How can you tell if a Beagle is unhappy
10 Common Beagle Behavior Problems and How to Fix Them
If you own a beagle, then you know this very well that BEAGLES ARE STUBBORN. This makes it a little more challenging to train them.
I am a parent of two naughty but adorable beagles, and over the years, I have stumbled upon various behavior problems.
So I decided to help my fellow beagle parents and made this list of 10 common beagle behavior problems and how to deal with them.
1. Barking Whining Baying Howling
Beagles are vocally expressive. They like to express their feeling out loud. You may have already heard them making different types of noises like barking, whining, baying, and howling.
Barking is normal. They like to bark just like people like to talk. But sometimes loud and excessive barking can become a little irritating for us.
Most owners unknowingly instigate their beagles to bark louder. When you scream at your beagle to stop barking, your pooch gets more excited and sees it as a competition. Seeing you shout, he may try to bark louder than you.
Beagles also bark to gain their owners attention. They are very clever at picking up small things. If they notice that barking gets them your attention, they will bark more often.
How to Fix it
The best way to deal with barking is by not reacting to it. When your beagle barks or whines or howls, do not respond, do not even look at him, keep doing what you were.
And once he stops barking for more than two minutes, give him a treat. By this, you are promoting the good behavior of your beagle without encouraging his barking.
2. Chewing around the house
Beagles like chewing. It makes them happy and satisfied. While its okay to chew on toys, whats not okay it to chew on furniture and other household things.
This problem is more common than you think. When I got Groot, my younger beagle, he was a zombie. He used to chew everything that could fit in his mouth. Furniture in my house still has all the scratches and teeth marks.
How to Fit it
The best way to stop unwanted chewing is to confine your beagle to his chew toys only. Please do not give him a chance to chew anything else. Here some of the best chew toys for your beagle.
Do not allow him to roam freely in your house. Instead, keep him in a room or in his crate with his chew toys.
You can beagle proof a room by removing all the unnecessary things that your pooch can chew.
You can also put him in his crate when with some of his chew toys. But make sure your beagle has been crate trained properly.
3. Ignoring Commands
Beagles are very smart and cunning dogs. They will stop following your commands If they realize they dont benefit much from following your orders.
Lets say if you stop giving them treats for a while for following your commands, they will start ignoring you.
Something similar happened to my neighbor. Her two-year-old beagle would listen to her only when she had a treat in her hands. And he would ignore all her commands when she had nothing in her hands.
How to Fix it
Your beagle needs some positive reinforcement to follow your commands. First, start giving him treats every time he follows your command. Gradually decrease the frequency at which you give the treats.
For instance, start with giving your beagle treats for every time he follows the command, then lower down the frequency to treating him for every 2nd time he follows the commands. And then after every three times.
Also Read: 7 Commands you Need to Teach your Beagle
4. Pulling on the leash
Beagles have a curious mind. You can say they are dogs with Hashtag WonderLust. Due to this, pulling on their leash is a common behavior problem among beagles.
When they out in the open, beagles are more interested in finding out the source of a scent than sticking beside their owners.
How to Fix it
Allowing your beagle to pull will motivate him more. Whenever he pulls on the leash, stop right there. He needs to understand that pulling will not get him what he wants.
Once he stops pulling and comes back to you, give him a treat, and continue walking. Soon he will understand that pulling gets him nowhere and stop doing it.
5. Biting
It is normal for young puppies to bite. They dont know how to interact with humans. It is your duty to teach them the correct way to communicate with you.
However, biting habits can continue to adulthood if you fail to teach them the correct way of interacting when they are young.
Soft play-biting is fine, but if it causes any type of pain, then you have to do something about it.
How to Fix it
Redirect your dogs behavior to a toy whenever he starts biting.
When he bites, make a low pitch, loud noise until he stops and then ignore him for some time. This will help your beagle to understand that biting hurts, and it will end all the fun of him.
If your beagle is still a puppy, then go through this guide of How to stop your Beagle Puppy from Biting. You can even watch this video:
6. Jumping
Jumping on people is not something you should promote. Beagles can jump for many reasons. They jump when they are excited, they jump to greet people. They jump when they want something that you are holding.
