Step 1: Try to find as many books as you can on Beagles; read about the different qualities/problems you may encounter as a Beagle owner.
Additionally, watch training video’s or join clubs to learn more about the breed. An educated owner is a much better owner than an impulse buyer of the cute little puppy in the window. Hounds are unique dogs and take a very dedicated owner to love and care for them correctly.
Background: Beagle’s are a very happy hound and were bred originally to hunt rabbits. They are a scent hound and usually run in packs while hunting. These dogs make wonderful family pets and jogging partners...in fact, New Mexico Beagles feels that the 13" breed are truly for pets than for hunting.
Training: Beagles are an intelligent independent breed...training is a must from a young age. They do have a generally agreeable disposition. Beagles that are raised around children and other animals are almost always well-adjusted as adults. Beagle’s are not an aggressive breed by nature and tend to be very submissive. They do make good watch dog’s as they will alert you when something is out of place. They have a tendency to bark at intruders and things that are out of place. As is true with any other dog breed, they should be taken to obedience class as early as possible and socialized from a very young age . Additionally, as with any breed of dog, the more you put into the puppy the better overall adult dog you will have.
Crate training is a wonderful training method for potty training. Never leave a young or untrained dog free in a house or any where that they could get into trouble. If you think they will not find trouble, think again, for they surely will. The Beagle should always be in a contained yard/dog run or on a leash when outside. They are a hound and can easily decide to follow a scent. They should be watched in the house or in a kennel inside until they are trained and deemed trustworthy.
Characteristics: Beagles usually have dark brown or hazel colored eyes they are very big, set well apart and with a sweet expression. They have long ears and come in two sizes as recognized by AKC. The 13” and under and the 15” and under. (New Mexico Beagles breed the 13" and under variety) Beagles come in a variety of colors including: Tri-colored (Black/Brown and White), Red/White and Lemon/White. The Tri-colored dogs can have more black than white or more white than black and small amounts of brown.
Beagles usually shed twice a year in the spring and fall but should be brushed with a rubber curry at least once a week. Their ears can easily be kept clean with aloe baby wipes. Start from a young age and they will learn to look forward to it.
What to look for in a pup: When you look for a Beagle, you should look for a dog as close to the breed standards as possible. Stay away from a breeder selling a cheap (Puppy Mill) puppy as it will often cost more in the long run with medical problems and heartache. Keep in mind too, there isn’t a reputable breeder that would sell one of their pup’s to a pet store.
A couple of the typical health problems associated with the Beagle are eye problem’s and epilepsy. Although there is no guarantee for a Beagle to be free of these diseases, at a young age, it is always important to look for a breeder that consciously breeds a healthier stock.
New Mexico Beagles stands by the AKC Standard’s, with thorough attention, and matches these standards as closely as possible. Which, in turn, minimizes any health problems that would otherwise arise. We will not knowingly breed any dog with a genetic defect. We strive to find lifetime homes for our puppies from the start but we will always take a puppy back if the original owner can no longer provide for it. No questions asked, we will replace any dog with a genetic defect.
Beagle Power!
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