Is The Beagle a Good Family Dog (Personalities & More)
Are you looking for the perfect family dog? Look no further than the Beagle!
Known for their friendly and outgoing personalities, Beagles make wonderful family pets.
They are playful and energetic, but also gentle and affectionate with children.
Plus, their compact size makes them great for small homes or apartments.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why the Beagle is such a great choice for families and what makes them such lovable and loyal companions.
So, if you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, read on to discover why the Beagle may be the perfect fit for you!
Read more about How Big Do Beagles Grow: Full-grown Weight, Length & Height.
Is The Beagle a Good Family Dog?
Irrespective of what people say about beagles being stubborn and difficult to train, Beagles are still among the most affectionate breed of dog that shows unconditional love towards their owners and families.
Beagles also do well with kids and other pets, these make beagles good family dogs, even though they can be vocal about their needs.
Beagles are considered intelligent, so they require a lot of exercise. They also enjoy eating, so it’s a good idea to feed them the most nutritional foods.
The breed is good for all weather and is friendly with other dogs. They are eager to please and want to do well in a home.
They are easy to train, but also great at figuring things out on their own.
It’s important to use toys and treats to teach your beagle. They require attention, so training should be the most important activity in your dog’s life.
Read more: How to take good care of a Beagle: Best 14 Ways.
Beagle Temperament
Beagles are considered a stable and dependable breed. Unfortunately obedience teachers and behavioral counselors like myself see too many terrified or neurotic beagles.
When considering a Beagle puppy, take careful consideration of the temperament of both parents.
If you are considering an adult Beagle, be sure to test its temperament (some major tests) before you take it home.
Here are some unique temperaments of a beagle that is worth knowing;
- Friendly
- Even Tempered
- Curious
- Intelligent
- Independent
- Merry
- Excitable
- Vocal
- Determined
- Stubborn
- Amiable
- Loyal companion
Things you should know about beagles
Here are the things you should know about beagles before getting one as a family dog;
Beagle Stubbornness
Beagles are not easy to learn. To be honest, they are independent thinkers who are not very interested in pleasing you.
Food is a great beagle dog motivator, but too much cake makes beagle dogs fat.
You also don’t want the dog to obey when you wave the biscuit. Instead, you need to create the right relationship between the two of you, with you as the leader and with him as his followers.
Read more about: Can Beagles Be Left Alone: Things You Should Know.
Food
The diet of a beagle must be balanced. To ensure your beagle is getting all the nutrition it needs, it’s best to feed him a diet of meat, eggs, vegetables, grains, and meat.
They need high-quality, digestible food, so it is best to buy quality foods. Good brands are Purina Pro Plan and Nutro Natural Beef.
Beagles get a lot of hair, so it’s best to keep their hair trimmed.
For a more traditional diet, or if you’re just trying to reduce the amount of hair in the house, it’s best to trim your beagle’s coat.
Along with the diet, it is also best to provide your beagle with fresh water twice a day.
Keep him hydrated so that he can stay healthy and comfortable.
Training
Beagles are naturally trainable. Their bright eyes and friendly personalities make it easy to train them.
While beagles are loyal and devoted to their owners, beagles do have an independent side.
Beagle owners know this well, but a beagle does not like to be tied up or confined.
Beagle owners also know to create opportunities for training. It’s best to start training your dog early so that it will become a habit.
Training your beagle can include basic obedience, such as sit, stay, and come, as well as more advanced training like sit and stay only if someone else is holding a leash, or only when his food bowl is within reach.
Beagles are also great for entertainment. They enjoy going on walks, playing fetch, wrestling, and chasing their toys.
Prices for beagle puppies have been going up, but for those interested in a family dog, the beagle is a great choice.
Training will give your dog confidence and improve his mobility. Beagles love to follow scents, they can be prone to running away.
For this reason, having a fenced-in backyard might be important for you to keep your dog safe.
Read more about The Best Way To potty-train a beagle puppy.
Grooming Of Beagles
Beagles have short coats and are medium throwers. Your dog’s coat needs to be cleaned at least once a week to control dandruff.
In the spring, when the beagle takes off its winter coat, it may need to brush up to three times a week.
Beagles do not require regular visits to a vet and are relatively low maintenance to raise a dog.
However, you should expect to have dog hair in your house and on your clothes.
Read more about How to Keep beagle From Shedding: 13 Easy Ways.
Vocality of Beagles
You should never leave a beagle unattended outside in your yard.