While jumping on you may seem cute, but it can be dangerous for you as well as your beagle.
How to Fix it
Whenever your beagle jumps on you, turn away. Do not motivate his behavior by greeting him back.
If your beagle jumps to grab things from your hands, or when you have his food, then give him the sit command before he jumps. If he doesnt sit, then wait and do nothing until he sits.
If he jumps on strangers and guests, then show him a treat and make him sit before you open the door.
In this way, you are correcting the unnecessary jumping of your pooch.
But this doesnt mean that you should never allow your beagle to jump. You can teach your beagle to jump on your command.
7. Digging
Not just beagles, but all the dogs love to dig, and theres a reason behind that. Back in the past, when dogs use to live in the wild, they use to dig a hole and sleep in it. It makes them feel more secure.
Even after being domesticated now, dogs still have this hiding of digging. It satisfies their natural instinct. You can watch this video to know more about this behavior:
How to fix it
Digging is perfectly fine, and you dont need to correct this behavior. However, if your beagle has been ruining your backyard garden by digging up holes, then there is something you can do.
Provide an area in your backyard to your beagle where he can burrow as much as he wants. Designate an area where he is allowed to dig and hide his favorite toy there. He will surely love this game.
And whenever he tries to dig in the garden area, distract him, redirect him to his designated area. Soon enough, he will figure it out where he is allowed to dig and where he is not.
8. Begging
Beagles make a squishy noise when they want something. Thats begging. Once it starts, it never ends.
While begging, their eyes suddenly become very soulful and sound as if they are crying. If your beagle learns that he gets what he wants when he begs, then he will do it all the time.
How to Fix it
The only way to fix this is by not fulfilling your beagles wish. Suppose, when you have your dinner and your pooch starts begging to taste some Pasta, do not give him that. Let him beg, but do not give him what he wants.
9. Aggressive Behaviour
Beagles are a breed of friendly dogs, and they rarely show any type of aggression. People often misunderstand common puppy behavior as aggression. So before you conclude that your pooch is aggressive, watch this video of signs that your beagle is aggressive:
How to Fix it
If you think your beagle is aggressive, the best way to deal with it is by consulting a professional dog trainer or dog behaviorist.
10. Separation Anxiety
Beagles are social and friendly dogs. While this is an excellent quality, it also makes them prone to Separation anxiety.
Beagles like to be around people, but when left alone, they can become anxious. Separation anxiety can lead to destructive behavior like chewing and accessive barking.
If your beagle starts barking every time you leave him alone in the room, then he is going through separation anxiety.
How to Fix it
Before leaving your beagle alone, give him some tasks to do like a kong. KONG is a must-have toy if your dog is going through separation anxiety.
Kongs are interactive toys that you can fill with dog food and let your beagle struggle to eat it.
Before leaving your house, give your offer him kong filled with dog food and let him get busy getting his food out of it.
Conclusion
Every behavior problem of your beagle is fixable. You just need enough time and patience. However, if you are unable to solve any of these issues, there is no shame in asking for help from a professional dog trainer.
How Do I Know My Beagle Loves Me & is Happy? (21 Reasons)
Its not always that easy to read a dogs emotions, and sometimes we wish they could tell us how they were feeling. Its not always obvious whether they are happy or sad. You might also struggle to understand if your Beagle loves you.
Firstly, I am sure your Beagle loves you a lot, so please dont worry. Secondly, I wanted to put together a list of signs to look out for so you can tell if your Beagle is happy or not. Firstly, a quick explainer though on Beagle love and happiness
How do I know if my Beagle is happy? There are lots of ways you can tell a Beagle is happy and loves you including wiggly bottoms, a relaxed body, being playful, a good appetite and no destructive behavior. These and more are how you know your Beagle loves you and is happy.
How can I tell if my Beagle is happy and loves me?
If youve been out for a while and come through the door to an excitable Beagle jumping up at you, thats a sign your Beagle loves you. But aside from the obvious, what else should you be looking out for?
Heres my top list of signs on how to know your Beagle loves you.
1. Your Beagle has what appears to be a smile
Beagle will often relax their mouth, lips, and tongues to give you what looks like a happy grin. Its a smile where their lips curl up, their eyes soften, and their tongue pops out.
