How to master recall with your beagle

How to Master Recall with Your Beagle

Beagles are full of personality, curiosity… and nose power. Originally bred as scent hounds, they’re known for their incredible tracking abilities — and their not-so-incredible recall. If your Beagle disappears the second they catch a scent, you’re not alone. But don’t worry — recall can be taught, even with the most determined sniffers.

🐾 Why Beagles Struggle With Recall

Beagles are independent by nature. Their hunting instincts kick in fast, especially when off-lead. That means:

• They often ignore verbal commands once they’ve locked onto a scent

• They get easily distracted

• They may not see a reason to come back — unless you’re more interesting than whatever they’re chasing

The good news? With the right training techniques, consistency, and a bit of patience, you can absolutely build solid recall with your Beagle.

📋 Step-by-Step: Teaching Recall to Your Beagle

1. Start Indoors or in a Low-Distraction Space

Use a quiet garden or enclosed area to begin. Say your dog’s name once, then the recall word (like “Come”) in an upbeat, excited voice. Reward instantly when they return.

2. Use High-Value Rewards

Beagles love food. Use treats they never get elsewhere — think roast chicken, liver, or cheese. They need to believe that coming to you is better than chasing the wind.

3. Avoid Calling Them to End the Fun

Never call your dog just to put them on a lead and leave the park. That teaches them that coming back = end of fun. Sometimes, call them back, reward, and let them go again.

4. Practice with a Long Line

Attach a long line (10-15m) so your Beagle can roam, but you still have control. It helps you reinforce recall without risking a runaway.

5. Stay Calm if They Don’t Come

Don’t punish your dog when they return — even if they took ages. You want them to associate recall with positive experiences, not fear or frustration.

⚠️ Common Recall Mistakes with Beagles

• Repeating commands over and over (they start to tune it out)

• Using a harsh tone or shouting

• Only calling them when it’s time to leave

• Expecting perfect recall too quickly — especially in busy environments

✅ Bonus Tip: Recall Games

Make recall fun! Try games like:

• Hide and seek: Hide and call your dog. When they find you, throw a party.

• Ping-pong recall: Two people take turns calling the dog back and forth with treats.

• Whistle recall: Train your dog to respond to a recall whistle with immediate rewards.

About E-Collar Training (Let’s Talk Honestly)

Now, for Beagles who just won’t respond once they’ve locked onto a scent, e-collars can be a valuable tool — if used correctly.

Let’s be clear:
E-collars are not shock collars. When used by a trained professional, modern e-collars offer a gentle, low-level sensation— like a tap on the shoulder — to get your dog’s attention, not to punish them.

At Northern K9 Company, we can use e-collars as part of a balanced, reward-based approach. The collar simply becomes a form of communication. When paired with positive reinforcement (like treats or praise), it can help stubborn or high-drive dogs like Beagles learn recall faster and more reliably, even in distracting environments.

They are never used to scare or hurt your dog — only to guide and communicate more clearly when voice alone isn’t enough.

👋 Final Thoughts from Jack

Teaching recall to a Beagle isn’t always easy — but it is achievable. Whether you’re training a young pup or working on breaking bad habits, consistency, clarity, and the right tools make all the difference.

If you’re based in Harrogate, York, Leeds, Bradford, or anywhere in North or West Yorkshire, I’d love to help.

I’m Jack — your local dog trainer — and I specialise in working with stubborn breeds like Beagles. Get in touch today and let’s bring your dog back every time, no matter what distractions are around.

Get in touch With Jack

Let me know how me and the team can help with your dog's training and I will personally respond with an email, text message or I will arrange a phone call. Even if you just need some simple advice I'm happy to help.

why should you Get in touch?

Hi, i'm jack, I treat every dog I train like my own. I seriously do, I love all dogs regardless of their breed or history. Every training session is a lesson learnt for both me and your dog, I try make every session as fun as possible, Although I believe in pack leadership I don't believe in showing dogs "who is boss" I believe in showing dogs that I am pretty cool to hang around with, and feeling safe in my presence which is why I also try to make every session an adventure for us both. One of my favourite things about this job is seeing how exited dogs get when they see me. Dogs really are Angels sent from heaven.