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Beagles/scared to go outside

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Expert: - 9/5/2011


Question
I have a beagle who is 18 months old. He is a good dog but recently whenever I take him outside he gets scared. His tail will go in between his legs and he will try to run away. It's gotten to the point where it is hard to walk him. What can I do to solve this problem?

Answer
Hi thanks for writing.... well first we need to try and determine what happened to make him react this way... was there a loud noise, did someone do something to him, did he hurt himself, does his collar hurt him, did another dog attack him? Some thing has to have happened for him suddenly not want to go out anymore, especially a beagle, who LOVE to walk and run and play. I think it is important to try and pinpoint what it is that he is afraid of so you can desensitize him from it. Does he act like this in any other situations?

In the meantime each time you take him out and kind of have to drag him along it reinforces his fears and tells him that taking a walk is a bad and unenjoyable thing. This is not good. Please try to identify what it is that happened and what he is afraid of and write me back and then I can help you to work on the issue.

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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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