So you think you want to have a beagle? There are few puppies as cute as a little black and white beagle! Beagles appear in the movies as the perfect family pet. Beagles make great family pets, but as with any purebred dog, before you buy a beagle, be sure to learn a few things about the breed.
Beagles are generally a friendly breed of dog. They do well with children. Beagles are inherently curious. When you see a beagle, you will most likely see it with its nose pressed to the ground, tracking something. Because they were originally bred as hunting dogs, beagles constantly track things. This can create a problem for the beagle owner because beagles tend to dig outside yards and run after something they are tracking. Veterinarians generally recommend that beagles be implanted with identification chips due to their tendency to break out.
Beagles were bred to hunt in packs and are easily lonely. A lone beagle can become destructive, chewing on furniture, digging up gardens, and destroying belongings. A lone beagle will often howl as well. If you have fussy neighbors, a beagle might not be the best option, because sometimes they will bark and howl and the beagles will emit a very distinctive howl. Beagles need a lot of exercise to avoid getting bored.
Beagle owners must be careful about the amount of food they feed their dogs. Beagles will eat whatever food is offered to them, no matter the amount. It is not uncommon for beagles to become quite obese. Beagle owners should monitor their food intake. Beagles cannot have unlimited amounts of food at their disposal because they will overeat.
Beagles are easy to groom because they have short hair. Their fur is traditionally tricolor: brown, white and black. The tip of the beagle’s tail is almost always white. They were bred this way so that hunters can easily spot them in tall grass when hunting small animals, such as rabbits. Beagles shed a lot of hair, and a weekly brushing is a good grooming idea. As with all breeds that have hanging ears, Beagles need their ears cleaned. Commercial ear cleaners are available for this purpose. If the owner does not keep the dog’s ears clean, he can get an ear infection or ear mites. For indoor dogs, bathing once a month is usually sufficient.
The average life expectancy of beagles is twelve to fifteen years. Before buying any pet, make sure you are ready to make a lifetime commitment. As a breed, Beagles can be stubborn and difficult to train. The best training method is to use food rewards. A beagle will do almost anything for food! Beagles are one of the most loving and fun dog breeds. Their energetic personality and persistent curiosity is a constant source of delight for their owners. Beagles love to be around people and do very well with children. Most beagle owners fall in love quickly and find beagle owners for life!