Let’s get real for a sec. Learning how to stop a Beagle barking can be challenging.
They’re pumped full of energy, they’re testing boundaries, and they’re determined little critters who love to exercises their vocal cords.
And while this can be innocent enough, the downside is it’s not always easy to work with.
But does that mean you should give up hope and invest in a pair of earplugs?
In a word… No.
Try as you might, you’ll never stop a Beagle barking completely. And neither should you try. After all, how else will you know what your dog’s feeling unless they tell you?
But there’s a world of difference between acceptable, normal barking and excessive, unacceptable barking. The first kind is something we can all learn to put up with.
The second kind isn’t and shouldn’t be.
If you want to restore some sanity to your life, you’ll need to find a way to curb and minimize the behavior.
Some of the solutions are going to take time and energy before you begin to notice a difference. Some of them will start delivering the goods straight away.
If you’re looking for the latter, then the Dog Calming Code from Dan Abdelnoor over at the Online Dog Trainer should set you off on the right foot. (see video below)
Designed to help any dog become the master of their emotions, the techniques Dan reveals will calm your Beagle, focus their attention, and improve their behavior.
So before you do anything else, watch the video, implement the techniques, and enjoy the results – I promise you they’re going to be impressive.
Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Check Out The Dog Calming Code And Discover How To Finally Stop Your Beagle Barking… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
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Why Do Beagles Bark?
If you’re the lucky owner of a Beagle, you don’t need me to tell you you’ve been blessed with a great dog. Friendly, affectionate, loyal, loveable… when all the best canine qualities were being handed out, Beagles were at the front of the line.
Unfortunately, they were also upfront when big voices were being dished out. Some call the Beagle’s bark ‘sonorous.’ Others call it a darned nuisance.
But why exactly do they choose to use it so often?
They’re Bored
Beagles were born to hunt. They like chasing, tracking, running, and scampering down rabbit holes.
What they don’t like, not even one little bit, is being stuck in the house with nothing to do.
Your idea of heaven might be lying on the sofa watching Netflix and chugging sodas. But take it from me (or actually, take it from your dog’s constant barking). It’s hell for your Beagle.
If they aren’t provided with the exercise, the mental stimulation, and the interactions they need, Beagle’s get bored, frustrated, and very, very loud.
They’re Alerting You
Back when the breed was first developed, Beagles weren’t the cute ‘n’ cuddly little creatures they are today (or rather, they were, but no one really cared). They were hunters.
When the terrain got rough and the game got quick, humans held back and sent their trusty little hounds on in front. And once these trusty little hounds found their quarry, they’d use their impressive vocals to let their master know.
These days, most Beagles wouldn’t know a hare from a whale. But that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their instinct to sound the alert whenever they come across something interesting.
Whether it’s a UPS driver at the door, a cat up a tree, or a leaf blowing sideways, if it’s something they think you should know about, you can bet they’re going to tell you.
Related Post: Why Is My Dog Barking At Nothing? – How To Stop Obsessive Barking
They Want Attention
Beagles love being the center of attention. If there’s a spotlight, it won’t take them long to start gravitating towards it.
If they don’t feel you’re giving them the attention they deserve, they won’t wait patiently by in the hope you eventually do. They’ll demand it… loudly.
They’re Lonely
Beagles are pack animals. They were born and bred to work in teams. What they weren’t born to do is spend vast amounts of time alone.
Unless they’ve received proper socialization and training, most Beagles simply aren’t equipped to deal with spending time by themselves. They thrive on companionship: without it, they can become lonely, miserable, and even show signs of separation anxiety.
If separation anxiety doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, it’s because it’s not. It’s also not the kind of experience a Beagle will suffer in silence.
So if your dog barks from the moment you leave the house until the moment you return, and if the barking is accompanied by destructiveness, pacing, and frantic attempts to escape. Then it’s likely the frustration of being left alone has escalated into full-blown anxiety.
They’re Territorial
Beagles might be lovable, loving, and keen to get along with anyone and everything they come across, but they’re still dogs. And like all dogs, some of their instincts leave a lot to be desired.
If your Beagle thinks the yard, the house, and everything in them is theirs, they’re liable to get mighty defensive (not to mention vocal) if an intruder threatens their pitch.
The problem is, dogs aren’t discriminating: to them, the mailman, your mother, a neighbor, or even a passing cat is just as much of a threat as an actual burglar.
Territorial behavior might be natural, but unless you’re living in some remote backwater where you’re the only human in miles, it can quickly become problematic.
They’re Scared
Beagles might be hardy, courageous dogs by nature, but they can still develop anxieties and fears.
Regardless of whether it’s a fleeting fear (a loud noise, a threatening-looking dog) or an ingrained one, most dogs have the same reaction to a scary situation. They try to get away from it.
If they can’t, they’ll try to make it go away instead.
Obviously, being dogs, they can’t politely ask the scary thing to step aside. So what do they do? Yep, bark – as loudly and incessantly as they can.
They Know It Works
Beagles aren’t dumb. If B usually follows A, it won’t take them long to start doing A whenever they want a bit of B.
