Managing a 5 month old beagle pup

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I came across your posts on google search. I found most of your suggestions equally helpful to me too. But nevertheless my situation is quite different.
I bought the puppy at 2.5 months and he is with me since 2.5 months. I live in an apartment with my mom and I take him for play to the terrace upstairs in the morning after he wakes up and evenings around sunset. he is actually on 4 meals a day but he doesn't seem to show much interest for the breakfast so it has come down to 3 meals a day. I coax him and feed him off my hand because doc says he has developed hyper acidity due to the gap between his dinner and breakfast. He used to throw up evry other morning few weeks back and got fine after he was on antibiotics.

He has learnt to sit and house break for the most part except the time when he is very hyper during play and i have to keep a check on him to send him out.

My main issue about the puppy is that he tends to tear apart anything that is given to him, including his TOYS, BED, and anything capable of being torn apart!!
Initially we gave him a stuff dog to play with but he got aggressive with it by grasping its neck and shaking his head left and right like he found his rabbit kill!! I took it away and have not given anything that could bring those instincts in him back. However it has spread to other items. So right now he has no bed and his toys are taken away once he begins to tears them off.
Also he has gotten used to sleeping on my bed and climbing the couch which mom and me are not ok with.
My cousin who lives downstairs visits him often times a day to play with him. So he chooses not to listen to me when he plays with my cousin. What do I do to discipline him and keep him in his good behavior and undo the habit of tearing apart everything.
Also is it ok to keep him on his leash all alone at home after his meal time so we can go out for a few hours?
I have had dogs as a child but they were always in our yard earlier and not allowed inside the house. Its a total new experience for me living alongside him.. Please do help me soon with your valuable advice!!
Regards and Thanks
Sravani
India

ANSWER: Wow, ok there is a lot going here.

First off, he should have never been fed four times a day in my opinion, three times a day at most for a puppy and that overfeeding is what probably caused his stomach issues in my estimation. Plus no wonder he wasnt hungry in the morning, he was getting too much food. At 3-5 months 3 x day is enough and he should soon convert to twice a day at around 6-8 months. Beagles gain wt very easily and it is absolutely not healthy for them. They must be kept lean to ensure a good long life. Because they are so food driven they will literally eat until they pop or become sick so this is something that must be closely monitored. Also NEVER EVER give your dog human food. They are domesticated, not wolves and their systems cannot process human food. High quality dog food is made to have everything they can ever want or need in it. Don't know what foods you have access to in India but the better the food the less problems he will have. It should be high protein and low fat. Beagles are also know to have a lot of allergies and sometimes have to be given special novel protein diets. Regardless do not ever just switch a food, it has to be done gradually by mixing with the old food over at least a week to avoid stomach upset and diarrhea. They also do not need variety, that is a human trait.

Ok, so as far as the tearing up toys etc. This is absolutely normal behavior and should be allowed with toys! You are not going to be able to extinguish this instinctive behavior, nor would I want to, this is more evident in puppies as well. This is healthy behavior! Of course he should not be allowed to tear up his bed, furniture etc but his toys yes! You must teach him the difference in what is his and what is yours. Most dogs absolutely love tearing the stuffing out of a toy, it is part of their joy. Yes this comes from an instinct from way back but they need to be allowed to do this. I buy cheap stuffed toys for my three so they can rip shred and dismantle them to their hearts content. This avoids anything else being chewed up. Then I pick them up and throw them away, or allow them to keep them if the outside parts are still in one piece and they play with those. You do not need to worry about allowing this behavior, it will not make him aggressive or mean. You didnt really say the words chewing but just so you know at his age his teeth are coming in and he is actually driven to chew to try to relieve the soreness. This will happen again around 9-13 months as his back molars come in.

He is climbing on the couch because he is allowed on the bed and therefore thinks he can go on anything you are on. If you want him in the bed but not on the couch then you have to teach him by pushing him off the couch and telling him no and making him sit. But if he is not allowed on the couch then he is NEVER allowed on the couch, dogs dont understand when you sometimes do one thing and next time dont.

