Dog Pound

How to Care for Your Beagle's Coat

The exact origin of the breed of dog known as the beagle is unknown but it is thought that this sturdy breed descended from a blend of various English hunting dogs. The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. Since that time the beagle has gained popularity not just for its hunting ability, but also for its appeal as a family pet. Beagles are pack animals to the extreme and view a human family as their pack. They become very lonely and distressed when left for long periods of time.

Their intense sociability is just one of their positive aspects. Beagles have an excellent sense of smell as well as a friendly temperament. Beagles are also attractive physically; they are short haired, with a sturdy body structure, and brown eyes with a characteristically sad expression. Beagles come in various colors (and all are accepted in competition by the AKC) but they are most often represented in the tri-colored shades of black/white/tan.

Because of their short, easy to manage fur, grooming your beagle is a fairly easy task. A yearly bath and occasional dry shampoo is enough to keep these small dogs clean. The AKC and other beagle experts recommend several grooming techniques for this affable breed.

Grooming your beagle can include everything from brushing his fur to trimming his toes and even eyelashes. Grooming is a way to care for your beagle's appearance and maintain his overall health. Whether you choose to groom your beagle at home or take him to a veterinarian's office or pet groomer, it is important to know the areas specific to your beagle that require special attention. The ears, feet, and eyes along with the coat need consistent grooming. The long, pendulous ears are prone to infection as water and bacteria can easily become trapped inside. The nails may require more or less trimming depending on your dog's activity level. Beagle eyes need special care because their long eyelashes may become ingrown.

If you do not feel comfortable grooming your beagle, there are many pet groomers available to maintain your dog's appearance. They can handle, in particular, tricky areas like trimming your beagle's nails. Services are relatively reasonable. A "puppy package" may include a puppy wash, brush, nail trim, and style and costs approximately $10-$60.

Grooming your beagle involves several guidelines. Because beagles have long, pendulous ears, these can be prone to infection due to water or bacteria becoming trapped inside. Check your beagle's ears at least once per week to make they are clean and free of infection. A good rule of thumb is to wipe his ears whenever he is being brushed.

Your beagle's nails need to be trimmed regularly just like any other dog breed. There is no set frequency for when nails should be trimmed since length depends on your beagle's activity level. If you can hear his nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time for trimming. If you choose to trim your beagle's nails, use a quality nail clipper and make sure to have a special powder or cream to stop bleeding of any accidental cuts.

Because beagles have longer eyelashes than other dogs, eyelashes need to be monitored and carefully trimmed. An ingrown eyelash will be very uncomfortable for your beagle and will require surgery to correct.

Remember that to care for his coat, brush him at least once weekly. Beagles rarely need to be bathed but can be dry-shampooed occasionally.