B could be anything. It could be a walk, a snack, a pat on the head. A is obviously barking.
If you’ve caved in to their demand barking enough times for them to connect the dots, it’s going to take some serious training (both on your end and theirs) to break the habit.
Related Post: Help! Why Is My Dog Barking At Night All Of A Sudden?
How to Stop a Beagle Barking – The Quick & Easy Way
Beagles are proud of their voices. If there’s an opportunity to use them, they won’t hesitate.
If you want to end the noise completely, you’ll need to invest in some good-quality earplugs. Because no one and nothing will ever stop a Beagle from occasionally exercising its voice.
But ultimately, the occasional display of vocal gymnastics isn’t the problem. The problem is the constant, inappropriate barking that’s putting you in the entire neighborhood’s black books.
So, can you stop it?
The good news? You can.
The bad news? It might take some effort.
Is it worth it? For the sake of your sanity if nothing else, absolutely.
The first step is probably the easiest. It involves watching and implementing techniques from the dog calming code I mentioned earlier.
In the interests of complete transparency, I should point out that these techniques aren’t going to stop your dog from ever barking again.
What they will do is make them calmer, more controlled, and more receptive to the training you’ll be doing as you work on solving the problem for good.
Once you’ve got the exercises down, you can start working through some of these tried and tested strategies.
Train Yourself
Before you can train your dog, you’ll need to spend a bit of time training yourself.
If you’ve spent the past however many months caving in to your dog’s barking, it’s time to apply the brakes.
Rewarding inappropriate behavior with attention simply encourages it. Even if you’ve responded with harsh words and scoldings, it still counts.
To your attention-seeking Beagle, all attention – whether positive or negative – is the ultimate goal.
So next time your Beagle starts demanding something by barking, ignore it. If you need to, go into another room and wait it out. Only once they stop barking should you give them what they want.
It might take some time, but providing you’re consistent, your Beagle will eventually learn their old tricks have lost their power.
Entertain Them
If your Beagle is barking because they’re under-exercised and bored, then it’s down to you to fix it. No dog can entertain themselves for hours at an end without the right resources, and neither should they be expected to.
At a minimum, an adult Beagle will need two brisk walks of around 20 to 30 minutes a day. Along with the walks, they’ll also benefit from a few games of frisbee, tug of war, fetch, or something similar.
While we’re on the subject of exercise, don’t forget that mental stimulation is just as important as physical activity, especially for a smart pooch like the Beagle.
A few interactive games or food dispensing toys can go a long way to keeping them happy and distracted. Or better still, teaching them some of the games taught in the Brain Training For Dogs Program.
If you’ve ever been curious about just how smart your Beagle can become, this is the program that will put it to the test.
Remove Their Triggers
If you’re dealing with an alert or territorial barker, there’s a quick, easy way to shut them up – remove their triggers.
A dog that feels obliged to spend their day at the window so they can alert you to any trouble will feel hugely relieved if you simply shut the curtains and let them stand down from duty.
Blocking their view of the world might sound cruel, but it’s actually the opposite. Being on constant alert can leave a dog anxious and miserable.
Relieving them of their responsibilities won’t just mean a quieter household. It’ll mean a happier dog.
Teach Them The Meaning of Quiet
Beagles are quick to train. Why not use their smarts to your advantage by teaching them the ‘Quiet’ command?
The process is simple…
First of all, arm yourself with a bag of your dog’s favorite treats. Then, get ready for them to start barking… if they’re anything like most Beagles, you won’t have long to wait.
Wait for them to stop, even if it’s only to draw breath. The second they do, say ‘Quiet’ and give them a treat. Repeat the process and keep repeating it until they understand what ‘Quiet’ means and the value (at least for the bellies) of obeying.
Pump Up The Volume
Next time you’re heading out without your Beagle, turn on the TV, the radio, or anything else you usually have on in the background.
Adding more noise to the existing noise might sound counterintuitive, but you’d be surprised at how effective it can be.
Although your Beagle is smart enough to know the voices coming from the TV aren’t real. The familiar sounds can be comforting enough to distract them from feeling alone.
And Relax…..
If your dog struggles to keep their emotions in check, anything that makes them overexcited or anxious is likely to leave you reaching for the aspirin.
Fortunately, there are ways and means to introduce some calm into their life. Remember the Dog Calming Code I mentioned earlier? This is where it really shows its value.
Once you make the training a regular part of your routine, you’ll notice a dramatic difference in your dog’s maturity and self-control.
To maximize the calming potential of the exercises, you might want to consider introducing your pooch to some restful, soothing music, calming pheromones, or even a little bit of doggy massage.
Wrapping Things Up
Living with a Beagle that doesn’t know the meaning of ‘hush’ can be tiring. And not just for you. If you live in close proximity to your neighbors, there’s probably not a lot of good vibes coming your way right now.
Fortunately, this isn’t something you just have to learn to live with.
With the right techniques, plenty of positive reinforcement, and consistency, even the loudest Beagle can be taught to dial down the noise.
