Are Beagles easy to train

Are Beagles Easy to Train? (How Difficult Can It Really Be)

Given that they are often seen as the ideal family dog with their smart and eager-to-please nature, many people think that Beagles are easy to train compared to other breeds. And yes, they can be, but whether or not all Beagles are is another matter altogether.

In this short guide, I am going to explain why its either hard to train Beagles or easy; and how it depends on you, your dog, the environment they are in, and other developmental factors.

Are Beagles difficult to train?

Are Beagles easy to train? As a very broad generalization, I would say that as high-energy hound dogs who are disposed to shooting off when they sniff out potential prey, Beagles can sometimes be a little difficult to train and wont be as easy as other breeds.

However, please dont let that generalization put you off. All Beagles are different, so the answer isnt black and white.

Whilst its important to remember that despite the Beagle breed having broad characteristics, every individual dog is different.

For example, whilst my own Beagle was easy to train, my cousins one was a lot more challenging. And this is despite them being from the same litter!

However, despite there being many factors that can impact a Beagles ability to train like their age, gender and individual temperament, we can get a broad idea about their training abilities when we consider their breed.

But difficult doesnt mean impossible. In this article, we will explore some of the nuances of the Beagle breed that can impact their ability to train.

Are Beagles smart and easy to train?

There are certain factors regarding the Beagle breed which do have an impact on how easy or difficult they are to train. They are very smart dogs but can also be stubborn so lets take a closer look at how their breed characteristics plays into training.

The impact being a scent hound has on training

Did you know that the nose of a Beagle is one of the most powerful noses in the world? Their noses have 220 million scent receptors, which makes them especially attuned to smells that our human noses dont even pick up on!

And its this part of their physical make-up that can make Beagles difficult to train sometimes

Did You Know? Beagles have such big ears to help them sniff out scents you can find out more about how their ears are designed for hunting here.

Although the modern Beagle isnt used for foxhunting anymore, it is important to remember that the reason Beagles were originally bread was to use that nose to their hunting owners advantage.

Theyre scent hounds, meaning that they are strongly influenced by their nose and are bred to spend their days tracking prey through smell.

Today, Beagles behaviour is still hugely influenced and guided by their nose. Its incredibly instinctive to them, making it an influence that is incredibly hard to overcome.

A lot of Beagle owners note that their dog seems to lack focus when training them, but that couldnt be further from the reality. Beagles do focus, just more on what their nose tells them rather than their exasperated trainers.

So, if youre trying to teach your Beagle a trick and theyre shooting off in another direction, dont feel bad the likelihood is that they have caught a whiff of something and are acting in according to their instincts by tracking it.

Because they are almost entirely ruled by their noses, their recall can be less than reliable. A lot of Beagle owners note that when scent isnt involved, their dog is perfectly obedient. The issue is that the Beagles instinct to track is incredibly difficult to overcome.

Did You Know? Due to the great sense of smell and ease or training, the police use Beagles to sniff out drugs.

The impact being hyper has on training

Another reason why your Beagle may seem to lack focus or discipline during training is because they havent expelled enough energy.

With their athletic build and genetic disposition for sprinting after things, Beagles need a pretty rigorous daily exercise regime to help keep their energy levels at bay. Not only do they need daily walks, they also need cardio at least twice a week to help satisfy their love for running.

Did You Know? Beagles can take a long time to calm down. Read what you can expect if your Beagle is hyper and youre exasperated.

If Beagles dont get the exercise they need, they tend to be hyperactive. A result of this is that they are difficult to train because they are more focussed on trying to expel their excess energy, meaning they are likely to run off mid-session.

Hyper Beagles also have shorter attention span getting distracted by external stimuli more easily.

This is why a lot of Beagle owners suggest that you get into the habit of training your dog after their daily exercise as opposed to before. Theyll be much more willing to focus, meaning that your chances of a successful training session will be higher.

A tired Beagle is easy to train compared to a manic one!

The impact a Beagles gender has on training

The gender of your Beagle can also influence their temperament and, by extension, their ability to respond to training.

Are male or female Beagles easier to train? Although a lot of Beagle owners have conflicting views of which gender is easier to train, it is mostly agreed that female Beagles are easier to train than males.Many owners say that the females will be quicker at picking up whatever it is theyre being taught because they are more eager to please.

However, this eagerness to please for female Beagles can translate into neediness, whilst male Beagles are more independent. But with independence comes a degree of stubbornness, which makes training male Beagles slightly more challenging than female Beagles.

If female Beagles have a litter, their personality changes and they may become less responsive and more difficult to train.

Being on heat can also disrupt training for both male and female Beagles, as it can cause them to get distracted and lose focus.

This is a factor in why a lot of Beagle owners choose to neuter their pets.

