Anyone have a beagle or other medium sized dog?

[Alphamazing]

I'm looking into getting a beagle this summer or so when I get an apartment. My roommate is allergic to cats so I can't take mine with me, but we both agree that a small dog would be perfect.

I've looked around and think that a beagle is the ideal pup for me. Small, but not a yappy dog; intelligent and easy to care for; fun and playful; loyal and loving. Our apartment won't be huge, but I'd get to take him outside on walks and to a park fairly regularly.

I've never had a dog before, so I'd like to know as much as I can before getting one. I've done some research online, but want to know what real people have experienced. Just tell me everything!

Anything I might need to know? Anything at all, tell me!

[Onlypastrana199]

I used to have a beagle.. they're good dogs with lots of personality but u gotta keep em tied or in a kennel they like to run...alot..and give them alot of toys and stuff to keep them busy because they tend to chew if they get bored I'm waiting for my parents grieving to end before i get another dog though

[Alphamazing]

Do you think it'll be okay inside the apartment while I'm at classes so long as I provide it with an abundance of toys?

[Onlypastrana199]

We didnt have a problem leaving Oatey inside as long as we gave him alot of attention once we got back. Leaving the tv or radio on helped too. We did go through 1 pair of sneakers, my riding gloves,  a hair brush and a screw drive while he was a puppy though so jus be prepared for little accidents

[ashman]

My girlfriends roommate has a beagle and I hate that dog. It has detachment issues and crys whenever she leaves, it will shimmy its kennel out the living room, down the hallway and to her door. They do chew things that is for sure, Cooper made his way into g/f's roommates room and her bed spread was laying on his kennel. He tugged it thru the slats and destroyed it, thats the 2nd one he has destroyed. Sometimes he will piss in his kennel and get covered in it, SO GROSS! Nice dog but too stupid and hyper for its own good. I've got a border collie mix, 45lbs, Blew. He is the best dog I've ever had. He is hyper but very chill @ the same time. I can leave him inside for 12 hours straight and he wont touch a thing, never had one accident. I had him house broken in 1 day. I am partial tho.


-ash

[LPC2104]

I've got  siberian husky and chocolate lab.  I would definately suggest getting a dog that can be let go off leash.  My husky will run away but my lab sticks by my side, it's a major major pain in the butt to not be able to let my husky off lead @ a dog park or on a hike.  It not only takes enjoyment away from the hike but you feel really bad because your dog is just itching to stretch it's legs, and you have to keep scolding the dog for pulling you.   

Not to mention that, but I also have to be extremely careful about doors.  If my lab manages to escape when a non dog person comes into the house, he runs to my jeep and sits and waits to go somewhere.  My husky escapes and I'm running around the neighborhood trying to sneek up on him because if he sees me, he thinks it's a game and he likes to play.  I'm not even going to mention cars and the thoughts that go through my head the few times my husky has gotten out.  And it will happen (your dog getting out), no matter how careful you are.  Beagles are hunting dogs so once they pick up a scent, they are as focused on following it as you are on the track.  Know what I mean?

I have some friends that have beagles and they are cool dogs.  Very intellegent though so you'll need to occupy their mind or they will terrorize your apt.   

One other thing, unless you have lots of free time for about 2 months, don't get a puppy.  They need to be let out a lot.  I'm talking like every 20 minutes for the first few days, then every couple hrs for the next few weeks. 

Look into crate training as well.  It's not cruel and is a great way to train your dog.  I crate trained both of my dogs and after a few months, you can start letting them out when you run to the store, then for the 1st half of the day while you are gone and so on.  If you let them be free from day one when you are gone, they are going to poop and pee and chew everything because they don't know it's wrong.  By the time you get home to correct them, it's too late and they don't know what you are upset over. 

If you go on trips are take long rides often, you can pretty much kiss them goodbye for a few years.  Plus you have to find somewhere to kennel your dog when you do go on vacation. 

That is most of the bad stuff I can think of, and with that said, there is no way I can put the good things in text.  Dogs can (and should) change your life for the better. 

Put as much effort into picking out a dog as you would picking out a new motorcycle. 

[blue05twin]

Not sure where you are going to get your dog from but I would stay away from the mall pet stores that sell puppies and get one from a breeder.  An even better way to get a new pet is to get one from the Human Society.  Alot of good pets end up there that are people friendly and already house broken.

My first puppy came from the pet store had kennel koff and parvo ( I was very sad when I had to have him put down but his siezures kept getting worse). 

The one I got from the breeder was perfectly healthy.  I noticed that the family that was breeding the dogs really seemed to care about them and wasn't in it for the money.  While I was there the lady actually refused to sell to one man.  And the puppies were being kept indoors and were already paper trained.

My next dog I'm going to get from the Human Society/ pet rescue.

Make sure you get a good vet.  Check around not all vets are the same.

[Alphamazing]

Not sure where you are going to get your dog from but I would stay away from the mall pet stores that sell puppies and get one from a breeder.  An even better way to get a new pet is to get one from the Human Society.  Alot of good pets end up there that are people friendly and already house broken.

My first puppy came from the pet store had kennel koff and parvo ( I was very sad when I had to have him put down but his siezures kept getting worse). 

The one I got from the breeder was perfectly healthy.  I noticed that the family that was breeding the dogs really seemed to care about them and wasn't in it for the money.  While I was there the lady actually refused to sell to one man.  And the puppies were being kept indoors and were already paper trained.

My next dog I'm going to get from the Human Society/ pet rescue.

