Beagles are active and curious dogs. But if they're left on their own to find fun, they can be destructive. To avoid this, find ways to entertain him. You can give your dog chew toys, rawhide, and balls, or play games with him or her. Many items you have around the house are perfect for entertaining your dog and for helping you reinforce commands your dog already knows.
Things You'll Need
- Toys
- Bucket
- Dog biscuits
Instructions
Keep Away
Choose a favorite toy your beagle likes to horde. If she doesn't have one, choose a toy your dog is interested in.
Give the toy to your dog. Use a command, such as "I'm going to get it," or any other phrase of your choosing to indicate the game has begun.
Use an excited voice and act like you are stalking your dog until she starts to pounce and try to get away from you. To get this going, you may need to pretend to pull the toy out of her mouth or shake it around in her mouth to get her excited. You could also try stomping your feet to get her going.
Chase her around the house or yard trying to get the toy. When you are ready for the game to end tell her to come, then tell her to release the toy.
Put Your Toys Away
Fill a bucket or basket with dog-safe toys.
Dump the toys on the floor.
Encourage your beagle to pick up a toy.
Place your hand out and tell your dog to give you the toy. Once he releases the toy, praise him.
Place the toy in the bucket and encourage him to pick up another to repeat the process. Eventually, he will pick them up and put them in the bucket himself.
Hide and Seek
Tell your beagle to stay.
Hide while your dog is staying. Try hiding behind doors or furniture in another room.
Call your dog to you by calling her name. If she doesn't find you on the first call, call her again.
Make a big deal about it when she finds you. Then do it all again.
Find the Treat
Tell your beagle to stay.
Hide dog biscuits or his preferred treat around the house. Try hiding them under pillows and in baskets of dog toys.
Tell your dog "Go" and let him look for the treats. The first few times playing, you may need to lead him around the house and let him sniff out the treats until he learns the game.
Fetch
Throw a favorite toy and say "Fetch."
Encourage your beagle to chase the toy.
Call your dog back to you by using her name.
Tell her to give you the toy.
Praise her for bringing it back and do it all over again.