Choosing Beagle Puppies

Beagle puppies are everywhere! They are cute, cuddly, adorable and extremely energetic. In fact, their presence overwhelms you, and you are spoilt for choice. Bubbling with excitement, friendliness and an innate motivation to play, you’ll probably wish you can take them ALL home!

But let’s get back to reality – you can only have ONE and it’s hard to choose! How can you pick the right one? What’s more, you just have too little time at the breeder’s home to get to actually know each beagle puppy personally.

The truth is though, while Beagle puppies are all self-centered, active, lovable, adorable, stubborn and cheeky, their individual personalities differ.

After breeding 6 beagle puppies, I’ve discovered that while all the traits above are present, each puppy has a different personality! It’s amazing that they sometimes can be much like humans!

Based on my experience, here's what is important when choosing beagle puppies:

1. Ask yourself, what do you want a Beagle puppy for?

More than just being a pet, you need to ask yourself why you want a Beagle in the first place. There are hundreds of breeds you can choose from, but why a Beagle?

Many people make the mistake of getting a Beagle simply because they are cute. More importantly however, people need to know and understand Beagle behavior before deciding on this breed. My previous post, Should you get Beagle Puppies?, explains this with greater detail.

2. Buying a beagle as a pet vs. buying a beagle for showing or training

At the end of the day, your criteria in buying a Beagle puppy as a house pet would differ from getting one for dog shows, or to be trained as a working dog. Obviously, for the latter 2 reasons, you would need a more attentive Beagle.

Adhering to breed standards would be important if you intend to show your dog. This may also mean that you need to get a slightly older Beagle puppy, so that you can evaluate the dog’s physical build, color and markings more accurately.

3. Check the puppy’s Pedigree line

Always ask to view a puppy’s pedigree line to determine the lineage of a beagle puppy. Does he come from a line of champions? Has there been any in-breeding? (Although, most kennel clubs will not register a puppy if there has been any signs of this). This is more important if you are getting a Beagle puppy as a show dog, or to be trained.

4. Ask for more time to play with them

It’s best if you can spend some time to play with each of them. It doesn’t matter if a particular puppy doesn’t take to you immediately. Get to know each beagle puppy individually, and see how each of them interacts with one another.

It’s much like choosing a friend – you will pick the one that you can most identify with, and which you would like to spend time with. This comes naturally for most people, and soon they’ll find one that suits them best.

5. Ask the breeder about each puppy’s personality

If you are getting your puppy from a home breeder, chances are that the breeder would be the person most familiar with the puppies. Ask him on his or her opinion on how a particular puppy is like.

Ask questions like: What are the puppy’s distinct characteristics? Does the puppy eat well? Does the puppy pay attention to the breeder? How does the puppy interact with its siblings?

This way, you’ll discover more than what you’ve learnt in that short time you had with the beagle puppies. In fact, a responsible breeder should also reveal some of a particular puppy’s shortcomings, or less desirable habits, so the new owner will know what to expect once he or she brings the beagle puppy home.

What not to do when choosing Beagle puppies?

• Do not buy a Beagle puppy just because it is cute.
• Do not buy a Beagle puppy as a present.
• Do not buy a Beagle puppy if you intend to leave it alone at home for long periods.
• Do not buy a Beagle puppy just because it’s of a certain gender. In terms of behavior, there are hardly any differences between male and female beagle puppies.