Playing with your cousin sounds healthy for him as long as it isn't too rough as being too rough can teach him to be aggressive or rough with children. Yes it is going to be hard to get him to listen to you when he is wound up because he is a puppy and has boundless energy and remember he is just a baby. It is like "Ah Mom I dont want to stop" You are in charge of teaching him everything he needs to know, you must become the ALPHA and he learns that what you say goes. But if he is in the middle of roughhousing with your cousin it is going to be tough to get him to want to stop and listen. And he needs that time to get his energy out especially living in an apt. Beagles are VERY high energy and very active and need a lot of walks, runnning and activity.

Lastly, put him on a leash while you are out..... absolutely not! This is a very dangerous situation in the making. He can hang himself, choke himself. You need to be using a crate for his safety and then you can know he is safe while you are gone. Or select a room and dog proof it and block him in that room. I can tell you though that a bathroom with the door closed is not a good idea as it can be dangerous. Your best bet is to buy a crate and remember when you get it that it needs to match his grown up size so it can continue to be used as an adult. You will want to buy one of the wire ones he can see thru, not the closed plastic kinds which drive them crazy as they are essentially in a box.

I hope this all is helpful. I would suggest going to the Cesar Milan website (google his name) and buying a book or two or a video on training a puppy and establishing dominace. What he learns in these crucial first months will determine how well behaved he will be in the later years so you want to do it right from the start instead of having to fix problems later.

Good Luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi!! Thank you for the  reply. Its a big relief to know that his behavior with toys are absolutely normal. I shall start off soon on disciplining him about not getting on the couch or the beds. Well, I would like to ask you few more doubts and give some clarifications with respect to my previous query.
1. He does not chew up anything much since his teeth have grown pretty much. Yeah, he tears them though!!
2. He was already on 4 meals when he came to me at 2.5 months and the doc advised to continue the same till he was 4. After he turned 4 I tried putting him on 3 meals and that's when his hyper acidity started and I went back to 4 meals again.
3. He is on Royal Canin Mini Junior at 300gms per day now. Doc said the feeding ratio is 30-35 gms for each kg of his weight.
4. I don't know if lamb in rice is considered as human food but i have started giving him that as he stopped showing interest in his own food. Also he does not get anything off the dining table.
5. I had put his body harness and leashed him up before when he had to be home alone. I should check if crates are available here and he should be willing to be in it for long too!!
6. He plays fetch and chase with my cousin and there's not much roughhousing except for when he tries to bite while playing.

Well for my additional queries:
1. He tends to swallow some part of his toys after he tears them up. It happened once and he got sick the next day till it came out of his system. so I am not giving any of his toys after he starts tearing it up. Is it ok?
2. Do beagles sleep deeply at nights or not much? He seems quite sleepy even after he comes back from his walk or play in the mornings.
3. Is it normal that all day he is quite silent but hyper at evening time?
4. When can we call a beagle as a fully grown adult?
5. What are the characteristics of an adult beagle? As mischievous as a puppy or not so temperamental?
6. Should i get him into obedience training from his 6th month?
7. He is shedding a lot now, around what age will that get controlled?

Its been a great deal of help knowing so much about the breed from you. I have recommended you to his brother's owners who live in the same city as I do. Thanks a ton!!

Sravani

Answer
1. He does not chew up anything much since his teeth have grown pretty much. Yeah, he tears them though!! HE NEEDS TO HAVE THINGS TO CHEW FOR HIS TEETH AS THEY GROW IN AND THIS IS NECESSARY BEHAVIOR. MAKE SURE THEN HE HAS SOME RAWHIDES OR NYLABONES OR SOMETHING SO HE CAN CHEW.

2. He was already on 4 meals when he came to me at 2.5 months and the doc advised to continue the same till he was 4. After he turned 4 I tried putting him on 3 meals and that's when his hyper acidity started and I went back to 4 meals again. I STILL CONTEND THAT THE 4 MEALS ISN'T GOOD FOR HIM, AT THIS POINT SHOULD BE ON THREE AND IN A COUPLE MONTH DOWN TO TWO

3. He is on Royal Canin Mini Junior at 300gms per day now. Doc said the feeding ratio is 30-35 gms for each kg of his weight. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW THE METRIC SYSTEM. ROYAL CANIN IS A GOOD FOOD BUT LOOK AT THE PROTEIN AND FAT CONTENT ON IT, THE FAT SHOULD BE 10-12% AT MOST. PROTEIN AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE.