2. Your Beagle does bottom wiggles and tail wags
Beagleswill wag their tails when they are in the mood. What you will also notice how they love to wiggle their bum when happy.
If you come home through your door to be greeted by a shuffling, butt-wiggling pooch, you can be sure your Beagle loves you and is happy as Larry.
3. Your Beagle gives you the big puppy dog eyes
Beagle have some of the most expressive eyes of any dog, and not just because of the unique appearance. Like all dogs, they can give you the classic puppy dog eyes, which is a sign of a happy Beagle.
But why do dogs do this?
Theres actually some science behind it; apparently dogs have developed the ability to make your heart melt with a simple gaze as part of their domestic evolution. Its a response behavior as dogs know it triggers a positive response in humans.
Happy dogs will relax their eyes, angry and scared dogs will narrow their eyes. So, if you see those soft Beagle eyes, you know yours is happy and loves you.
5. Your Beagle shows no aggression
Unhappy Beagleswill be aggressive and will show their teeth. Whilst they might be small, they can still snarl, put their ears back slightly, and act defensively.
6. Your Beagle has a relaxed body
Loving and happy Beagleswill be relaxed, and you will visibly see this in their body. A Beagle that loves you will show happiness with a relaxed body including those bum wiggles I mentioned earlier.
If you have ever seen one of those Beagle happy dances where their whole body starts wiggling, you will know what I mean. On the other hand, a rigid body is a sign of stress.
7. Your Beagle has plenty of reasons to play
Playful Beaglesare happy Beagles. If you have a Beagle who doesnt want to play, then get him checked out by a vet.
Its also one of the best signs to look for to see if your Beagle loves you. They will come up to you and try to initiate a game of play; that could be fetch, ball, tug of war, tickles, the Beagle zoomies, you name it.
For recommendations on what your Beagle should play with, take a look at these Beagle toy suggestions on Amazon.
8. Your Beagle does not exhibit destructive behavior
Unhappy Beaglescan be destructive. When stressed and sad they will chew, bite and destroy anything in sight. This should not be confused with your puppys teething stage though when its completely natural or them to want to chew things.
One of the more common reasons for destructive behavior is separation anxiety. Dogsthrive on human company being left home alone can have a huge impact on the way they behave.
If you are out at work, or even away from home for a couple of hours, you might come back to a scene of destruction. This can include barking, digging holes, chewing, tearing, ripping and other bad behavior.
We bought a Furbo dog camera for when we go out. You can buy a Furbo on Amazon; they are great for dog separation anxiety and will make your Beagle happy.
10. Your Beagle has a healthy appetite
You can tell your Beagle is happy if hes eating well.
Dogs who lose their appetite, act lethargic, and are reluctant to play and more often than not, sick. Your Beagle puppy should be eating 3 small meals a day, whereas an adult should eat twice daily.
Handy Hint: Happy dogs will respond to their name, but just how do dogs learn their name in the first place?
11. Your Beagle sticks their tongue out
Whilst there is a condition called hanging tongue which can result from neurological and structural defects,a little tongue poking out can signal happiness.
You might notice it when your Beagle is asleep. The tongue poking out means that are completely relaxed and in a happy state.
The next time yourBeaglestongue stick out, it could be a sign they are totally relaxed, content and happy with life.
12. Your Beagle has a healthy coat
A healthy coat means a happy dog well, in most cases. But in all seriousness, a heathy looking coat is usually a sign that most is alright with your Beagle. When your Beagles in great shape, he or she will definitely love you for it.
On the flip side, a stressed-out Beagle can lose their hair. Signs to look out for include flaky skin, obvious signs of hair loss, and excessive scratching. If you do see this, its unlikely that you Beagle is happy.
13. Your Beagle wants to be close to you
When a Beagle leans into you, its a sign that they love you and are happy with everything you are doing as their owner. You please them so they want to get up close and personal!
14. Your Beagle follows you like a shadow
When you have earned the trust of your Beagle, you will soon notice that they follow everywhere, from room to room, and even if you shift on the couch.
