Beagles have feelings too!

 A 6 week old? That is cruel.

Oh wow, that's just cruel! And only six weeks old....how could they??

Many hunting dogs yes are kept outdoors. I do believe acclimating a hunting dog to temps it will be working in, is wise...as it helps coats adjust and bodies/metabolism. IF you are feeding them appropriately, housing them appropriately and socializing them either with your training, working/hunting activities etc, appropriately.

That said. This is a PUPPY of an age it should still be with it'd dam and sibilings I might add....is it legal to SELL pups that young in your state/city? Here's it's very plainly 8 weeks. Puppies, esp pack hound puppies...need to be with other dogs and their people too...and they need protection from the elements etc.

There is no reason NOT to provide even a "hunting dog" with a nest box full of hay with four walls and a roof, and a companion to share heat with...this is MINIMUM in my (admittedly thin) book of proper housing for hunting dogs...and from what I have seen most hunters do provide this. Their dogs are important and, put food on the table, so freezing to death is not something they allow to happen!

I won't get into a debate about the way hunting dogs are kept because it's not my scene and they get enough crap from others as it is...their dogs do a job and from what I have seen many provide excellent care...even if they are not "house dogs".

But this case...the age of the pup really necessitates a rethink on these people part. It is IMO unacceptable.

BTW a garage can be made pretty comfy if the pup has an ex pen with open crate with nice crate pad...and a heater on the outside of the pen...just something to suggest to them perhaps if they are insistent on keeping it there.

I think in this area [rural dairy country] people think of hunting dogs as livestock more than pets.There is a farmer near me who breeds his beagle and sells the pups for $50.he has them in the barn on concrete with no straw or blankets,only each other for warmth.I have inquired about this at the shelter [where labs and beagles abound] but since he has not broken the law they have no recourse.

Tena 

Gina,even if it is warm enough,and I agree that acclimation to a colder climate helps,the dogs I feel the most sympathy for are the ones that are alone.I have no problem with someone who has a nice set-up,a well insulated sleeping place and two or more dogs.No dog should have to spend hour after hour alone.Just because a dog serves as a hunting dog doesn't mean he shouldn't be part of the family.Lots of hunters bring thier valued dog in.

Tena

well ya...that's pretty much what I was meaning in my post, LOL . Ideally that's how it would always be. But we don't live in an ideal world...so you might just suggest the set up I mentioned to them, and that Beagles are pack hounds that are not used to being solitary...they need to learn to pack up otherwise they might be distracted or quarrelsome when they hunt...maybe putting it like that would help?

My PaPa has 20+ Beagles mixes, all of them are hunting dogs, deer dogs specificly. His are a little bigger then a pure Beagle, leggy-type dogs. He kennels his on the back of his property, about 100 feet from his back door. All this males are together, and all the females are together. He has blue barrels with holes in the front and hay inside for shelter. There is nothing wrong with a dog being outdoors, or in a garage, with proper shelter. But I do agree, 6 weeks is to early, and the pup needs a companion....especially if they want it to run with other dogs. If they trained the pup, kept it in the same situation, then put it on a deer/rabbit or whatever with a pack, all that dog will want to do is get to know the others dogs, because it won't have much experience with other dogs.

Personally, I'd tell them to give that pup decent shelter, and attention, and go back to the breeder and get another! Dogs need company, and hunting dogs tend to do better in pairs anyway...

rwbeagles

Beagles are pack hounds that are not used to being solitary.

Already sugested this but he hunts with a brother who has his own dogs so sees no advantage in having two beagles.There is no law in Wi pertaining to the age of puppies,I checked.They do have a box for her to sleep in and she was previously in a barn so she will probably not freeze to death.I doubt any advice I give would be heeded as they still feed the cheap food[wheat middlings are the first ingredientand both house dogs are still intact males.Good luck when that little girl goes through her first heat cycle!American Eskimo-Beagle X.Those should be adorableAlso,forgot the best[or worst] part.........He said "If she's not a good hunter, she's outa here!"Disposeable,just like the 4-6 beagles I see at the shelter every time I go there.

Tena

misstrouble

There is nothing wrong with a dog being outdoors, or in a garage, with proper shelter.

I agree with this statement if you've provided well and the dogs [notice the plural] are hearty breeds.If you've never been to Wisconsin in January or February you should know it can get to 30 below F.

Tena