Once Beagles are neutered, the personality differences that set male and female apart become less pronounced, which in turn makes them more responsive to training and increases the likelihood of its success.

The impact a Beagles age has on training

Beagles are considered to be puppies up until they are around 18 months to 2 years old. Prior to their maturity to adulthood, Beagles are notorious for being hyperactive and difficult to control.

Furthermore, immature Beagles can struggle to self-regulate, meaning that they will keep going and going until their owner forces them to stop therefore making them harder to train when younger.

As we have previously established, hyperactive Beagles are especially difficult to train, so it is probably easier to leave non-essential training like tricks until they reach adulthood.

Of course, potty training for any pet dog is unavoidable, so whilst it isnt impossible train your Beagle puppy, you should accept that it will be considerably more challenging than training other breeds.

Handy Hint: For help with potty training a Beagle puppy, check out this step by step process.

Interestingly, the advice to train your Beagle at a later age is parallel to advice about other breeds, wherein it is important to train them as soon as possible. However, when it comes to Beagles, there is an exception to that rule.

If you become the owner of a rescued or rehomed Beagle, you might find that even as an adult they are difficult to train.

This is because they may have already learned certain patterns of behaviour from before they came into your life, which means that before they can learn new behaviours, they need to unlearn old ones.

Conclusion

As we have seen, various factors such as instincts, age, energy levels and gender all contribute to the question of whether Beagles are a challenging breed to train. Although there are certain issues that come with training a Beagle, it is nothing patience, resilience and a professional trainer cant overcome.

The bottom line is this; it is hard to train Beagles BUT Beagles are easy to train depending on the circumstances!

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You knew the topic was going to come up eventually: Beagle potty training techniques.

Lets be honest: there is nothing cuter than a boundlessly loving beagle except for that stinky, steamy pile of mess they just left on your gleaming hardwood floor.

Luckily; with a bit of knowledge, consistency, patience, and a few nose plugs; youll be on your way to cracking the potty-training code.

Training Methods To Success

Universally, owners of newly-introduced beagles to their homes, use one of these effective house-breaking methods:

• Crate training
• Paper training
• Constant-supervision
• Umbilical-cord training.

They can be effective if you stick solely with one method, or even if you hybridize any of them; whichever best suits your lifestyle.

Crate Training A Beagle

One of the more popular methods to potty train a beagle, crate training works on two instinctive principles from the wolf ancestry:

• The safety afforded by a den-like structure
• The necessity to keep it clean

It may sound kind of funny; housekeeping for a den, right? Especially, when your best friends man-cave hasnt seen a vacuum in months.

But the logical reason behind wolves keeping their den clean, is to further protect their young from any potential predators.

This issue becomes less necessary, as once the pups are old enough, they are taught to eliminate outside of their dens.

A beagles mind works on the same wavelength. The crate is their safe place and it must be kept tidy.

Since they should embody these instinctive traits, youd better believe it puts you at an advantage in potentially training them faster.

Nearly any animal, including beagles, have no desire to mess where they sleep, because that would put them at potential risk. Therefore, while crated, your beagle learns to control their bathroom habits until they are taken out to an appropriate spot.

Pros of Crate Training

• It gives you some needed time to unwind. You need not watch your dog constantly while theyre in their crate. Keeping your beagle in the crate has an additional great benefit of keeping them out of too much trouble.
• Exploits their inherent instincts to your favor, to accelerate their learned ability to become house-broken.
• Minimizes indoor accidents. Since there isnt anything inside that has been eliminated on, there is a significantly lowered probability of it starting in the first place.

Cons of Crate Training

• If your beagle is ill or has a medical condition, you have to be mindful that it may make it incredibly difficult or downright impossible for them to be able to control their bathroom habits, while in the crate.
• Your beagle may associate isolation with the crate if you keep him or her confined for long periods of time. Reinforce positive factors such as comfort, treats, and play with their crate not isolation.

Who Should Use Crate Training?

This is ideal for if you need to ensure some extra time for yourself, but yet youll be around plenty to let them out, if necessary.

Paper Training A Beagle

Another more popular method to potty train your beagle is paper training.

Paper training allows full control over where your beagle puppy goes to the bathroom. This technique reinforces eliminating on paper or puppy pads. I think the grass pads like the Petmakers Artificial Grass Bathroom Mat (on Amazon) are fantastic.

Start by placing your beagle puppy in a confined area of your home, ideally with a no carpeting for easier cleanup. If space is at a premium, puppy playpens are a viable option.

Once your beagle understands the concept, you start removing the paper, starting with the material closest to their bed. Then you put a small piece of somewhat soiled paper where you wish for them to continue to eliminate. The principle behind this is that a beagle puppy will wish to eliminate where they smell theyve done so previously.

