My beagle puppy is a monster. HELP.?
Hi, we got a beagle puppy 2 months ago, he is 4 months. I did alot of research before hand. I thought beagles were “sweet, even tempered and tolerant of kids”. Not the case with ours. The first couple weeks he was great. He would chase after the kids and bite the ends of their pants which at first seemed kinda cute. We did correct it right away and at first he listened, sort of. But then he started getting really aggressive any time we told him NO. The last week he has been horrible. My 4 year old will be innocently sitting on the floor watching tv and the puppy jumps on top of him and bites right through his clothes. Then when i tell him no and take him off my child he goes NUTS and attacks me. Today, he really got me good for the first time and my wrist is bleeding. I’ve had it. We’ve tried everything. The firm NO, spray bottles, holding his snout shut when he bites, pinning him down til he calms down, yelping like a dog would do…nothing works, he has only gotten worse.
He is doing great in other aspects. Like he will sit, lay down, stay, fetch, etc. He loves going for walks (we take him on 2-3 walks a day). Potty training is going excellently. Whether or not he stops biting will be the reason to whether or not we keep him. We got him from our neighbor across the street. They kept 2 puppies from the litter, I know they do not want 3 puppies.
I just want a dog that my kids can play with without being attacked. They cant even play fetch with him. Now even when my husband or I try to play with him, he suddenly snaps and attacks. This is NOT what I had in mind. I thought if anything potty training would be our main issue, not biting and attacking. My husband and I do not have alot of money and cant afford a trainer. So you guys are my last hope PLEASE tell me what to do to stop this behaviour. I am in tears as i type this.
he has TONS of toys, bones, etc. i dont think thats the problem. and im pretty sure teething doesnt cause vicious attacking. i do agree that he is trying to dominate. we are very consistent with him so thats why i dont understand why he is like this.
our neighbors are just your average BYB’s..so i know alot of ppl will chew me out for that one, but we have him and its too late. i was NOT originally planning on taking one of the puppies. my husband talked me into it. i did my research and it sounded like beagles were a good friendly family dog. haha.
our vet wont nueter til 6 months…he has an appt set up for the 1st week in may.
Puppies are like children and need constant discipline. When they’re young it can be a pain to train them, but it will be worth it in the long run. Just keep on him, and stay consistent. Good Luck.
call a dog whisper.. he’ll whisper things in the dog’s ears.
you need to get a crate
when his starts to aggressive put him in the crate
Sounds like he is challenging everyone for dominance. He sees the kids as “lower” than him. Search the web for training advice or other beagle owners. They usually have groups for breed owners and they help each other out. Or if you live close to a Petsmart, you can speak to the trainers. Most of them will tell you what you can do, they will all suggest classes, of course, but some will give advice without having to attend class. Or you can look for ideas in books. Don’t give up on him. Just monitor him when the kids are around and don’t let him win.
YOU GIVE THAT BRAT A SPANK ON HIS NOSE WITH A NEWS PAPER, THE OTHER TRICK I WONT ITS ONLY MINE,
Again, dogs are always looking for someone to be the alpha. He isn’t finding that in your family right now. Don’t give up! Get the pup and yourself in a class so that you can learn the proper way to work with him. Remember that classes aren’t actually training the pup so much as they are training the owner the proper procedures for dealing with their pets negative actions.
Both pup and you will benefit greatly from classes…. And, both of you will get some socialization as well!
Good luck and don’t give up!
,i don’t know what to suggest its upset me reading this i don’t think its fare getting rid of him but i know you cant keep him if no one can find a way of stopping him from biting you say you cant afford a dog trainer but could you run to puppy training classes these seem to be a lot cheaper and your with other people some with the same problems you can help each other this would also tier puppy out and would quite him down a lot if you can afford this and there is one in your area its worth a try good luck and i hope someone can help you
Ahh hun, I do feel for you… This is a dominance issue. He was allowed to get the upper hand too many times. He now knows only how to attack when he wants to assert it.
I know you said you did alot of research, but did you research the neighbors? Are they good breeders? Are there parent dogs the best? Are the parents naughty dogs? the daddie more aggressive than usual?
Even though he is a hound, he still is a dog, hes a male, and hes a puppy. It is correctable… but it needs an expert hand. Nothing here we can tell you will work. You have to work hand in hand with a experianced Trainer. Call a couple area shelters see if there is a puppy class you can get into that will help you one on one. This has to get address now before he gets bigger. He also would be old enough to nueter. This will help dissapate some of that aggression. I am sorry but thats the best I can do for you now.
YOU CRAZY POSTERS are you reading her words? HES NOT FREAKIN TEETHING.. hes acting aggressive actually growling and biting thats not TEETHING you weirdos… Come on you are going to risk yourself with that kind of answer to a woman with kids who just got BIT trying to push a 4 month old puppy of her kid… Glad you dont have some one to answer too when one of these kids get bit in the face. Yeahhh go out and get the dog more chew toys!!! thats always the answer to a biting dog… now what if this puppy was a Rottie, or a St. bernard would you all say the same thing… I dont Think so
You need to disipline the puppy i know your doing a lot by the sound of it but do more alos call a dog trainer or take him to one of these new puppy classes. You and the dog + other dogs go to a class and the instructor helps you train you dog my friend tried this with a vey bad tempered Westie he’s now so cute but more important NOT aggresive.