4. I don't know if lamb in rice is considered as human food but i have started giving him that as he stopped showing interest in his own food. Also he does not get anything off the dining table. NOT SURE IF YOU MEAN YOU ARE FEEDING HIM HUMAN LAMB OR DOG FOOD LAMB AND RICE? HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN HIS OWN FOOD AS HE ISN'T HUNGRY. THIS IS WHY FOUR TIMES A DAY IS TOO MUCH. A DOG WILL NEVER STARVE THEMSELVES UNLESS THEY ARE AT DEATH'S DOOR AND CANNOT EAT. HIS FOOD SHOULD BE PUT DOWN FOR 5-10 MINUTES MAX AND PICKED UP THEN FOR NEXT MEAL REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS LEFT. IF HE ISN'T FINISHING 3X DAY I WOULD ALREADY SWITCH HIM TO 2 X DAY NOW SO HE IS HUNGRY AT MEAL TIME. YOU CAN ALSO TRY PUTTING IN A SPOONFUL OF THE CANNED VERSION OF HIS FOOD AND MIXING IT PLUS A TINY BIT OF WATER. REMEMBER ALSO TO MAKE HIM SIT BEFORE HE GETS IS FOOD (ESTABLISHING ALPHA!#

5. I had put his body harness and leashed him up before when he had to be home alone. I should check if crates are available here and he should be willing to be in it for long too!! YES, VERY DANGEROUS HAVING A DOG LEASHED AND NO ONE THERE, CRATE IS SAFEST, EVEN IF HE DOESN'T LIKE IT YOU WILL KNOW HE IS SAFE AND IT IS GOOD FOR A DOG TO BE ACCEPTANT OF THIS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE TO USE IT. CAN YOU ORDER ONLINE FROM PETCO OR PETSMART TO INDIA?

6. He plays fetch and chase with my cousin and there's not much roughhousing except for when he tries to bite while playing. THE BITING AS LONG AS IT IS GENTLE IS OK, HE NEEDS TO LEARN TO INHIBIT THE STRENGTH OF HIS BITE SO IF IT IS TOO HARD THE PERSON SHOULD YELP LIKE A LITTERMATE WOULD AND REMOVE THEIR HAND.

Well for my additional queries:
1. He tends to swallow some part of his toys after he tears them up. It happened once and he got sick the next day till it came out of his system. so I am not giving any of his toys after he starts tearing it up. Is it ok? MINE TEAR THEM UP IN LIKE 5 MINUTES AND I WATCH, I THEN TAKE THE SQUEAKER AWAY AND PULL THE REST OF THE STUFFING OUT IF THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT ALL AND GIVE THEM BACK THE "CARCASS" AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT. THERE SHOULD THEN BE NOTHING LEFT LET THAT IS HARMFUL. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR HIM TO SWALLOW THE SQUEAKER PARTS YES!

2. Do beagles sleep deeply at nights or not much? He seems quite sleepy even after he comes back from his walk or play in the mornings. PUPPIES NEED MUCH MORE SLEEP THAN AN ADULT DOG. IF HE IS TIRED AFTER A WALK OR PLAY THEN YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB WELL! THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO TIRE HIM OUT AND HAVE HIM SLEEP SO HE STAYS OUT OF TROUBLE. THIS IS WHY IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO OUT YOU WOULD TAKE HIM FOR LONG RUN OR WALK AND THEN PUT HIM CRATE WHILE YOU ARE GONE AND HE WILL SLEEP THRU MOST OF YOU BEING GONE. :# DOGS ALSO GET MOST OF THEIR REM SLEEP AT NIGHT WHEN YES THEY DO GET DEEPER SLEEP BUT THEY ALSO GO INTO DEEP SLEEP FASTER THAN WE DO. IT IS TYPICAL FOR A DOG TO SLEEP 60% OF 24 HOURS, PUPPIES LIKE 70-80% AND THEY SLEEP IN SMALL CHUNKS OF TIME. HAVE NO FEAR IF HE IS TIRED HE WILL SLEEP.

