Trey Godkin – Modern Beagle

Becoming a dog owner is a huge responsibility. In addition to taking care of your beagle’s physical needs - vetting, supplies, shelter and so on - you must also be prepared to spend time to train and socialize your canine friend. Adding another furry member to your family involves committing to spending more resources and more time taking care of them, so it’s important to really assess your family situation before adopting an animal.That said, many beagle owners do have more than one dog. I have two and personally love all of the benefits that come from it. If you have a single beagle in your household, you might be wondering if you should consider getting your beagle a friend. Read on for more about how to tell if your beagle is lonely, reasons that they might benefit from some company, and tips on bringing a new animal into the home. Beagles Are Pack Animals All dogs are pack animals, which means that - in the wild - they live in groups which support each other in a variety of ways. Generally speaking, dogs are not meant to live alone. Beagles, in particular, are known for their loving and loyal nature and enjoy the company of both humans and other dogs. Beagles will accept a human family as a member of their pack. However, you have to honestly assess whether or not you have the time to provide as much attention and love as your beagle needs. It’s also worth noting that some dogs do better as a single dog within a loving human family while others really desire a canine best friend. Part of this ultimately comes down to the dog's personality, so before deciding on getting your beagle another furry companion, you should test the waters and see how they do one on one with dogs both supervised and unsupervised. If you notice improvements in their behavior, and a generally happier attitude overall, it likely means that your beagle would benefit from another buddy around the house! How to Tell If Your Beagle Is Lonely It can be hard to know how your dog is feeling, but if you pay attention, you can pick up on signs that your beagle is lonely. Some of the things to watch out for include: Destructive behavior Boredom and loneliness can cause your beagle to look for a way to release their pent up energy and frustration. This can manifest itself in a number of ways. Beagles can start to excessively dig up their own backyards, start biting and chewing on furniture and the walls, and even start destroying their own toys to get out their aggression. Lethargy Lethargy can manifest itself in a few different ways. Most commonly it's seen as a decrease in general energy levels, but it can also present itself as an increased amount of sleep or napping, as well as your dog simply not being as excitable about things as they usually are. Lethargy can be a common symptom for a variety of medical conditions, so if it's something that happens every single day, you might want to consult with your vet first before assuming they just need another friend around the house. Barking, howling or whining If you find your dog moping around and barking, howling, or whining, they may be looking for attention. Beagles tend to crave a lot of attention, and will get pretty whiny if they aren't getting it from their owner. One way to fix this for any busy dog owner is to get them a second dog to help occupy their time. This is especially helpful if you have to go to work and leave your beagle alone for hours on end, your neighbors will definitely appreciate it. Changes in appetite Your beagle, just like humans, can lose interest in eating if they are feeling sad or lonely. Sudden changes in eating habits can point to a physical or behavioral problem. Beagles tend to be overeaters by nature and are extremely food motivated, so if you notice that your beagle is no longer showing interest in food, you might want to consult with your vet to rule out physical problems before venturing out to buy another pup. Loss of interest in playing Extreme behavioral changes such as losing interest in favorite activities and toys or suddenly becoming reluctant to walk or play should be seen as a cause for concern. Like changes in appetite, this can stem from a variety of different things, but it could likely be an emotional issue. If you're not able to give more time to your beagle to try and remedy these emotional problems, it might be time to introduce a furry friend. Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is a very common problem in beagles, especially for those that haven't been socialized enough or spend too much time alone with their owners. Separation anxiety tends to manifest itself whenever you leave the house or come back. Beagles with separation anxiety will display symptoms like confusion, fear, and depression whenever they think that you might be leaving. One way to help soften the blow of you leaving your home every day is to get your beagle another dog to play with. This will make them less emotionally dependent on you, and more independent for themselves. Excessive licking Oddly, excessive licking is a pretty common sign that your beagle is feeling lonely. According to a recent study by INSIDER, dogs will lick or bite their own for more out of feelings of loneliness, more frequently than those with other companions hanging around. This is known as a "lick granuloma". It's a pretty strange behavior, but a sign that your beagle is going through something troubling and could use a friend. Benefits of Getting A Second Dog for Your Beagle Getting another dog friend for your beloved beagle has many benefits, not the least of which is an extra furry family member to love. You will want to look for a dog that matches both your family and your beagle’s temperament and lifestyle. If you choose well, the benefits are almost endless. Having more than one dog means that: Your dogs will keep each other exercised If you have limited time to walk and play with your beagle, this can be particularly important. Dogs are pack animals and absolutely love to play together. Giving your dogs toys and letting them run in the yard is a great way for them to get their “zoomies” out. Dog friends love chasing