Their cries and howls of grief will cause your neighbor to call the police to report a problem or secretly let your dog out of his yard to leave and stop harassing them.
Beagles have deep, boisterous voices and work well as watchdogs.
They will check your family and home and alert you if any suspicious sounds or people approach your home.
However, if you think these sounds are not working well for your family, such as if you have a newborn and are working on a sleep schedule, hunting dogs can be a challenge.
When you leave your home, hunting dogs may experience separation anxiety from dogs because they are transport animals.
This can result in them barking all the time, walking around the house, and tearing up things.
If you live in an apartment or live next door, hunting dogs may not be your best bet.
Exercises
Beagles need regular opportunities to stretch their legs and run to stay healthy and fit.
Inadequately exercised Beagles become bored, destructive, noisy, and/or fat, which puts pressure on their joints and causes health problems.
We recommend 12 -15 minutes of exercise per day for your beagle because this will not only keep your beagle fit but will aid the proper flow of blood throughout the body of your pups.
Health Problems
Many beagles live long lives but are prone to a number of dreaded health problems including itchy skin conditions, ear infections, various eye diseases, joint problems, hypothyroidism, diabetes, epilepsy, and heart disease.
Read more: Are Seizures Common in Beagles: Causes, Signs & Treatments.
Provide Fencing for Beagles
Many beagles are clever escape artists who go over or under fences in search of adventure.
You may need a fence that is taller than you can imagine because of its small size they can climb chains.
You may also need to dip the wire in the ground along the fence line to prevent digging.
The gates should be of the highest quality lock, as some Beagles can open fragile bolts.
Read more: How to train a Beagle not to Run Away From Home: 11 Basic Tips.
Socialization of Beagles
As with any dog, communication with dogs and other people is key. Beagles need socialization from an early age in order to work fully with both the child and the family.
The Beagle is a very friendly dog with a desire to be fun and loving. They are also very energetic, and having children around them can be of benefit to both parties. The Beagle also likes games like carrying and hiding the ball.
Are beagles good with other dogs?
Yes, beagles are one of the best dogs to have when you have other dogs, this is because beagles were selectively bred to hunt in pack, and they greatly appreciate having other dogs around them.
Bringing in other dogs helps beagle fight loneliness and separation anxiety, because beagles play a lot when they are around other dogs.
Are beagles good with kids?
Beagles are very affectionate towards their owners and love playing with children a lot. If you have active kids, then a purebred beagle is the best dog you can get for your kids.
Even if you have kids that are very young below five years beagles still get along with them.
Are beagles good with cats?
Beagles are among the top dogs that do well with cats, this is because beagles are always happy to have a companion to play with.
Getting a second pet like a cat helps the beagle to fight separation anxiety because the beagle will always have a companion to play with.
Read more about: Are Beagles Good With Cats? All You Should Know.
Pros and Cons of having Beagle as a family dog
Here are the 11 pros and 12 cons of having a beagle as a family dog. This is not to say that beagles are not good family dogs, but is just like the saying everything that has advantage will somehow also have disadvantages.
11 Top Reasons Why Beagles are Good Family Dogs
Here are the top reasons why Beagles are considered as a good family dog;
- Beagles have low-maintenance coats
- Beagles love kids and are sociable
- Beagles are always happy
- Beagles like to cuddle
- Beagles are extremely intelligent
- Beagles do well with other dogs
- Beagles love adventures with their owners
- Beagles do well with cats
- Beagles are loyal companions to their owners.
- Beagles are peaceful with other pets.
- Beagles are easy to groom and friendly with people.
12 Cons of having a Beagle as a family dog
Here are some reasons you should not get a beagle if you are not ready to deal with the following;
- Beagles are vocal to a fault
- Beagles eat a lot
- Beagles eat too fast as if they have not eaten in ages
- Beagles can be very stubborn
- Beagles will always want to run away following an unnecessary scent
- Beagles love to dig a lot
- Beagle is prone to separation anxiety
- Beagles shed a lot in off-season and can cause allergic reactions
- Beagle can stink when left wet for long
- Beagles can be very destructive when left alone and untrained
- Beagles are born sniffers that can be worrying to most people
- Beagle noise can distract neighbors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Beagle is a wonderful family dog for the right type of family.
They are loyal, lovable, and energetic, and they make great playmates for children.
However, it is important to keep in mind that they require a lot of exercise and attention, so you need to be prepared to give them the time and attention they need.
Overall, if you are looking for a fun and affectionate family dog that will keep you on your toes, the Beagle might just be the perfect choice for you.
