year of life, much like human babies.  In their growth, their bladders will grow and develop, allowing them the opportunity to “hold it” for longer periods of time, however, in the meantime, you can expect more than a few accidents along the way.  For the first 3-6 months, a puppy cannot fully control his bladder, as it is still in the development stage.

Generally speaking, you can expect your puppy to be fully potty trained within approximately 6-9 months, depending on how much time and effort you put into it.  Consistency is the key.  Another thing you must bring to the table is a lot of love and patience.  Remember that you are dealing with a puppy (baby) who must LEARN all about potty training, and it is your job to teach him.

Some breeds [e.g. beagles!] are more stubborn than others in terms of understanding what is expected of them, but with the proper training and most importantly, consistency, you can expect good results no matter what type of dog you are training.  It makes no difference whether your puppy is male or female, large or small, what does matter is the quality of training they receive.

In my case, I am dealing with the most adorable little beagle puppy.  He is very sweet and intelligent, but also very headstrong, sassy and a lot of times, he is just downright naughty.  When it comes to potty training, it amazes me that he can learn to shake paw, sit or sit up in an hour or so, but try to get this guy outside to go potty and he does not seem to get it.  Sometimes it seems like he is just not going potty outside to get back at me for not giving him an extra treat!

I have not had a puppy for many years and it did not take me long to remember just how much work they can be, especially when it comes to potty training.

There are several things to remember if trying to potty train your puppy, and the sooner you begin, the better.

• As much as possible, try to get the puppy on a set schedule to include feedings, grooming and daily walks.  Some people choose to walk their dogs in the early morning, while others prefer an evening walk.  Some people choose both morning and evening.  Regardless of your preference, it will not be long until your puppy will be looking forward to getting his exercise and begin to sense (or know) about what time of day it will happen.
• Feed your puppy at the same time every day.  It does not matter whether you fill his bowl with food first thing in the morning, or give him one small feeding in the morning and another in the evening.
• Get into the habit of letting your puppy outside to go potty first thing in the morning, last thing at night and approximately 20-30 minutes after each feeding.  You will also want to keep a close watch to make sure he does not get the opportunity to go potty in the house.  Watch for the signs such as sniffing, walking in circles and squatting.
• Make it an exciting event to go outside and go potty by the tone of your voice.  When your puppy successfully goes potty outside, you want to praise him and pet him, letting him know you are very happy with what he accomplished.  Take a few small treats along with you to reward your puppy right after he went potty.  Treats speak volumes and work wonders in the training of your puppy.

Positive reinforcement, patience and above all – consistency – are the keys to potty training your puppy quickly and successfully and above all have fun training your beagle puppy.

Beagle Training – Successful Tips...

Beagle training is not hard. Beagles are considered to be the oldest breed of gundogs in the world, but they are very well suited for rabbit and hare hunting. Many breeders focus on tracking and hunting rabbits with their Beagles, and they do have many qualities that can make them competitive and even show dogs in some stages.

Beagles are a smart breed of dogs and can be trained very quickly. Many are trained to hunt rabbits at a very young age, and an intensive dog obedience training session and progressive steps for specific goals will work well for them.

Beagle puppiess can be trained as early as 6 – 8 weeks of age and will easily adapt to different forms of dog obedience training. They have a very short attention span so it is important to keep these sessions to approximately 10 – 15 minutes, and not more than two or three times per day.

Constant positive feedback and generous affection are usually all that are needed for the puppy to concede and follow your guidelines. These dogs can become tame and docile very easily when you teach them how to appreciate your respect and guidance. These dogs are not difficult for the average person to train, but the process does require patience and persistence with frequent dog obedience training sessions.

Socialization is incredibly important for these energetic dogs, and they can adjust fairly quickly in social situations and with other dogs. Young puppies can be led to school on a dog leash and trained on a dog grooming table.

They are likely to pick up new tricks very quickly and it is important that these dogs learn positive behaviors as soon as possible. Beagles enjoy games and activities and will respond well to reinforcement when they are alert and engaged in activities.

Teaching training in logical steps will help make the necessary transitions and can clear the way for consistency which is especially important for puppies. Running the dogs on a daily basis will help them to learn as much as possible for hunting and racing purposes.

The dogs are competitive but fun to work with; they respond well to positive motivation and reinforcement. Consistent feedback and attention will make it easier to train the Beagle, even if it is not of a very young age.