One of my obedience instructors had an Obedience trial Champion Beagle. She said it took her twice as long to train the Beagle but she did it to prove they can be trained. It just takes persistence, patience and consistency. And keeping it fun.
As someone who showed Whippets in Obedience I used to get a crowd 3 deep around the ring with comments of "look she going to do obedience with a hound breed !" . Scent and Sighthounds have bad raps at Obedience events. But it's nice to prove people wrong.
Bob, I'd talk to other Beagle folks about training tips for the breed. Every breed has it quirks. With Whippets I've used hand of god training. Put a long line onto a choke collar. Let the dog start barking, yell "Quiet" and yank. They don't see you do it. It just happens. Whippets don't need harsh training usually, but at work I sometimes had to get dogs to quiet down. With my Sheltie I used lemon juice in a squirt bottle. She was allowed to bark a couple times to tell me someone was at the door but then after I told her "Quiet" if she barked she got lemon juice in the mouth. She shut up quick. Later I only had to reach for any object and she'd stop. Shelties are notorious barkers as well. I also taught her to ring a bell when she wanted out. I never ever taught the "Speak" command. Most people who do regret it. The dog barks for cookies....duh. Then they bark anytime they want a cookie.
regards
" Insanity takes its toll..........please have exact change"
Well, i know i should have my head examined for doing this but i bought a beagle this weekend. I was hunting CTs with Buzz in an alfalfa field saturday morn. I jumped 5 bunnies in the first hour out there. One bunny ran into some tall grass near me, Buzz checked and landed close by with death in her eyes as she scanned the weeds. I spotted the rabbit and decided to flush it into the open field. I slipped and almost fell. I hurt my back and ended up going home early to lay on an ice pack before going back out that afternoon. Were was Bud the GSP during all this, you ask? Good question! He was doing what bird dogs do best, chasing birds... on the other side of the field! The next morning i could barely walk and i decided that enough was enough. I called a rabbit hunter i met several months ago who had some pups. He had two left. So Beagle Bailey is now apart of the Dale clan. I really needed another dog D@mn thing had better hunt rabbits!!!!!
Beagle Bailey wasn't very well socialized as a youngster. Apparently it was let out of the kennel to run with the breeders grandchildren but it hasn't been handled much. Today was the first time it acted like a puppy, running, playing etc. Max and i took it in the back yard for a romp. He's coming along nicely. Beibhan, I found a man who has a running yard. Ten acres of land, enclosed with chain link and chicken wire, planted with hedges and stocked with wild bunnies. He uses it to start his dogs at about 4 months (Bailey's age). He recommended letting it track a domestic rabbit for a while b/c the leave a stronger scent trail ( i knew those things stank!). So, i'll get a flemish giant and let it hop around and see what happens. After he shows some progress with that i'll take him to the running yard.
Beagle Bailey wasn't very well socialized as a youngster. Apparently it was let out of the kennel to run with the breeders grandchildren but it hasn't been handled much. Today was the first time it acted like a puppy, running, playing etc. Max and i took it in the back yard for a romp. He's coming along nicely. Beibhan, I found a man who has a running yard. Ten acres of land, enclosed with chain link and chicken wire, planted with hedges and stocked with wild bunnies. He uses it to start his dogs at about 4 months (Bailey's age). He recommended letting it track a domestic rabbit for a while b/c the leave a stronger scent trail ( i knew those things stank!). So, i'll get a flemish giant and let it hop around and see what happens. After he shows some progress with that i'll take him to the running yard.
Sounds like a great resource. Just remember with a Beagle don't ever give a command you can't enforce or they'll remember that. Most dogs are this way but hounds esp. I use different words. "Stay" is just that, don't move a muscle. But "Wait" means wait around in this general vicinity. I don't use "Come" unless they are on a leash at first. I'll use " puppy puppy" or some other thing to get them to come to me when they are off leash at first. If they can't screw up they learn it the right way. I do use food in the beginning. You may want to look into clicker training for fun. Beagles are similar to Hawks, will work for food attitude And with good smells to go with it he should be in heaven !
" Insanity takes its toll..........please have exact change"
Purebred. He's out of good, active hunting stock. I found tons of beagles but none that were out of proven hunting parents. He's and 8th generation hunter so i'm counting heavily on that genetic thing.
I think Beagle Bailey got lucky this weekend and jumped a rabbit! The rabbit came out of a brush pile and Buzz nailed it! I want to think that the little guy scented it out and jumped it on purpose, thus demonstrating his worth as a rabbit dog, but in reality i think he stumbled on to it. He really looked surprized when the rabbit ran! He looked amazed when Buzz pounced it! Perhaps this bit of success will create and association upon which to build a good working relationship! ;D