Uno the beagle's recent win at the Westminter Dog Show has brought a lot of attention to this wonderful breed. Although the beagle has always been in the top ten list of most popular dogs, there will no doubt be more families seeking a pure bred than ever before.
I'm no expert, but I do have some experience with beagles. I've had my beagle, Fred, for seven years, and countless friends who have had them as well. Fred is red-ticked with brown, not your traditional beagle colors, but still an "acceptable" color by AKC standards. We got him from a breeder who hunts, so though he's a pure bred, he's been bred a little stockier than your "show" dog. We have his papers, but chose never to register him with the AKC. We weren't going to stud him or show him, so there was no point. When we went to the breeder's house, we got to see Fred's parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings. The breeder talked with us for a while, and chose Fred for us. It was a perfect match.
While I think beagles are incredible, fun-loving, sweet dogs, potential buyers should consider the entire personality of the breed.
On the positive side:
1)
Beagles are great family dogs.
They are incredibly docile and love to play. Sadly, it's this easygoing nature that also makes them popular in lab experiments. They are generally happy dogs, and love being pet and being around people. Fred will usually just position himself a few feet from me as I move around the house during the day. And at night, well, we used to be tougher, but now he sleeps at the foot of our bed.
That being said, I've had my dog longer than my kids, and the adjustment hasn't always been easy. Babies and toddlers can unwittingly hurt dogs and should NEVER be left alone with an animal. (No matter how well you think you know your dog, they will try to protect themselves if they're afraid of the 2-year-old poking them with a lacrosse stick.) We reintroduced the crate to Fred, and it's been a great sanctuary for him when the kids get nuts.
2)
Beagles are smart.
They are highly trainable, which is why they make such great hunting dogs. I don't use mine to hunt, but try to give him the oppportunity to utilize his natural instincts. In Fred's case, it's all about this red, bumpy Kong ball. He's obsessive over it, and loves it if it's thrown far in the grass and he doesn't immediately see where it lands. He'll spend a good twenty minutes sniffing every single place it touched, braying as he goes, and then let out a celebratory howl when he finds it.
Like people, all dogs have different levels of intelligence. Most of the beagles I've known, however, have been pretty bright dogs. Fred has a decent vocabulary, and listens to me better than my kids. He has been "bell trained", so if we hang a large jingle bell on a string on the door handle, he'll nudge it with his nose when he needs to go out. He can also let himself out, and in, our screen door on the porch.
3)
Beagles are small, but not too small.
If you like the personality of a lab, but don't have the room, these are the dogs for you. They're small (13" or 15", and about 30 pounds) without being "wussy" or "yappy." When Fred barks, he sounds much bigger than he is. (A bonus for home protection - though their usefulness as a watchdog pretty much ends there...)
It is also because of this smaller size that they live longer - up to 18 years in some cases. They generally have very few health problems. Outside of regular check-ups and shots, and the occasional bath, the only things that require special attention are the ears. (Just need to be cleaned regularly.)
4)
A beagle's energy will mirror the family's.
If you want to play all day, they'll play all day. If you want to sit on the couch and sleep, they'll happily do that too. Of course they do need some exercise or they'll get fat and bored, but really, a walk around the block wouldn't kill most people.
On the downside:
1)
Beagles can howl.
My dog is pretty quiet, but I've heard plenty of stories of other beagles who barked and howled a lot. I remember reading somewhere about a woman who had a beagle who howled whenever she went out (the neighbors complained.) The vet told her that the dog was probably just lonely, so she got another beagle to keep the first company. What did she end up with? Two beagles who howled all day long.
As I said, mine never did this. The only time Fred barks is if the dog next door barks (a doggy neighborhood watch), if someone knocks on our door (which is fine since I have no doorbell), or if he sees or hears something outside. Usually this is just another dog, but sometimes it is something more sinister like an old lady walking or a kid on a tricycle. The only time Fred howls is when he's playing, and I happen to love that sound.
2) Beagles shed.
Unless you get one of those "hair, not fur" dogs (poodles and shitzus), or one of the fancy new breeds (labradoodles), any dog will shed to some degree. Beagles are no exception. The good thing about them is their size. Smaller dog = less fur to shed. A good brushing once a week helps to counter this. I've also learned to choose my carpets and clothing in "Fred colors" so that I'm not constantly fighting a losing battle.
3)
Beagles are notoriously stubborn.
You'll never get a beagle to do something he just doesn't want to do. Fred can make his 34 pounds feel like a 100 if you're trying to move him into the bath tub or off the bed. Same goes for taking a walk. You're not going to take a beagle running with you because he's going to want to sniff the whole time. No amount of pulling or coaxing will change this.
As I mentioned, beagles are smart dogs. For example, Fred has NEVER come inside if I just called him. He hears me, knows what I want, and he just sits and stares at me. So we started offering him a treat if he came in, and it worked. Now whenever he gets hungry he just goes and sits in the yard, until we offer him a treat to come back in. Who is training who?
4)
Beagles will roam.
Beagles are scent hounds. That means, if they get loose, and they catch a whiff of something interesting, they're gone. Oh, you'll be able to hear them because they'll be braying the whole time, but that's assuming you're around. I am able to take Fred off leash in controlled conditions and he's fine. He'll stay next to me, play catch, etc., but I wouldn't ever let him off leash in an unfamiliar environment, or anyplace there are other dogs around.
They're natural explorers. Before we replaced our fence, Fred found some holes and took himself on a few walks and fortunately never went too far. He even "Hudinied" out of one of those harnesses when I had him tethered to a tree. (Again, too smart for his own good.)
Other things to know...
While Fred never did this, I've heard that beagles like to chew a lot. This can be remedied with extra exercise and lots of chew toys.
Beagles never get full. Really. Some dogs will leisurely snack on a bowl of food for an hour, but not these dogs. It's usually gone in 10 seconds and they'll always beg for more. My dog can hear a bag of chips opening from across the yard, even with the doors shut. This is why you see so many fat beagles.
If you want to buy a beagle...
First, call your local shelter. There are lots of beagles out there who roam, and this is where they end up. (I would recommend the micro-chip to avoid this.)
Second, contact a beagle rescue.
www.beaglerescue.org is a good place to start.
Third, find a reputable breeder. We found ours listed in the local paper and drove out to meet him. In this case, you want to check out the puppy's family and the environment to be sure you're getting a healthy dog. Also, any good breeder will offer to take the puppy back if there is some reason it doesn't work out.
I know this is a longer post than usual, but hopefully it will help someone make the right choice. Thanks to Uno the Beagle for bringing beagles back in fashion!