Want your pup to go to the bathroom outside? Easy peasy. Slowly transition the paper toward the door, eventually with some being placed outside.

If you catch your puppy heading over to the paper indoors, open the door and allow them to go on the paper outside. Eventually, phase out the inside paper, until they have learned to go to the door to use the outdoor paper.

Pros of Paper Training

• This technique is easily teachable.
• Allows your beagle to utilize the bathroom at all times, which is quite beneficial if you have a busier lifestyle.
• Its a great option for people who live in apartments/high-rise buildings. In addition, it removes the element of weather or temperature related issues outside.

Cons of Paper Training

• Youre allowing them to go to the bathroom inside. That might not be the most pleasant smell, if not removed quickly.
• Since youre at first training your beagle to go to the bathroom inside, and then potentially transitioning them outside; it could essentially double the training time.
• Your beagle will always associate paper on the floor with going to the bathroom. I cant say that I minded one time when my cell phone bill mysteriously drifted to the floor. Odd how that happens, right?

Who Should Use Paper Training?

• If you have a long workday. It allows your puppy to go to the bathroom without you intervening.
• Living in apartments/high-rise buildings, its not the easiest to take your puppy outside. Also beneficial for avoiding inclement weather.

Constant-Supervision Training

This type of training is for the type A personality.

You will also need to have much time on your hands, in order to monitor them extensively to identify when he or she needs to go outside.

Pros of Constant-Supervision Training

• Freedom! for your dog, that is. Youll be there following their every move though.
• No need for house-training tools.

Cons of Constant-Supervision Training

• Youll be at your beagles beck and call.
• This technique does take longer than the aforementioned crate training.
• Anytime you miss your puppys signals, you run the risk of this setting their training back, and having to clean up the subsequent mess.

Who Should Use Constant-Supervision Training?

If you are a stay-at-home/retired type, then this may work quite well for you.

Exceptionally tuned into your beagles needs/wants? This may be for you.

Umbilical-Cord Training

This type of training is a deviation of constant-supervision training.

Just like before, youll be observing your beagle at nearly every waking moment, but your canine companion will have a leash tethering them to you.

The leashs sole purpose is to ensure that your pupster cant sneak off to use the bathroom without you.

Pros of Umbilical-Cord Training

• Minimal tools needed: Just your beagle, your patience and a retractable leash.
• Since youll be together so frequently, theyll get extensive socialization and exposure. This also aids in forming a strong between the two of you and helps to confirm you as the pack leader.

Cons of Umbilical-Cord Training

• Since your beagle would be familiar with being with you at all times, he may become confused if youre not able to be with them for any reason.
• Theres a slight risk of failing to monitor your dogs leash and potentially getting caught up in something. This could be potentially dangerous.

Who Should Use Umbilical-Cord Training?

This is ideal if you like the concept of constant-supervision training, but with the added security of the leash always being at the ready, umbilical-cord could be a viable option.

Just bear in mind: This means theyre going with you nearly everywhere. Potty train my beagle might as well be written on your resume.

General Guidelines For All Training Methods

Regardless of which training method you wish to implement, it is imperative to remember these few universal rules on how to potty train your beagle:

1. Your pup may become spiteful during the training. Regardless of this fact, do not yield to their idiosyncrasies.
2. Bathroom breaks should be coordinated in relation to your beagles age. If there are 8 weeks old, they should have a break every 2 hours. At 12 weeks, boost this number to three hours. Finally, at 16 weeks, most puppies can wait up to four hours between potty breaks.
3. Do not, do not, do not scold your puppy; if they do have an accident. They will and do happen. Its just part of the learning process.
4. Establish a clear schedule. This will ease them into anticipating when theyll be able to use the bathroom.
5. Keep in mind the time of day. If your beagle just had a meal, play session or a long nap, theyll be due for a break. In addition, first thing in the morning and right before bed.
6. Be mindful of your beagles signals to being ready. Circling, sniffing, squatting or wandering aimlessly are strong indicators.
7. Beagles will wish to frequent the same area that theyve soiled previously. Thats all well and good if theyve done it correctly outside, but not on your hardwood floors inside. If they do have an accident in the house (which is bound to happen), you must eliminate all traces of the odor to avoid a repeat offense.
8. If they go to the bathroom in the right spot: Act. Praise them for a job well done. If they go elsewhere: Distract. Try to gather their attention, pick them up and try to lead them quickly to where youd prefer they learn to use the restroom.
9. Be sure to start saying Potty, when they begin to go to the bathroom outside. The word association will become learned and carry through into their adulthood. Eventually, youll be able to command Go potty!, and theyll know to go to the door, ready to be let outside.

Conclusion

With a little bit of guidance and a whole lot of love, your beagle will rapidly become the pick of the litter.

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