Q: What is your opinion on a Beagle that growls and shows her teeth? Sophie is almost 7 months old and spayed. At night she goes under the table or under the couch and won't come out. When we try to get her out, she growls and shows her teeth. Her teacher at obedience school suggested leaving her leash on at night so it will be easier to reach her. She acts that way during the day too, if she has something she's not supposed to (which is everything) or if she doesn't want to do what we tell her.

The whole family is tired of Sophie's behavior, which includes a lot of chewing on magazines, newspapers and shoes. We can tolerate the chewing but I will NOT tolerate the growling. Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A: One problem here is that the dog is being put on the defensive. More positive training techniques you learn in obedience class can help with this. You need to get her to come to you, so she won't feel cornered. When she does come to you, you need to make her glad she came. All is forgiven no matter what she was doing before.

Another problem is that the dog is not ready for the responsibility of being loose and unsupervised in an area that is not dog-proofed. If she were being 100% watched and supervised while loose in the house, you wouldn't be getting all these items destroyed.

If you're going to use the leash as part of the supervision, attach the other end to yourself. She should never be out of your sight, unless she is in her safe place where there's nothing for her to destroy. Having the dog spend too much time alone in the safe place isn't good either, because she's not learning when there, she's not exercising, and she's not bonding to you.

I wouldn't be surprised if this dog also needs more exercise to channel her energy into more constructive outlets. Beagles were bred for very strenuous hunting, and some are quite highly driven. Teach her to retrieve. This training can then be used to get her to bring things to you, which you will then replace with something she is allowed to have, and reward her surrendering the forbidden item by spending some time playing with her.

It's impossible to tell online whether this dog has a temperament problem, or whether the management and handling problems are the complete cause of her behavior. All dogs will defend themselves at some point, it's just a question of how much pushing they can take first, and what they will do, and how fast when pushed.

Don't try to handle a dog by focusing on telling her what NOT to do. You need to teach her instead what she can do to earn praise and reward from you, and control her behavior in that manner, instead of in a negative one, that puts her on the defensive.

Sometimes a family is just too busy to give a dog the upbringing it needs. That's why only 50% of puppies in the United States make it to the age of 2 years. Horrifying, isn't it? I hope you can turn things around with your dog. I recommend you read an inexpensive book by Jack and Wendy Volhard, called The Canine Good Citizen. It has great training exercises, as well as information about dog drives.

If you are not able to change the situation, your dog may very well progress to biting in self-defense. It is a good sign that she has not done so yet. If you have any doubts about her temperament, ask your vet to recommend a behavior specialist to meet with you and the rest of your family with the dog. I hope things go well.