3. Is it normal that all day he is quite silent but hyper at evening time? IF HE IS WALKING A LOT IN THE DAY TIME OR PLAYING A LOT HE IS THEN TIRED AND QUIET, AT NIGHT HE MAY NOT BE GETTING ENOUGH EXERCISE. WALKING HIM BEFORE BEDTIME IS A GOOD WAY TO KNOCK HIM OUT FOR THE NIGHT :)

4. When can we call a beagle as a fully grown adult? BEAGLES ARE CONSIDERED FULL GROWN AT ABOUT A YEAR, UNLIKE LARGE BREEDS WHO CONTINUE TO GROWN AND FILL OUT.

5. What are the characteristics of an adult beagle? As mischievous as a puppy or not so temperamental? BEAGLES ARE PACK ANIMALS, MEANING THAT THEY REQUIRE THE COMPANY OF OTHERS, THEY WILL READILY ADAPT TO A HUMAN PACK AS WELL BUT THEY DON'T LIKE BEING ALONE. THEY ALSO ARE GENETICALLY WIRED TO FOLLOW THEIR NOSE, AS WELL TRAINED AS YOU CAN GET HIM THE BETTER BUT A BEAGLE IS NEVER EVER 100% RELIABLE OFF LEASH, THEY WILL FOLLOW THEIR NOSE EVERY TIME! THEY ARE LOVING, GREAT WITH KIDS, HIGHLY ACTIVE, SMART AND LIVE TO USE THEIR NOSES! YES THEY CAN BE MISCHIEVOUS BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW WELL YOU TRAIN THEM. THEY ALSO BARK AND BAY A LOT SO BE PREPARED, THEY AREN'T USUALLY GOOD APT. DOGS UNLESS THEY ARE SUPER ACTIVE OR THEY WILL BARK/BAY LIKE CRAZY! I DON'T THINK OF PUPPIES AS TEMPERAMENTAL AT ALL, IN FACT THEY ARE JUST 100% ABOUT EXPLORING AND FUN! YOUR BEAGLE WILL REMAIN LIKE THAT AND ALWAYS SEEM YOUNG IF HE HAS A HAPPY AND WELL STRUCTURED LIFE. BEAGLES LIVE TO ABOUT 13-15 YEARS IF THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GET FAT AND LAZY. I HAVE HAD TWO THAT MADE IT TO 15 BECAUSE OF THAT.

6. Should i get him into obedience training from his 6th month? ABSOLUTELY, PUPPY KINDERGARTEN IS A GOOD IDEA NOW BUT THEN AT ABOUT 12-15 MONTH I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. FROM THEREAFTER I ALWAYS RECOMMEND A TUNE UP OBEDIENCE CLASS EVERY YEAR OR TWO TO HELP REINFORCE LEARNED BEHAVIORS. AT SIX MONTHS HE WONT RETRAIN AS MUCH AS AT A YEAR BUT HE CAN CERTAINLY LEARN THE BASICS AND IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO SOCIALIZE HIM AROUND OTHER DOGS.

7. He is shedding a lot now, around what age will that get controlled? BEAGLES DO SHED BUT THEY WOULD ONLY BE SHEDDING A LOT AFTER WINTER MONTHS WHEN THEY LOSE THE UNDERCOAT #THE SOFT WHITE FUZZY STUFF# AROUND THEIR BUTT AND LOWER BACK AND AROUND THEIR NECK. IF YOUR BEAGLE IS SHEDDING A LOT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS OR EVEN EARLY FALL THEN HE NEEDS BETTER FOOD OR SUPPLEMENTS. BEAGLES REQUIRE BRUSHING AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK NORMALLY BUT IN THE WINTER OR WHEN SHEDDING STARTS DAILY! HE WILL ALWAYS SHED HIS WINTER COAT.