[mandydancer]

My husband and I love our little Shelby so we decided to get her a friend for when we move in to our house in February (right now she has my parent's dog to play with). Its actually her brother: same parents, different litter. Beau will be able to leave his mom about the same time we get in our house but I'm worried about leaving him in a crate from 8-5 while we're at work. Shelby is house broken so we're going to install a doggie door and lock them both in the unfinished basement. I worry about this new situation because when we brought Shelby home I had been laid off work so I could spend time with her 24/7. Now that I have a job, I worry about leaving Beau in a crate all day. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

 

[RosCole]

Well, when we got our second beagle, Cole, we had a similar situation. I started a job last minute after we had him for only a few weeks. That is a long time and we also felt bad about it for Cole's sake.
So, rather than crate him, we got a huge rug (utility type rug) and a nice size pen to put in the kitchen (best place for us at the time). In the pen we put his crate (took the door off) with his bedding, some safe toys and his stuffed toy that had his littermates' scent on it, and a wee wee pad on one of those plastic holders they sell. He had only a few acccidents off the pad but learned quickly to use it. I also always leave a light music station on (or classical) for all my dogs and birds.
Cole was fine with this set up, we did get howled at when we came home, as if to yell at us but it worked when we had to!
Good luck

 

[mandydancer]

Thats actually a VERY good idea! Do you think the same kind of thing would be ok if it were in the basement with Shelby? What would we do with her? She'll be about 9 months old when we bring him home..

 

[RosCole]

Well, it all depends on how the two of them get along. Personally, I would seperate the two at first, until they get used to one another before leaving them alone together. We kept Roscoe in another room and Cole in the previously mentioned area.

Then, leave them alone together while you are home and observe their interaction. Its going to depend on the personalities of the two IMHO.

 

[cobismom]

We got Casie when he was 13 months old, and about 6 months after our oldest boy had to be put down. Cobi, was 7 then and we weren't sure he would want to have a mate....so we made arrangements to have them meet in the park, I took Casie and my dh took Cobi, and we just kind of walked around and let them sniff each other, and do what dogs to when they are meeting someone new who is like them. Fortunately they took to each other, and even though sometimes now they have spats like most brothers, they are close. I would strongly suggest that even though they come from the same parents....they meet first...to be sure that Shelby will take to the new dog.

As for the 8 - 5 day for them, is there a friend who could come over for awhile and let them out....that's a long day for both of them. I do leave the tv or radio on also for the boys when we aren't there...it cuts down on the isolation thing for them. I'd separate them for awhile, because you don't want to have any major battles happen when you aren't home, also then they won't learn bad habits from each other...there is time for that.

I say two are better than one, and three are better than two....but it takes planning and patience.

Good luck, post pics of them when you get the new pup.

 

[mandydancer]

We have had Shelby meet Beau when we've gone to see him at the breeder's home and she did ok but we realize we'll have to do it more before we bring him home. I will have to see what we can do about having someone put them outside but like I said, we are putting in a doggie door for Shelby.
I am excited about the idea of two but also am not excited about them becoming partners in crime. haha They'll feed off each other, I can just see it now..

 

[Rory2009]

I'm in agreement for having someone come over and let them out during the day, when we got Rory, I had a friend who was off of work and I would actually drop Rory off to him for about a month until i felt better about leaving him home with his brother. That seemed to work for us.

 

[BergenandLizzy]

My beagles stay in crates and like it

I had/have the exact same problems with my beagles. Before I got them I always said that I would never put them in crates.

After bringing them home, I quickly changed my mine. I felt terribly guilty at first. 8-5 is a very long time. It's very important that you definitely make the crate cozy and get your pup accustomed to it before leaving her in for hours at a time. I also like to leave the tv on and make sure that all of the blinds/curtains are open for them to look out.

When I first started keeping my beagles in crates and even now, I make sure that they always get plenty of exercise before and after being put in. If the weather permits, I always wake up and walk my girls for at least 15 minutes. Then when I get home I walk them for about an hour. I think that it's VERY important that you have someone come home at lunch/during the day to let the pup out to the bathroom. 8 hours is way too long for a little one to hold it. Also, I have heard it's much harder to properly potty train forcing them to be in their crates that long holding their bladders.

This is my routine and luckily it works like a charm:

8 a.m. Beagles go in crates with the t.v. on with a Kong filled with peanut butter.

11:30 a.m. Beagles get taken out to the bathroom and get fed lunch. Sometimes they get a mini walk.

5:15 p.m. Beagles get taken out to the bathroom and walked.

It's all about a routine.

I hope this helps. It surely works for me and I even live in an apartment.