[jeojse06]

hello-

I need advise from beagle owners. We had to put our coonhound dog down and we are thinking about getting a beagle. We have children, small farm and 2 toher coonhounds. We do NOT hunt. I hear that beagles are known for being runners. We do have a small area that our dogs use to go potty. We also use a dog to help outside with cooping the birds and with chores. My child does 4h as well with our dog. Noone there has a beagle either. can anyone give me advice about this breed. thanks

 

[Tales from the Doghouse]

Hi! I have a 2yr old beagle, so I don't have too much experience with beagles; but here's what mine is like. (btw, we don't hunt either)
First: Dexter adores and is very good with kids. He's very patient with them..like he knows that they are delicate and that they don't really mean to do some of the stuff they do. He is also pretty good with other dogs. One of his favorite things to do is go to the park and play with other dogs. He actually has a golden retriever brother with whom he plays with. Tonka (the golden) is still a puppy and likes to annoy and tease Dexter, and Dexter just lets him do whatever... as long as it doesn't hurt to bad, then he'll stick up for himself. But they've never gotten into an actual fight... just play fighting.

Second: Dexter does like to run away. And it's not so much that he runs away, he just get a scent in his nose and blocks out EVERYTHING else! But as long as you have a fence or can hook him up to a stake in the ground (or have him on a leash every time you take him out), you should be fine.

Third: Dexter will do anything for a treat, hence training was very easy. It usually only takes 2-3 days to teach him a new trick. Now he knows sit, down, stay, shake, roll-over, jump, dance, turn on and off lights, climb a ladder, "say" please, "say" thank you, and "say" bye-bye. I can even throw a treat on the ground and have him stay until I give the OK; then sometimes, just as he's about to chow down on the treat, I'll say STOP! and he'll stop, sit, and stare back at me until I give the Ok. Anyway, all that to say, beagles are very smart and can learn pretty quickly.

Fourth: Beagles are very expressive. I always know whatever Dexter is thinking. They are also very good at using their eyes, hence sometimes I have a really hard time not giving in to him. He's just sooo cute!

Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[Mom2Beagles]

Beagles can be great dogs to have with children. They are known for not being so great off-leash unless they are raised as hunters. You are familiar with the hound breed so the beagle characteristics wont be new to you. This is a good site for beagle info and they have a "is the beagle the right dog for me list"

http://www.beagles-on-the-web.com/questions/