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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A BEAGLE? There are several important facts to consider before you buy. 1. Beagles need a SECURE FENCED YARD. They are scent hounds and their natural instinct is to follow their nose. If given the opportunity to be on the loose, their nose hits the ground and they do what they were bred to do. That spells disaster in today’s society with the danger of traffic and other animals. It is always best to keep your dog in a fenced yard and when you are out and about with your beagle, always keep them on leash. 2. Along with the beagles sense of smell, comes other obstacles as well. They are very food driven, which means you may need to keep garbage cans behind closed doors as well as food needs to be in a location that is not accessible to the dog. Beagles are very inquisitive and will inspect every room in the house on a daily basis. You will also need to keep the dog food in a location that is not accessible to the beagle. They will help themselves if given the opportunity. 3. Again, with the sense of smell, comes another issue. .. stool eating. Not all beagles do this, but it is possibility. 4. Beagles do shed. Although they have a short coat, they do carry an undercoat that sheds approximately twice a year. Regular brushing will keep help this under control. Beagles also have ears that hang down, which create the need to be monitored and cleaned regularly. 5. Beagles can and do bark or “bay”. They are not an excessive barker, but realize they do have the possibility of being vocal. The also can be diggers and some will have the tendancy to dig a hole to lay in to keep cool. 6. Beagles can be more difficult to train than other breeds. With patience and positive reinforcement, beagles can be taught to do a wide range activities and manners. It is always recommended to take your beagle to a good obedience class to help teach it manners as well as to help socialize the dog. A well behaved dog is an asset to the family. 7. Beagles live between 12-14 years. This is a long term commitment. They are generally a healthy breed and it is always recommended that you research the breed extensively and find a reputable breeder to talk with. They may have an older retired beagle looking for a home. This may be more appealing to a new beagle owner, as the dog will most likely be trained. Locate a local beagle rescue as they may have adult beagles that are longing for a “forever home”. Beware of animals from pet stores or puppy mills. 8. Beagles are wonderful family dogs. They enjoy being with their family on a regular basis. They are pack hounds, so they generally get along with other dogs as well as other animals. They are generally good with children and will play and entertain them for hours. But beware… if the child has food in their hands, it may be fair game to the beagle. 9. Beagles come in 2 sizes. Up to 13” at the shoulder an d up to 15” at the shoulder. Both sizes can be produced in the same litter. There is no way to predict how big the dog will get. Pocket beagles are not a recognized variety of the beagles.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU MAY DEAL WITH IF YOU OWN A BEAGLE. BEAGLES ARE FUN LOVING, HAPPY DOGS. AS LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND THE BEAGLE PERSONALITY, THEY CAN MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR FAMILY.
Click here to view the AKC standard of the Beagle
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