Puppy dog

Sounds like he is not actually living with you ga because I am wondering how this will work.
Sounds like grannyactivist might be the one who gets lumbered with the toilet training for instance? Some puppies train very easily and some are an ongoing incontinence problem for months. I know someone who got a puppy several months ago and now everytime she goes out she is worried about going home to puddles if she is more than an hour or two.
Also - is he going to be living in rented accommodation for the foreseeable 5 years or more? Because most landlords do not allow pets. So you could be lumbered long term.
And finally - has he looked at the cost of pedigree dogs? Looking at thick end of £1000 quid by the time you factor in a few vets bills.
And finally finally, how is it going to solve his burglary problem if the dog is living with you?

I believe crate training is very popular these days. Plenty of info available if you Google.

Clicker training is very effective, but I soon found out that my Basset is more responsive to tiny dog treats for training. It depends what sort of dog you have, I suppose. Mixed breed dogs tend not to have the health problems of pure bred dogs, and most are bright and biddable, but many people want to choose the temperament and look of their dog. If he goes through the Beagle Breeders associations that can be found on the internet, he'll be able to contact breeders with puppies around the country. Be wary about pedigrees that have the same sire showing up in the generations because of the risk of genetically repeated health issues - some kennels try to breed in particular features by using the same stud dog over again, because they're looking for prospective show winners.

There are some lovely puppy training websites which address so much, that books often tend to get left on the shelf.

We bought a crate for our pup - the plan was that he should go into it at night - gave it to the RSPCA within a fortnight

This looks like a comprehensive breeders' site, ga

www.beaglepuppybreeders.co.uk

My basset was crate trained for the first nine months and it worked well because she was a chewer and piddler when on the loose. She loved her crate and went in there voluntarily. I was glad to see the back of it, though. If I'm going out, I'll give her a couple of little treats when she sits in her basket, as she learned to do this going in her crate.

I'm not clear on whether your son is living with you or in student accommodation or a mixture of the two.

Sounds as though he would make the ideal dog owner!

If he has been burgled he will need a dog that barks. We sold a Jack Russell terrier to a family who had been burgled twice......Not any more!!

My mum and dad had a beagle (bitch) for almost 16 years. She hardly ever barked (until she became senile at around 14-15 and then she never stopped) so would not have made a good guard dog.

I was a kennel maid for a beagle breeder for a couple of years. Lovely dogs but stupid and hard to train.

Beagles are like Bassets in that respect - stubborn! They take more notice of their own kind than humans, but they can be trained. My dog thinks I am the one who has to be trained (true!) but we have an understanding, and she knows if I say it, I mean it. Collies, poodles and German shepherds are so easy to train, but the Beagles and Bassets of this world are great dogs. Mine is fantastic about barking when she hears noises or someone comes to the door - she has a deep, rumbling bark that would deter any burglar.

I agree with Wen about Beagles and Bassets being stubborn. They are however, very charming.
I remember your post GA about your son's burglary and given the fact he's been a reliable pet owner when younger, it sounds like he'll really enjoy having his own dog. My sister had a dog throughout her Uni years, and then for the following 12 years as she developed a career. That dog spent a year with me, when my sister was in no dog accommodation. She was a border collie, very very clever and like many border collies, impatient at times. I really enjoyed having her, along with my spaniel.
I have always shared my life with dogs but my two current poodle crosses have been a bit of a challenge. They have taught me more than I thought I needed to know about dog training. I've also fostered for a specific dog charity. So, I am now a born again advocate for puppy socialisation, and training that suits the temperament of the dog.
Best wishes to your son for many happy years of sharing his life with a dog.

Having had both beagles and bassets, I go for a basset every time as they are much lazier in terms of running away but more that happy to go for a walk whenyou want them too. They are also brilliant with children.

Personally, my best dogs have been first cross rescue ones.

I've been looking at rescue dog websites and I'm appalled at how many dogs there currently are that need re-homing. When a dog costs so much to buy I can't imagine why people wouldn't, at the very least, take care of their 'investment'.

I agree with phoenix, my last 4 dogs have been "rescues", and cross breeds too. Much better than pedigree dogs I think and as ga has said - so many dogs looking for homes without breeding any more

They also tend to have what is described as "hybrid vigour" so often less ailments. Some breeds seem to have built in problems, such as spaniels with anal gland issues, and I have encountered at least 3 Labradors with recurring ear problems.

There are two dogs in my daughters village that have a habit of escaping and they are a huskie and a beagle. I think if a burglar came to a house with abeagle the only thing the beagle would think of would be 'wahay; open door, freedom...!' And a Basset would say 'hi; have you got any food on you?'. As for my whippet, she'd just carry on sleeping under her duvet. I agree that a feisty little terrier would be the best bet. Or a goose??

My Lhasas are great guard dogs.

I'm interested in the notion that bassets like walks. We had one for two weeks. I got it out the car, walked for 200 yards then he sat down and refused to budge. When I tried to 'make' it move I was harangued by two old dears. I nearly passed them his lead and said 'he's yours'.

The only time I ever saw him animated was when he attempted to shag mount the cat, cushions, my foot.

He went as a stud dog in the end. It was very appropriate.

I'm really jealous cause the S.O. was in a supermarket car park today and there was a lady there with a Leonberger; he asked her what it was because it was the biggest dog he'd ever seen. I've just looked them up because I assumed they were European sheepdogs but they are more rescue dogs and sound absolutely adorable. Unlike a lot of large breeds that I'd be very wary of with children, they are real family dogs. They'd probably make good guard dogs in that someone would be terrified at seeing a dog that size, but they don't sound at all agressive.

Do they come with a barrel of brandy round their necks?

ga the electrician who was doing a job in my house today was comparing his beagle with my basset and declared them to be very similar in temperament and training challenges. His beagle is a good guard dog at home and barks if anyone comes near. He tried clicker-training to no avail, but found that having tiny liver treats in his hand always motivates his beagle to perform first time and to return if he is let off the lead. He said his beagle is a small dog that thinks it's a Great Dane!

Talking of Great Danes, we looked after one for a month when a friend was ill. He made himself at home, picked the best seat in the house and we all fell in love with him to the point that it was a hard job giving him back.

I've never known such a laid back dog.

Knut?

The polar bear?