Run Free

[BeagleWeegle]

When we first adopted Charlie, We were clueless about beags, and in parks had him off leash, he did wonderfull listened well kept an eye on me as we did him, this went on for awhile, still not really knowing the full effect of a beags nose, WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY, just a short few months later we lost him for 5 days......................I only thank the lucky stars we found him not harmed even though he lived the street life for those days.

never want to go through that again, sooooooo NEVER IS HE OFF LEAD unless it's in an enclosed area..........and even then I watch him like a hawk.......he's an escape artist lol

[Double Trouble]

Originally Posted by dudley

we used to camp in the ocala national forest and being far from any roads we allowed the dogs to run free. frequently they would be gone all night but we could here them baying and tracking something way off in the distance all night long. they would come back the following day (occasionally two days later) exhausted and happy. i felt they were getting to behave like beagles and never thought twice about it. then came the day they found the rattlesnake nest. according to the vet beagles dislike and will attack rattlesnakes. bailey was bitten six times on the face and died the next day. michelle was bitten once on the base of the tail and had to be put down two weeks later when her skin literally began to die and slough off. almost twenty years later and i still tear up thinking about it. I miss them like it was yesterday. needless to say if E.B. and C.B. are off leash in an unfenced area for just a moment i get panicky.
give your dogs some extra love today for my bailey and michelle, R.I.P.

This is such a sad story, you've really moved me. At the start of your message I was full of admiration of you letting your beagles have such freedom, thinking how much my two would just love such an opportunity to roam and hunt and sniff to their hearts content. Boy oh boy did you all pay the price, I can well imagine how something so tragic can still feel raw today.
You should always consider though that they were very much loved and had a fabulous beagle adventure before they passed. Cuddling my two as I type x

[cobismom]

Never ever, ever......they are always on a tether or a leash when outside. Beagles do follow their noses, and I swear their ears turn off when the nose goes to the ground. If they are off the leash they can be picked up in our city because of leash laws. But mainly we keep them leashed because they do like to run --- fast --- and far. Sometimes we will take them to the golf course or soccer fields, on a 50 ft lead just to let them run....but never off the leash.

[Smeagle]

If I'm letting her run free I always ensure it's in a contained or safe area before letting her off leash.

However if we're training I can work her off leash and do so all the time.

[Rhae]

Nah cant do, her nose leads her always. Shes only free when hunting

[Jesslyne]

Originally Posted by Pop_Rivit

We took both Murphy and Mandy to beginning and intermediate training at PetSmart. I think it made a huge difference, not only did they learn a lot but I learned a lot too. I'm not sure that Murphy would be responsible enough to walk off leash if we had not done the training.

When we first started walking rather than remove the leash I just dropped it and allowed it to drag behind him. There were a couple times I had to quickly stomp on it, but he soon understood that darting away wouldn't be tolerated. I feel comfortable completely removing it now.

Last fall when we'd walk early in the morning (5:30 or so) we'd often see deer in the road or out in the fields. Murphy would come to a stop and we'd stand there and watch them-he was very interested but never made a move to chase them.

Of course, after this thread I realize how much I miss summer and our walks.

Your post (mostly your picture) makes me really homesick, because it could be a picture of where I'm from (although rural IL, not rural IA). If we still lived there, and not in car-heavy suburbia, I'd be much more inclined to let the boy offleash.

[williebeagle]

My beagle does run free. We have about 160 acres in a very rural location in iowa. There are probably another 500 acres on each side of ours, one side is farmland and then a house. The other side is a county park, lots of trees and grassland, and then the camping area. I feel pretty confident to let him run loose. He is older now, so doesnt run like he used to. When he was young, let him out in the morning, come inside to eat and it would be see ya when I get back....

[Double Trouble]

free willie - sorry couldn't resist the pun! What great life for a beagle - so you were never woried that Willie would get lost?

[williebeagle]

Originally Posted by Double Trouble

free willie - sorry couldn't resist the pun! What great life for a beagle - so you were never woried that Willie would get lost?

Sure I was worried at first, but I hate the thought of not doing everything that scares you.

[meg's mum]

the post on here about the 2 beags being let off for days on end in a national park sounds just fab for a beagle, it reminds me of a book i have read about a beagle called perth by peter martin. if you get a chance, read it, as it a remarkable tale of the most astonishing beagle ! honestly, i have got it out twice from the librabr now and it is a story about a beagle who did exactly that. it was never ever put on a lead and roamed about for days on end just doing whatever it is that beags do. sniff sniff and sniff some more. my meg can be let off in an open park as long as we have a ball for her and a huge chunk of cheese. ollie sadly can never be let off as he is a houdidi and always wants to escape. we took the to a rural beach in cornwall a few weeks ago and the only way on and off the beach was a steep set of steps set into the cliff top. meg went wild running in and out of the sea and generally playing like a mad thing, and ollie, well, he spent the whole time on a long lead trying to climb up the treachearous cliff sides just to escape !! we feel really mean, but he is to precious to lose. we only got him as a rescue because he kept escaping from the previous owners and so one day they just let him go. after nearly 7 days at the pound, he had 1 day left before being put to sleep. we love the bones of him so much. so we wont risk it !, meg, well we know where we can and cant get away with it.