General Beagle Information

The Beagle

The Beagle is a small, sturdy hound. He is friendly and independent and a good pet for most families. While the Beagle has a high activity level, a nice run in the morning and evening tends to be enough exercise for most Beagles. His short coat is easy for grooming, but the long ears need to be cleaned regularly.

Some History About The Beagle

The Beagle was originally bred to hunt rabbits in large packs using their noses. The pack spreads out and searches until they pick up the scent of the rabbit. Once a dog picks up the scent, it will bay and the rest of the pack will join up. They track and chase the rabbit around back to the hunter and then everyone has rabbit stew for dinner.

Some Myths About The Beagle

“They Bark”
Yes, the Beagle barks, but so do all dogs. When Beagles are bored or left alone for long periods of time nuisance barking may occur. It’s an owner’s responsibility to make sure that the Beagle has plenty of entertainment. Exercise is the key. Tire them out and they’ll sleep for hours.

“They Dig”
The digging myth goes along with barking. When a dog is bored, they find other ways to amuse themselves and sometimes that way may be around your flowers! Another reason for digging is that the Beagle is a scent hound and he just may have found something fabulous underground and is trying to get at it.

“They Make Good Outdoor Only Pets”
No, this breed was bred to be with its pack and is a very social breed. Once you take on a Beagle, you become his pack. A Beagle that is an outdoor-only dog will bark and dig and chew and become obnoxious.

“They Run Away”
A Beagle, when given the opportunity, will get on a scent and follow it. Any untrained dog will not come when called but if the dog is well trained you’ll be able to do numerous activities with your new companion. We recommend at least 16 weeks of obedience classes with your puppy (that’s two sessions).

“I Heard The Beagle Is Stubborn And Hard To Train”
A Beagle is passive aggressive. They are a very smart little dog, but they feel that they don’t need someone to tell them what to do. It goes back to their hunting background and being able to hunt independently. You need to be consistent with them and stick with the training. Once the Beagle figures out that he must do what you ask, he can become an excellent obedience dog.

Recommendations For Future Owners

If you decide the Beagle is for you, we recommend the following things:

1. Find a good breeder. While the Beagle is fairly healthy, epilepsy is a common concern. Make sure the breeder you go to has no epilepsy in their lines. Ask about eye, skin and hip problems. Are the breeding parents clear of these problems? Ask about a return policy. A good breeder will always be willing to take their dogs back. A good breeder will support, work with, and advise you on anything you need during your dog’s life, not just the first few weeks that you own the puppy. And the best place to find a good breeder is right where you are, at a dog show.
   
2. Be willing to take a few days off work for your new puppy. Puppies of any breed can be demanding for the first few weeks. They need to be fed 3 times a day, taken out regularly, and need lots of attention.
   
3. Remember, they are in a new environment and have been taken away from their siblings. A good item to purchase is an x-pen. Instead of locking the Beagle in a room, which can be claustrophobic to a puppy, an x-pen will keep him confined from your home, but he can see out and watch the family activities. This also works well for times when the puppy needs to be out of the way. Placing a tarp on the bottom of it, with newspapers above can keep your floors clean and is easy clean up. Add a crate, some toys, and a water dish, and you are set!
   
4. As mentioned earlier, we highly recommend at least 16 weeks of obedience training in a training class. This not only strengthens the bond between you and the puppy, it is also good socialization. The puppy gets out and meets other dogs and people. There are dog-training clubs all over the Bay Area that for a reasonable price will help you train your dog into a great pet and good canine citizen.
   

The Beagle and Children

While the Beagle is a good addition to any family, we highly recommend only getting a puppy with children over 7 years. Puppies nip, jump, play, and tug. This behavior can easily scare a younger child and can sometimes make him afraid of the puppy. We care not only about the dog, but the family too, and want you to have the best possible match for all family members.

Rescue

If you feel that a puppy may not be the best choice for you, you have many options besides getting a pup. Rescue is flooded with homeless Beagles, which for some reason or another, no longer have a family to live with. The rescue group will interview you and your family in order to find the perfect match for your lifestyle. You can see a few of the available homeless Beagles at www.norcalbeagles.com