Adopting a Beagle?

mark · #1 11-07-2009, 02:05 AM

Wife's co-worker is offering her 5 year old Beagle as will be heading out on a extended holiday, plus finding when around, not all that much time for it.

Concerns I have though, although told it's a great dog, if it has any bad habits, might be difficult to check with a 5 year old Beagle, second is our situation; there are times between the wife's and my work plus the and kid in school, dog would be on it's own for ~8 hours. No other pets.

Thoughts?

BlueAbyss · #2 11-07-2009, 02:18 AM

Hmm a beagle by himself for 8 hours is asking for trouble. The words 'abandonment issues' comes to mind

Aquattro · #3 11-07-2009, 02:22 AM

If he's crate trained, not really an issue. If not, ya, 8 hours is a lot of time to lounge around eating furniture. 5 yrs old is still plenty young to re-train something if needed.

megs_clark · #4 11-07-2009, 02:24 AM

I just thought id mention, our Beagle is crate trained. But theirs a limit on how long he can be in their before going nuts, lol. And 8 hours would by far be exceeding that with a Beagle i think. They really are high energy dogs.

Aquattro · #5 11-07-2009, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megs_clark

I just thought id mention, our Beagle is crate trained. But theirs a limit on how long he can be in their before going nuts, lol. And 8 hours would by far be exceeding that with a Beagle i think. They really are high energy dogs.

I think as long as you wear them out before hand, an occaisional long term nap might be possible.
Another option for those times you have to leave for a full day, doggy day care.

mark · #6 11-07-2009, 02:42 AM

Going to have to think on this a bit more as a bit bothered on the idea of leaving it.

Live in Edmonton so not sure how humane it would be to leave the dog out even with a heated shelter (dog house) over winter while we are at work. As for being crate trained (new lingo for me) not sure but will ask. All I got from the wife is the people have been leaving the dog in their basement when they are out. Guess might be able to leave it in the basement fishroom, just wouldn't want it defecating there.

Dog daycare, here we went with the live-in nanny when the kid was younger to avoid daycare, seems strange to consider daycare again for a dog.

megs_clark · #7 11-07-2009, 02:21 AM

Hi. Beagles are awsome family dogs. Their super smart. Fun to have around. We have a 3 yr old Beagle. Things to keep in mind. You need a fenced yard in my opinion. They are extreamly active dogs that follow their noses. We have a fully fenced yard and still wound up buying a invisable electric fence. After googling this seems to be common with them. They love company. Our dog follows us around the house everywhere. If we leave him in the house when i go to the grocery store by the time i get home he is going nuts. I leave him outside when i go out now other wise my blinds are on the floor and paper is shreaded when i get home. If i leave him outside where he can run around he doesnt seem to mind when i go out. So its something to keep in mind if you are working all day. Because their active they need alot of outside time to play, ours goes out quite a bit. And food is a big thing with them. I read most Beagles have food aggresion. Though ours doesnt at all. Something you might want to ask about. Our dog if we have food on the table and leave the room for a second he will get it. Iv never been able to break him of that. Its the following their nose thing. I think the only time he misbehaves is when his nose kicks in. He almost tunes us out if he is sniffing a scent, its odd to watch but if our yard want fenced it would be next to impossible to keep in in the yard when he thinks he smells something. The plus side they are super loyal, great with kids, loving and smart.

StirCrazy · #8 11-07-2009, 10:08 PM

Crate training is the best thing for any dog, unless it is going to be with you 100% of the time, but they should be confined nolonger than 4hours at a time, Brad has good luck as they are in there crate for 4 hours and then out for 1/2 to 1 hour then back in for another 4 hours.

I am working on getting mine trained, and it is a slow process, but we don't know any of the history as it was tied to the fence at the SPCA when they came into work. we do think it was a res dog, no real issues just no real training either. so the only time she is crated is when I have to run out the odd time when I don't take her with me. they look at it as there den and there place to escape if they feel there is to much going on.

but being gone for 8 hours solid is to long, unless you have some one to stop by and let them out for a bathroom break and to play for a bit befor going back in.

Steve

MitchM · #9 11-07-2009, 10:34 PM

What about installing a dog door and having a certain area cordoned off in the house where he/she can go for warmth and water?

I've always had good luck with doggie doors.

Mitch

mark · #10 11-09-2009, 02:40 AM

Met the dog today, seems alright.

What the plan is is we'll take the dog as a trial and if it doesn't work out, the owner has no problem taking him back.

As for how the dog was being kept when the owner was away, seems by their front door there's a bit of an entry-way/landing. There they placed it's bed and would have him on a lead so he could still move around but not into the rest of the house.

Am amazed though when walking him, how strong a beagle is.