Beagles: The Right Breed for You?

As you consider adding a Beagle to the family, you should become familiar with the breed behaviors and care. I recommend The New Beagle By Judy Musladin and Ada Leuke. Attending dog shows is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the breed; there you can talk with breeders and spend one-on-one time with the dogs.

Once you have completed your introduction to the Beagle and investigated your breeder options, ask to be put onto a waiting list either for a pet or a show Beagle. Breeders who have show-quality puppies will prioritize show homes for those puppies. Improving the breed is the long-term goal of any breeder, and testing and proving breed quality in the show ring is an important part of this process.

Beagles are a very popular breed so you may have to wait for your puppy--from a month to a year, or even more. Plan ahead! And of course plan ahead for the experience of having a puppy in the house--small bladders and immature minds make for training adventures! Beagles also enjoy their mischief so you must supervise to guide your youngster into a good adult dog.

Beagles are a scent hound, so their nose is always to the ground; they are full of curiosity about what they smell. This is why they must have a fenced yard or play area. Unfortunately for them, Beagles are easy keepers--so even though they love to eat, keep an eye on that diet! No table food or extra treats, and your pet will stay healthy longer, avoiding obesity-caused heart and back problems. Beagles can also be prone to ear infections because of those wonderful floppy ears. However, overall Beagles are a wash-n-wear dog and makes a wonderful child's pet--they are tough little dogs with merry temperaments.

Although Beagles were developed for hunting, my dogs are for show and pet homes.