Six Easy Things to Keep in Mind While Training Your Beagle.

Can beagles be difficult? Absolutely. But they’re also incredibly loyal and loving. Couple that affection with a good training regimen, and you have a great dog to enjoy for years to come. Here are 6 ways you can assure your beagle (or any other dog for that matter) becomes the pride of the neighborhood:

1. Start early. From the time he or she is a puppy, training can begin. Put the dog on a feeding schedule to assure it eats at the same times each day. It’s never too early to get your dog used to strict schedules. Also, if you begin to reward good behavior early, the greater the likelihood your dog will develop fewer bad habits.

2. Begin with basic commands. Early on, even things as simple as “sit,” “stay,” and “come” are important commands to learn. Besides instilling some discipline, it establishes the pecking order and lets your dog know who’s in charge.

3. Keep the training sessions short. Even 5 to 10 minutes a couple times a day can work wonders. Anyone who’s ever owned a beagle knows they’re scent-motivated and can lose focus easily. Keep the sessions short but entertaining.

4. Don’t abuse your dog. We all get frustrated occasionally. It’s human nature. But to take it out on the dog will only have the reverse effect. Physical punishment can make him more aggressive and cause him to be more fearful of you. It stands to reason that he won’t do what you want him to do if he’s afraid.

5. Reward good behavior. Any dog likes a treat, and they like to know they’re getting a reward for pleasing you. Being a hound, a beagle is food-motivated so use that to your advantage. However, make sure the dog doesn’t see the treat before you issue a command, or after a while he will only obey if he’s able to see the treat, and that’s not what you want.

6. Beagle-appropriate training methods work best. Use a beagle’s natural tendencies to your advantage. These dogs are bred to hunt and track, obviously having an incredible sense of smell. If you can incorporate that into your training, you’ll experience a higher success rate. Anything involving running, retrieving, or discovering buried objects will be much more fun for him.

A trained beagle is a good beagle, just as any breed of dog that is well-trained is a good dog. Yes, they can be a bit difficult at times. I know from experience. But if you’re diligent and stick with these 6 basic guidelines, you’ll have an obedient beagle that will bring you years of love, loyalty, and happiness.