For some people, training the beagle can be a challenge. In fact, training the beagles is relatively easy, as long as you select the timing and the strategies properly. Experts of beagle obedience training say that the younger the beagles are trained, the better. Therefore, the best time to start training your beagles is when they are still very young.
Why should you train the beagles at their early age? You will notice few differences when training an older beagle vs training a poppy. Firstly, it takes longer for older beagles to follow your instruction in beagle obedience training and leash training. Secondly, you the trainer needs to be more patient in training older beagles. People said that beagles are creatures of habit. As they have old habits, which might have been there for years, you are training them not only to adopt new habits but also to abandon their old habits. That is why patience is crucial here.
How to Train Your Beagle from the Early Age
If you want to know how to train your beagle in a hassle-free way, start the training sessions from its early age. Beagle obedience training consists of a number of aspects, namely, crate training, potty training, leash training, table manner, and barking control.
How to do beagle crate training
The first step in crate training is selecting the crate itself. You might think that choosing a large crate is a great idea, since it is still useful until the beagle reach its adult size. However, this idea is not necessary true. Think of this: what happens when the beagle treat to the other side of the crate when you are training it?
Therefore, make sure to choose a crate of the right size, namely, one this enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around. However, it should not bee too large. If you choose one that is large enough for an adult beagle, make sure to block off extra space, so that the beagle cannot eliminate to the extra space. The following are ways on how to do beagle crate training:
Introduction. Put the crate at a place, where the beagle can spend a lot of time. You can put a blanket or towel inside the crate to make sure it is comfortable. Leave the door open. This way, the beagle can find its way to get into the crate.
Feeding. At first, you may not need to put the feeding inside the crate. Instead, put it somewhere near to the crate. Then, when the beagle is comfortable with the crate, put the feeding inside. You may close the door while the beagle is eating and then open in when the beagle is done eating.
Familiarizing. If the beagle does not show any signs of fear inside the crate, you can increase the duration it spends inside the crate. Give it some treat when it is in the create.
Leaving the beagle inside the crate. Identify the maximum amount of time he stays inside the beagle. For instance, if he can stay inside for half an hour, you can try leaving him in the crate while you are not at home. If you want to go out longer, leave him with some toys he is familiar with. Increase the duration with time.
If you are successful
doing this part of Beagle Obedience Training, going out with the beagle
inside the crate should not be a problem. Then, the next step is moving
the crate slowly to the place where you want it to be permanently. Do
this step by step to avoid the beagle from being alarmed or anxious.
How to Do Potty Training for a Beagle
Potty training for a beagle is suggested when he is between 12 to 16 weeks old. At this age, the beagle is old enough to control his bladder and learn how to hold his bowel. When you begin the steps on how to do potty training for a beagle when he is older, the training may takes longer. Remember that choosing the right time is crucial for any steps of beagle obedience training.
Make sure that the beagles have gotten the necessary vaccination before you take them outside. Determine a designated area, where the beagles can eliminate themselves. Do not let them eliminate where they want to. This is not a part of training. Then, train the beagle to eliminate in that area. The following are some tips for elimination training:
Use some ‘cue’ words to tell the beagles where they can eliminate;
Make sure that the designated area is easy to access, regardless of the weather of the day.
Avoid areas, which are often used by your families, such as, near to the playing area or barbeque area in the backyard.
Stick to the same area. When he smells his own scent, the beagle will feel prompted to go;
Stay with the beagle when he is outside. Allocate about 10 minutes for them to finish up. Be patient to wait for them. If the first trial does not work, bring them back to the crate and watch for the potty signs. Then, note the time and you can follow the same pattern on the next days.
Praise him anytime he eliminates outside. The treat may include a short walk to the surrounding neighborhood.
Stick to same schedule when to take the beagles outside. For instance, you can teach the beagles to eliminate outside as soon as they wake up in the morning or after naps during the day.
Bring them to the same potty area before you go to bed.
Leash Training
Making sure that the beagles can walk correctly on a leash is essential. In fact, many people do not realize this. Leash training is important due to the following reasons:
- You will feel frustrated when the beagles pull on their leashes while walking, right? If this problem is let untreated, you may lose your temper and lose your way to the good beagle obedience training.
- The beagles will also get frustrated after pulling their leashes repeated. This may lead to stress and increased aggression. When both the owner and the beagle get frustrated, everything will go out of control.
