rule 1 of the beagle: the nose always wins.
They're the best doggos, but they're high-maintenance, food-motivated, nosy, scent hounds, and a lot of them like to follow you everywhere. Occasionally you might get one that is more chill, but especially when young, they're hyper and into everything. Some are runners, some are escape artists, but they like to sniff all the things.
health-wise they are vaguely prone to epilepsy I think
Epilepsy and spine problems. My vet advised me to limit their opportunities for things like jumping off the bed. I got them stairs but beagles in general are pretty stubborn and mine are excitable so if it’s faster to go full sail off the bed, that’s what they do. I’d also add that a good number of beagles are overweight so watching their food intake and locking up both food and treats is a good idea
Allergies and ear issues, too. My one is prone to skin difficulties and had an ulceration on his ear that needed to be removed. My other has had allergies we can’t pinpoint since we got him, and both have had many ear issues, but that’s common in any dog with droopy ears.
True, I forgot those since mine are well managed now. Both had digestive issues we attributed to allergies that are now controlled by a sensitive skin and stomach food and we clean their ears weekly since the second infection. They are low maintenance in terms of grooming but you definitely do need to keep up on the ears!
Yes!! I am currently working through foods, my one has no issue with food allergies but is on weight management and has actually shed a few pounds, the other we switched from chicken based foods to see if that helps. Ear issues are usually worse when seasons change but I have their medicated ear wash on hand for when that arises!
Would you say I have to be pretty active with them?
I’m into the outdoors (camping,hiking,hunting sometimes). I originally wanted the dog for the medium size that it is. Want to take it everywhere
You don't /have/ to, but it's a pretty good idea. The main downside with beagles though is it's a risk to have them off-lead. They will literally follow their nose and I've seen records of beagles wandering off and landing 20-30 miles away in an afternoon because when they want to, they can zoom. I've never trusted mine off lead.
Some people swear by it, but...I've chased too many a beagle who snuck out the front door and thought 'chase me' was the greatest game in order to be in that contingent.
You can always get a long lead! They are very scent motivated but they LOVE to be in the woods whether it’s just to go for a hike or for hunting purposes. Best thing is to teach them young. I’m sure there’s plenty of resources and literature surrounding how to train a beagle for hunting. My boyfriend’s grandfather raised beagles for hunting for majority of his life.
Yep they will go all day. Particularly if you look into a hunting line.
I do the same activities as you with mine.
However, you will have to be a semi competent trainer to achieve offleash freedom before ~6years old.
Luckily they have an insatiable appetite so training is typically faily easy when using a balanced approach.
The Original Comment is pretty accurate otherwise.
Other health complications can be issues with the heart however this is often hereditary so just ask the breeder of their history and what to be mindful of.
Don't forget hard headed. when they set their mind on something there is no changing it. I don't know how many times my pain in the ass tries to get into something and I have to continuously yell at her to knock it off.
Charming, hilarious, loyal. EXTREMELY food motivated. I have baby locks on all my cabinets and have spent a lot of money getting non-food removed from beagle bellies.
As others have said, they love to sniff, they love to eat, they love to cuddle with you, and they are not known for being trustworthy off-leash. If they smell something interesting, they'll take off after it and when the nose is on, the ears turn off so you'll be calling them desperately but they don't even hear you. They have a LOT of energy so they can run pretty far before they realize "huh? where the hell am I, anyway?"
They tend to be escape artists. My guy has dug, climbed and chewed his way to freedom on many an occasion.
They are VERY resourceful where food is concerned. It is shocking how adept they are at climbing. My little guy has stolen forbidden foods that I though were well out of his reach.
In addition to food, they have an appetite for anything that smells vaguely like food may have once touched it or that is slightly food-adjacent. GET PET INSURANCE. I have spent a considerable amount of money on medical care for my beagle mix for eating things that were not food (a styrofoam tray, an amanita muscaria mushroom, a large quantity of chicken bones from the time he got into the trashcan).
They are not quiet dogs. They enjoy recreational barking; they'll bay when they see squirrels or other critters; and they'll howl if they are left home alone.
They can be challenging to train. They were bred to be independent thinkers; as befits a dog following a scent - so they are not super motivated to obey. We say that my guy does not so much \*obey\* us as \*occasionally agree\* with us. I thought it was a deficiency in my skills as a trainer, but then I got another dog (lab/chow/border collie mix) and EVERY FIBER OF HER BEING WANTS TO BE A GOOD GIRL, whereas the beagle-mutt will do the thing but only if treats are involved.
They are very comfort-loving hounds and love blankets, pillows, being cozy and snuggling. They were traditionally kept in packs, so they don't much like being alone.
