Beagles are a great breed of dogs that bring much joy and happiness to their owners. They are naturally curious creatures who maintain a positive attitude most of the time. However, they are known to be a little stubborn, which can make house or potty training a big endeavor. With that said, it's more than possible to potty train your beagle.
Things You'll Need
- Crate
- Food/treats
Instructions
Keep your beagle in a crate when nobody is home or when everyone is asleep. While your beagle should not spend its life in a crate, it's important to have one when potty training because it prevents your beagle from finding a potty spot in the house. Beagles tend to weigh 15 to 30 lbs. full grown, so purchase a crate that is medium to large and allows your beagle to stand up without hitting its head on the top.
Locate an area outside your house that is suitable for your beagle to relieve itself. Beagles are creatures of habit and quite smart. They will remember the spot you have chosen after you repeat the process several times. This routine and go-to spot will make potty training your beagle much easier.
Decide on a command that you'll use each time your beagle is taken outside to relieve itself. Even a command as simple as "bathroom" or "potty" will suffice. Speak this command gently, but firmly, each time you take your beagle outside. Because beagles can be so stubborn it's more than likely that it will take a while for your beagle to respond to your command. However, remain consistent and patient, and in time your beagle will understand and listen to you.
Choose the times your beagle will relieve itself in order to build a solid, consistent routine. Ideal times include in the morning after you wake up, before you and your beagle go to bed and after each meal. If you create a predictable routine, you will save time when waiting for your beagle to use the restroom outside. If your beagle does not use the bathroom at this time, bring it to its crate and wait for 15 minutes and try again. Repeat this process until your beagle successfully uses the bathroom outside.
Give your beagle a treat or reward it with words and scratches of encouragement, especially when it uses the designated potty spot or goes to the door to be let out. Beagles respond well to encouragement and any positive reinforcement will make the potty training process smoother. On that same note, negative reinforcement is a bad idea for beagles. They do not respond well to harsh actions so focus on rewarding the positive, not punishing.