Please help me!

[CharlieDJones]

Hi Bealge-Lovers.

I am 17 years old and I go to school. My classes vary a lot but I usually don't have more than 5 school hours per day. I'm thinking about getting a beagle and I've been doing a lot of research about the breed. I have a relatively small one bedroom apartment in a small city. I just have a few concerns about the breed and I hope you all can help me.

1. If I get walk a beagle would 10-15 minutes in the morning, 30-40 minutes in the afternoon and 20-25 minutes in the evening, walks be enough? I would of course take my beagle to play outside a couple of times a week, dog training and play with her in my apartment during the day - but due to the usual high energy level of the breed I am concerned about the amount of exercise and I really need to know if this would be enough?

2. I have read that the breed also "suffers" from separation anxiety and due to the neighbors in my apartment building I'm wondering if this is really that common or if I could maybe train her out of this? I really don't want a VERY loud dog - of course I recognize her need to express herself when company arrives or when she is bored but I really don't want her to bark or howl while I'm gone or asleep.

3. I have had success in training my grandmothers Miniature schnauzer to do certain things and she really listens to me - I love her so much. But I've heard that beagles are very difficult to train and I want to know if they are really the bad - from people who have had experience with this.

I will have to go to my classes and do my homework and assignments, but generally I don't go out to town much and I am at home a lot of the time. I REALLY want a beagle but I want the best for her at the same time.

I know this is a lot to read but I really hope that someone will help me because this has been my dream for quite a while and I really want it to come true.
Thank you in advance

[Dawna]

I'm wondering how you got an apartment at age 17? Usually 18 is the minimum allowed age to rent an apartment. But if the age was not a typo, you sound extremely mature for your age and you sound like you could handle this breed because you've obviously studied it well from the comments you've made. I have read and heard the same thing about the separation anxiety and Beagles and that would be my main concern with your situation. My Beagle is 9 months old but I only work 4 or 5 days a month since I got him, and I have another dog that keeps him company. Plus I'm in a free standing house that I own. The only other time I had Beagles was a child-my grandfather had 2 mother and son, and he hunted with them. Probably other people in the group would have better input about a Beagle in an apartment, but I think you have everything else pretty well covered.

[ljas]

It is common for 17 year olds to rent apartments when they are going to school - two of my children did at that age - and it is legal, although some landlords may request parental support if needed.

Back to beagles:

A lot depends on the dog, and how they are trained. You should consider crate training for when you are in class or studying. If you get your dog from a rescue group, they often offer support. But . . .

You may want to consider whether you will have time for your dog when you are studying - especially for midterms and finals. Although it is hard to wait, maybe now is not the best time to get a dog. I would get through your first couple of years of school first, so that you can realistically know whether you will have the time - and patience - that you will need to adopt a beagle.

[brandypup]

Hi and welcome. Let my ay KUDOS to you first. It's nice to see a young adult really striving to be something these days. You should be proud.

The main question to ask before getting a beagle- Were do you see your self in 15+ years? It should include the beagle as they can live a good 15 years. That means extra vacation plannings, dithcing boyfriends.girlsfriends who do not understand or like dogs. Probably limited roomates if it came to that. No staying out all night becuase pup needs walks. Completly doable-however I kinda remember being 17-24 and that wasn't much in the cards to take care of a dog. (let alone me lol)

But for your questions-
A beagle needs about a 2 hour walk in the morning afternoon and evening. And they would also need daily play outsiide. They are a hunting dog bred for stamina which means they can full speed run for days. While you can do it on less if any behavior issues crop up the lack of excercise would be the first thing to look at.

Seperation anziety is usally becuase of a board dog or a dog that was cuddleled too much. Beagle bay and howl, its what they do. And yes they can be good apartment dogs. (mine is) some are quieter then others, some are just too tired to bark with good excerise. This is hit and miss. Again if you have a loud beagle then tirering them out is very important.

Beagles need extra paintance, time and consisitancy in trianing. Again they are hunting dogs, they think with their noes. Something it's better to prevent then to try to train out of. (like trash digging ect) Yes they can be trained, yes it can take a little bit more work and time.

I feel you can defintily handle a beagle becuase you sound like a very commited person. However that said I would definitly suggest an older beagle above 5 years old. And I would also like to suggest contacting a rescue org and appling to be a foster home. A foster home is so important and vital to a rescue place. They give room, love and training to a foster dog while it waits for a forever home. Of course the foster has an option to adopt the dog as well. If fostering isn't an option please still go visit some beagles, ask to walk them ect. they are really neat dogs. Frustrating, but so lovable.

Beagles

[CharlieDJones]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

I am 17 but I do not live in America and we sort of have different rules here - I go to an international school so it is normal for students to have their own apartments. I really want the responsibility of a dog to really feel like I can handle something on my own and I really want and perhaps need a dog that can stand by me - which is why I am also so interested in Beagles because they are so loyal. I am very committed to this but I really will not have the time for a 2 hour walk in the morning because I have class at 8.15 am most days. I have also read that they adapt so if the dog is used to getting less exercise than the breed normally requires maybe it won't be that big of a problem. But still I don't want an unhappy dog.

And as for the option of getting an older dog: In my country we do not have that many dog shelters or foster homes (or none at all) so that will not be a possibility. Not many people are selling their adult beagle as far as I can tell so my only option is really a puppy. I know that this is not ideal but maybe in some ways if the puppy gets used to the amount of exercise it gets maybe it will adapt to it better.

[brandypup]

What country are you in?

[CharlieDJones]

I live in Denmark. It's in Europe, next to Sweden. (I suspect you already knew this but just in case)

[Dawna]

Hi. I am very impressed with your maturity! And Brandy, maybe I misunderstood you, but did you say a Beagle needs a TOTAL of SIX hours of walking each day? If so my dog is deprived. I walk him an hour at a time twice a day, and he seems ok with that. Charlie, I think you actually could manage a puppy in your current situation. While older dogs are more settled, a baby is a clean slate. If you get a pup, it will grow up being used to apartment living-easier than getting an older dog that's used to acreage to convert ot apartment living. Also, I can tell by your comments that you are very aware of a dog's needs, so I'm assuming you have already prepared for making the sacrifices of dog ownership. I say go for it! And there's nothing like watching a puppy grow to adulthood!

[brandypup]

A puppy would be super demanding on his time. I never said it couldn't be done. A puppy needs to be let out every hour give or take around the clock for house trianing. And yes puppies need a lot of excersie to keep them from howling, keep them from getting seperation issues and keep them out of trouble.
it is defintily doable on less. But not neccsaarly recceomended. Also each dog is differnt, one pup could be fine on 1.5-2hrs daily excersie while another would go insane. It would help to hire a dog walker or a dog day care place also if they have them there.

And yea- I can see were the foster/rescue is limited there.

But in order to find a respected beagle breeder there is also work involved. maybe you can start by going to shows and such and talking to some fiolks.
Beagles

Health and Genetics

Show Beagle Resource Center

Beagle Klubben - Forside



Beagles
Beagles have loads of energy and are well-suited to someone who likes to take long walks. Beagles can be kept successfully in apartments, however, you must be extremely dedicated in taking your dog out for regular walks. Bred to run cross-country in pursuit of rabbits and foxes, they don't mind going for long runs.

[brandypup]

Oh look at this=
Sweet Courage

We are looking for some homes for our adult dogs...if that was somethign you were intrested in.

In any case that is another option if you were intrested in an older pup. breeders have them as well. retired show or other reasons.