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Beagles/my beagle puppy of about 9 months wont stop barking when ever he sees,hears, or thinks he hears something out side

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Expert: - 11/25/2009


Question
I have no idea what to do with him. When ever we have the door open he is looking out side and all of a sudden starts barking at nothing. Even when the door is shut and he is just sitting here he will jump up and start to bark and we love him and play with him all the time and i don't get it. So pleas can you help?

Answer
Hi, had to chuckle when I read this .... he is exhibiting typical beagle behavior! Beagles are busybodies because of their noses and ears. You may not see anything or heart anything but your beagle boy SMELLS someone or something and hears what we don't hear. This is a very common complaint with beagles but it is a breed characteristic. Their senses are very honed which is why they are hunting dogs. Beagles love to bark. My best suggestion would be to start using a shake can. Take a beer or soda can, whichever has the thinnest aluminum and drop about 10 pennies in it, duct tape over the top and when he barks toss the can at him. You will need to have numerous cans made so you can do it several times in a row if needed and also have them stashed around the house. Do not let him see you throw it at him, we don't want him to become afraid of you.... just interrupt his thought processes and stop barking and eventually he will come to know that the can isnt a good thing. This is a widely used behavioral mod technique with dogs. Mine are now so programmed that I oy have to pick it up and the slight kingle is enough make them stop whatever they are doing. When he stops praise him and put him in a sit and then praise him again.

Good luck with your boy!

Beagles

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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