If you’re thinking about adorable, soft, happy looking dogs, the beagle probably comes to mind. With their floppy ears, soulful eyes and cute looks, it’s a breed of dog that makes children coo and hearts melt everywhere they go.
But owning a beagle is not all sunshine and roses. They can be difficult dogs to look after, especially if you don’t know what you’re getting. So read on to find out why not to get a beagle, and what the advantages of this particular breed are.
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Beagle Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Beagles are beautiful. We believe, one of the most beautiful breeds of dog out there, beagles are just so adorable. It’s why they’re probably one of the most popular kinds in the whole USA.
- Beagles are surprisingly low maintenance. As dogs go, beagles don’t need much in the way of grooming. A brush every few days and a bath, when they’re smelly, is pretty much all you need to do.
- Beagles are a smaller breed. Big, boisterous dogs have a charm all of their own, but they can be a complete handful for anyone who hasn’t had a dog before or doesn’t know what they’re having. But beagles, with their petite size, are relatively easy to handle. Or at least, you won’t be getting yanked off your feet when it sees a cat!
Beagles are sociable and friendly. Some breeds of dog can be quite standoffish or aggressive, especially if not socialised correctly. But beagles have a friendly, winning attitude with almost everyone they meet. They’re perfect for families, as well as around other dogs.
- Beagles love kids. Small enough to play with even young children without hurting them, but big and robust enough to rough and tumble, beagles are the perfect size for playing with kids and will be a faithful, lifelong companion to your children. Add in their soft, winning temperament, and you’ve got a perfect family dog.
- Beagles are versatile. Tracker dogs, beagles are intelligent and versatile enough to adapt to whatever you want them to do. Whether it’s dog shows, obedience training, or simply getting the morning paper from the doormat (people still get those, right?) Your beagle can easily be trained to do all of it. And more.
Cons:
- Beagles follow their noses over everything else. Beagles are tracker dogs. It’s in the blood and the genes. If they get a hold of a scent, they’re going to follow it, to the exclusion of almost everything else. It also m
eans they’re going to be rooting through the garbage looking for leftovers and scrabbling under your fence into your neighbours garden. - Beagles aren’t suitable for allergy sufferers. First off, the short hairs often shed and aren’t ideal for anyone with allergies especially when you factor in the love of being outside, playing, running through fields and rolling around in the grass.
- Beagles are harder to housetrain. Apparently, beagles don’t take to house training as fast as some other breeds. So get used to cleaning up patches of pee. At least for the first few weeks.
- Beagles are loud. We know all dogs love to bark at noises, but beagles tend to howl as well. Yeah. Howl. Like a little wolfhound. You might think it’s adorable. Your neighbours probably won’t.
- Beagles are intelligent. It is also a positive. But it means you’re going to have your work cut out keeping it entertained. A bored dog is more likely than ever to get into places you don’t want them to, or even worse, start chewing up your house.
- Beagles have to stay on a leash. Because they’re so gregarious, as well as being led by their noses, if your beagle ever sees anything interesting while you take them walking, it’s going to be instinct to run over and investigate. So keep them on a leash, or you might just be hunting through the fields all night looking for them!
With this in mind, is a beagle a good first dog?
Because of their intellect, ease of training and happiness around people, Beagles make wonderful first-time dogs. But there’s a proviso. As owners, you have to understand what you’re getting into and understand the intricacies of the breed.
Expect to go through a lot of training to get your dog to a point where it obeys you regularly, and even then you can’t let them off their leash. Expect them to be permanently inquisitive and playful with anything and anyone you come across. (I see this as a plus. Others might not.) Expect them to want to run off and investigate the entire world, as soon as you leave your front door. And expect them to want to spend all their free time with you.
The Verdict: Why Not to Get A Beagle
If you can put up with this, though, you’ll find yourself with one of the most loving, attentive, and family focused dogs you can get. For the families that are suited to them, Beagles make wonderful first-time dogs.
We hope you’ve got all the answers you need, but if you’ve got any questions, or maybe you own a beagle, and you’ve got advice to share with other beagle owners, or even reasons why not to get a beagle, then make sure to comment below!
