Medium Dogs – Mostly 4 Pets

When you’re living in an apartment, it can be difficult to find the right breed for you. You want a dog who will fit into your lifestyle and not bother your neighbors. You might wonder, are Beagles good for apartments? Quick Overview Beagles can be good apartment dogs, but not always. The biggest struggles you’ll encounter are their tendencies to bark and howl and providing them enough exercise. Beagles are hunting dogs, meaning they’re vocal, have high endurance levels, and are energetic. If you can offer a Beagle at least an hour of exercise a day, some time outdoors to sniff and walk, and someplace to potty, they might be the right apartment dog for you. It’ll also take hours of training to ensure your Beagle can live in an apartment successfully; being quiet doesn’t come naturally to them! Continue reading to learn more about keeping Beagles in apartments, what to consider before adopting, and how to set your Beagle up for success through training. With the right owner, beagles can be great apartment dogs Are Beagles Good for Apartments? Some Beagles can adapt well to apartment life, but it depends on the care they receive and the place you live. For instance, a Beagle taken for long runs daily will do better in an apartment than one kept inside all of the time with little exercise. Here are some things to think about when considering a Beagle for your apartment: Apartment rules: Before adopting any dog, be sure to clear it with your apartment complex. Ask if dogs are allowed, if there are weight limits, and if any breeds are banned. If you have a balcony and want your dog to potty there, ask if it’s allowed—some complexes won’t let you do this. Outdoor space: Does your apartment have a small yard, or will you need to take your Beagle out on a leash to give them outdoor time? Both are okay, but exercising your Beagle will take more effort if you can’t let them out in a yard. Potty spots: Do you have a yard? Will you have to walk your Beagle outside on a leash every time they have to potty? (Even if it’s two in the morning?) Or will you set up a grass pad or puppy pee pads indoors or on the balcony? Your activity level: Are you someone who would love to adventure with your Beagle, try out new dog parks, and are willing to take them on longer walks than you might need to if you had a large backyard? Or are you tired after work and not able to keep up with their energy levels? Downstairs neighbors: Beagles don’t only require a lot of exercise, they’re also quite excitable, energetic dogs in whole. They’re likely to make noise running and playing in your apartment, and your downstairs neighbors might not appreciate this. Noise level: Beagles aren’t quiet dogs. Bred to hunt, they have a loud bark and are known for their howling abilities. This is going to be one of the biggest drawbacks for those in apartments, as you don’t want your neighbors to dislike you or file noise complaints! Time at home: Beagles were bred to hunt in groups, so they like having their people around and are prone to separation anxiety. If you’re gone the majority of the day, they’re likely not the dog for you. And if they don’t get enough attention, or develop separation anxiety, they’re likely to be noisy and get on the neighbors’ nerves! Other dogs: Because of their history of hunting in groups, Beagles love to be part of a pack. Though it’s not required, it’s best if they can live with other dogs—or at least have playdates with other dogs you trust. I don’t recommend relying on crowded dog parks, as dogs can be injured if fights occur. Stairs: Stairs can be hard on a Beagle’s joints, particularly if they suffer from hip dysplasia or arthritis. Especially as your pup gets older, they might need to be carried up and down the stairs. Can a Beagle Live in an Apartment - Are they Loud? As hunting dogs, Beagles have howled and barked throughout their history to alert their human companions that they’ve found prey. It’s how Beagles communicate with us even today. These dogs have distinctive, loud barks. They love to howl as well and can be very talkative. To a point, you can’t expect a Beagle to be quiet in an apartment. However, you can train them not to howl all day while you’re at work or bark in the middle of the night. It’s best to start while they’re young and to have patience. If you don’t have very patient neighbors, though, a Beagle might not be the right breed for you. In apartments where there are many people living nearby, you might have noise complaints made about your pup. Without adequate training, exercise, and attention, Beagles will be even louder—so be sure you’re ready for the commitment of walking them every day, putting many hours into training, and spending plenty of quality time together. Whether they live in an apartment or not, beagles need plenty of exercise Are Beagles Good Apartment Dogs - Can they be Indoor Dogs? Beagles should never be “outdoor dogs” who don’t get to come indoors. They make great indoor companions, but they also can’t be full-time indoor dogs either! If you’re looking for a pet to stay permanently indoors, I’d suggest a cat or rabbit. Beagles need long daily walks. They require at least an hour of exercise daily, but can go longer because they’re incredibly energetic. If you work outside the home, I suggest taking a walk before you leave. You can also break their hour of daily activity into several shorter sessions and include a walk at night, or have a dog walker stop by in the middle of your workday. Beagles also require time outdoors to sniff. Sniffing is so important for dogs, and is sometimes overlooked by their humans! Dogs have incredible noses, and a large part of their communication occurs through scent. For instance, your Beagle can learn so much about another dog by sniffing where they’ve peed—including their gender, whether a female dog is in heat, and when they were in the area. Sniffing also provides a lot of mental stimulation for dogs, which is vital when keeping your Beagle in an apartment. Allowing them to work their mind and follow the trails of squirrels or other critters (when safe and possible) will tire them out while acting on their instincts as hunting dogs. Can Beagles live in Apartments - Can he be Left Alone for 8 Hours? Beagles were bred to hunt in packs. They shouldn’t be left alone for long periods and most Beagles will struggle being home alone during an 8-hour workday. This is also a long time for any dog to hold their bladder. Remember to also account for your work commute and after-work activities. Once these are added in, you might be expecting your Beagle to be home alone for much more than eight hours. