Originally Posted By: HoundHeadIf you want to get him to stop sniffing (I used to tell people that I was going to go drag my beagle around the neighborhood an I meant it literally) put a small dab of vicks vapor rub on the top of the nose. That way all they can smell is the menthol and they stop sniffing long enough to train them to walk correctly/run. You don't have to do it forever and a little goes a long way. Also make sure you train them to not cross sides while they walk before you run unless you just enjoy a good scraped knee every now and again. Oh and there is no way to avoid squirrels where I live so I've developed a sixth sense and learned to run in the other direction when I see one. I can hear them laughing sometimes I swear.
Sorry but I have to disagree with you on this one - that's just cruel and completely unnecessary. A dog's sense of smell is incredibly strong, much more than a human's, and their nose is very sensitive. Putting vicks vapour rub on their nose would feel like a burning sensation for them. Some dogs would be so distracted by the pain they couldn't learn anything anyway! I don't want to sound harsh, but I am really gobsmacked that anyone would do this or recommend it.
In terms of teaching you beagle to focus a little bit of training goes a long way. Have you taught a focus word like 'look'? What training have you done with your beag?
Daisy doesn't bother scenting once I give the command words 'ready to work?' because she knows that I am always more exciting and rewarding then whatever smells are on the ground.
Head collars are a training tool that is like a harness for their head. Personally I'm not a fan as they leave a fair bit of room for neck/spine injury and many dogs find them highly aversive. If you are going to look at getting one just make sure you don't use it as a band aid for training, and actually teaching your dog what you want. It's generally best to consult with a trainer before using a head collar or any training tool so they can show you how to fit it and use it correctly.