- Constant pulling may result in physical problems, like injuries of the trachea and larynx.
- Properly trained beagles can signal you many things through leash pulling. For instance, they may show you that they are distressed by pulling on the leash. This is only possible when the beagles are properly trained.
- On the other hand, you can also tell something to the beagles by means of leash training. For instance, you can tell the dog to stop walking by tightening the leash.
In conclusion, proper leash training can be a good way to communicate between the owner and the beagles. The following tips of leash training may help you:
- Make sure you always lead the way. Show the dog that you are in charge of him. On the other hand, if you let the beagle walk in front of you, it signals him that he is in charge. So, always walk in front of the beagle.
- Use a short leash. You can control the way the beagle walks by using a shorter leash. It also enables better communication between you and the dog.
- Allocate enough time for leash training. Make sure you at least have half an hour to an hour to train the beagle. The time it takes the beagles to learn the leash may vary widely. So, make sure you have plenty of time for this training.
- Follow up the leash training at home. Make sure that the beagles do not forgot the good habits they just learned. This is an important part of beagle obedience training. For instance, tell him to wait patiently while you open the fence or you put off your shoes.
- Reward the beagles for any success. For instance, when the beagles can patiently walk behind you, reward the behavior by treating them. Add the reward for any further successes in the training.
Table Manner Training
The way the beagles behave while eating is also a part of important thing to train. When they grow, they will learn how to demand something or even asserting themselves. Letting them do this is a mistake. Never let the beagles to demand something and show them that you will not respond to any kind of demand. That is why table manner is an important part of beagle obedience training.
The following are some tips of table manner training for your beagle:
- Set a regular feeding schedule.
- Remove the foods between meal times.
- Deliver feeding in an unpredictable way.
This aims at avoiding the beagle to demand on you. For instance, you can drop the treat immediately when the beagle is busy playing. Do the same as a treat when he behaves calmly.
It is important to note that you just reward any positive behavior, but avoid punishing bad one. If you can do this, the beagle will eventually realize that good behavior is favorable.
Managing Barking and Whining
Every beagle barks. Barking is a part of its natural behavior. Controlling the beagle’s barking is essential, particularly if you have neighbors in proximity. They will be happier when the beagle’s barking is under control. It is important to note that the beagles do not realize whether their barking is good or bad. With proper training, you can have their barking under control.
Detailed steps on how to train the dogs not to bark to other people or other dogs are discussed in a different post. The following are some general steps on how to train the beagle when to bark and when not to bark:
- Let them bark 2 or 3 times;
- Say “stop barking.” When it works, praise the beagles.
- When it does not work at the first time, try using body gesture, like your fingers on lips. Do it slowly. Again, treat the beagles when they can do it.
- If the beagles do not stop barking even though you use finger gesture, take the treat closer. If they stop when smelling the treat, give it to them.
- Do this repeatedly. The beagles will eventually understand when to bark and when to stop barking, whether you use verbal instruction or body gesture. Use the same instructions consistently.
General Tips of Beagle Obedience Training
As mentioned above, choosing the right timing and strategies for beagle obedience training is essential to ensure success. All steps of the training also need consistency and patience. Reward only good behavior but do not punish bad behavior. Avoid any things that may lead to negative consequences. If trained properly, the beagles may consider your family as their pack. The following tips of beagle training may use helpful for you:
- Create a conducive indoor environment. Before the beagles are 8 weeks old, they will spend most of the time inside the crate. Therefore, the very first step is house training. Get started as soon as possible and create a comfortable environment for the beagle.
- Start teaching the beagle some simple verbal and gestural commands. For instance, the command ‘keep silent’ is represented by placing your index finger in your mouth.
- Even though the beagles make some mistakes when learning, never shout at them. Shouting is not a way to train your dogs. The beagles learn via association. When they make good things and you praise them, they will eventually associate the treat with the good behaviors.
Finally, it must be noted that beagles learn in different ways. Do not expect that your beagles are always able to learn very quickly. Such an expectation will lead to frustration on behalf of you and the beagles. How to train your beagle determines the result. You have to teach them what they can do and what they can’t, but the time they take to learn will vary widely, depending upon the beagles. So, be patient.
Learn more complete guide how to train your dog here