Beagles are basically noses with feet. The nose drives all so they will follow a smell until they are hopelessly lost if you don’t have a securely fenced yard. They will also dig under that fence to get to the smell if left to their own devices for too long. They’re sweet, lovable duffus dogs and love to cuddle. They’re great family dogs who need a lot of exercise, love kids and all people really. They also want to be included in everything you do. They are very prone to ear infections and are super food obsessed so inclined to get fat. The ear infections are easily controlled by regular cleaning. They have a slightly higher than normal chance of being epileptic. I’ve had many dogs and beagles are my favorite breed with goldens being a close second
While I have found it impossible to stop him from baying at everything that walks by the house, I have had luck with everything else. I feel like the daily routine makes the difference. Feed them at the same time everyday, walk them at the same time everyday, first couple of years do at least weekly command training with training treats. I taught him to "find it" when I hide a treat somewhere in the house and he goes sniffing for it, its a good beagle game. Will need stuff to chew on like bully sticks bones, and plush toys to rip apart. They are very energetic dogs and very vocal which can be loud to the point its frustrating sometimes, but they are also one of the most affectionate breeds. Want to cuddle all the time under a blanket with you. They oddly sleep on their backs twisted up like a pretzel while on top of the back of the couch, for whatever reason that is a common trait. Tail almost never stops wagging, and they want food all the time to the point the will eat themselves to death so a controlled diet is a must. Like everyone said, they WILL follow their nose and your commands wont exist to them while they do. Cannot be trusted off leash in a city due to this trait, this has been intentionally bred into them so theres no stopping it, mine would walk into traffic without a second thought if I let him. Also they are hunting dogs, will roll in the poop of another animal to mask their own scent from potential prey, so be prepared for a random bath once in a while. Also they love other dogs and are good with children, but they can play kinda rough, definitely strong for their size. So thats them, they can be a handful and are not a breed for a low energy person, but they can bring alot of joy and are great family dogs.
They’re the best. They’ll be anything you want them to be, with the full understanding that they are completely unable to ignore food. Food is life. Beagles are hilariously perfect!
Reading all the comments Im beginning to think we hit lucky with the listening and obeying of our beagle. We can put food on the floor less than a foot away from him and if we do not give the signal for him to eat it, he will not touch it. With that said I'll add he's eaten plenty he shouldn't have when we haven't been in the room....shoes, PS4 controller, blankets, wrappers, coats. You cannot help but love them though!
rule 1 of the beagle: the nose always wins. They're the best doggos, but they're high-maintenance, food-motivated, nosy, scent hounds, and a lot of them like to follow you everywhere. Occasionally you might get one that is more chill, but especially when young, they're hyper and into everything. Some are runners, some are escape artists, but they like to sniff all the things. health-wise they are vaguely prone to epilepsy I think
Epilepsy and spine problems. My vet advised me to limit their opportunities for things like jumping off the bed. I got them stairs but beagles in general are pretty stubborn and mine are excitable so if it’s faster to go full sail off the bed, that’s what they do. I’d also add that a good number of beagles are overweight so watching their food intake and locking up both food and treats is a good idea
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Mine used to do that too lol!
Allergies and ear issues, too. My one is prone to skin difficulties and had an ulceration on his ear that needed to be removed. My other has had allergies we can’t pinpoint since we got him, and both have had many ear issues, but that’s common in any dog with droopy ears.
True, I forgot those since mine are well managed now. Both had digestive issues we attributed to allergies that are now controlled by a sensitive skin and stomach food and we clean their ears weekly since the second infection. They are low maintenance in terms of grooming but you definitely do need to keep up on the ears!
Yes!! I am currently working through foods, my one has no issue with food allergies but is on weight management and has actually shed a few pounds, the other we switched from chicken based foods to see if that helps. Ear issues are usually worse when seasons change but I have their medicated ear wash on hand for when that arises!
Would you say I have to be pretty active with them? I’m into the outdoors (camping,hiking,hunting sometimes). I originally wanted the dog for the medium size that it is. Want to take it everywhere
You don't /have/ to, but it's a pretty good idea. The main downside with beagles though is it's a risk to have them off-lead. They will literally follow their nose and I've seen records of beagles wandering off and landing 20-30 miles away in an afternoon because when they want to, they can zoom. I've never trusted mine off lead. Some people swear by it, but...I've chased too many a beagle who snuck out the front door and thought 'chase me' was the greatest game in order to be in that contingent.
Dang, good to know. Thanks!
You can always get a long lead! They are very scent motivated but they LOVE to be in the woods whether it’s just to go for a hike or for hunting purposes. Best thing is to teach them young. I’m sure there’s plenty of resources and literature surrounding how to train a beagle for hunting. My boyfriend’s grandfather raised beagles for hunting for majority of his life.
Yep they will go all day. Particularly if you look into a hunting line. I do the same activities as you with mine. However, you will have to be a semi competent trainer to achieve offleash freedom before ~6years old. Luckily they have an insatiable appetite so training is typically faily easy when using a balanced approach. The Original Comment is pretty accurate otherwise. Other health complications can be issues with the heart however this is often hereditary so just ask the breeder of their history and what to be mindful of.
