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Beagles/dog vs cat

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Expert: - 4/8/2010


Question
There's this beagle I really want, but because we have a cat my parents don't know how they would get along. how could we make room for a new pet in our family? Also, if we get the dog we might need a trainer. We don't know who would do it that is trustworthy and we want to know a price.

Answer
Hi Kaitlyn, glad to see you are such an animal lover! Beagles as you might be aware were originally used for hunting small prey like rabbits. They have a very high prey instinct meaning they like to chase things and catch them. You didnt specify if this beagle is a puppy or not but the best successes I have seen are when a beagle puppy and a kitten are brought up together and there still will be some chasing but good natured. If you have an adult cat and bring in an adult beagle it could get pretty crazy if that beagle hasnt been brought up around cats and gotten along with them well in the past. Also the cat will be pretty put out by ANY dog and it will take time with ANY dog to adjust but it will be harder for the cat when it is a dog that will chase it all the time. The cat may show some bad manners by swatting, hissing, hiding and urinating in laces it never did before. Beagles also love to eat cat poop so the cat box will be a place they will seek out. I guess without knowing the ages of both the cat and the dog I would have to say it probably will not be easy nor work too well which I know isnt what you want to hear but to do this combo would take someone with extensive training experience. There are other breeds that might work out better, don't pick any hunting breeds.  Good luck to you!

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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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