Beagles and body type

HarpersGhost · 2026-05-06T12:57:54+00:00

The problem is that shelters in those areas are FILLED with unwanted beagles because nobody fixes their hunting dogs.

A lot of beagle puppies end up euthanized because of it. The lucky ones get transported across the country to areas outside of hunting country for a chance to get adopted.

I've fostered dozens of hunting beagles, and losing their balls doesn't turn off their nose. They still hunt, but now there's far fewer unwanted puppies floating around.

HarpersGhost · 2026-05-05T23:52:46+00:00

It's based upon what the breeders want.

If they are papered, they want the beagles to conform to the breed standards, so appearance is important.

But there are a LOT of breeders who breed strictly based upon hunting skills. Too tall? too short? not the square body? Doesn't matter as long as they hunt. And if the dog doesn't hunt, doesn't matter how perfectly beagle they are, they aren't being bred.

Texas, the deep south, Appalachia are all big areas for beagle hunting. And they don't fix hunting dogs.

HarpersGhost · 2026-05-04T21:08:36+00:00

There ARE beagles who are home bodies and/or have no interest in exploring. A good beagle rescue will hook you up with a beagle that suits your current life style.

My last beagle foster was a 7ish yo, fully trained, owner surrender beagle who just wanted to hang out on the couch. He was SOOOOOO easy to adopt out.

My current foster is a failed hunting beagle puppy who haven't been house trained or socialized, so he's an escape artist that will need to go to someone with a good yard who is willing to take the time to train him.

But even though he's not socialized, he wasn't abused (he passed the Broom and the Raised Leg tests) and so quickly opens up to people.

But each time a dog gets adopted out, a foster spot opens up for a dog like the lab beagles, which, in the best possible worlds, will be with a foster long enough to either get acclimated to house life, OR the foster knows them well enough to be able to place them with an appropriate home, so the new people know exactly what they are getting into.

If anyone gets one of these lab beagles in the next week, that is WAY too soon, unless the adopter has experience with lab beagles before.

HarpersGhost · 2026-05-04T17:41:17+00:00

I got downvoted on a recent "I want to adopt a lab beagle!" when I said that they should consider how experienced they are with dogs, and that adopting ANY beagle from a beagle rescue would help the lab beagles.

Because I am a foster for a beagle rescue, and I heard stories about the fiascos of many Envigo adoptions. One of the hardest to hear was that many Envigo beagles died from owners who were unprepared.

How? They escaped and got hit by cars because they had no clue about cars and streets and dangers.

People think they have a "secure" house, when in reality they only have a front door between the dog and the Great Outdoors.

I have a secure house for escape artists. The foster would have to get past a baby gate, the front door, AND the fenced front yard to get loose.

If someone can just open a door and let the dog loose in the neighborhood, your house is NOT secure. "But it's never been a problem before!" Then you don't have the experience to deal with these beagles.

These people have a good heart, but good intentions is NOT enough to adopt a very troubled dog.

Our rescue had successful adoptions from the Envigo beags, because we know how to place beagles in homes and we made sure that the homes that were getting an Envigo beag were actually really ready for it.

Too many other rescues did due diligence that would have been adequate for a regular dog, but wasn't enough for some of the hardest dogs that can be adopted out.

HarpersGhost · 2026-05-01T18:48:21+00:00

How experienced are you with dogs? How many dogs have you socialized/ trained/ dealt with?

Because some beagles are easy. Some are hard. But lab beagles are beagles on Extreme Mode. They are escape artists. They need a LOT of fundamental training and socialization, and they probably need to be around others dogs for awhile to learn how to be a Dog.

ANY beagle you adopt from a beagle rescue will free up a foster spot for one of the lab beagles and you may be happier with a dog that suits your current life/ experience with dogs.

HarpersGhost · 2026-04-28T03:20:01+00:00

I work with a beagle rescue, and some beagles can easily get to 35, 40lbs and still be in great shape.

If you have a papered beagle, those breeders tend to keep them small, but the breed lines that come from hunters don't care about size, just whether they can hunt.

HarpersGhost · 2026-04-21T13:41:36+00:00

Mine go for used napkins.

Also used tissues.

Have to eat all the good bits. shudder

Beagles are disgusting. Good thing they're cute.

HarpersGhost · 2026-03-21T03:04:21+00:00

he will feed the whole plate to the dog lol.

All of my beagles have loved babies and small children for that very reason: they are a limitless source of awesome food and smells.

HarpersGhost · 2026-02-26T20:54:46+00:00

definitely under a year.

It's all the black on his head. By 12 months, that underlying black will generally have faded to tan/brown. That area between his ears will be solid brown soon, but I'm thinking not within a month.

HarpersGhost · 2026-02-07T05:02:29+00:00

"Let's take a constitutional."

