surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA
Oct 7, 2004, 9:05 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1171 views)
Shortcut
|
Re: [weew] Getting a Beagle, need final advice
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Aah ... a Beagle ... FINDING A BEAGLE: Caution: Because Beagles are so popular, there a lot of people breeding Beagles indiscriminately ... namely, they breed simply to sell, without care about lineage, conformation or temperament. And as a consequence, there are a lot of Beagles pups with poor temperament, incorrect conformation and poor health (with coat/skin problems etc) being sold at high prices. HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER Therefore, if your heart is set on a Beagle ... then I suggest you find a responsible breeder ... DO NOT BUY from a pet shop! ... As to how you can recognise a responsible breeder - check this thread ... www.puppy.com.my/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=64043;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Do be careful, just because a breeder is registered with the or promises you a MKA registered pup ... that is no guarantee that the breeder is responsible or that the pup is sound. A BEAGLE Okay ... if you have done your research, you will already know that Beagles are supposed to be like ... Positive: A well bred Beagle is a lovely dog ... reasonably easy going ... non-aggressive with kids, people or other dogs ... food orientated ... A Beagle is generally a very happy dog ... Makes a reasonable watch dog (sometimes). On the difficult side: Beagles (especially Beagle pups) are cute but ... aaah ... don't ever mistake a Beagle for a toy or lap dog just because of their size ... Beagles are out and out dogs, bred to hunt/track foxes they are active & require reasonable exercise. A bored Beagle is - trouble brewing ... And like most hound breeds, they are not the easiest dogs to train ... Beagles have an independent streak, a stubborn streak & mind of their own ... The only way to train a Beagle is with lots of patience, praise & treats ... Beagles can be affectionate, but they will seek and give affection on their own terms ... Beagles also follow their nose. Give them an interesting scent, and they are OFF! ... Don't matter how well trained they are, once on a scent - everything else is forgotten ... So, you will seldom find a Beagle not on a leash ... Beagles can be a little yappy, with a tendency to howl ... I have not heard of anyone successfully training a Beagle not to bark. As a breed, they were bred to hunt in a pack and barking & howling is how they communicate with the pack & hunter ... so, in that sense - barking is second nature to a Beagle. HOME ALONE WITH DOG If you work from home, then having a dog is not a problem ... just that with a Beagle ... long walks are appreciated ... And I will say again - a bored Beagle is - trouble brewing ... A tired Beagle is your best friend in the whole world! Once a dog is properly house trained ... they usually require very little supervision ... So, even if you are not well, you should be able to manage okay ... If you are seriously ill, then a Beagle is small enough & friendly enough to pass over to a friend for a couple of days. IS A BEAGLE SUITABLE FOR YOU? If you are a reasonably active person ... outgoing ... independent minded ... if you view training a dog as a challenge ... have patience ... a Beagle may just be your perfect companion ... However, if you are the sedentary type ... and your idea of exercise is opening a bag of crisps ... or if you expect a dog to give you 100% attention ... and expect training to be a breeze ... then maybe a Beagle is the wrong breed for you. Personally and only my view, I would say ... a Labrador would make a better first dog than a Beagle ... Assuming the management of your apartment does not object to occupants keeping dogs (its kinda hard trying to hide a Labrador) ... and if you are prepared to walk your dog everyday & give reasonable exercise (then the size of your apartment won't matter so much) ... A jog or two during weekends will also be great ... Labradors are lovely and so loving - a Labrador is a loveball on 4 legs ... They are easy to train, very friendly, responsive, obedient, not noisy ... and will give a first time owner everything ... intelligence, loyalty, attention ... you name it - the Lab has it ... The only thing is - a Lab makes a terrible watch/guard dog ... everyone is their friend ... including the guy in a mask! Because Labs are also very popular - it is also important to find a responsible breeder and get a well bred pup, from good parents. Cheers
(This post was edited by surchinmy on Oct 7, 2004, 9:07 AM)
|