Beagle Care

Ah, the Beagle. Soft expression, happy demeanor, and playful companion--yet stubborn and single-minded when on the trail of a scent. This breed is one of the most popular in the world, both as an accomplished hunting dog and as a loving family pet. Overall, caring for Beagles takes a moderate amount of work, and will need to include daily exercise, consistent training, and plenty of TLC. But that Beagle care and maintenance won't be in vain, because these dogs are exceptional canines!

Below you'll find plenty of Beagle tips, advice, and other details on how to take care of a Beagle: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. If you know of a Beagle that needs a home, adopt the dog--and in the meantime, read more about raising a Beagle below!

"Do Beagles need a lot of exercise?" is a common question. As an energetic hunting breed, Beagle exercise needs are pretty extensive. These dogs will need a variety of activities that condition them physically (walking/jogging, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). And hunting--a Beagle's fundamental activity--covers both these areas!

But exactly how much exercise does a Beagle need each day? Adult Beagle exercise requirements are 60 minutes of proper activity per day at the very least. You can start exercising your Beagle puppy when it's 2½-3 months old by taking it on short walks, then increasing the walks' length as the pup grows.

A few precautions to observe: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't do too much jumping, running, or stairs, as these can injure their still-developing joints and bones. A leash is also recommended when you and your Beagle are in public. These dogs have high prey drives and incredible senses of smell--so when a Beagle sees or smells an interesting critter, the dog will be off like a shot! A leash will help you control the dog in these situations. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off after potential prey.

Safeguards aside, owners need to exercise their Beagles every single day. A bored or restless Beagle will be destructive and disobedient--so consistent activity will be great for both dog and owner. A few exercise ideas:

• Hunting: Puts a Beagle in its natural element
• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs normally love chasing things
• Hide-and-Seek: Good indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Beagles can excel at obedience, agility, and field trials
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Beagles enjoy the company of other dogs
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, give your Beagle access to balls or toys that'll allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need a ton of care. Beagle shedding is moderate, and seasonal; drooling isn't an issue.

Beagles have short-haired, smooth, double-layered coats that get heavier in the winter. And just how much does a Beagle shed? For most of the year, Beagle dog shedding is moderate--but when they blow their winter coats in the spring, the Beagle molting is pretty profuse for 2-3 weeks. Owners can brush their Beagles once or twice per week (and daily during shedding season) with a bristle brush to keep the shedding low.

And does Beagle shed irritate allergies? Is this breed hypoallergenic, in other words? Unfortunately, it's not, so Beagles aren't recommended for allergy sufferers.

A Beagle almost never drools, though. If your Beagle is drooling excessively, it might be because of a health issue, in which case veterinary care is needed.

The Beagle is known for its powerful nose--and this breed uses its keen sense of smell to sniff out all manner of Beagle food! To a Beagle, dog food is practically anything edible (and unfortunately, some things that aren't). Though active, these dogs have high tendencies for obesity--because food for Beagle dogs is an essential part of their lives.

So for owners, the Beagle diet plan is extremely important. Like other breeds, food for Beagle puppies and adults will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the most sensible food is the premium dry kind, as it has balanced portions of those nutrients. If fed a diet consisting of brands like Blue Buffalo or Royal Canin, Beagle dogs will be much healthier. Owners can also add fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, and brown rice to the dry food--and since the answer to the question "What do Beagles eat" is "practically anything," these dogs will love those additions.

But exactly how much should a Beagle eat each day? Honestly, not nearly as much as they'd like! The standard adult Beagle food amount is 1½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Beagle puppy food portions are a bit less: depending on the pup's age, about one cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old.

For further info on feeding these dogs from puppyhood through maturity, here's a handy Beagle food chart:

(*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.)

It's imperative that owners try and stick to the above-listed portions. Again, Beagle eating is their favorite hobby, and they'll quickly become obese if allowed to overeat. The fat Beagle dog will have numerous health issues--arthritis, poor circulation. digestive problems--as well as a shortened lifespan. You can help control your dog's weight by establishing consistent Beagle feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time. It's better to put the dog's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes later.

If you're worried your Beagle is overweight, give the dog this test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, switch to a premium diet formula, and add an extra walk, jog, or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Volumes have been written and debated over what's the best dog food for a Beagle--but a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best Beagle food is the premium dry kind. This type, while more expensive and harder to obtain, will provide nutrients these dogs need to maintain their health. And since this breed is prone to obesity, some owners feed their Beagles a premium diet formula.

Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food. Those same brands have good weight control formulas as well.

Owners often classify a Beagle "a house dog with an outdoor soul." These dogs will need plenty of outdoor activity (like hunting in the woods!), but make your Beagle an indoor dog where he can live with his people. And for the Beagle, apartment dog living is okay--long as he gets plenty of outdoor activity.

As to climate, these dogs do better in warmer weather. For the Beagle, winter isn't his favorite season since he gets cold pretty easily; he'd much prefer hotter temperatures.