Doggy Mentor

When it comes to beagle training, experience is among the finest, if not the only one, teacher in the world. By actually implementing (more than just reading), dog and owner learn. Both of you are sure to mature a lot, even if it is obvious learning will most of the time come the hard way.

Chewing

Never give a puppy a shoe to chew on; the worse that you could end up teaching the dog is all shows are meant for chewing, and there is no such thing as expensive shoes or cheap shoes. If you will have a puppy at home, expect that it will chew, since it will be teething. Chew toys will need to be available, and the puppy will keep up the nibbling until the puppy reaches one year of age.

Using Beagle training, if you see your dog chewing something it is not allowed to try out, say “give” and take it from the dog gently but firmly. Once the dog relinquishes the “bad” toy, be ready to give the “good” toy, and be quick to praise it with a hearty “good boy” the moment it has the right toy in its mouth. But if the dog resists giving up the bad toy, put your hand behind the dog’s head, and use your thumb and forefinger to gently apply some pressure on the back of the jaw where the upper and lower teeth meet. Eventually the dog will give up the toy. Again, pronounce the “give” command clearly, and compliment and praise the dog if it takes the intended chew toy.

Running Away

Puppies love playing chase, but for them it is even more fun if they are the ones being chased, preferably by their human. So there’s no practical time than puppyhood to teach a dog that if it runs, you do not chase. In case the puppy runs on ahead and refuses to come back, turn and walk a few paces away, then squat or sit down, ignoring the puppy. Soon the puppy will be back, asking for play and attention. If the puppy touches you, respond by patting the dog, cuddling or scratching it. As the puppy matures, teach it the “come” command by showing it a treat, then telling it to “Come!”

Biting

While it is alright for puppies to bite and nip one another, it is not alright for them to do it to their human playmates. A puppy mouthing your hand is fine, but no so in the case of biting.

In case of a biting puppy, the Beagle training solution is to imitate a puppy playmate’s reaction. If your puppy bites you (even if not painful), give the yip-noise that a hurt puppy would also give. Then turn away to ignore the puppy. If the puppy plays with good manners, always praise it.

In the case of a puppy that runs after you while nipping, do not avoid it. Instead, stop (a target that stops is not fun anymore for the puppy), say “No” to it, then ignore it. Other things you could do to dissuade puppy-biting is to encourage your puppy to occasionally take food from your mouth, starting from the moment it enters your home.

A word of caution to the “yipping” noise method. This strategy works only if the puppies have been left intact long enough for them to learn this lesson among themselves. Thus, a reliable breeder cannot afford separating or putting up for sale his or her puppies before 8 weeks of age.

Digging

There are concrete and real explanations why a dog digs. A dog will do so in order to hide a toy, to have a bed of damp earth to lie on, to keep themselves busy and occupied, and to chase some critter which went underground.

Some breeds like terriers cannot resist the urge to dig. This emphasizes the importance of considering first what instincts are dominant for a certain breed, before seriously selecting which to own.

To end, remember that a dog will learn much from the tone of your voice. Common sense, and also a healthy amount of praise, are good ways of communicating with a dog, but it is important to also get across to an older puppy what “No” means. A firm and severe “No” combined with a quick squirt of water will help a stubborn dog get in line. What’s more, it is painless to you and your dog.

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