They say that our pets often mirror our personalities. Since human tends to be the center of any dog’s universe, it’s only natural that they mimic some of our traits. However, dogs have individual personalities of their own. These temperaments are partly influenced by their breed. While all dogs are lovable creatures, some dog breeds might be more suitable for your lifestyle. For any prospective dog owner with an active lifestyle, it’s probably best to adopt a dog breed with a playful personality. If you’re considering adopting a Beagle, but want a dog that matches your high energy, I have some good news for you.
Are Beagles playful? They certainly are! Beagles are one of the most playful dog breeds. Since these adorable dogs were originally bred as hunting companions, they are naturally hyperactive. Beagles will eagerly catch, chase, and play with their humans or other dogs any chance they get.
Similar to Snoopy from the Peanuts gang, the most beloved beagle in pop culture, most Beagles are highly intelligent, a little mischievous, and full of energy. Although they gradually calm down as they mature, Beagles are typically hyper throughout most of their childhood and adult life. These friendly dogs are the perfect best friend for anyone who loves physical activity and the great outdoors. If you’re in need of a cute workout or hiking buddy, you might want to consider adopting the next Beagle you meet at the local pet shelter. Still not convinced about adopting your very own Snoopy? This article will explore just how playful, energetic, and smart Beagles are.
Are Beagles playful?
Since their ancestors were bred to accompany the English gentry on hunting expeditions in the 1500s, Beagles are naturally playful dogs. Historically, these small- to medium-sized dogs would hunt rabbits for sport all throughout England.
Are Beagles playful still? Modern-day Beagles are just as playful as their forefathers. According to Vetstreet, these amazing puppies have one of the most playful personalities out of all dog breeds.
Although Beagles are relatively low-maintenance, they do need frequent physical stimulation. If you’re considering adopting an adorable Beagle, ensure your schedule has enough time for regular walks and playtimes.
Their playful demeanor makes Beagles the perfect companion for couples and singles who enjoy physical activity and spending time outdoors. These outgoing dogs love going outside and using their keen sense of smell to sniff out scent trails that spark their curiosity.
Due to their hound instincts, playful Beagles will hunt rabbits and other small creatures unfortunate enough to be discovered by their highly developed sense of smell.
Beagles can be blindly led by their nose so it’s important to always keep them on a leash outside of the backyard.
Their gentle yet playful nature makes Beagles the perfect addition to any families with kids and other dogs as well. This highly social breed will relish any opportunity to chase their humans and other dog pals.
Are Beagles lazy or energetic?
The Beagle is an extremely energetic breed. As former hunting companions, these dogs are very fond of running around and chasing anything that moves.
In fact, Beagle owners often seek advice on how to calm down these hyper dogs. While plenty of playtime helps, these dogs are highly energetic and constantly long for the outdoors.
If they are cooped up inside for too long without physical or mental stimulation, Beagles can become bored and destructive. Mischievous Beagles might destroy your favorite pillow or slipper if their hunting instincts are not satisfied through play.
This active dog breed tends to be the most hyper as puppies, and slowly mellow out as they age. Here are the usual energy levels of a Beagle based on their age:
- Puppy (less than a year old): Most energetic. Everything excites Beagle pups and they are constantly full of energy. If possible, keep your Beagle puppy in a gated area of the home rather than a crate to give these active puppies space to move around.
- Young adult (between 1-2 years old): Moderately energetic. Young Beagles are still very hyper, but slightly less so than they were as puppies. At this age, they continue to require lots of physical stimulation and attention from their humans.
- Adult (2-8 years old): Somewhat energetic. Adult Beagles will eagerly seize any chance to play or go outside, but they are able to relax with their humans as long as their outdoor needs are being met.
- Senior (8+): Slightly energetic. Senior Beagles are calmer and less active. They are significantly more relaxed at this age than their younger selves.
Are Beagles good house dogs?
Their sweet and affectionate personalities make Beagles a great addition to any home. However, this breed loves the outdoors. Beagles can make excellent house dogs as long as they get enough time to play outside.
According to the Aurora North Pet Clinic, Beagles have enthusiastic personalities suitable for outdoor activities. They love roaming outside, rolling around in the mud, and exploring various scent trails.
If you’re looking to adopt a Beagle, ask yourself first if you’re able to provide these playful dogs sufficient access to outside. If your schedule doesn’t allow for frequent walks and trips to the dog park, Beagles should at least be able to roam around in the backyard.
Nonetheless, there are ways to entertain a Beagle indoors. Since they love to follow scents, you could hide multiple treats around the house for them to discover.
Beagles are popular house dogs because of their friendly yet vocal nature. These dogs will often bark to alert you whenever someone is outside of your home, but welcome them as soon they enter.
Due to their sweet and gentle temperaments, Beagles are a great pet choice for homes with children. These dogs will often dedicate themselves to protecting and playing with their small human best friends.
Are Beagles usually lazy?
As a breed, Beagles are not typically lazy. On the other hand, dogs develop their own individual personalities. In the same way that not every single golden retriever is gentle, not all Beagles are playful.
There are Beagles who are less active than the typical Beagle. Some dogs simply prefer to nap on the couch with their humans rather than go outside to play.
While there’s nothing wrong with Beagles who have a more relaxed personality, it’s important to ensure these dogs get a sufficient amount of exercise in order to prevent obesity.
Despite their playful nature, Beagles are one of the dog breeds most prone to obesity. Older Beagles who tend to play less due to their age are more susceptible to excessive weight gain.
There are fewer things in this world that Beagles love more than food. Since these dogs love to eat, they can easily become overweight if they are not physically active. Owners should encourage less energetic Beagles to exercise as much as possible.
Are Beagles really hard to train?
Although Beagles are intelligent dogs, they can be a difficult breed to train. Despite being quick learners, Beagles are not always the most obedient dogs. These strong-willed dogs sometimes have a stubborn streak that could make training them frustrating.
It’s a good idea to begin training a Beagle as a puppy by enrolling them in obedience school. However, this doesn’t mean that adult Beagles are impossible to train. With enough patience and treats, you definitely can teach an old Beagle new tricks.
When training a Beagle, it’s important to use a lot of positive reinforcement such as treats and pets. Never use punishment to train these sweet and good-natured dogs.
Since Beagles have a well-developed sense of smell, they can be easily distracted by scents. Therefore, an effective training strategy is to reward them with fragrant treats. Reward-based training using their favorite treats will help motivate Beagles and keep their attention on you and the task at hand.
Another strategy is to limit training sessions to short 5-10 minute periods. Anything longer risks losing their interest and frustrating the Beagle.
While it can be a challenge to train these smart but mischievous puppers, the results are definitely worth it. Just like their ancestors, trained Beagles are capable of impressive feats.
Due to their powerful nose and friendly personality, various state and local government agencies and departments rely on Beagles to be scent hounds. Busy airports prefer this breed because their adorable appearance is less likely to intimidate travelers.
About 120 Beagles are part of the rigorously trained group of detector dogs known as the Beagle Brigade. This amazing group of Beagles are employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs Protection to sniff out illicit scents at more than 88 major internal airports.