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a Beagle if you work full-time. It does mean that Beagles are more suited to families where at least one person is home for the majority of the day. If you live alone, try having someone to visit your pup in the middle of your work day. This could be a pet sitter, dog walker, friend, or family member. Have them take your Beagle out for a potty break and spend some time with them before they leave. Even an hour can make a huge difference! If you can adopt two dogs, this is even better as your Beagle will have companionship even while you’re away. However, it also means double the expenses if you’re paying a pet sitter or dog walker. A well trained beagle can be completely relaxed in an apartment How to Train a Beagle in an Apartment Getting your Beagle accustomed to apartment life is a must! Some things to teach them early on include: How to be alone A “quiet” command Socialization It’s also important to remember that Beagles are escape artists and love to roam. Don’t count on them to have a reliable recall, as they’re likely to run off the moment they spot prey! Assuming you don’t have a yard, your Beagle should always be on a leash when you leave your apartment. If you’d like to allow your Beagle to roam off-leash, do so in a well-enclosed space that includes fencing five feet tall or higher. Also, either watch them closely or have a barrier underground so they cannot dig out. Training a Beagle to be Alone Firstly, ensure you’re keeping your expectations realistic. As we discussed above, Beagles shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time. However, every dog needs to know how to be alone when you’re out of the house. As much as we may want to, we can’t be with them every second! To train your Beagle to be alone: Start small. Walk out of the room for minutes at a time, rather than leaving the house for hours. As your Beagle gets used to this and doesn’t react negatively, extend the time and distance. Utilize distractions. Leave your Beagle alone during meal times or when they’re gnawing on a chew toy. If they don’t even notice you’ve left, that’s great! Keep it positive. Your goal should be a positive, or at least neutral, experience each time. Negative associations with being alone can cause or worsen separation anxiety. Provide a safe space. Crate training is a great way to do this, but you can also provide a cozy bed and chew toys in a small area of the house. If your Beagle is vocal while you’re away, try keeping them in a less distracting space away from windows or the front door. Training the “Quiet” Command You don’t want your Beagle waking the neighbors in the middle of the night with their howling or barking loudly at everything they see outside. To stop this from happening, a “quiet” command is key. Here’s how to teach it: First, teach “speak.” This should be easy—after all, it comes naturally to a Beagle! Teaching your dog to speak on command will ensure you can teach “quiet” in a controlled setting, instead of trying to teach them through distractions. Give the “speak” command. Try this in a quiet, distraction-free area for best results. When your Beagle stops barking, say “quiet” and give them a few treats. The best part of this is that they can’t eat and bark at the same time! Repeat several times. You want your Beagle to understand what you’re asking. Phase out the treats slowly. Make your Beagle wait quietly for the treat for a few seconds so that they know you don’t want them to go straight back to barking after the treat! Slowly extend this timeframe, but keep it reasonable and set them up for success. Add distractions. Next, add in distractions that cause your dog to bark such as the mail carrier or a guest at the door. Go back to phase one with the treats here, offering them generously as your pup stays quiet.Also, don’t be discouraged if it takes them time to quiet down. Just say “quiet” and offer a treat once they do. They’ll begin to quiet faster over time as they begin to look around for their reward. Phase the treats out again. Just like before, begin spacing the treats out and having your Beagle stay quiet for seconds, then minutes, before they’re rewarded. Do this slowly and always set them up for success! Be consistent. Practicing new commands (and rewarding your dog!) consistently is what makes a well-trained pup. It takes time and effort, so have patience. A few other tips include having patience and never punishing your Beagle for barking or howling. It can be frustrating for us as humans, especially when living in an apartment and not wanting to upset the neighbors. However, these are instinctive behaviors for them. If you yell as your Beagle barks or howls, they might see it as you joining in and feel encouraged to keep going! Sensitive pups may take it the opposite direction, learning to fear you rather than knowing what they’re doing wrong and how to behave better. Socializing Your Beagle Lastly, it’s important to socialize your Beagle well. This is important for any dog, but especially so when your pup will be living nearby so many other people. Introduce your Beagle to a variety of situations including people of different races, genders, and ages. Even people wearing hats can make a dog who’s never seen that before nervous. Also desensitize them to everything you’ll expect them to be used to as an adult dog. This includes loud noises, crowds of people, children, and new places like parks or dog-friendly stores. Remember to take it slow and keep these experiences positive. Overwhelming your Beagle with several stressful situations in one day will likely backfire, making them afraid of new things. Socializing your Beagle early will turn them into a confident, adaptive adult dog and sets them up for success in life. It takes effort, but is very worthwhile! Can Beagles Live In An Apartment Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roeGi8ixfyo Summary Beagles can absolutely live happily in an apartment. While the personality of the individual dog has a lot to do with it, the willingness of the owner to train the dog and fit the dogs needs into their schedule is even more important.