Before You Adopt
Are you considering adding a beagle to your family?
The beagle’s small size, adorable looks, and friendly and loving personality make it a very popular family pet. But the decision to purchase or adopt a beagle (or any pet for that matter) should be made only with careful consideration and planning. There are many things to consider before making the decision to adopt a new pet. Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you ready to care for a beagle for the rest of his or her life? Beagles live on average 12-15 years. Be sure you’re ready to make a lifelong commitment to your pet.
Are you financially prepared to support a beagle? The cost of purchasing or adopting a dog is only the start. Don’t forget dog food, toys, treats, bedding, routine and emergency veterinary care, and kennel expenses if no one will be able to care for your dog when you go away.
Will you be able to exercise your beagle once or twice a day? Beagles are high-energy dogs and need daily exercise to burn off that excess energy. And, being scent hounds, they need to “get out and sniff.”
Are you prepared to train your beagle so she or he will be a well-behaved family member? Beagles are very clever, but they are inherently stubborn and can be mischievous or even destructive when it comes to acquiring food (beagles are notorious “chowhounds”). But they respond well to diligent and consistent training, particularly if a positive approach with food rewards is used. This is true for puppies as well as adult dogs.
If you’re a parent, do you want a beagle just as much as your children do, and are you prepared to provide the majority of its care? Don’t make the mistake of getting a dog “for the kids” and assuming they will take care of it. You will have the ultimate responsibility. And if your children are toddlers, are you prepared to supervise all interaction between them? This is an absolute necessity in order to prevent accidental nipping or worse.
Still with me? Great! Let’s talk about puppies versus adult beagles.
While beagle puppies are adorably cute, they don’t remain that tiny ball of fur for long, and they require much effort and training during the first year. Puppies need to be housebroken, and until they are a few months old they need to go out several times during the day and once or twice at night. Make sure your work and family schedule can accommodate his or her needs. Puppies are little whirlwinds of energy when they’re awake and they need to be watched constantly so they don’t get in trouble. It’s like following a 2 year old around. If puppy care isn’t for you, then consider adopting an older dog. Click here to read about the advantages of giving a forever home to an older beagle.
Now lets discuss a few of the negatives. First, when beagles are outside, they must always be either on a leash or in a securely fenced area. If they are loose, they will run away. While they are busy tracking whatever scent gets their interest, they will not pay any attention to cars. Next, most beagles will bark and howl on occasion, and this can be a great source of annoyance for neighbors. And lastly, beagles shed a lot. This is how all short-haired dogs maintain their coat length. If you have allergies or consider yourself a “neat freak,” beware! If you’ve read this far, you might be saying to yourself, “Gee, is there anything good about beagles?” Of course there is! Beagles are cute, funny, loving, and a constant source of delight. But make the right decision! Make sure that a beagle is the right dog for you.
