Food

• Do keep watch of their weight (record it, it’s easy to forget).
• Do look for a slight tuck in behind the ribs (a sign of a healthy weight).
• Do keep fresh clean water available all the time.
• Do take food and bones away from an early age. Make sure you give it back.
• Don’t feed chicken bones.
• Don’t feed cooked bones.
• Don’t feed grapes.
• Don’t feed corn on the cob (corn is ok).
• Don’t feed onion.
• Don’t feed garlic
• Don’t feed chocolate.
• Don’t feed cakes.
• Don’t feed macadamia nuts.
• Don’t use a large feed bowl (large bowls tend to result in you over feeding).
• Do get a smaller bowl if you are trying to help your beagle lose weight (this is to help YOU reduce the amount of food YOU are feeding them).
• Don’t over feed, an obese beagle is not a happy beagle.
• Don’t feed snacks in between meals (an obese beagle is overweight because it’s been overfed, it’s not rocket science).
• Don’t administer paracetamol for pain.

Housing

• Do keep the bedding clean and in good repair.
• Do clean up faeces daily.
• Do have good fencing (min 1.5 M), and lockable gates.
• Do provide shade in summer.
• Do provide an area free of rain and wind in winter.
• Don’t have to large a kennel, beagles like to snuggle up.
• Don’t chain your beagle up.

Health

• Do have annual vet checks.
• Do have regular vaccinations.
• Do worm regular (dark or reddish coloured faeces may indicate worming is required).
• Do check your beagles faeces when picking up (diarrhoea, constipation, blood are all indicators of health issues).
• Do keep records of weight.
• Do regular check of dental condition.
• Do regular mouth inspections (training). This will make it easier for your vet to check when needed without being bitten.
• Do check colour of gums (when healthy). Very pale coloured gums can indicate your beagle is having health problems
• Do trim claws regularly.
  Do check for grass seeds in gums, ears, nose and between toes.
• Do have antihistamine tablets (such as Phenergan) available for bee stings and get to the vet as soon as possible if stung in the mouth.
• Do use sunscreen on nose of light coloured hounds.
  Do add kelp or seaweed extract to the diet of beagles with light coloured noses.
• Do add apple cider vinegar to meals after excessive exercise (such as hunts) if your beagle is not used to the activity (helps with muscle soreness and recovery).
• Don’t take short cuts with your beagle’s health.

Behaviour – Training

• Do socialise your puppy.
• Do start training as early as possible.
• Do keep commands simple and brief.
• Do use the same words (use simple/short word’s like wait, come and go).
• Do keep training short (max 5 mins) and frequent (at least once a day).
• Do be consistent with commands.
• Do make sure every member of the family uses the same commands.
• Do keep your voice low, don’t screech/scream when giving commands (high pitched commands are generally ignored by the beagle).
• Do get help if needed.
• Don’t accept bad behaviour.
• Don’t allow your puppy to do things you would not like them to do when older.
• Don’t let a puppy hump, chew shoes or dig holes. It’s not funny when they do it as an adult.
• Don’t let your puppy off lead in public areas.
• Don’t pamper your beagle if it gets scared. Pampering reinforces a negative behaviour and doesn’t help your best friend cope with a negative experience (tough love).

Behaviour – Barking

• Don’t allow barking to become a problem.
• Do use a barking collar to stop bad behaviour.
• Do consider debarking, if a barking collar doesn’t work (it’s better than having to re-home your best friend).
• Do allow them to bark if a stranger arrives.
• Don’t allow them to continue to bark after you’ve told them to stop.
• Don’t reward your puppy to stop it barking.

General

• Do microchip your puppy
• Don’t use a puppy as a baby sitter.
• Don’t leave your puppy unsupervised around children
• Don’t let young children carry young puppies around, they are not a toy.
• Don’t purchase a beagle if you do not have the time to look after it.
• Do stand in their bedding if there is any sign of dominant behaviour. Remember the beagle is a pack hound and you need to show you are the dominant member of the pack.
• Do be firm, it won’t hate you and you will enjoy a well behaved beagle.
• Do restrain your beagle in the car by crate or seat belt.
• Do pick up faeces daily, otherwise they will do it for you.
• Do exercise your beagle regularly.
• Do have company for your beagle, it is after all a “pack” hound.

Remember if you are having problems

• Do get help, from the breeder, club members, professional trainers or your vet before the problem gets out of hand.
• Do look at what you or your family members are doing. Most problems are created by the owner or the family.
• Don’t feel a failure as you’re not the first nor will you be the last to have a problem.