As I mentioned earlier, Beaglescan suffer with separation anxiety, so keeping close and following you around makes them feel secure. Beagleslove to follow their owners; its one way for a Beagle to show it loves you.
New Beaglessoon become very attached to their owners and will fall in love with you quickly providing you give them security they need.
15. Your Beagle will give you Beagle kisses
How do I know if my Beagle loves me? Could it be any clearer than with a big sloppy a kiss?
Beaglesshow affection to their owners by getting their nose and mouth up close to yours and administering their version of a kiss. Its not a lip thing, instead getting their face right into yours and doing some rapid-fire sniffing or a lick.
But, play safe with this one. You dont really want to encourage your Beagle to lick your mouth, despite how much it shows they love you and are happy for you to be their master.
16. Your Beagle will bring you their toys
If your Beagle keeps bringing toys to you, its a dog way of showing you love and affection. If its your Beagles favorite toy, you cant get a higher recommendation than this!
Why? Its their way of wanting to play with you, but also showing that you are the leader of the pack. By offering you their well-loved toys, it means they trust you to be responsible for their favorite possessions.
If your Beagle gives you a toy, it means your Beagle is happy and loves you. After all, if they share that toy, it means they want you to like and enjoy it just as much as they do.
Sharing is caring, and its one way of telling your Beagle is happy for you to be in their life.
17. Your Beagle will yawn back at you
You must have seen a friend or family member yawning back at you when you do one. This is a biological response triggered by empathy, leading to contagious yawns.
However, a recent study I found onScientificAmerican.com explains that dogs also do this. But interestingly, they only tend to yawn back at their owners, and not strangers because its all based on empathy.
If you do see your little dog yawning when you do, you know your Beagle loves you.
18. Your Beagle will raise their eyebrows
This isnt an easy sign to see but can still be a very subtle way for your Beagle to show that they love you. Ive personally not seen this in my own dogs, but did read about a study in Japan that founds when owners walk into a room, their dog will raise their eyebrows
The research found that dogs dont do this with strangers though, only their close humans. That means if you walk into your lounge and your Beagle looks at your and raises an eyebrow, hes bound to be happy and love you unconditionally.
19. Your Beagle will want to jump up on you
I know were meant to train our dogs not to jump up, but its still one way in which your Beagle shows how affectionate they are to you.
Whilst jumping up can be an adorable trait with a Beagle puppy, as they get older its can be problem behavior you should not really encourage.
20. Your Beagle will roll over
If your Beagle rolls over in front of you and asks for a belly rubbing, its a sure sign they trust and love you not to mention being in the throes of happiness!
When a dog rolls onto his back and exposes his belly, it means they trust you as they make themselves vulnerable. This is classic submissive behavior that only secure and happy Beagleswill display.
21: Your Beagle will let out a little sigh
Beaglescan make little noises that let you tell they love you or they are in a happy mood.
For example, theres one sound that shows your Beagle is happy to be around you. Its a little sigh of content. Some have compared it to a low moan, and it tends to happen when your Beagle is settling down to relax.
If your Beagle does this in your company it means they feel safe and happy around you, with no worries over threats.
Signs of a depressed Beagle
Ive already touched on a number of factors in my guide to Beagle happiness, but what should you look out for if your Beagle isnt happy, but instead has depression?
Here are some signals that could point towards Beagle depression:
- Growling and aggressive behavior.
- Narrowed eyes.
- Lack of appetite.
- Increasing panting.
- Howling and whining.
- Indoor urination and/or defecation.
- Fearful behavior such as cowering and hiding.
- Destructive behavior including chewing.
- Overall disobedience.
- Lack of interest in playing and their toys.
- Disturbed or irregular sleep patterns.
- Too much sleep compared to usual.
- Excessive licking of themselves.
- No longer responding to love and affection.
Conclusion
Some people will get a dog without really thinking about the commitment involved. Raising a healthy and happy Beagle can be very hard work.
But how do you know if your Beagle is happy?
Well, Ive detailed what I believe to be the main signs, but the bottom line is this; are they happy to see you, content, and healthy. If they are, your Beagle probably loves you and will do as long as you keep your side of the bargain up.
Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/beagle-dog-puppy-animal-pet-5375285/
