How to Train a Beagle Not to Bark

Beagles are an excellent breed that is very popular among dog owners for a good reason. A well-trained beagle can be a close companion and add a great deal of value to your life. Additionally, they have sweet faces and gorgeous coloring that dog lovers simply can’t resist. 

Though there are many positives associated with dog ownership, there are a few hurdles that many dog owners will have to face in order to train good behaviors in their dogs. 

Different breeds of dogs have different behaviors that they tend toward, and depending on your preferences and lifestyle; you may have to work harder to train some behaviors out of your dog if it belongs to a certain breed. 

One of the most common behaviors that dog owners will try to eradicate is excessive barking. A dog that barks constantly is a nuisance to its owners and any neighbors that live close by. Additionally, constant barking also means the dog is on high alert, which could create stress-related health issues. 

Before you train a beagle not to bark, it’s important to remember that it’s unrealistic to expect even the most well-trained dog to never bark. 

In fact, your dog’s bark could be an important indicator of a disturbance, such as an intruder or a foreign animal on your property. However, if your beagle’s barking ranges into excess, there are many steps you can take to reduce their barking habits.

Unique Characteristics of Beagles

The beagle is a very popular and well-loved breed of dog that is known for being great with kids, very sociable with other friendly animals, and generally low maintenance in terms of both health needs and coat maintenance. 

Additionally, beagles are on the smaller side of medium, with an average weight of around 25 pounds, making them easy to handle for owners with a variety of lifestyles. 

Though there are many pros associated with beagles, it’s also important to note that, as dogs bred for hunting, they have a bad habit of digging. Stubbornness is a common personality trait of beagles, making it difficult to make training stick without lots of repetition and patience. 

The most well-known downside to beagles is their love of barking. Their tendency toward excessive barking is related to their hunting breeding, and while they may simply be alerting you to something they’re sensing, you may end up with a lot of raucous barking in your household.

Why Do Beagles Bark?

Beagles have very heightened senses and are always aware of everything going on around them. Because of their breeding, they want everyone else in their household to be aware as well, leading them to bark loudly at the smallest stimuli. 

This could include a strange noise or smell they’ve never sensed before, the sight of a stranger or prey animal in the yard, or boredom. Many beagle owners even insist their beagle simply loves the sound of its own voice.

How to Train a Beagle Not to Bark

Though there are several steps you can take to train a beagle not to bark, it’s important to be patient, as vocalizing is in your beagle’s DNA. You can teach a “quiet” command by heavily rewarding your pup each time they stop barking at a trigger or simply remove them from situations that are likely to make them bark. 

However, using a beagle no-shock bark collar is one of the best long-term solutions for excessive barking in beagles.

No-Shock Bark Collars: How Do They Work?

Bark collars are a 100% safe and humane training method that can train a beagle not to bark through sensation. Unlike shock collars of the past, the bark collar doesn’t train your dog through pain but rather gently encourages a change in behavior with a slight vibration that is only mildly irritating to your dog. 

Modern bark collars come in automatic and manual versions depending on your preference. Each time your dog barks excessively, they’ll hear a beep followed by a slight vibration if they don’t stop barking. 

These stimuli will teach your dog that quieting down is the preferable option when triggered. We recommend pairing this training with treats so that it’s even easier for your dog to make the right behavioral choice.