Pocket Beagle Dog Breed: What You Need to Know
The pocket beagle is one of the most adorable little dogs you will ever see. As darling as a standard beagle, the pocket beagle is friendly, loving, fun and a wonderful companion for kids; it’s just a bit smaller. Its sleek coat is very easy to care for, which makes it such a popular dog in many households, and it has a very darling personality. This is a dog that makes a wonderful pet for many reasons, but not all households are right for the pocket beagle. Before you decide that this darling dog is the one for you, go ahead and get to know the breed a bit. Of course, how your pocket beagle turns out is very dependent on what type of personalities are already in your home, how you are with the dog and how well you care for the dog. Either way, though, it’s never a bad idea to get to know what to expect before you make a commitment as big as this one.
Personality and Temperament
The pocket beagle is, quite simply, a sweet dog. With a very loving personality and an outgoing mindset, this darling dog is going to provide your home with a great deal of love and happiness. Very easygoing and charming, this is a dog that is going to find its way into your heart right from the start. The pocket beagle is great with other dogs, other pets and especially with kids. Your dog and your kids are going to become the best of friends so much so that you will find that they are inseparable, which is not a problem.
The pocket beagle is not a dog that does well on its own, so it does need an owner who is either home much of the time or does not travel or do much outside of work. It prefers human company and does suffer from separation anxiety when it is not properly socialized or paid attention to; which is a problem for some dog owners. This sweet dog does have a stubborn streak, and that is why it is so imperative you are a dominant leader with a firm and consistent method of training to use when training the pocket beagle. This breed is one that loves to follow its nose as that is its general nature as a hunting dog, so it’s a good idea to keep the yard fenced in and the dog leashed when you are out. Additionally, he does have a very loud and disruptive howl that sounds a bit like a bay, and might bother you or the neighbors if you live in a small home or apartment.
Lifestyle and Expectation
What to expect when you are expecting to live life with a pocket beagle is pretty simple; a great dog that really does love you. However, you do have to care for this dog, and it does matter where you live, what you do and how you treat him. For instance, if you want a pocket beagle, you have to be home. This is not a self-sufficient breed happy to entertain itself when you are out and about. It wants you home, and it will become disruptive and disobedient if left alone too much. Additionally, it might be a small dog, but that does not mean you want it in an apartment building since it is a barking dog with a very loud howl.
The pocket beagle is not a big dog, and it will never stand more than 12 inches tall or weigh more than 15 pounds, though it is prone to obesity if it is fed too much so be careful not to feed this dog overly much. If you do decide that the pocket beagle is the right dog for you, expect to have this dog around your life for around 15 years. They are long-living dogs, which is great news for many dog owners. However, they are also dogs that do require a lot of exercise. They have a great deal of stamina, and they want to use it throughout the day. This is a breed that wants to take a long walk, and it wants to play in the yard.
If you have a fenced in yard and some kids, the pocket beagle might be the perfect dog for you. It loves to run and play, and it especially loves kids. This is a dog breed that will bring a lot of pleasure and enjoyment to your kids. As far as the health of the pocket beagle is concerned, it’s a fairly healthy breed. You’ll want to be sure you get the health information from the breeder, however, since there are some pocket beagle family lines with a genetic heart disease, as well as epilepsy, back issues and eye problems.
Breed History
The same as a standard beagle, but smaller, this is a hunting dog that has been around for centuries. Both the standard beagle and the pocket beagle were used to hunt for centuries in Europe, where they were used especially to hunt under brush because of their small stature. They were named pocket beagles because hunters would place these small dogs in their satchels and go about their daily business in that manner. The dogs are very sweet, and they are very good at their job.
There was a time in which the pocket beagle was thought to be extinct, but breeders realized that there is a profit to be made from these dogs as they are very small and they are such a popular breed. For that reason, a new line of pocket beagles was created and now they are more popular than ever, providing families with the kind of good-natured dog they are looking for in a small package that is just right for almost any home, any family and any atmosphere. This is a dog that will make a wonderful pet if you are able to provide it with the kind of loving home it deserves.
Photo by Getty Images
