[Letty_Monty]

So yesterday it was nice and hot out, so I took Monty for a nice long walk. We came home, and my neightbor was playing fetch outside with her chocolate lab, so we decided to play for awhile with them. I took Monty of his leash so he could run around with the lab, and that little bugger took off down the block! He would run a bit, stop and wait to make sure i was coming, then run a bit more, wait for me to almost catch him etc etc. My neighbor said her dog would NEVER do that, that she knows better. How come Monty doesn't?! I know he's just playing, but after 10 minutes I was DONE playing, and he wouldn't listen to me /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

Justin says that Monty doesn't see me as a leader, because I'm always the one playing, and not disiplining him. How do I make Monty respect me without hating me?!

 

[Jennifer]

Quote:Originally posted by Letty _&_Monty:
My neighbor said her dog would NEVER do that, that she knows better. How come Monty doesn't?!

Because he's a Beagle not a Lab I'm afraid.

Unless your Beagle is well trained in the recall (come) command or "wait" command they should NEVER be let off the lead. He didn't stop for you because you were kind of chasing him and he thought it was good fun. If you had turned round and run in the opposite direction he might have come after you. If you had acted all excited with treats and/or toys in your hands as you ran away from him you might have had even better luck at getting him back.

It's not really about leadership or respect in this instance. If a Beagle is off lead and runs away it's not because he doesn't respect you. It's simply because he is doing what beagles do and following his nose.

If you haven't already, teach him the basic commands of "come" "wait" and "stay". A well trained dog is more likely to view you as the leader than an untrained one. And NEVER let him off lead unless it's safe to do so.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I know others will chime in with the same thought: Monty is a BEAGLE!! Beagles and "off leash" do not go together, no matter how well your beag is trained. That beagle nose will go with whatever scent it detects and go and go and go! Your neighbor's dog wouldn't do that because it is not a BEAGLE. This has nothing to do with respect or being the leader -- don't beat yourself up -- just keep Monty on a leash or within a well-contained play area.

 

[amylou57]

Wyatt does this as well. He'll run just far enough, then stop and make sure you're coming. It's his game. He's never actually run away, but it got really frustrating for us. We did a couple things to help cure him of it. Note: We ALWAYS walk the boys on leash, but Wyatt has escaped a few times...

First, Nathan carried treats in his pocket on our walks, and would call Wyatt back to him and give him a treat. He changed his focus from the "trail" he was on, to whichever one of us was carrying his leash. Soon, he learned to come back to us (most of the time) when we call him. The couple times he has gotten out since then, all we have to do is squat down and call him, and he comes running. It's actually kind of fun to see.

Second, and I think this is kind of mean, but it worked. Instead of chasing him, Nathan suggested we simply turn around and walk away. It took Wyatt a little while to notice that we weren't following, but once he did, he came running after us as fast as he could. We made sure to keep him in sight, with one of us discreetly turning to make sure he was coming, just in case he didn't. But that seemed to work as well.

Now that we have Doc around, Wyatt hasn't even tried to escape, and when Doc has gotten out of our arms , Wyatt actually brought him back to us. Hopefully, that's been the best cure.

 

[Genie]

Quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp is my beagle baby:
Now that we have Doc around, Wyatt hasn't even tried to escape, and when Doc has gotten out of our arms , Wyatt actually brought him back to us.

Awww!! How sweet is that?! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Murphys Dad]

The Bagel isn't the quickest on recall unless there is an inductment (treat, car ride, or additional people to dispense love) but he will come reluctantly if he can't convince me to go to where he is sniffing. Sounds like Monty was just having fun playing with his Letty /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif Heavy praise, love and maybe even an occasional treat may convince Monty that recall is a good thing. The Beagle brain considers all options and if Monty thinks coming is the best option. he'll recall. If he thinks playing with Letty is more fun, he won't!

 

[brandyb]

I agree with everyone. Unfortunately this is what Beagles do. I had laugh when you described how he run, stop, turn to make sure that you were following, and run again. I've seen Caesar do this to me. It's in their nature. I read somewhere that it's a hunting instinct. They make sure that the master is behind them while they're chasing their pray. I don't know if this is true. Don't feel bad, Monty is just doing what Beagles do best...following his nose.
A Beagle could probably replace Toucan Sam in the Fruit Loops commercials.

 

[Letty_Monty]

Thanks guys. It's so frustrating because my neighbor, and even Justin, think that all dogs should respond the same. I tried telling them he probably just caught a scent, or just wanted to play.

Justin says I still need to be strict with him though. I think he's blaming Monty's inability to be fully potty trained on me being too kind. He's even accused Monty of leaving a present on the floor because he was mad at Justin! I tried to tell him that Monty doesn't do it out of spite, but he's not convinced!!

 

[Murphys Dad]

Quote:Originally posted by Letty _&_Monty:
... I tried to tell him that Monty doesn't do it out of spite, but he's not convinced!!

Neither am I and I love and accept the Beagle as a Breed but I'm convinced they can be willful when annoyed and if Monty was annoyed at Justin, I wouldn't put it past him!

I key point is that strictness and discipline might work for a German Shepard but not for a beagle. Retrieves and herd dogs were bred to turn to their masters for direction and guidance, Beagles were breed to be independant thinkers. Beagles function on pack cooperation and while they subject their decisions to benefits analysis, that analysis does extend well past personal motivation to what's best for the pack (A reason Monty kept looking back at you). I guess if you want to get a beagle to do what you want, you've got to think like a beagle and outsmart them. That isn't always easy /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Laxmobster]

We call them Great Escapes at my house. Fin will get out stand in the yard and wait for me to come after him then the game begins. I'm positive its because he likes being chased around. The only time we can take Fin off lead is if there is another dog around. But yes, any Beagle would normally make a mad dash for it...

 

[Tammy]

We have a fenced in backyard but the Girls have to walk about 10 feet from the door to get to the gate. 99% of the time they go back and forth with no problems. A couple of weeks ago I chased Lillie for about 5 minutes around a tree before I got my hands on her! I was so mad and upset I was shaking when I got her inside.

It is times like that that I don't like a Beagle nose!

And on Monday my Mom was coming home from work and saw the Girls chasing a kid about 1/2 mile from the house. They had found a tiny patch of the fence that they could get under! She said when she saw them, she was so scared she forgot their names but she did get them into her car and brought them home. Beagles!

 

[Kodi08]

I think one thing that frustrates me more then anything is when someone doesn't understand that all dog breeds are not alike.

I mean heck, humans aren't all the same so why in the heck would it be different with our beagles.

Regardless for this type of situation I agree with everyone else. Rhett never comes off a leash when in the front yard. He gets the leash on walking from the house to the car till I'm in it then gets the leash back on before I exit the car. The only place he has open reign is the house (baby gates block all rooms he doesn't need to go in) and the back yard which I have set up like Fort Knox. I had to do some fixes though under the deck though because with Scarlett coming home in a few days I had to make the yard puppy proof!!!!!

 

[MakoCSH]

Quote:Originally posted by Letty _&_Monty:
He would run a bit, stop and wait to make sure i was coming, then run a bit more, wait for me to almost catch him etc etc.

He was doing his job, he's the hunter, you're the follower. He was saying "hurry up!". Beaglers follow on foot so he's expecting you to follow. A lab is supposed to fetch and come back. Big difference.

I've had two beagles that were great off the leash. If I tell Molly to sit stay she'll do it no matter what she smells. Franny had terrible recall when she was young (i.e. couldn't be trusted off leash), but was great as she got older.