Clicker Training Basics With Your Beagle

I had always been interested in Classical Conditioning so, when I heard about clicker training dogs for behavior modification, I believed I had found my perfect training tool.
I didn't need to go buy a clicker because I still had lots of them lying around the house; but I'm sure I could have found one at any pet supply shop. I did need a pile of delicious treats though and I cut up some cheddar cheese into tiny bits.
The sound emitted from the clicker helps the dog to understand exactly what it did right. It's kind of like the connector word but it isn't affected by tone, stress or exasperation, it makes the same sound every time. This helps minimize any confusion your Beagle might be interpreting from your voice.
For instance, if I wanted my Beagle puppy to learn to sit, I would lure him into position, click as his bottom hit the floor and reinforce the behavior with a food incentive. I would add a verbal command only after he was used to being lured into the position.

Claiming His Space

My little Beagle baby did something today that surprised me. He had been busy running all around the yard with Corey, the child from next door, when he suddenly came in and went straight into his crate to lay down and take a nap.
The crate doors remain open during the day so the puppy realistically could use the crate as a resting place if he wanted to. But, before today he had never actually used it. Today, however, he went right in, turned himself around into a ball and went into a deep, snoring sleep. It was very cute.
I hadn't been a big advocate for crating prior to the puppy coming to live with us. It seemed cruel to confine him that way. But Mike showed me research on the denning instincts of Beagles and convinced me that it was important to create a living space for our Beagle puppy.
Of course, Corey tried to get near the crate to get the puppy back out to play some more, but I didn't let him near it. I told him that the dog was resting and we wouldn't want to interrupt his nap. Then, as if magic, Corey decided to take a nap too! It was a great solution all the way around.

Choosing a Trainer for Your Beagle

It didn't take me long to discover that my Beagles' bad behaviors were ruining relationship. I started hunting for a good, reliable dog trainer to help me put things in perspective.
Most trainers have an "open-house" policy so that I could go check out one of their classes and see if it was suitable for my needs. I sat in on a few classes and talked to other dog owners about what they looked for in a trainer.
The other dog owners usually agreed on which trainers were disliked in the community and I made a mental note to steer clear. I knew I didn't want anyone using physical punishment on my Beagle.
I finally found a wonderful trainer who used humane methods of training Beagles. She made her classroom a fun place to learn and used food reward instead of force. My Beagle and I looked forward to our weekly class time.

Choosing A Beagle Puppy Name Is As Much Fun As Choosing A Babys Name

Once you have chosen the perfect Beagle to bring home, you must consider what you will name your puppy. Beagle puppy names are varied and range from things as popular as "Scout" and "Spot" to more complex names. Consider a variety of things when looking at dog names. First, what is your dog's personality? Beagle puppy names like "Pokey" or "Speedy" indicate this, so don't misname your dog.
You can also look at your dog's colorings when thinking of dog names. A yellow lab might do well with the name "Sunshine" or "Goldie" for example.
When there are suitable names suggested and compiled into a list, then everyone can take a vote on this list, resulting in a suitable name. If you live along, spend some time observing the Beagle puppy to determine what its new name should be.
Hopefully to something your dog can remember easily. Keep dog names to one or two syllables so that your dog is not confused.

Caring For Your Beagle As He Ages

Caring for your Beagle as he ages can be very fulfilling and it can be traumatic. Depending on the relationship you have had with your dog will determine how well you may handle his care.
Spend time with your dog. Maybe all you can do is pet him. It doesn't matter. Caring for your Beagle as he ages will make his last days acceptable and you can take it all in.
As he ages he may need help with getting in and out of your vehicle. He may need a ramp where he would jump up before.
There can be a lot of fulfillment in helping your old friend as he ages. What is better than his best friend helping him?

Car Travel With Your Beagle

Traveling by car with your Beagle might be fun as you plan your trip, but there is a lot of extra plans to be made.
Car travel with your Beagle means that you need to plan some extra stops for potty breaks. If you don't, you might find yourself cleaning the carpeting of your car.
Remember that when you stop at a rest stop that you are responsible for your pets protection and well being. This can be difficult when it is just the two of you.
You will have to decide whether or not you will put him in a hauler or let him roam freely throughout the car.

Canine Cuisine 101

I am seeing a clear pattern of what goes into the dog affects what comes out of the dog. Finding the right diet to feed your Beagle is more than just a case of trial and error. There are some definite things you can do to make it easier.
Because Mike and I are not in a position to feed the new little baby the ultra-expensive food that the breeder recommended I have been researching other possibilities. I have found some guidelines to help me choose a healthy alternative.
Check for one or more named meats in the first few ingredients. Look for whole foods in the ingredient listings (corn not corn gluten meal).
Avoid foods that have a bunch of fillers in them or chemical additives. If it isn't something you would put in your meal, don't expect your dog to eat it either.

Bristle Brushes Bring Pleasure

I needed to figure out what you need to groom your Beagle in order to be sure that my baby's coat was in good condition at all times. What I found was that for daily or maintenance grooming all I really needed was a good quality bristle brush.
It is now part of our daily routine to give the baby a full body brushing. I like being able to spend the one-on-one time with him and I know exactly when we need to consider bathing or treating for fleas or other parasites.
I think he likes the touching and brushing too. He stands very still and lets me get every inch of his skin.
There are times when upon completion of the brushing there is a huge pile of dead hair. I'm sure it feels good to him to have all that off his skin.

Bringing the Baby Home

The puppy comes home today! I can't wait to pick him up. It has been a whirlwind of activity to prepare for our Beagle puppy. For example, in preparation we have been running through the house looking for things that may pose a temptation for him to chew through or knock off.
Just like having a toddler running through the house, I have put all the breakables up out of puppy reach.
I have also moved all household cleaning supplies up into a higher cabinet so that there is no chance that this little rascal can accidentally get into them and hurt himself.
Some common houseplants may be toxic to pets. I am not sure if mine are part of that list. So, I have chosen to give most of them away. Better safe than sorry!

Breeding Your Beagle

Something that you need to know before you decide to become a breeder is that this will take more effort and more time than almost anything else that occupies your time.
One question to ask yourself is why? Why do you want to become a breeder. Do you have something to offer in your town that another doesn't? Are you maybe trying to improve the breed?
Breeding your Beagle for money is selfish. Beagle don't need you to help keep the breed alive and well.
Breeding your Beagle can be very rewarding and fun. Make sure that you are doing it all for the right reasons.