training a Beagle to come.

[rimfirematt]

I have pretty much relied on the old run him down and catch him method when I want the hunt to be over. Im getting tired of that, going on 6 years now. Plus Its not always convienient. Sometimes Im on a schedule and when we need to leave we need to leave! Well with that being said, what do you guys do to get your dogs under control? I look at all your pictures and the dogs seem to be well mannered. Do they come when you call out in the field? Any tricks for training them to do so?

I have had great success training other types of dogs but this beagle is defiant!

[Ronnyg]

Most people own and use E-collars. I have the Tri-tronics and it has the tone feature so when I am ready I tone em and they come or get bumped. When I got mine I put em on my dogs and tied a long rope to the collar. I'd tone the dog and call it and then bump it on 1 or 2 while pulling the dog toward me with the rope. Within 10 minutes they learn. After awhile they will learn to come by your calling em and no need to tone them. Occasionally though if they haven't been out in awhile they need a bump to jog their memory. A note though.....................never introduce them to the collars unless you have em on lead. Had a buddy who just slapped a collar on a dog and then when he shocked it the dog took off and he had a heck of time catching him.

[rimfirematt]

Yeah, I might have to go that e-collar route. I used to have one when I trained my Pointer. I sold it. Never did get one for the beagle. Might go get me one. Probably the only way.

[Tim H]

Im getting tired of that, going on 6 years now.

He's not going to be happy after training you for 6 years to get you to come when you call, that now you want to do it the other way around.

E-Collar is not the only way to go. You can actually train them using a long line. Just let him roam, in your yard, until he's not paying attention and then call him to you. If he comes give him a treat. If he doesn't come then reel him in with the line and give him a treat when he gets there. When he gets to you it should be the best place he's ever been. Alot of petting and praising and treats. It won't take too long before you don't need the line anymore. Once he's got it, do this a few times in your yard without the line until he's consistent. Once he's consistent in the yard, take him to the woods (not hunting) and put him on the long line to be sure he doesn't back up to old habits and repeat the process until he'll constantly come. Now you can take him hunting. Tie a length of weed eater line to his collar and let him hunt. When he gets close enough for you to get a hold of that line, grab it and then call him to you, if he doesn't come then reel him in. Shouldn't be too long before the line can come off the collar.

Even when I use an e-collar, I use these steps until I'm sure they understand the e-collar tone. You may find that the e-collar drives them away rather than brings them in, you have to use it correctly or you'll make it worse. You would not believe the number of times I've been called to come help someone find a dog that had an e-collar on that wasn't used correctly and the dog headed for the hills because of the e-collar.

Keep in mind, you have trained this dog for 6 years, that when you call, it means you will be coming to the dog. It'll take time to undo that training. It typically takes twice as long to untrain something as it takes to train it in the first place. A lack of patience on your part will not help the process. Although, I could guess you have a ton of patience to have been chasing this dog down for 6 years before giving up on that training method and considering another.

[beagledogxxx]

Make sure you get a tone or buzz. That is the key. I haven't had to bump my dog to get it to come since the first training session with the collar. That tone brings her running no matter what, even off a rabbit at the end of a hunt.

[Ronnyg]

I would use Tim's method only if I couldn't afford an E-collar. You stated that sometimes your schedule mandated the necessity to call the dog in. If the dog is on a rabbit or god forbid something else I don't see it coming off if the chase without a touch of persuasion. He is right that you have to be careful using the E-collar and I stated that in my post. A dog must be trained to the collar the same as you train it to everything else. Now understand I am not advising shocking your dog of when he is on a rabbit, but if it was a must due to time constraints then it has to be done. I personally have never seen a dog that can be called in while it is in the chase. Not saying it's not possible but just that I haven't seen any.

[Ky. Hunter]

I always start training my pups with the comand "come here" while they are young and I start it in the yard then I eventually move up to e-collar training and it doesn't take them long to learn what the tone means after a couple light jolts. When I am changing directions in the hunting field or ready to go to the truck I don't have to say a word, I just hit the tone button and they will head toward me but I never give them a jolt when they are smelling a rabbit or running a rabbit. ( Isn't that what we want them to do ? ) Most of my hunting buddies don't own e-collars and I laugh at them when we are hunting because they will be hollering at their dogs and I don't have to say a word to mine most of the time. When I buy a dog it will get the e-collar training also if it hasn't been collar trained but most hunters train their dogs to the e-collar now. I tease my hunting buddies when we are changing directions or heading toward the truck because they don't know I am hitting the tone button and I tell them my dogs can read my mind.

[Tim H]

Ronnyg, come on over and run with me, I'll show you some dogs that will leave a rabbit when I call em off.

[allniter]

yes an E- COLLAR will work on half of the dogs ----if you don't have a E- COLLAR -----get a 100 ft. of rope --check line --work him in the yard about 15 min.[2] times a day to come when called his name -reel him in everytime you call his name -reward him with 1/4 size chunks of boiled liver --pet and more pet --in a week --use a rope 5ft. long on his collar for a week --99% of them will come when called ---then if you have a E-COLLAR --You can start to use the tone button in stead of call him you might have to put the cord back on for a few times at first ---it might take a little more time on a 5-6 year old---let us know how you make out with him

[rimfirematt]

Thanks guys. Ill get working with him. Hes not bad around the house or the city. He can come and sit. But out in the woods, foget it. Ill order up an e-collar.

[Jack]

I have Horn broke Beagles before. When you feed, blow the horn. Carry some dog food with you hunting. Toot the horn and each time they come feed them a bit. It won't be long until they will be horn broke. I had mine come to the truck horn before. But the e-collar is much faster.

[windy hollow]

I use a 30 foot lead and let the pup drag the lead around while I play with them, when he is distracted, I will pick up the other end of the lead and say "HEAR"! and retreave him to me slowly and repeat "HEAR"! when he gets to me I give him a small piece of liver treat. After doing this a few times he will get the idea. Remember never make a command without a way of enforcing that command either with a lead or later an E-Collar.