Hi All, I collect our new Beagle, Sam (Bitch age 6), from the rescue centre tomorrow morning! I have had dogs before but always as a puppy and a long time ago now! Also never a beagle. Lots of reading and research taken before this decision made but guess I'm just getting a bit nervous and want to do my best for her! Any advice on initial introduction to her new home please? In fact general advice from fellow beagle owners would be very welcome also. Cheers
Hi Beagledad, I help out with the Beagle welfare rehoming these happy but very strong willed hounds. When you get her home she will more than likely be drinking alot of water and panting a great deal dont panic this is stress, this should go in a couple of days. She might foul in the house this will also be stress so dont make a fuss about it,you can sort that out later on.What she needs at first is calm and not lots excitement. I am glad you have read up on the breed and that you are fully aware that they can be strong minded when they are on the scent. You can also look on the web page Beagle advice. My typing is really slow so if you want a chat this is my email and then we can swap numbers jimlawrance@googlemail.com.
Hi Beagle dad,Welcome to Dogsey, You should get plently of extra back up from beagle welfare should you have any worries or questions during the settling in period,they would be more than happy to help.However, having done lots of research i'm sure you will probably be fine. I have had beagles for a number of years and they really are a delightful breed,I find all of mine like to have a good old sniff round when in a new home whether that be visiting someone elses house or coming to live with you. Once she has got home with you,i should let her go out for a toilet and then let her have a good sniff round at her own pace (as this will become her new home she will most likely want to sniff around every inch of it before she settles) I wouldn't mollycoddle her too much just be positive and cheery.Show her where her bed and bowls etc are.I think its best to start as you mean to go on,beagles catch on quite quickly and she will soon get the hang of things.It might be a good idea if she/you are able to take her out for a nice long walk before bed so that she is ready to sleep at bedtime and is less likely to fret on her first night if tired. Beagles are quite a happy go lucky breed and hopefully she will settle in well with you.I find mine like to be mentally stimulated as much as physically and enjoy toys and games that keep their 'mind' occupied. If you have any other worries or questions do ask and very well done for taking on an older rescue in need of a home,Good luck,look forward to hearing how she gets on
Any thoughts on her first night? Also bed? I was going to introduce her to a crate as a nice safe place away from the children etc. Bed in there, some toys, and not shut! Should I forget that initially? Just bed on landing, or in hallway, or start as mean to go on? Thanks again all
I don't have a beagle, but I have a rescue dog so thought Icould tell you what we did when we brought him home When we got to our house we stayed in the garden with him until he did a pee and a poo (so there were no initial accidents in the house). Then we took him in the house (on lead) and let him explore all around. After he'd had a good look round we took his lead off. We gave him a chew as a distraction. On the night we started with his bed at the top of the stairs, but he slept in between our bed and the chest of drawers. Since then we moved his bed into our bedroom and he's very happy sleeping there (where he can see us ). I would start as you mean to go on though. If you want her to sleep in her crate it should be from the first night. JMO. Good luck with your dog and good on you for getting a rescue x
With my recue Beagles i play it by ear with the crate thing,with Roman who was 2 when i got him, i slept on the couch with him in the crate next to me, he absolutely hated it, i then tried him next to my other Beagle Jez in his crate because it never bothered him to sleep in that and still Roman hated that. I then got rid of both cages and they sleep down stairs. If Sam is used to sleeping in a crate fine but i think if she is not used to that then she probably wont like it. I would just try a few things and work out what suits her best. Look forward to hear how you get on.
I think Jimmy is right regarding the crates,you never know if they will take to them or not at that age or what experiences she may of had with them. It may be handy if you have a space where you can leave a crate with a blanket in,door open and also have another dog bed elsewhere,she may decide to investigate the crate in her own time or may not bother with it at all,
Yeh been thinking about it over night...... think we're not going to bother with the crate. As far as we know she has never had a crate and in fact has never been kennelled so struggled in the sanctuary at times. Thanks again all, so helpful.
Just one thing - not beagle related, but it is rescue related. even if she is already house trained, she will not necessarily know how to ask you to go out (or you may not understand her way of asking). Treat her like a pup - take her outside at frequent intervals and praise her when she pees/poos in the garden.
Best of luck I would totaly start however you mean to carry on with her But of course also rem this is all scary for her so dont overwhelm her with cuddles and fuss (hard I know)
Thanks, yeh already warned the girls about that. Told them she needs peace and quiet to get used to whats happening etc.
I've found it difficult to crate train older dogs. I think it's much easier if they're used to it from being a puppy. RE House training: I do the same as Hali for the first couple of days. Take them out once an hour, then make it every couple of hours etc. Can we see pics when you get her?
we borught our dogs home in the crate so they felt pretty safe in it from the start i would leave it open for sam if he wants it he will use it perhaps leave a treat in it but dont close him in.
