I have two mini beagles who are 6 months old. They are great dogs except every time we go for a walk or out in the backyard, one of them constantly sniffs the ground and barks. I understand that they are hunting dogs and this is instinct, but is there a way to curb the barking? She doesn't bark at other people or dogs walking by, just what she smells as she walks.

You are right, it is her instinct, by barking she is conveying, probably, to the other dog what she is scenting. Don't forget that at 6 months old she is still learning and becoming excited as she finds new faculties. I don't think this will continue into adulthood.

If you try to curb this habit now you will only be sending her the wrong message. I would wait until she grows out of it, forgets about it. I think it is only a temporary thing.

Her barking and sniffing and walking with the nose plastered to the ground is not something she is going to grow out of.

She is a hound. That is what hounds do. Beagles are kind of hard to handle. They are very independent thinkers and will do what their nose tells them to.

Here comes a soapbox...

Why did you purchase a breed without researching it? You are never going to be able to train her natural instincts out of her. Will you be able to better control it? Maybe.. beagles are kind of stubborn.

First thing is first, start obedience classes. Teach him commands. Don't allow for bad behaviors to form.. dogs will never outgrow bad behaviors, instead, the behaviors become amplified.

If the barking drives you nuts, than do what most other beagle owners do.. purchase a heavy duty, stubborn dog, bark collar and strap it on her when she is outside.

Start obedience classes pronto. You should also do separate classes for the two dogs.

I have a beagle. Most stubborn breed I've ever owned, but so loveable. You take the good with the bad. :)

Beagles are one of the healthiest breeds (genetically speaking). Their breed has been kept very pure.

As a result the things they were bred to do are hard wired into them. They are scent hounds, and are bred to work. If that part of their genes isn't stimulated they can become a nuisance.

How often do you walk your dogs? What sort of things do you do to stimulate what they're bred to do?

We walk our beagle two times a day, an hour each walk. We don't go the same route every time, we change it up so that he has access to different smells.

We also play a hide and seek game with our beagle. We'll take a favorite toy, or a treat, hide it in the yard, and get him to find it. He loves this game.

Also remember that as a scent hound beagles are treat motivated. Praise is nice, but treats will work a lot better.

Your dog will never stop sniffing, but, if your dog is exercised, stimulated, he will bark less. A dog that's barking constantly in the yard is a dog that's trying to tell you that he/she is bored.

Last note. Never, ever, ever take your beagle off leash when out of your fenced in yard. Also, keep a close eye out when they are in the yard. Beagles are diggers. They are bred to hunt rabbits, which live in burrows, so digging is a natural instinct. You may think your yard is safe, but when it comes to a beagle there's no such thing.

Good luck with your beagles. It does get easier, the first year is the hardest. :)