How can I slim down my beagle

How to Help a Beagle Lose Weight

With a breed like the Beagle that has such a large range of standard weight, its not always easy to tell by the scale. And, if you go by AKC standard weight guidelines, this does not tell the whole story.

For Beagles that are 13 inches (33 cm) or less (measured floor to withers, which are the top of the shoulder blades) AKC standard weight is under 20 pounds (9.07 kg), and for Beagles with a height of 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 cm), AKC standard weight is 20 to 30 pounds (9.07 to 13.6 kg).

However, there are lots of Beagles that are heavier than that maximum of 30 pounds, and this does not necessarily mean that they are carrying too much fat. They may be taller than the 15 inches, or may be a larger than average bone structure.

And, there are Beagles in the 20 to 25 pound range, that should be 15 or 17 pounds; thus while they may be smaller than some other Beagles, they are overweight.

So, due to both bone structure and height differences, it's wise to look beyond the scale.

The best way to know for sure, before you take any steps to help your Beagle drop a few pounds, is to have your dog examined by the veterinarian. There are other important reasons as well, since the vet can rule out health issues that can cause a dog to gain weight, as well as evaluate your dogs ability to engage in some extra activity to burn calories.

This said, a check of your Beagles body shape and feeling for fatty areas can give you a basic idea of whether or not there is too much fat on the body. While other dogs need to be wet down to have a look at profiles, with such a short coat, this is not needed for Beagles.

1. Look at your Beagle from above. Do you see a defined waist? There should be a narrowing of the body between the ribs and the hips.

2. Look at your Beagle from the side. There should be an uptuck, where the abdomen tucks up into the rib cage.

3. Feel the base of your Beagles tail. It should be smooth and you should be able to easily feel the base where it meets the spine.

4. Feel the rib cage. You should be able to easily feel each defined rib without excess fat being in the way. Feeling ribs, but under some fat points to a weight issue. If you cannot feel the ribs at all, this points to a dog being severely obese.

As you can see in the photo below, the Beagle on the left is a healthy weight; and the Beagle to the right is overweight. If you are wondering if your Beagle is too fat, chances are that he/she falls somewhere between these two.

And, keep in mind that aging is not an excuse to carry excess pounds. It is normal for an older Beagle to have some muscle loss compared to his younger self; however, older adults and senior Beagles are not excused from being overweight; for older dogs, maintaining a good weight is more important than ever.

Beagle Behavior Problems And How To Calm Them

Beagles are active, full of energy, and at times, out of control. However, there are instances when your puppy is hyperactive for other reasons. If youve tried everything, but havent found a cure to calm your pup, then this article is for you. Here are solutions that will you understand how to calm a Beagle and also clear some of the the misinformation around neutering and biting.

Calming a beagle down starts with staying calm yourself. While it is applicable in most cases, there are circumstances when staying calm might not be the best solution.

Lets discuss other annoying Beagle habits and how to calm a dog down during tense situations.

How to Make Your Beagle Happy?

A happy dog is a healthy dog, and a healthy dog lives longer. If your beagle is happy, there will be fewer occasions of anxious hyperactive behavior. Here are a few tips on how to make a beagle happy.

• Schedule 60 minutes of exercise every day
• Give them lots of mentally stimulating exercises
• Give them nutritious food
• Take them outdoors every day
• Spend time with them
• Bring other dogs for company
• Use their strong sense of smell when playing
• Keep switching their workout routine with new exercises

What Does Your Beagle Hate?

You should also know what makes them mad. So, what do beagles hate?

Water

Beagles cant swim and that makes them scared of not only pools but also water and bathing in general. You can try to use positive reinforcement to get your dog to sit still while you bathe it.

Loud Noises

Like all dogs, beagles hate loud noises of thunderstorms, fireworks, etc. Even small noises like from the vacuum cleaner or hairdryer can spook them.

Being Left Alone

Beagles suffer from separation anxiety. They hate being alone and might become destructive and difficult to calm down. You can try to get rid of their anxiety by habituating them to play by themselves regularly.

Visiting the Veterinarian

Like most dogs, beagles dont like visiting the vet. Try to take your beagle for a fun outing or a fun activity after every visit to the vet. This will help eradicate their fears of visiting the vets clinic.

How to Discipline Your Beagle?

Training a dog helps you bond with them and teaches them everything, from essential commands to tricks. However, disciplining a dog is not an easy task. If done wrong, they might end up learning behaviors that are even more destructive.

But how do you discipline a beagle?

You should only discipline your beagle when it has done something wrong. This helps them understand which action resulted in the punishment.

Positive reinforcement works like a charm when disciplining any dog, especially beagles. This is because beagles are easy-going and affectionate breeds that love to impress their owners. Giving them treats or encouraging positive behavior will create a healthy relationship between you and your pet.

