Training your Beagle puppy to come when called is a behavior that is critical for their long-term safety, and your long-term sanity. It is a basic skill that all dogs should learn as early as possible.
Professional trainers call this skill “reliable recall.” Working with your Beagle puppy as soon as possible is the best way to make sure they will come when called, for life.
A special note about Beagles:
Beagles have been bred for their ability to track game through the woods. As such, they have very strong instincts to follow a scent.
No matter how much training you do, a Beagle will always be at higher risk for running off and getting lost following a trail than some other breeds. Many professional trainers recommend that unless you have a Beagle for the sake of hunting, you should keep them in a secured area or on a leash at all times for safety sake.
This does not mean you should not bother training recall to your Beagle puppy, it just means you should never put her in the position where failing to come when called could cost her life.With any recall training, you will want to be sure to follow these guidelines throughout the training process to ensure the best chances at success:
Your Beagle puppy is smart! She will start to come when called within a few short sessions. Improving her recall skills will take months as she matures to adulthood.
Long Line: Beagles are rather notorious for following their nose over everything else. You will get to a stage in your recall training where you will need to enforce your recall command with your Beagle puppy. A long rope or leash that is at least 25’ long is a great tool for this.
Be Exciting and Fun: The key to really motivating your Beagle puppy to give you his attention over other distractions is to be the most exciting thing in his environment. This means using high value rewards (stuff he really loves!) and keeping a playful attitude.
Keep it Short: For Beagle puppies under 4 months, you should keep training sessions between 5-15 minutes. If you get the tell-tail “walk away and sniff everything instead of listening to mommy” move, then you are expecting more from your baby Beagle than she is mature enough to give.