If he is AKC registered you can go on the AKC site and there will be a listing for local clubs in your area. Most of these offer free or very cheap training classes for registered dogs.
I am sorry to say it but you may have to face the facts. There are bad apples in every breed. This is why most of us push so hard for people to only buy from breeders that show their dogs. It is not because we are trying to be elitist but because dogs that are shown are not just “pretty” they are also bred for health and for temperament and that makes their puppies a safer bet all the way around.
If he is not yet neutered… please get that done. He will only get worse as sexual maturity takes hold if not.
Also, if all else fails and you must give him up I encourage you to try and find him another home over giving him over to a shelter. There are several hunters out there that would be happy to have such a feisty dog with such a heavy pray drive.
I am so sorry for what you are going through and I wish you nothing but the best of luck.
~Tyed~
Quite possibly your beagle is starting to teethe….4 months old is when they start. You have listed all the things to do correctly, but you have not mentioned what you’re giving him to CHEW on. Dogs, especially puppies, need to chew. Get an assortment of chew toys, rawhide, Nylabones, etc. on hand. Every pup is different, so have one of each ready. I bought all these Nylabones and teething rings for my bichon when she was teething, but she ended up tearing at towels, her rope toy, and her pillow, so I quickly deduced that she liked the soft ‘clothy’ texture in her mouth (which also ended up helping her pull her baby teeth out). Now that she’s older, she enjoys chewing on rawhide pieces twisted into bone shapes and edible Nylabones.
When he starts biting at you and your kids, correct him with a “NO!” (or yelp or yell really high-pitched “OW!”) and quickly offer something he is ALLOWED to chew on. When he takes it into his mouth, praise him!
Puppy teeth are extremely sharp – they are needle-points designed to puncture and tear food away. When he gets his adult teeth, they will change to a bone-crushing, dense heavy set.
Continue to discipline him that you and your children are NOT the chew toys. It sounds like he has not learned ‘bite inhibition’ from his mother, so you got some extra work to do. Just make sure you give him an option that is suitable for chewing on.
*EDIT*: But are you OFFERING him the chew toys, or just letting them lie around? If he is trying to dominate and figure out the pecking order, he’d also be -ahem- humping. My bichon got pretty vicious when she was teething, and it was frustrating for both of us…me and my bleeding arms, and her apparent pain and frustration trying to loose the teeth out. Keep at it – you are the boss trying to tell him what is and is not appropriate for chewing on. If all else fails, and I do mean, ALL ELSE FAILS, and I could tell the look in her eyes said she was sassing me, I screamed “OW!”, then pinned her down and bit her right back in the belly till she yelped. Whatever possessed me to do it? Think about it – what would the mother dog do? What would the alpha dog do when the pup steps out of line? Say “no”?
Dogs need to learn “tough love”.
Good luck with your beagle.
This may not even be a factor, but consistency is KEY. Make sure that your husband/older children/neighbors etc. don’t play rough games with the pup where biting is ok. Continue to give it a whack or a spray when it commits the offense, but also reward it for playing nicely, when it does. Also, the pup is most likely teething and may just need something to bite! Be sure to provide chews (I suggest rawhide or Nylabone, ask at the pet store or the vet) I have a beagle mix who eats EVERYTHING. Rope toys, canvas…pretty durable things are destroyed in 10 minutes. Nylabones last forever (just don’t get the puppy ones) and rawhides are good for their teeth.
Talk to your vet.and a beagle rescue organization….first a kids and a puppy are not a good idea…dogs will naturally try to establish dominance ..most reputable breeders won’t sell a puppy into a home with children that young…but having said that..the behavior towards you when you remove him from the kid sounds like something called ..if I remember properly..”rage syndrome” it has been emerging in some breeds I know Cocker Spaniels have had the problem I have had experience with a young Cairn terrier …they suddenly loose control you can almost see it in their eyes..they truly seem “to go some place else”..I do not think it is something you can deal with in a home with a small child…a Beagle rescue might give you better insight..or a behaviorist vet…sorry I know how hard it is after you fall in love with them
We use shock collars on our dogs. They are the most effective way of dicipline. They are not as cruel as they sound. They solved all the problems we had had with our puppies including the biting and generally being out of control. It prevents you from getting so mad also. All you have to do is press a button and the issue is over. Most collars come with a beep button too so once he learns the noise the shocker makes he will hear it and immeadiatly correct himself. Its great because It eliminates the need for physical dicipline. You can get great deals on the collars on Ebay.
Gosh, why are you in tears? The only reason I could think of is that you are not a pet person and not ready to have a dog in your household. You took the puppy home to make your kids happy and the puppy didn’t turn up the way you thought or dreamt it should be behaved.
Brave up! I’m just like you! My beagle is a puppy and I brought her for my kids. I researched about it but it didn’t turn out exactly what I read about beagles’ behaviours. Nevertheless, the beagle is with us. She, a puppy poop, very naughty little one messed up our place. It’s alright, she’s only a pup, she is active because she’s healthy. I don’t love her the way my kid loves her, but she always comes to me..because she knows I have a place in my heart for her. I do enjoy her company and laughed at the silly things she’s been doing. Just look at it in a positive way, and you will find cuteness in that pup. Cuteness will finally takes over annoyance if you look at the pup positively. Kiddies are harder to handle, but we managed. It’s nothing when it comes to puppy Beagle. Have fun! ))