Beagle Braying

[Marcy Matties]

I have a student in a novice competition class that has a great little beagle who is going to be good down the line.  Right now he's hit and miss, but one of his problems is that he loves to hear himself talk.  I'm hoping that someone that has experience with Beagles can give me some tips that I can pass along to her to help alleviate this problem.

I know that the standard answer is "move faster, tell him what you want sooner, etc."  And I'm sure that is good advice. But in this case he doesn't seem to be barking out of frustration - just likes to do it.   He loves to sit there at the start line and bark.  He also barks throughout the course, even when his mom is moving consistently and giving him timely commands.  Of course, being a hound, he also loves to sniff, too.  So barking isn't his only issue.  But I figured best to tackle one thing at a time   

Any help would be appreciated!

[Cindy]

Is he working while he's baying?  My first Beagle bayed through the entire course every run.  If she didn't, I took her to the vet.  It was the bay they give when on the hunt and showed me she was engaged and focused.  If he's working, I'd say leave it alone. 

Cindy and the Beagles from Oregon

[Marcy Matties]

Sometmes she is braying while she's moving.  Other times she just stops and brays.  So, some of both.

Is he working while he's baying?  My first Beagle bayed through the entire course every run.  If she didn't, I took her to the vet.  It was the bay they give when on the hunt and showed me she was engaged and focused.  If he's working, I'd say leave it alone. 

Cindy and the Beagles from Oregon

[Ed and Tres]

Oh I love this question!

I wish I had a good answer for you. Dino does occasionally like to talk to me but I've learned to love this. Unfortunately a lot of the time he'll stop. He often does this on the first set of weave poles and the entrance. If I'm ahead of him on the course I run back at him or talk back at him. In Novice levels once he got going again these few seconds never mattered now at Open I know it means we likely will not Q.

I love the beagle bray so can't ever get mad at this or Dino for it and it does mean his head is in the game so it is actually a good sign.

Best advice from me is do not get upset over it, have fun with it, encourage the beag to keep going but it is actually a good thing.