The American Beagler Forum

I have two beagle pups, about 6 months old. They are from T-rex and Lumberjack lines, but I doubt this matters in regard to my troubles.

Two things - they are in the 13 inch class and so are small and able to walk right through our 4 inch square field fence. I thought they'd grow to big and this would stop being an issue, but at 6 months and about done growing, apparently I was wrong.

The other thing is they have developed a taste for my hen's eggs - also duck and goose. This is very annoying, but also bad for their health. I tried booby-trapping a few eggs with bitter apple but they hardly noticed; Chomped them right down.

I have bought a sport dog brand under ground fence system in the hope we can re-enforce the fence line to keep them home; and also to surround the poultry laying areas so they''ll keep out of the eggs. We haven't had time to install it yet, due to working long hours this time of year.

Yesterday, I was talking to a dog person who felt it was going to be useless running the fence, as they would soon learn the discomfort is minor and brife compared to the joys of egg eating and running wild.

I currently have an add up on ebay classifieds for the pups - thinking if I get them sold before we can get the fence up I can return the fence- and if we get the fence in and it works then I'll keep my dogs - but now I am worried we're about to throw good money after bad.

I would be grateful for the thoughts of experienced beagle men and women. The fence is expensive and I can return it if need be - but not after installing it.

Here is the ebay add if anyone would like to see some pictures. They are good looking pups, IMO. I would really hate to let them go - but I need a workable solution if I am to keep them.

http://ebayc.us/16858767

Return the underground fence & use the cash to buy some 2 x 4 inch wire to fence the laying area. As for keeping them home good luck, if they aren't in a pen or similar enclosure a beagle is gonna roam.

The husband doesn't want to run any more wire fencing. He feels it cuts the yard up to much - doesn't like how it would look but mostly doesn't want anything more to have to cut and trim around. My first notion was to get a tighter weave fence for the whole yard (about 1 3/4 acres) to keep them in, but that was cost prohibitive. Fencing has sky-rocketed for some reason. So, you don't think the under-ground fence will work either?

Nope, not for long.

Even if we crank it up? It has 5 settings - I imagine #5 is pretty unpleasent. Have you ever tried one of these fences with your beagles? Has anyone?

Put them on a chain or an above ground kennel. Or you could put a shock collar on them and every time they tried to eat an egg put some pain in their life.

I have a shock collar set I used very successfully to teach them chickens and ducks are not to be played with. They now think chickens are electric. But using it to keep them out of the coop and away from the eggs was much less successful. The problem is I can't watch them every minute and occasional yummy treats are apparently worth the risk of a jolt. I had hoped the fencing would provide no opportunity for a jolt-less treat and so maybe work better; and the thinking is the same for keeping them on our side of the fence. I may have to chain them but really don't want to - not as a forever solution anyway. I do have a run of sorts rigged up on the side of my little barn, but the bigger pup climbs right out - leaving his buddy behind screaming his head off in outrage. I could put up a proper pen, but this is again, something the husband objects to on the grounds of expense. I really do like my pups - but I am also worried and frustrated.

set them up ---eggs and a RAT TRAP --trap will not hurt them --but sure makes one loose it's taste for eggs

Why don't you just put them in a kennel?

A Kennel? But what is the point of having dogs if their off in a kennel - besides - wouldn't that cost a king's ransom?

A rat trap? Really - you don't think it would maybe really hurt them, maybe damage their nose ? I mean a rat trap is no small thing! But generally, I do like the idea. . . But heres the problem I think of - my poultry. Even if it didn't really hurt the dogs it would very likely decapitate a curious chicken and seriously hurt a duck. The poultry free range during the day, and if the pups can get to a trap so can the birds. Wonder if a mouse trap might work?

i agree with duckbuster38401,they should be in a kennel or chain were they can't get to the eggs,beagle puppy's are very curious and if u give them the run of the farm without super vision they gonna get in to everything there not spose to...

You purchased hunting beagles, most hunting bragles are a little different than a yard dog. I live on a farm and I'd never let mine run loose just because they would run 24/7 and roam. As far as eating the eggs, if they want them they will find a way to get them. No way to break em unless your watching them and catching them in the act and scolding them.

I have come to realize they need constant supervision when not penned. I guess I thought they'd out grow this in time; and also that nearly 2 acres was enough roaming room, but now suppose this was unrealistic. I was hoping the sport dog fence would solve the problem and became alarmed all over again to be told it wouldn't. They are really excellent pups in so many ways. When I catch them with an egg they'll bring it to me and hand it over if I ask them to - but usually it is already in the messy stage and not something I want dropped in my hand.

I've given this some thought. How big is your laying area? If it's not a huge place then you may be able to put the underground fence all the way around the perimeter & even if the dogs are in the center of it they may still be close enough to be shocked. The underground fences work by detecting proximity of the collar to the fence meaning the fence wire carries a signal & the collar receives the signal when the dog gets within a certain distance of the buried wire. It does not matter which side of the wire the dog is on. The down side to them is if a dog bolts out of the yard it will be shocked again when trying to come home. You may be able to use what is normally a down side as a positive in this case. Example if the dog gets hit when it is within 10 feet of the wire then you should be able to surround a 20' X 20' area & the fence would shock the dog anywhere from the center of the area out to a 40' X 40' square because it would protect 10' outside the wire on all 4 sides as well. I would think 1600 square feet would be plenty of room to lay eggs & I don't think even a beagle would come in & eat an egg while constantly getting juiced. It won't keep 'em in the yard but it might keep 'em outta the eggs if it were set up something like that.

You're right that this might wpork on the egg eating problem, just like you say. But I still can't keep them in. Just had a bit of high drama as a result. It is making me crazy.