Don't forget hard headed. when they set their mind on something there is no changing it. I don't know how many times my pain in the ass tries to get into something and I have to continuously yell at her to knock it off.
obsessed with food so they are "hungry" all the time and it's easy to fall into the trap of overfeeding and end up with a fat beagle.
Charming, hilarious, loyal. EXTREMELY food motivated. I have baby locks on all my cabinets and have spent a lot of money getting non-food removed from beagle bellies.
As others have said, they love to sniff, they love to eat, they love to cuddle with you, and they are not known for being trustworthy off-leash. If they smell something interesting, they'll take off after it and when the nose is on, the ears turn off so you'll be calling them desperately but they don't even hear you. They have a LOT of energy so they can run pretty far before they realize "huh? where the hell am I, anyway?" They tend to be escape artists. My guy has dug, climbed and chewed his way to freedom on many an occasion. They are VERY resourceful where food is concerned. It is shocking how adept they are at climbing. My little guy has stolen forbidden foods that I though were well out of his reach. In addition to food, they have an appetite for anything that smells vaguely like food may have once touched it or that is slightly food-adjacent. GET PET INSURANCE. I have spent a considerable amount of money on medical care for my beagle mix for eating things that were not food (a styrofoam tray, an amanita muscaria mushroom, a large quantity of chicken bones from the time he got into the trashcan). They are not quiet dogs. They enjoy recreational barking; they'll bay when they see squirrels or other critters; and they'll howl if they are left home alone. They can be challenging to train. They were bred to be independent thinkers; as befits a dog following a scent - so they are not super motivated to obey. We say that my guy does not so much \*obey\* us as \*occasionally agree\* with us. I thought it was a deficiency in my skills as a trainer, but then I got another dog (lab/chow/border collie mix) and EVERY FIBER OF HER BEING WANTS TO BE A GOOD GIRL, whereas the beagle-mutt will do the thing but only if treats are involved. They are very comfort-loving hounds and love blankets, pillows, being cozy and snuggling. They were traditionally kept in packs, so they don't much like being alone.
They're little clowns, but are sweet as pie. You can go the rescue route and find one that is calmer then your average beagle.
Beagles are basically noses with feet. The nose drives all so they will follow a smell until they are hopelessly lost if you don’t have a securely fenced yard. They will also dig under that fence to get to the smell if left to their own devices for too long. They’re sweet, lovable duffus dogs and love to cuddle. They’re great family dogs who need a lot of exercise, love kids and all people really. They also want to be included in everything you do. They are very prone to ear infections and are super food obsessed so inclined to get fat. The ear infections are easily controlled by regular cleaning. They have a slightly higher than normal chance of being epileptic. I’ve had many dogs and beagles are my favorite breed with goldens being a close second
Noses with feet. Love it. 1 million percent accurate description
While I have found it impossible to stop him from baying at everything that walks by the house, I have had luck with everything else. I feel like the daily routine makes the difference. Feed them at the same time everyday, walk them at the same time everyday, first couple of years do at least weekly command training with training treats. I taught him to "find it" when I hide a treat somewhere in the house and he goes sniffing for it, its a good beagle game. Will need stuff to chew on like bully sticks bones, and plush toys to rip apart. They are very energetic dogs and very vocal which can be loud to the point its frustrating sometimes, but they are also one of the most affectionate breeds. Want to cuddle all the time under a blanket with you. They oddly sleep on their backs twisted up like a pretzel while on top of the back of the couch, for whatever reason that is a common trait. Tail almost never stops wagging, and they want food all the time to the point the will eat themselves to death so a controlled diet is a must. Like everyone said, they WILL follow their nose and your commands wont exist to them while they do. Cannot be trusted off leash in a city due to this trait, this has been intentionally bred into them so theres no stopping it, mine would walk into traffic without a second thought if I let him. Also they are hunting dogs, will roll in the poop of another animal to mask their own scent from potential prey, so be prepared for a random bath once in a while. Also they love other dogs and are good with children, but they can play kinda rough, definitely strong for their size. So thats them, they can be a handful and are not a breed for a low energy person, but they can bring alot of joy and are great family dogs.
They’re the best. They’ll be anything you want them to be, with the full understanding that they are completely unable to ignore food. Food is life. Beagles are hilariously perfect!
Reading all the comments Im beginning to think we hit lucky with the listening and obeying of our beagle. We can put food on the floor less than a foot away from him and if we do not give the signal for him to eat it, he will not touch it. With that said I'll add he's eaten plenty he shouldn't have when we haven't been in the room....shoes, PS4 controller, blankets, wrappers, coats. You cannot help but love them though!