[Barney59]

Hi, Barney is my first Beagle he is a rescue dog I have had him for 2 months and he is just 1.
I live in Kettering England and have owned lots of different breads of dogs before.
Barney is quite a challenge he is a very loving dog very good at night we are getting there with lead training coming back etc. My main issue is his stealing, he will take anything if I catch him straight away its fine and can get what ever he has got of him but if he has it for more than a few seconds and we try to get it of him he gets very nasty both my adult son and my self have been bitten by him, if its just a tea towel we ignore him and he losses interest but If its something that shouldn't be chewed or food we have problems. Is this a beagle trait or just Barney?

 

[Mom2Beagles]

Another new member just posted a similar question. Shelter/rescue dogs can sometimes get possessive of items that they want. He should not be biting you! You can try a trade, ask him to drop the item he stole and trade him for a small treat. This info might help too:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/food-guarding

 

[Barney59]

That's for the info, he is lovely dog I can take of him his own food any bones I give him or his toys, it just seems to be a issue with things he steals I have tried the trade which works really well with a lot of things but if its food eg the other evening he stole a box of chocolates I got bitten trying to get them of him and I didn't get them he ate the lot. I do worry as I have a 5yr old granddaughter that this might happen to her.

 

[Mom2Beagles]

Be sure to keep an eye on him with your granddaughter. Maybe put up a dog gate if he can't be supervised with her. Kids can spook dogs when they move fast or grab things from them etc.