How to Train Your Hunting Dog to Attack on Command

Put on a protective glove that fits over your entire arm. It is imperative that you wear this glove to avoid injury.

Have your hunting dog sit. If your dog does not know the sit command or other simple commands, teach it the basics before teaching it an advanced command such as "attack."

Irritate the dog with your gloved arm by tapping it in the face with the glove. Do this until the dog attacks the glove.

Say the word "attack," as soon as your hunting dog attacks your gloved arm.

Praise the dog verbally; introduce treats if you feel comfortable using them, or if necessary. Hunting dogs, such as Beagles, are often motivated by food, so using treats in this case would be wise.

Repeat steps three through five for a few minutes, or until your dog starts to attack the gloved arm quickly.

Stand a pace or two away from the hunting dog and command it to attack. If it does nothing, go back to repeating steps three through five. If the dog attacks, it is becoming familiar with the command.

Praise the dog for attacking on command.

Repeat steps seven through eight for a few minutes, or until the dog attacks the gloved arm regularly.

Repeat steps one through nine using a stuffed, or rubber, animal such as a rabbit instead of the glove. Point at the stuffed animal as you say the "attack" command. Your hunting dog will recognize the command and might try to attack your arm instead, so leave the protective arm glove on.

Repeat step 10 until your dog attacks what you are pointing at rather than your arm.

Take your dog hunting. Give your hunting dog the attack command when you spot your pray. Point at the pray as you did in step 10. Your dog should go after the pray, if it does not, repeat steps 10 through 11.