my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

we've had max, our beagle puppy for 6 months, he is 10 months old and WILD.
I honestly dont know what to do. When we are home he is an angel but when we are at work he goes nuts (sometimes)
I word next door, so I stop by 3 times during the day. We dont keep him in a cage. The living room, kitchen and guest bedroom are opened for him. The guest bedroom has a doggie flap in the door so he can go in the backyard and do his business.
Today I came home and he chew 2 books that were there on the same shelf for the past 6 months, he never touched them until today, this happens often. I'll have something the whole time out and then one day its like BOOOM and he gets to it.
He also chewed our pillows from our sofa and other things.
This dog is really soooo lovable and i cant imagine giving him away or anything but sometimes i just want to scream at the top of my lungs.
I am pregnant and due in August, this gives DH & I about 7 months to come up with something bc if things remain the way they are, I will go insane.
We are thinking about taking him for training but I've just heard so many things that it doesnt really help, that its BS. Has anyone used a good dog trainer that has really helped their dog?
Does anyone have a Beagle? ANy recommendations/advice?
Thanks Ladies
I need all the support/ideas/ I can get!!!!

Message edited 1/14/2009 8:25:22 PM.

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

My sister has a beagle and went through the same thing as you seem to be. If anything was within reach it was chewed...I'm talking shoes, even money...he even cxhewed their couches, carpet and a hole in the drywall! They had to just make sure that they put everything they could out of his reach and he did eventually grow out of it (mostly!) He will occasionally chew something but has mellowed out A LOT. Sometimes I can't believe he's actually the same dog. Good luck with your little guy!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

crate - crate - crate - crate - crate!!!!


I can't reiterate enough what a wonderful training tool the crate is. Especially if these are the problems you are having.
If you are going home three times a day, he doesn't need to go out in between. Stop to visit, let him out of his crate to do what he has to do and maybe play a bit, then put him back in. He will grow to love his crate - Misty is 4 years old and hasn't been crated steadily for two years...but when things get too crazy for her or she wants to hide out (or she's in trouble for something) she goes right back to her crate.
Once you see him start to outgrow the bad stuff, you can start leaving him out of the crate.

The other thing is plenty of real exercise. Beagle are the kind of dogs that get bored easily. Take him for a long walk or out to play and play with him...make him chase a ball or toy for a good while, until you both are tired...he won't have so much energy to look for bad things to do when you aren't home then.


Good luck!!!!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Would you consider a trainer?

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Posted by Gertyrae

crate - crate - crate - crate - crate!!!!


I can't reiterate enough what a wonderful training tool the crate is. Especially if these are the problems you are having.
If you are going home three times a day, he doesn't need to go out in between. Stop to visit, let him out of his crate to do what he has to do and maybe play a bit, then put him back in. He will grow to love his crate - Misty is 4 years old and hasn't been crated steadily for two years...but when things get too crazy for her or she wants to hide out (or she's in trouble for something) she goes right back to her crate.
Once you see him start to outgrow the bad stuff, you can start leaving him out of the crate.

The other thing is plenty of real exercise. Beagle are the kind of dogs that get bored easily. Take him for a long walk or out to play and play with him...make him chase a ball or toy for a good while, until you both are tired...he won't have so much energy to look for bad things to do when you aren't home then.


Good luck!!!!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Ooo and gabbie I TOTALLY support training as well, it is NOT bs, you and DH will just have to *consistently* follow what they tell you to do. I'm in queens, we used wagthedognyc.com, but I'm sure you can referrals for your area!!!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

I would suggest a very long walk in the morning before you and DH leave for work. It sounds like he has some pent up energy he needs to release. If you can't do it maybe you could hire a neighborhood kid or a dog walker to do it. I think you will see a tremendous difference if the dog has a different way to release his energy.

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Posted by KateDevine

Posted by Gertyrae

crate - crate - crate - crate - crate!!!!


I can't reiterate enough what a wonderful training tool the crate is. Especially if these are the problems you are having.
If you are going home three times a day, he doesn't need to go out in between. Stop to visit, let him out of his crate to do what he has to do and maybe play a bit, then put him back in. He will grow to love his crate - Misty is 4 years old and hasn't been crated steadily for two years...but when things get too crazy for her or she wants to hide out (or she's in trouble for something) she goes right back to her crate.
Once you see him start to outgrow the bad stuff, you can start leaving him out of the crate.

The other thing is plenty of real exercise. Beagle are the kind of dogs that get bored easily. Take him for a long walk or out to play and play with him...make him chase a ball or toy for a good while, until you both are tired...he won't have so much energy to look for bad things to do when you aren't home then.


Good luck!!!!

I 110% agree with this.

We have a 3 year old beagle, but we got her when she was 4 months old and we crate trained her from the beginning while we were at work. She is fabulous about the crate and does not see it as punishment.

And I will give you some hope that between 2 and 3 my beagle calmed down A LOT!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Posted by Gertyrae

crate - crate - crate - crate - crate!!!!


I can't reiterate enough what a wonderful training tool the crate is. Especially if these are the problems you are having.
If you are going home three times a day, he doesn't need to go out in between. Stop to visit, let him out of his crate to do what he has to do and maybe play a bit, then put him back in. He will grow to love his crate - Misty is 4 years old and hasn't been crated steadily for two years...but when things get too crazy for her or she wants to hide out (or she's in trouble for something) she goes right back to her crate.
Once you see him start to outgrow the bad stuff, you can start leaving him out of the crate.

The other thing is plenty of real exercise. Beagle are the kind of dogs that get bored easily. Take him for a long walk or out to play and play with him...make him chase a ball or toy for a good while, until you both are tired...he won't have so much energy to look for bad things to do when you aren't home then.


Good luck!!!!

Message edited 1/15/2009 9:49:44 AM.

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Posted by Gertyrae

crate - crate - crate - crate - crate!!!!


I can't reiterate enough what a wonderful training tool the crate is. Especially if these are the problems you are having.
If you are going home three times a day, he doesn't need to go out in between. Stop to visit, let him out of his crate to do what he has to do and maybe play a bit, then put him back in. He will grow to love his crate - Misty is 4 years old and hasn't been crated steadily for two years...but when things get too crazy for her or she wants to hide out (or she's in trouble for something) she goes right back to her crate.
Once you see him start to outgrow the bad stuff, you can start leaving him out of the crate.

The other thing is plenty of real exercise. Beagle are the kind of dogs that get bored easily. Take him for a long walk or out to play and play with him...make him chase a ball or toy for a good while, until you both are tired...he won't have so much energy to look for bad things to do when you aren't home then.


Good luck!!!!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

You definately need to squeeze a nice long walk in everyday.

You have a hunting dog, full breed to boot. They are instinctually hunters, they want to be outside and have a lot of energy.

I had beagles when I was young. they could become very mischievous when trapped in the house all day.


I have a hound mix, he needs alot of exercise as well and gets bored easily.


But the good news is he is still a puppy and they definately calm down between 2-3 years old.


Good Luck!!!

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Have to agree with the crate. Our dog is a 4 year old rescue and is still crated through the day. We've had him almost a year and he is starting to go in there all by himself.

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

My dog is half beagle, I agree with the above posters...

Definitely try to drain some energy in the morning

And definitely crate train! My dog was SO destructive during the day the first couple weeks we had her (at 1½ yrs old)... now she loves going into her crate and our tenants (who we share a wall with) say they never even hear her all day long, which means she sleeps all day.

Re: my beagle puppy is driving me crazy, need advice/help (LONG VENT)

Message edited 11/22/2011 10:07:52 PM.