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Beagles/Beagle Help

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Expert: - 5/15/2003


Question
Have4Paws,
I just recently bought a year old female beagle. I already love her so much. She is wonderful. Not only is she the most intellegent dog I have ever encountered, she is also very unique. I work 7 days a week, 12 hour shifts. She doesn't go "pody" in the house. I walk her ASAP for about 30 minutes in the morning when I get off, and 45-60 in the afternoon right before I go to work. I guess my question is, what can I do to keep her entertained while I am gone? It breaks my heart to leave her alone, and I don't want her upset with me. What would you suggest? (my schedule is week on/week off, so I don't leave her alone like this every week)

Answer
Hi Brittany, thanks for writing to me. I am glad that you are devoted to your girl enough to ask what you can do. This is an awful lot of alone time for any dog, especially a beagle (who is a pack animal and craves companionship.)

Is there perhaps someone else who can come over in the evenings and walk her as well? Also give her lots of toys and things like "Bustercubes" filled with treats. These will help to keep her occupied while you are gone. Leave the tv or radio on for her also.

Keep up the two walks without fail, beagles are very active dogs and not only need the physical exercise but need to exercise their noses by smelling new scents (they are scenthounds). If you can run her a bit in the afternoon it might wear her out some too and she will sleep a good part of the time you are gone.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your new cutie!

Have4Paws

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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