Here are a few more tips on how to discipline your beagle:

• Start with basic commands that your dog can understand easily
• Be assertive, confident, and firm
• Start them with their training early, ideally as puppies
• Communicate your discomfort or disappointment at unwanted actions
• Express your disapproval clearly and get your beagle used to how you express your disappointment
• Learn what distracts them and use it to get them away from someone or something if theyre behaving badly

How to Get Your Beagle to Listen to You?

If youre tired of looking for ways on how to get a beagle to listen, then your search ends here. Beagles are very stubborn and while they do love their family, they dont know how to express their affection. If your dog doesnt listen to you at a particular instance, give it some time and then try again.

Dont expect your beagle to start obeying all your commands immediately. Give them small orders that get them to drop a toy, follow you, or come to you. Then move on to more complex commands.

Another useful tip is to only train them when they are calm and ready to listen to you. You want to make sure the dog respects you because it becomes hard for them to obey you if they dont.

Burn Some Calories

Exercise helps calm humans and dogs alike. Its the ideal outlet for your beagles excess energy. Regular exercise ensures that your dog stays healthy, in shape, and away from diseases.

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

Irregular schedules make dogs confused, and confusion, in turn, leads to irritation and aggressive behavior. Try to make a schedule that accounts for the hours when your beagle is the most active. If you take them out for a walk at this time, theyll come back tired but also relaxed. Doing this regularly will make the dog understand its schedule and cope with it better.

Feed Them on Time

How would you feel if you missed a meal or had to diet for a day? Annoyed, right? Thats exactly how your beagle feels when youre behind on its feeding schedule. Puppies are too young to understand why theyre irritated if they miss a meal, and while beagles are intelligent, they dont yet know how to express their hunger. Feeding them on time is the easiest solution to calm them.

Early Socialization

Confident dogs are secure in their homes and their surroundings. Isolation is the number one reason why dogs become hostile and start to act negatively. Taking your beagle to a dog park and arranging pet group meetings will help them get used to the presence of other dogs.

Early socialization is very beneficial as the dogs are exposed to other pets at a young age. There are no big dogs to intimidate them and no small dogs to bark at. You can also introduce your beagle to other pets like cats at this stage of their life.

Give Them Toys

What do I do if my beagle is out of control and wont listen to me?

Toys are the answer. Use your beagles favorite toys to distract them when you find a situation is getting out of control. Chew toys are especially helpful in such cases. They engage your pet for the time being until you get them away from the stress-inducing environment.

Expose Your Dog to New Surroundings

Wondering how to calm a beagle by taking it to new places? The best way to do this is to incorporate new walking routes every once in a while.

This works to build your dogs exposure to new surroundings which ultimately feeds its curiosity. Beagles are intelligent scent hounds with a strong curiosity about their environment. Unless their hunting needs are satisfied, theyre going to stay curious and get stressed often. Avoid the situation altogether by taking them to a new park or route for their next walk.

Whats great about this practice is that your dog also gets to work off its pent-up energy.

Observe Your Beagle

Make a habit of observing your beagle. Itll give you clues on how to tame your beagle puppy. A reason most calm dogs become aggressive suddenly is because of some change in their environment. Go to the room or place your dog spends most of its time and look for any problems that might have upset your puppy.

Maybe their bed is uncomfortable, other pets are troubling it or the temperature is too harsh for your puppy.

Spend Some Quality Time Together

Lastly, spend some quality time with your dog. Beagles are affectionate dogs; they crave attention from their owners. If youre busy, take some time off to lay in bed with your dog or just go for a quiet walk in the evening.

Misconceptions About Beagle Hyperactivity

Does Teething Cause Hyperactivity?

Biting is most common when dogs are still teething and often wears off as they mature. However, some dogs keep the habit even after they mature. Common reasons for excessive biting could be some issues in the dogs environment that are making it nervous or anxious.

At What Age Do Beagles Stop Biting?

Beagles usually start teething at around 4 months and they will subsequently start biting. This might go on for the next few months. Most beagles should have finished teething by the time they are 8 months old.

Almost all puppies start by biting those around them. Its a very natural action for them. However, you may want to control it early on if you dont want your dog biting people, children, or other pets. Their puppy teeth are nothing to worry about but a grown adults teeth are very sharp and could cause severe damage. You must discipline your beagle regularly if it continues biting as it matures.

Does Neutering Help Calm a Beagle?

Neutering wont do any good because it only reduces testosterone. Since high energy levels and hyperactivity have a lot of causes, lowering testosterone alone wont help calm down your beagle.

If your beagle behavior problems still exist, then its better to call a dog trainer to deal with the situation professionally.

Most Beagles are hyperactive in the early years of their life. You shouldnt worry because this hyperactive behavior will decrease as they mature into adults.

If you have any more doubts about Beagles, you can always read about some of the most commonly asked questions about beagles.