The Beagle – Is This the Right Dog For You?

beaglesA Beagle is perhaps the cutest dog you have ever seen and who can resist the soft muzzle and winsome eyes? However, before you decide to live with a Beagle, take more factors into consideration. Are they a good fit for your family? With our pros and cons of owning a Beagle, we will help you make the choice!

Advantages of Owning a Beagle

Cuteness. Beagles are cute and adorable.  End of discussion.

Low-maintenance. Owners don’t need to book an appointment with local dog groomers, they don’t need to worry about a canine top knots, untangling the coat etc.

Small size. Small-sized breeds are ideal for an owner who doesn’t or can’t deal with the logistics of caring for a larger dog.

Versatility. A Beagle is surely a multitalented individual. They are incredible in activities such as flyball, competitive obedience, tracking, agility etc.

Sociable nature. A Beagle is happy when surrounded with human beings. They like meeting and greeting almost anyone. For this reason, they are often used as therapy dogs.

Kid-friendliness. If you have kids, Beagles can be great companions for them. Since they are small enough, they will playfully romp with bonny babies without knocking them over. On the other hand, they are sturdy and large enough to interact with our clumsy angels relatively safely.

Disadvantages of Owning a Beagle

Bathroom issues. They are more difficult to house-train comparing to other dog breeds. Owners have to be patient, consistent and committed to totally cleanup bathroom indiscretions if they want to teach this dog proper bathroom protocol.

Barking and howling. Alright, all dogs do that, but Beagles fall in a really vocal category. If you are living in an apartment, your neighbors will probably hate you. Well, at least your cute four-legged family member will draw the ire of them.

Nose-followers. They are devoted to odor and for that reason, prone to getting into troubles. If an owner is not vigilant, a Beagle will attempt to eat almost anything.

Allergen-carriers. If a person is prone to an allergy, this dog’s relatively short, strait hairs on the coat might make problems. This furry outdoor activity lover is very likely to carry allergens such as grass and dirt into house/apartment.

Training challenging. Although intelligent, Beagles might not be as eager to please. If they are not trained, their own agendas will conflict with the owner’s which can make them both unhappy.

beagles - puppy with a ballFinally, keep in mind that no breed is perfect and Beagles are no exception. If this is your dream dog, in spite of these behavioral and physical challenges, keep it! It’s of high importance to know the facts and to be patient, ready and willing to train your new four-legged companion to be the best possible!