Make sure you get a good vet.  Check around not all vets are the same.

My parents used to breed cats, so I know how much the breeders care for their animals. We always made sure our cats were healthy before selling them to someone. However, breeders are expensive, so I won't be able to get a dog from there.

I am going to adopt one from the Humane Society or similar so that I can save it from being put down.

[Bluebellylint]

Please dont get a dog and make him stay in an apartment. That is just too small of a space for any dog, they need room to run and play. You need to wait tell your a house owner. Its just cruel to have a dog in an apartment.

If you must get a dog get one thats practically a cat. You know what I mean one of those little fufu dogs. They seem to be alright with just laying around all day

[flyingbeagle71]

I've got a beagle, got him a little over a year ago.  He's a great dog, very personable.  He loves sleeping under the covers in bed and sitting in your lap.  The down side though, he loves to chew.  I'm hoping he'll grow out of it, but for now, he chews anything.  We crate him when he's left alone and he'll pull anything he can into his crate and maul it.  It took a while to potty train him too, we were able to train our other dogs just by crating them, the beagle though would just pee and lay down in it.  Oh, yeah, he also likes to follow the others dogs around the yard and eat their warm "leavings".  I've even caught him chewing on frozen ones....yuck!

[LPC2104]

Oh, yeah, he also likes to follow the others dogs around the yard and eat their warm "leavings".  I've even caught him chewing on frozen ones....yuck!

My husky does that too.  Don't worry he'll grow out of it after a year or two.  Now mine only eats the Lab's if he can catch it in midair. 

Which reminds me, my Husky woke me up this morning by licking me, and I tend to sleep with my mouth open.  Gross.

[skoozi12]

Just do your research and you should be okay.  I got my dog (an American Eskimo) when I was living in an apartment.  It wasn't the ideal situation for a puppy or any dog but crate training him worked really well.  A friend of mine has a beagle and his only beef is that the dog likes to run (like pastrami said) and really really needs attention.  That's not just a puppy thing either, he's 3 now and still going strong.  It's funny how stereotypical certain breeds are and how predictable their manerisms can be (there are always the exceptions, of course).

Which reminds me, my Husky woke me up this morning by licking me, and I tend to sleep with my mouth open. Gross.

That's nothing, Kori woke me up once humping the shaZam! out of the stuffed tigger that my brother left in my room.  Now that was f*cked up!

[aaronstj]

I'm not a huge fan of beagles myself.  They're cute as hell, but they're fiercly pack oriented, so they can have seperation anxiety problems, and are just kind of obnoxious, I find.  But that's just my uninformed opinion.

There are several websites out there about apartments and dogs: 
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/apart.html
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-apartment-life/page1.aspx

[The Buddha]

Oh yea Get an italian poodle. They are super fun to torture ... and after a few times ... they get the idea and they growl at you ... man they are so much fun ... like white painted rats wihtout all that agility ... Like after it gets all growly etc ... put the icon gloves on your hand and put them it its cage ... it will bite you ... then catch its lower jaw and flip it over and crush its skull into the ground at the same time ... of course you'd have to like tug its hair out and yank its tail a few times before it gets all mad at you ... but hey its all part of the job ... It thinks its almighty dog when its actually smaller than your foot ... Of course it will yap all day and pee all over ... whihc makes people that own them want to put a hit on it like my welder did last year ... till his wife found out ... then she gave it away to his brother, who let it run about and it got hit by a car ... now where is the fun in that ...
So moral of the story ... dont let dogs get hit by cars, torture them and get a discount from the owner and pass the savings on to you guys.  ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Alphamazing]

For the puppy thing... I'll probably end up getting a young one, not puppy, but young. I'll be at home most of the summer (except for the one week in NC) so I can spend plenty of time with him/her.  We've got a (decent) sized back area for him to run around at, and I can always chicken wire off the deck rails so he doesn't climb out.

I don't want a yappy lap dog at all. I hate the damn things. I figured a beagle was a good choice because it was small, yet intelligent and friendly. The cuteness factor is there too, though.

What is involved in crate training or potty training one?

When I have him in the apartment I'd give him plenty of attention. I don't go out to parties much (if ever) and could easily spend time with my pup instead of drunken frat boys. Plus, if he/she needs to run then I'd go running with him/her whenever was needed. There are lots of great places to go around here like parks and stuff where I could take it, so that's not a worry for me.

[bubba zanetti]

Beagles are good Dogs, apart from being a bit smelly.

If you get one take some time to give it some training for basic obedience.

Most important rule is never let them off the lead where they can run away, cause you'll end up chasing that dog for hours & they've got no road sense at all. They will chew stuff, pull covers off cars, hump stuffed toys, pillows, ummmm..... any thing.

They are intelligent, but also headstrong, especially when they get onto a scent.

[Alphamazing]

So if I take my beagle to the dog park I can't let it off the leash?

[bubba zanetti]

So if I take my beagle to the dog park I can't let it off the leash?

Unless it'll come back when you call it. From experience & what I've been told the little beggers will just run & run & run. 

[Alphamazing]

So if I take my beagle to the dog park I can't let it off the leash?

Unless it'll come back when you call it. From experience & what I've been told the little beggers will just run & run & run. 

That's sad. I'll do my best to train it to come when I call then.

Anyone know of any other breeds that fit my criteria?

[blue05twin]

Whats the largest dog they will allow in your apartment?  Border Collie would be good, my neighbor had one very nice dog. Here is a website that suggest didfferent breeds for apartment living ( not sure about the website just did a quick search)

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm