can six month old beagles be easily re-homed?

by marion
(aberdare)

I have a six month old beagle that I love very much but he has virtually made me a prisoner in my own home. Even when sleeping, if I try to go out he jumps up and wont leave my side, he cries and tries to run out the door.

The problem is, it's just him and me for twelve hours until my husband gets home then he monopolies him. He has two very good walks a day and lots of toys but i no longer have a life, everything revolves around him.

Would he grieve if he is re-homed with a family where there are children for him to have as company or will he settle because of his age?





Hi Marion
When they're young, puppies have a very strong desire to stay close to their 'pack' - that's where they feel safe and protected. It's a natural instinct and very normal, but for their own peace of mind (and the life of their owners) it's important that they learn to stay by themselves for short periods.

As your pup is now 6 months old and hasn't been taught this, it is definitely going to be difficult for him, but he is plenty young enough to learn new things and to accept a change in his routine.

Puppies are like little children, and he'll complain and fuss because he wants things 'his way', but YOU are the momma (and the person in charge) and you make the rules - he learns to accept them. As long as he is well fed, well cared for, healthy and loved, he will not come to any harm (physical or emotional) by being separated from you for short periods... and you need to start his training now.

I'd recommend that you start out by leaving him home with your husband while you go out for 30 minutes or whatever. Your husband will need to ignore any fussing he does and just act completely normally. It may take many, many trial runs before he starts to settle down and stop fussing, but it will happen! He will come to realize that the world doesn't end when you are out of his sight, and that you always come back. It's better for both of you.

Once he can handle this, start leaving him home alone for 10 minutes or so, gradually increasing the time as he comes to accept it. He may well howl, whine, cry and fuss at first, but he will get better given time and patience.

There are lots of tips and advice that can help you on my Separation Anxiety In Your Dog page. Although I don't think your pup is truly suffering from this, many of the tips will still apply because he is anxious.

As your pup is so attached to you and has been with you for 6 months, I definitely think he would grieve if you were to try to rehome him, and it really wouldn't be fair to him. If he gets so upset when you're gone for a short while, how will he feel if you disappear from his life forever? That may make him even more anxious in the long term and could set him up for a very difficult time indeed. He doesn't need children to play with he just needs to learn not to rely on your constant presence, and he cando it.

Right now he simply needs your help to learn that he can be without you for short periods. It will take time and patience for sure, but will be worth the effort. Just as you wouldn't allow a child to control your movements like this, you mustn't allow your pup to do it. Being with him 24/7 may help him feel more secure in the short term, but in the long run it's only feeding into his insecurities. You obviously love him very much and so I'm sure you'll be able to give him the time and training he needs to help him get over this insecurity.

I hope this helps and wish you both the very best of luck.