I remember talking about getting a dog for years. It's funny how many parents have dogs when they're kids but then never have one as an adult. I know that the kids will beg for a dog and you'll half-heartedly go and look up different breeds of dogs in the middle of the night and then, out of the blue, you'll find the most ridiculous little dog with floppy ears and big eyes full of soul and you'll just have to buy it for them. It's a Beagle. I wouldn't change a thing about this dog. But I wish someone had sat me down first.
Because nobody tells you the full story. The internet shows you the photogenic bits of our Beagle: the Beagle curled up on a blanket taking a nap, the Beagle bounding through the autumn leaves, the Beagle looking like an actual Snoopy come to life. It does not show you the 6am howling, the sausage roll that was stolen from the pantry, or the way our Beagle somehow managed to escape through the gap in the fence - something that none of us can ever seem to explain.
So here it is - the honest, loving, slightly sleep-deprived guide I wish I'd had.
1. They Are Ruled Entirely by Their Noses
This one sounds cute. It is cute. However, it is the source of approximately 80% of the chaos in our house. Being scent hounds, beagles have been bred for centuries to follow a trail of scent. This trait does not cease to exist when they are living in a semi-detached in the suburbs. As soon as they smell something interesting, all else becomes irrelevant.
Walking on a lead requires a certain level of patience. Off the lead requires a very secure area as they will not return from finding an interesting scent. This is not due to any wrongdoing on their part but instead to their wiring.
💡 What Helped Us
Scent games at home are a brilliant outlet. Hide treats around the garden or inside a snuffle mat and let them do what they were born to do - in a contained way. A tired Beagle nose means a calmer Beagle in general.
2. The Howl. Oh, The Howl.
Beagles don't just bark. They bay. Howl like the wind has passed through a foghorn or a lonely mourner. Such sounds are made when they are excited, bored, lonely, see a squirrel or an ambulance driving past the neighbourhood. Fortunately, our neighbours have been very gracious. Very, very gracious.
If you live in a flat, terraced houses with thin walls or places where silence is appreciated, be aware that baying is a problem that cannot be completely trained out of a Beagle. While it is possible to work on it, silent Beagles are a rarity. Thus, Beagles should be loved for their unique vocal abilities.
"That Beagle bay is one of a kind - though not so adorable at 5 in the morning when the neighbours are sleeping." - an extremely relatable Beagle owner
3. Training Them Requires Patience (and a Lot of Snacks)
Beagles are intelligent. They are also, how shall I put this, extremely aware that intelligence doesn't require compliance. They are free thinkers. They consider your commands, weigh them against what they actually want to do, and make an independent decision. This can be infuriating and, eventually, hilarious.
The good news is that Beagles are enormously food-motivated. Treats are your superpower. Positive reinforcement training works brilliantly with this breed - you just need consistency, patience, and the willingness to carry a pocket full of snacks at all times. Start early, keep sessions short and rewarding, and don't expect the same eager-to-please response you might get from a Labrador.
🌱 A Note for Vegan Families
If you're vegan like us, you'll want to research plant-based dog food options - there are some excellent ones available now that are nutritionally complete. For training treats, look for small, smelly options (Beagles respond to scent, after all!) and always check with your vet before making any dietary changes for your dog.
4. They Cannot Be Left Alone for Long
Beagles are pack animals through and through. If you breed them, they'll work alongside other dogs and people. A Beagle left alone for hours can become anxious, destructive, and very, very vocal about it. You'll find yourself dealing with a dog who's chewed on your furniture, made your neighbours howl with their barking, and looked at you with tragic eyes when you finally picked up your keys.
While Beagles can be okay for working families, you'll need to find ways to ensure that the dog is always with people or otherwise occupied while you're out of the house. Finding a dog walker or getting a second pet to share your home with might be necessary for a Beagle. This dog breed needs to always have company; they'll thrive with it, but not without it.
5. The Shedding is Real
Despite their short and sleek coats, Beagles actually do shed. They shed all year round, but especially in the spring when they "blow" their winter coat. Expect to find Beagle hairs in your tea, on your best jumper and inside the sealed biscuit tin. Invest in a good lint roller. Buy several. Keep one in every room.
Brushing helps to keep their coats healthy and they only need to be bathed every few weeks. However, go in with realistic expectations about your soft furnishings.
6. They Are Escape Artists of the Highest Order
A beagle who finds an interesting scent on the other side of the fence will find a way to that fence. Check the garden for gaps before you get a beagle - and then check again, because they will find the one you missed. Make sure the gates are securely secured and only permitted to run off the lead in enclosed spaces until recall is perfect (which, given point 1, might take a while).
This is not a flaw in the breed but the result of their hunting instinct that has allowed them to survive and be effective hunters for centuries. It just means that garden security is of the utmost priority when acquiring a beagle.
7. They Are Absolutely, Completely Worth It
Having spent six sections telling you the hard bits about owning a Beagle, here's the other side of the coin: Beagles are some of the most loving, joyful, and affectionate dogs out there. They are eternally excited for life. They are some of the most brilliant with children. And they will greet you like you have been gone for months when you have only been away for ten minutes!
Our Beagle has become a part of our family in a way we never envisioned. He shares in the lives of all of us and seems to find joy in every moment. The kids all adore him. He adores them right back. And despite the howling, shedding, and eating of the entire block of tofu on the kitchen counter, we cannot imagine our lives without him.
If you are ready to have a dog that is always at your side, the comedian in the house when you are having a bad day, or simply someone you can count on as a loyal companion, a Beagle may just be the dog your family needs.
Before You Take the Plunge...
If reading all of this has made you more excited rather than less, then you're in a great starting place. You're taking the best step for yourself and your future dog: going in with open eyes.
Take a moment to research, think about it, and then find a reputable source for Beagles. For those in Australia, there's a lovely listing of Beagles and Beagle puppies on PetsforHomes worth browsing.
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