OK, so I've been wanting a beagle since... well, forever! And I finally got a little girl last weekend.
I always heard that beagles can be head-strong, and enjoy following a scent. But since I started reading up on training tips I've learned that they are actually very destructive and howl a lot if left on their own during the day.
My partner and I both work, but that doesn't mean I don't love my pup and am willing to spend time with her.
I was planning on taking her for a 45 min walk (jog when she's old enough) every day of a morning and then another walk in the afternoons for about half and hour, maybe 3 days of the Mon-Fri week. (weekends however are free for me to devote 100% time to her if she wants it!)
My question to beagle owners and gurus is: will this be enough to give her the mental and physical stimulation she needs to stop her howling/destroying during the day?
It wouldn't bother me if she got up to some mischeif every couple of months, but I just don't want to come home every day to a cratered yard or irate neighbors.
I'm not prepared to get another dog to keep her company just yet, but I only work about 5 mins from where I live so I could possibly drop home for lunch maybe ~3 times a mon-fri week.
I've also heard very mixed reports about how to keep them. I have a good sized back yard (14mx20m) which is mostly just grass and a hedge around the perimeter. I've got 1.5m fences around the entire yard that are concreted underneath to stop her getting out.
I've also got an area at the side of the house, about 10m x 1.8m that I was thinking I might section her off with. I could build a solid weatherproof dog house and keep her there during the day maybe? She could dig that up as much as she wants and I wouldn't care, but would the confined area exasperate her howling? (again, in conjunction with the 1.5 walks per day that she would get)
The other thing I've heard of people doing is to keep them crated all day inside. I'm doing that now while she's a pup, and just ducking home to let her out for toilet 3-4 times a day (she's really very good and hasn't soiled in the house at all yet!). I'm reluctant to do that both for her sake, as well as for my wife who is having a tough time with allergies... (I've had plenty of dogs before, but none have ever had as strong an odour as this little hound! )
Regardless of the method, I would do my best to make sure she always had toys, chews, kongs and bones (frozen in blocks of ice) to help her pass the time. But if it's purely companionship during the day that she's seeking then I simply cannot provide...
If that is the case, then I have the opportunity to return her to the breeder before I get any more emotionally attached... It will break my heart but I ultimately just want to know/do what's best for her.
urgent advice or gems of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!
(sorry if this is better suited to the beagle thread - just thought i might get a more comprehensive response here)