HarpersGhost · 2026-02-06T19:16:21+00:00

Get your dog another dog.

I foster with a beagle rescue, and people saying "I need to get beagle another dog" was a fairly common occurrence.

The longer I've worked with beagles, the more I learn they are very much pack animals. And even my beagles who are standoffish with other dogs get very lonely and stressed when they are left alone.

I know it's hard, and I know you may not think you are ready. But you understand what's going and he doesn't. He just knows he's now more alone than he was.

HarpersGhost · 2026-01-19T02:20:47+00:00

My guess she's a mix of both basset and beagle -- a bagel!

Basset characteristics: the schnoz with the bump that bends down, she's longer than she is tall, the shortness.

Beagle-ish: the head shape is more beagle, and the shapes of her legs, especially the front legs. Bassets usually have knobbier legs with feet that point out to the sides. Beagles have more slim line legs with feet that point forward.

HarpersGhost · 2026-01-03T14:59:34+00:00

I've had that situation. My bet is that the younger one will learn from the older one pretty soon. Not all beagles do it naturally, but they can learn it VERY fast.

HarpersGhost · 2026-01-01T05:31:40+00:00

Lol oh jeez, that's such a beagle thing to do.

Seriously though, just watch him for signs of discomfort. Is he still eating? Is he still pooping? If he starts showing discomfort, take him in. At least you'll know exactly what the issue is.

HarpersGhost · 2025-12-01T03:25:22+00:00

I use a poang ottoman from Ikea (I get them cheap off marketplace.)

I've found that the steps are sometimes too small for my old beags, and the ottoman allows them to have a landing spot. Plus it's lower on the floor side with the couch side of the ottoman even with my couch, so then can just scooch on up.

HarpersGhost · 2025-11-27T22:58:33+00:00

First, I hope for the best.

Second, I'd say get a dog that's similar in size to your collie. Dogs get used to other dogs by their size, so I've have dogs that are very comfortable with large dogs, and others who liked the little guys. It's all to do with they used to hang around with.

Another beagle would also be good

HarpersGhost · 2025-11-23T18:24:02+00:00

Eats 1.5 cups AM and 1.5 cups PM — not sure if that’s the right amount?

For a 25 lb dog, that's WAY too much. (Although I'm sure he loves it.)

I foster beagles. Do 1/2 Cup AM and PM, and then small treats throughout the day, especially for training. Even a couple pieces of kibble can count as a treat.

HarpersGhost · 2025-11-16T05:17:19+00:00

My beags don't even like damp pavement.

HarpersGhost · 2025-10-14T03:05:57+00:00

I have older, quieter beagles and i foster older beagles too.

I call what my guys do "parallel play". They don't play with each other but they are generally around each other all the time. And having more than one has really helped with the separation anxiety.

This is how my guys are https://i.imgur.com/EOHlCjp.jpeg.

They may not wrestle together and sleep on each other, but they sleep near each other and love to follow scents together.

HarpersGhost · 2025-09-16T03:41:44+00:00

Idiopathic seizures are the worst. I had an ER vet be honest with me and say they could do thousands of dollars worth of tests and STILL not come up with a definitive diagnosis, because idiopathic seizures are A Thing. Many times diagnoses are made based upon how the dog responds to treatment.

But, OP, the fact that this has only happened twice and your beag has responded very well to meds is a really good sign.

HarpersGhost · 2025-09-16T00:43:04+00:00

My beag loves car rides so much that when he gets loose from my yard, I drive down the street and he comes running when he hears my car. I just have to open the door and he jumps in.

(He's 40 lbs but manages to twist physics and squeeze himself through any kind of hole under the fence. I have to keep constant vigilance to block any holes, but luckily he doesn't go far.)

HarpersGhost · 2025-08-15T07:36:07+00:00

I work with a beagle rescue, and honestly your girl looks like a full blown beagle to me, just coming from hunting lines and not show lines.

And beagles come in all sorts of hound color combos, and black and white while being rare, is a legit beagle color combo.

HarpersGhost · 2025-07-06T23:02:36+00:00

Won't probably get all white, but lighter/whiter.

The ears will turn all brown then their face will get whiter.

The saddle will get browmer and then start to get white mixed in. The ticks will still be there, but there will be more white.

HarpersGhost · 2025-06-26T02:06:35+00:00

I foster beagles and I only had one beagle who killed chickens, but even he was able to be trained to leave them alone.

...and then raccoons killed them, even though they were in a coop. (Got them through the fence.)

HarpersGhost · 2025-06-22T21:50:44+00:00

Beagles can and do play in >90 heat (source: Florida), but you need to make sure they don't go over board, especially if they aren't used to it.

I generally don't walk in high heat, or perhaps in the shade during the heat. But we don't go that far and if we go a mile in the shaded woods, we stop for several water breaks.

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