A lot of beagle books and sites recommend the use of a “crate” – basically a wire cage – for beagle pups. At first the idea of putting a little puppy behind bars might seem cruel, but as it turns out it can be a useful tool in getting the little fella to feel secure in his new home and get him house trained more quickly.
From what I’ve read, the crate soon becomes the dog’s private den. He feels safe and in control in there, and instinctively wants to keep it clean. A smart and attentive owner can use that natural desire to keep the den free from puddles and “bottom sausages” to establish the routine of only going to the toilet outdoors. The key, apparently, is to make such regular toilet trips outside that the call of nature never overpowers the pup’s limited bowel and bladder control. If that is allowed to happen then the pup might think that, contrary to his initial misgivings, it’s really OK to do his business in his den. That would be a big setback for house training! Unfortunately a young pup (8-12 weeks) can need to go as much as once an hour, even during the night, but I guess you’ve got to balance the lost sleep against the hassle of repeatedly cleaning the carpet.
Another benefit of the crate is that it protects the puppy from household hazards at times when he can’t be fully supervised. And given that a young beagle is itself a household hazard(!) I guess it also protects furniture and possessions from illicit chewing. That doesn’t mean it’s a panacea for owners who leave their dog for extended periods though, nor should it be used as a punishment.
So, it looks like our beagle budget will have to accommodate a decent quality crate as well as the beagle pup itself, and all the early vets fees for inoculations and so on. We’re also looking at the possibility of getting a puppy play pen. This could be great for our office, allowing the pup to have a decent amount of room to play without coming into contact with any trailing wires or computer gear. Of course beagles are good jumpers, so it would probably soon lose its ability to contain the little rogue.