Controlling Your Beagle Off the Leash
Posted: Monday, September 03, 2007
by Colin Pederson
dogobedienceadvice.com
Beagles are scent hounds, bred and trained to hunt deer and other game. With a long history as game-hounds, bred and trained to hunt by smell and chase down anything that runs, the truth about Beagles is that they simply cannot be trusted off the leash no matter how well they're trained. Only ever exercise your Beagle off the leash in a safe, enclosed space.
The first command that any dog should be taught is the recall command. This is especially important if you have a Beagle - it's no fun trying to chase down a running Beagle, who, oblivious to your cries, has gone hounding off after the nearest cat/bird/interesting smell.
- Train your Beagle to come on command using a long leash.
- Put the leash on your Beagle and get him to sit facing you at a distance of about six to ten feet. Make sure you have some treats - a fanny-pack of smelly goodies is exceptionally tempting for a scent-hound like the Beagle.
- In a clear, loud voice, say "Come". At the same time, make a clear beckoning gesture using your whole hand and forearm. Remember your tone of voice and the gesture used here, as you will need to repeat these every time you use the command in your future.
- Simultaneously, reel your Beagle in towards you with the leash.
- When he reaches you, praise him lavishly and reward with a treat.
- Repeat the process for about ten minutes. Remember to end on a good note: you don't want to train for so long that your Beagle becomes bored and frustrated, as this will erase any good work that has been done. When training is over, it's time for a play session.
- Your Beagle should pick this up relatively quickly, as they are intelligent dogs accustomed to following orders. When he's able to trot towards you without the benefit of a gentle tug on the leash, try recalling without the leash. In an enclosed space, simply repeat the training process - and remember to reward him every time he obeys you.
- Remember, "training" means "learning". Expect mistakes and do not punish them. A good trainer will ignore mistakes and generously reward the dog when he obeys. Use plentiful encouragement and food treats to really drum the message into his memory.
- You may wish to supplement the commands at first by bending down and stretching your arms out, as if for a hug. This welcoming posture will help to make it clear to your Beagle exactly what you expect of him. Snapping your fingers or patting your leg are also good "come" signals to use.
- Keep your face smiley and your voice welcoming - your Beagle will pick up on the smallest of mannerisms and use them to form his own opinions about whether it is "worth" obeying you. He is much more likely to obey the recall command if you appear welcoming and happy.
Even the best-trained Beagle should never be walked off-leash in an unenclosed space. Your dog's safety will be at risk if you put too much faith in training. Strong genetic programming as a scent-hunter is not something that can be subverted by even a thorough and lengthy obedience program.
Only walk your Beagle off the leash in a safe, enclosed space, or you will likely find yourself yelling helplessly for him to come back while he chases off into the undergrowth - and what if that tempting scent leads across a busy motorway or street? It's simply not worth it.
Investing in a long, self-retracting lead, and going for plenty of walks and games in enclosed spaces - big gardens, fenced playgrounds, etc - is a good way to ensure that your Beagle gets sufficient and stimulating exercise.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Itis a good article,but my beagle just wants food!!!!!!!!!!!!and she is also on a diet.well,she's never gonna keep his nose off the ground or stop trying to eat a treat throgh my pocket she when goes for walks.Can anybody suggest a leash she can use???My Beagle only gets off leash when we walk in our woods and then he sometimes runs off and comes back in 2-3 hrs .I have been using a long training leash then he has more room to walk and sniff without being right next to me it also gives him more space to run alittle. It has worked for me.
I DISAGREE, beagles are NOT dumb and they can be trained to be off leash obedient. Go to youtube, type in off leash beagle, or real world off leash beagle, I have like 25 videos of my beagle off leash, walking through my neighborhood, to the park, and just some obedience videos of how all dogs should obey off leash, YES, EVEN BEAGLES! I do NOT use prong, choke, or shock collars, no clickers, food ONLY when they're puppies. I used a toy to train him, THAT"S ALL, I also have videos of my 8y/o niece walking him on the street off leash. Have you considered that the problem is NOT your beagle (or beagles in general), its just that your not capable trainers, and since you failed your dog, you justify it by blaming it on the breed, then you spread myths saying ALL beagles can NOT be trusted, giving beagles a bad name in the process, just to hide your failures, HOW SELFISH can people be. Then you go on message boards, pretending to be "experts," but you can't even communicate with your own dog. Then you talk crap about guys like me, because while you were acting like an "expert," flapping your gums about things you've never done and know nothing about, my dogs and I were out doing all of the work proving all of you Know-Nothing's wrong.Jay,
Who cares about your dog or niece's dog? Big whoop... there are many trainers out there who have trained beagles off the leash, your not the only one.
Maybe you are the one with the problem; to much self pity...
~Just a casual observer
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