Is a Beagle a good family dog? Although dogs get along well with humans, not every dog is suitable as a family dog. Some dogs could be aggressive, and others hard to train. All of these traits could make them not as suitable as family dogs like certain other breeds.
Beagles are superior dogs for hare and rabbit hunting. They possess an extraordinary sense of smell and virtually limitless endurance. Breeders crossed a Beagle with a Buckhound to produce the Foxhound when fox hunting became popular.
According to the National Beagle Club of America, beagles are wonderful family pets. They make an excellent companion for many households because of their low upkeep requirements and loving but independent attitude.
Beagles are commonly seen as household pets. They are easy to maintain and are also a friendly dog breed. It makes many people wonder, ‘is a beagle a good family dog?’. Read on to find out the answer to this question and what traits beagles possess.
Is A Beagle A Good Family Dog?
Beagles’ specific characteristics set them apart from other dogs and make you consider them suitable as family dogs. Here are some of these characteristics in beagles.
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Temperament
Beagles are very loyal and loving dogs. They love to play with children, making them ideal family dogs. They are also a curious dog breed.
Being playful makes beagles require a lot of exercise and attention. A house full of people is the perfect setting for a beagle because of all the attention and love it gets.
Happy-go-lucky beagles and curious, sweet, and the ideal choice for a family dog.
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Noise
Beagles are a noisy dog breed. They have deep, boisterous voices, which make them suitable as watchdogs. They are a great asset to a home, especially to warn house owners of thieves and intruders.
However, having a beagle could be challenging if you have a newborn baby in your home and are working on their sleep schedules.
Beagles also suffer from separation anxiety. So if you are out of home most of the time, your beagle might be affected by this.
It could cause them to bark incessantly and run around the house, destroying things. It could also be distracting to your neighbors.
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Socialization
Socialization is a vital aspect of any dog. You must socialize your beagle early so it will get along with children and other family members.
Socializing beagles from a very young age makes them friendly and affectionate dogs. They also love to please their owners.
Beagles are energetic dogs who love to play games such as fetch and hide balls. This trait makes beagles so good with children and suitable as family dogs.
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Training
Beagles are independent thinkers, so it’s easy to train them. Once they identify a person as their alpha dog and master, they will obey him.
It’s vital to train beagles properly. A well-trained beagle will see children and family members as their pack-mates and will be protective of them. The protective nature of beagles is because they are originally a hunting dog breed.
Beagles love to be involved in different tasks. So, engaging your beagle in short exercises for learning is good, and it will also enjoy doing. You need to be consistent with training beagles for them to grasp new concepts.
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Exercise
Beagles love to go behind scents and are noted as a “nose with four legs.” They will go behind it whenever they smell a scent trying to trace the source.
This trait in beagles could make them prone to running away. So it’s a good idea to put a fence around your backyard to keep your beagle safe if you have it as a family dog.
Beagles are an active dog breed and require adequate exercise daily. You need to give them some time to spend outdoors to let them have some decent amount of exercise. It will help them remain calm.
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Grooming
Beagles are low-maintenance dogs which makes them suitable as family dogs. They have short coats and are moderate shedders. You must brush out your beagle’s coat at least once a week to keep its shedding in check.
You might brush your beagle’s coat about three times a week during spring because they shed their winter coats.
Pros And Cons Of Owning A Beagle
Here are the pros and cons of owning a beagle.
Pros
- They are friendly.
- They are sociable.
- They are small in size.
- They require very low maintenance.
- They can thrive in various living conditions, from rural areas to cities.
Cons
- They are loud and boisterous.
- They are stubborn, which could make training a challenge.
- They enjoy digging.
Is A Beagle The Right Choice For A First-Time Dog Owner?
Here are a few factors you must remember when deciding to have a beagle as a first-time dog owner.
- If you have very young children at home, having a beagle could be challenging, as raising it requires a lot of work.
- Beagles have separation anxiety. So, if you are out of the house most of the time, having a beagle may not be ideal.
- If you don’t mind your beagle digging holes in your backyard or chewing at your shoes, you will do fine with owning a beagle. However, with proper training over time, you can reverse these traits in your dog.
Weighing the above factors and with proper training, a beagle can be a good family dog. Ipetguides.com provides a comprehensive guide on beagles, which is helpful for those who want to have them as family dogs.
Conclusion
Having a beagle is a great addition to a family. A beagle is a good family dog; it is excellent with people and loves to play with children.
However, if you have very young children, having a beagle could be a challenge as you need to take care of both.
It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether to own a beagle or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Beagles Good House Pets?
Beagles are good house pets as they are affectionate, curious, and enjoy being around people.
Can Beagles Be Left Alone?
Beagles have separation anxiety, so it’s not a good idea to leave them alone.
Are Beagles Hard To Train?
Beagles are pretty hard to train because of their curiosity, stubbornness, and sharp sense of smell that can easily distract them while training.
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