Very Energetic Beagle!

[batty beagles]

Hi Guys,

PLEASE HELP

We have a female beagle who is almost 3 years old and is very polite, well behaved and likes to just relax ALOT. She is quite happy to lie on the sofa or lie outside in the sun and will only play with you if she wants to. She (and she knows it) is the boss of the house. She was raised from the age of 6 months with a 'pensioner dog' - who was 12 years old and they got along fine together, however my partner's brother who was living with us moved out and as the older dog was his she also moved out with him.

We deceided to get another dog to keep Stella (girl beagle) company while we are out at work as she was used to being in a 2 dog household. We deceided on a younger dog and rescued a 6 month old beagle who the owners said they just did not have time for. We have had him for just over 2 months and NEED ADVICE!!

He is very naughty, in regards to digging holes, chewing sticks and plants and pulls the washing off the line etc. We can handle this and are being consistant in telling him 'AH AH' and good boy when he stops. This seems to be quite effective. And I know he will not change overnight but I have faith we will get their.

He is a very smart dog and will sit, drop, shake your hand and we are working on the stay command. He loves attention and you can be 'training him' for hours at a time - he will not wander off or get bored???

The main concern is that he constantly attacks - in a playful manner, our girl beagle and wants to play for hours at a time with her. She will be going about doing her own thing and he will run up and pin her and not let her go. He will also just run past her and bite or grab her back leg and then they start rumbling. She will try to get away sometimes but he does not give up. I try to tell them to settle down etc but as soon as he is in this mood he will not listen at all and the only way I can let the girl have 5 minutes peace is 2 physically separate them and put on inside and one outside.

This boy has more energy than 50 footballers put together!!!!! I am walking them twice a day. I play with him for at least an hour each day, throwing his ball etc but as soon as he is unoccupied he looks for trouble or is teasing the girl dog.

I can't allow our girl to suffer, however I really don't want to have to rehome this boy as we have got very attached to him in the short period we have had him and I feel like I would be giving up on him. I really don't want to give up on him as the poor thing will think nobody loves him.

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

We live near Yangebup in WA, does anybody know if there is any social classes or something I can take him to so he can get rid of some of his energy.

THANKS AGAIN IN ADVANCE I look forward to your replies and suggestions

[caffiend42]

Hi BB

What's Stella's reaction to the younger boy? Is she interacting just as much? If so, it could be all just part of play. She's not an old dog at 3 years and would be quite capable of putting the younger one in his place - he's still a pup after all, and is likely to settle down a bit.

My beagle boys are 6 months apart, and it's actually the older one that engages the younger one more often for a good rumble. Sometimes the younger one sounds like his leg is being chewed off, but that's just his vocalisations. If one of them has had enough they will most surely let the other know, so in that regard it sounds to me like the rumblings going on with your two are pretty normal.

As for his naughty behaviour - has he got access to toys to distract him from the washing, digging, chewing etc? Nothing is as good a distraction as meaty bones to keep them occupied - fair chance he's go for that than anything else.

Wherever possible, don't provide access to the things he destructs. We're fortunate in that our guys have not once touched the washing or dug, and the things they chew are what they're allowed to.

He might be a good candidate for agility or lure coursing - no idea of facilities down your way though. Good luck.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

My foster dog Piper (JRT x Foxie) is a ball of energy as well. BUT she's manageable. She often tries to engage one of my dogs in play when clearly she's not interested...it has escalated a few times into a near-fight (both the dogs in question are tending towards being the dominant animal)...we generally separate the two dogs for a period so they can settle down. I put the foster into another room or outside when this happens.

I'd suggest re-directing your beagle boy when this happens.

Also, give him plenty of activities and puzzles to complete on his own, as well as obedience work and fun play. Stimulation is good for a dog that needs to work his brain. :D

Congrats BTW - beagles are FUN!

[batty beagles]

Thanks Lilly's Mum & caffiend for your advice.

He has PLENTY of toys to play with, tug ropes, balls of all kinds, reward toys, bottles, squeaky toys, soft toys - you name it he has got it, I am not exaggerating when I say he would have at least 40 different toys - you know them big plastic storage tubs - well he has one of them full of toys - SPOILT

Meaty bones are not a really good option as our 3 year old beagle has a sensative stomach and is on pretty much a chicken only diet and if she eats the meaty bones they make her sick, so I can't run the risk of giving him a big meaty bone as if she gets a piece of it she will get ill, so chicken frames etc are all I can give him. I have given him meaty bones in the past when they have been apart, hoping I would get some piece for an hour but he demolishes them in about 20 mins flat!!! and then is back to looking for mischief.

I have tried frozen water bottles etc to keep him occupied but he was not interested. My latest idea was an empty 2l coke bottle and I poked some schmacko's in their and because he could see it and wanted it hopefully that will get him thinking in regards to how he is going to get it out. If my garden is still intact when I get home I know that is something that works!! He does have the treat balls but because he can't see the treats he sometimes just ignores them.

I am going to try and find out about some agility training or something for him as I believe he is quite intelligent and likes to learn new things. Can someone please explain to me what 'luring' is.

The other beagle seems to be ok with him and you can tell by their body language that she is THE BOSS, maybe I am just bneing a lil over protective of her as she is my 1st and I nearly lost her when she was six months old, she was a pet shop pup and has had a rough start to life health wise so she is my baby!!!

Keep the ideas coming though - it is really helpful and helps me think POSITIVE THINKING I am sure he will settle down. I really appreciate all the help people on this site give.

I may implement the separation technique for a little while to see how that goes and to give the girl some peace!!!

THANKS AGAIN

[Steve]

Much better to let it go. If you stop it or interfer you're more likely to have long term problems. The less you intervene the quicker it will settle down . Beagles are bred to be part of a pack so let them play and work it all out for themselves because eventually thats what they will do anyway - you're just prolongng the agony .The bitch will belt him when she's had enough if she knows you're not going to step in but if you keep breaking it up she will expect you to do it all the time so it will take much longer for him to get the message.

[Toohey]

Once I was sure my older dog wasn't going to kill the new pup, I left them to it. She adores him and loves to lick his face and ears, she drives him mad trying to get games going, and he normally tolerates it really well, but on the odd occasion he will get the shits and tell her to bugger off. Sometimes takes him three goes at her before he gets rid of her but he would not hurt her.

Steve is right, let them sort it out themselves.

Edited December 29, 2006 by Toohey