and playing tag. All that exercise will not only help keep your beagle fit and healthy, it also wears them out so that they get sufficient rest, which can help curb other types of behavioral problems. The second dog will be easier to train If you have properly trained your first dog, your new friend will have an excellent example to follow when it comes to training. Seeing your beagle perform commands will reinforce learning in your new pet. And if you are looking to give your first dog some refresher obedience, their lessons will also be reinforced by having a new buddy around. Two dogs can also have fun learning tricks or participating in agility or sport training together. My two beagles even took some elements of their training as a competition, and tried to outperform each other. It was a win-win! Lessened incidence of destructive behavior One dog, left to their own devices can easily become bored and turn to tearing up things around the house just to have something to do. When you have two or more dogs, the pack keeps each other company - whether playing together, snuggling or even just hanging in the same room. And that will decrease your dogs’ temptation to turn to destructive behavior. Often, beagles turn to destructive behavior out of loneliness or separation anxiety. So the extra entertainment of having a friend around will keep them distracted and much less likely to take out their frustration on your home and yard. Lower aggression levels When your beagle has a friend, they will be both well-exercised and mentally fit, which decreases the possibility of your dog acting out aggressively. First of all, they will be used to being around other dogs and secondly, the other dog can have a calming influence when one of the two is feeling overwhelmed. Though this does depend to a certain degree on dog personality, there are some cases of aggression between dogs in the same household, which is why you should always assess your first dog's behavioral needs before considering adding in a second one. Better socialization skills When you get a new beagle, it’s necessary to socialize them so that they are prepared to deal with any different kind of situation, person or animal that he might encounter. A properly socialized animal is comfortable in a variety of environments. Having two dogs together forces both to learn how to communicate with each other and respond appropriately. Dogs who live together learn to share space and to take each other’s cues as to when - for example - one of them wants to be left alone, or needs comforting. A better socialized dog is safer on forays out into the public and will be able to enjoy adventures outside the home that will expose them to other animals, such as the dog park. If you're the type of person that isn't able to go to dog parks or introduce your beagle to other dogs frequently, getting a second dog around the house can be a great way to take the stress out of socialization. How to Prepare Your Beagle for A Second Dog The key to preparing your beagle to welcome a new dog into the household is to take things slow. While your dog will no doubt be thrilled with the new addition once they have a chance to get to know them, your first dog's initial reaction may be that their turf has been invaded. Be patient with your pups and give them time to get to know each other. If possible, plan to bring your new dog in at a time when you can be home for a few days and slowly introduce your new friends to one another. When you first get the new dog home, you will want to keep them separated from your beagle in a way that still allows them to see each other and make very limited contact. Using a baby gate to keep them apart is a great way to make an introduction. This is particularly important if you have a puppy, as puppies can get over excited and set off a mildly aggressive response in an older dog who gets overwhelmed. Once your dogs have seen and smelled each other and seem to be getting comfortable, consider allowing them to play together supervised in a confined space such as a fenced in backyard, a large room or an empty dog park. At first, you will want to stay very close by to ensure that their play does not get aggressive. Typically, within a short amount of time, your dogs will be comfortable with each other’s presence and will start to enjoy their time together. Make sure that you have supplies for both dogs and that each dog has their own sleeping space, I prefer to use two crates so that they both go through the same habits and training. This will help prevent jealousy or fights over beds or toys. Once you have seen that the dogs play well together, you can consider leaving them alone together for short periods of time alone. It is not advisable to keep them together all day in your absence until you are completely comfortable that they can get along okay. If they need more time to adjust, consider crating them separately while you are gone, until they are comfortable being left alone together. Additionally, I'm a big fan of creating schedules and regimens for both of my dogs so that they feel as though they are working together as a unit or pack. Nap time is the same for both, meal times are the same for both, play time is the same for both, and bed time is the same for both. These simultaneous schedules will help them adjust their behavior and work together, rather than trying to one up each other and cause fights. For more tips on how to bring a new dog into your home, check out this video by Upstate Canine Academy Final Thoughts Beagles are wonderful, sweet dogs and can be great solo dogs for some families. But many beagles do experience loneliness and prefer to have another canine companion. If you are considering getting a friend for your beagle be sure to do your research to find the right dog for you, your beagle and your household and take the time to properly socialize and train the dogs. In doing all of this, you are ensuring that you’ll have happy, healthy dogs who will enjoy a lifetime of friendship together. Related Articles: Do Beagles Get Along with Birds? Can Beagles Get Along with Rabbits? Can Beagles Get Along with Chickens?