Beagle Training for Common Dog Behavior Problems

We present below some dog behavior issues that all dog owners are bound to encounter. As you help your dog to learn that it can do better, it is inevitable that you yourself learn a thing or two. Have fun learning with your dog through beagle training!

Chewing

A shoe or any sort of footwear is never for chewing, so a puppy must never be given a shoe to chew on. Besides, think that it may reach the point where the dog prefers expensive leather to vinyl ones! If there is a puppy at home, anticipate that all puppies will chew; the urge to teeth pushes them to do so. So, you need to have chew toys ready and available until the dogs are about 1 year of age in order to keep off destructive chewing.

With Beagle training in mind, what’s to be done if you see your puppy chewing on something that is a no-no? Say to it “give”, then take it away gently. Then, always give your puppy the correct chew toy as a sort of trade, telling it “Take”, with a cheerful and affectionate “good boy” once the dog has the right toy in its mouth. In case the dog refuses to give 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. The dog then sees that if it continues biting down, it hurts itself. Always pronounce clearly the “give” command, and praise the dog if it takes the “good” trade toy.

Running Away

Puppies love to play chase, and it genuinely gets the most fun when it is the one being chased, preferably by its human owner. So puppyhood is the best time to teach a dog that if it runs, you do not chase. Rather, try turning around and taking some steps away, squatting or sitting down, and pretend to ignore the puppy. In a while, the puppy will come to you, demanding attention. Allow the puppy to touch you. You may respond by patting, cuddling and scratching the puppy. If you give the puppy a treat at this point, it will all the more stay with you. As the puppy matures, show the treat first, then say “come” to teach it this command.

Biting

The sight of puppies chasing, biting and nipping each other is no cause for much concern, but it is otherwise if a puppy turns to nipping you!

A Beagle training solution to a biting puppy problem can be learned by observing a puppy playmate’s reaction. If your puppy nips at you, do not wait for it to exert more pressure; make the high-pitched, abrupt yelp-noise that a hurt puppy also gives. Then, do an about-face and ignore the puppy. In a few minutes, go back and play with it again, praising its good behavior.

Teach these technique to your kids, and also remind them never to play rough or–even much less– hit puppies, otherwise the dog will go for their hand. 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 of dogs are certified diggers, such as terriers. All this shows the importance of studying what instincts are dominant in a puppy before being sure of going for them.

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.