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Beagle Adoption

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What do you need to know before you adopt a Beagle? We asked the experts!

 

Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland says:

Beagles are wonderful dogs!  They are friendly, loving, smart, curious, and happy...and most definitely pack animals.  Whether their pack consists of other dogs, or just their single human, they want to be with them.

Beagles have a reputation for being noisy, but our experience indicates that they are no noisier than any other breed and it varies greatly by individual.  If they are kept indoors and given the attention given any other family member, most do not bark excessively.  We think those who inspired the reputation are tied out in the back yard and deprived of companionship.

One thing we stress HEAVILY with potential adopters is that either your yard must have a secure fence (believe me, we check closely and the fence must be repaired before they take a dog home!) and/or the dog must be leash-walked.  No beagle should EVER be off lead unless they are contained somehow.  Their nose short circuits their brain every time.  For that reason, we seldom adopt to people with electronic fences.  Once that squirrel/rabbit/fox/leaf crosses their path, they will take the hit going out, but suddenly remember the shock when and if they come home, and won't come back into the yard.  The infamous ‘Beagle Bolt’ will occur when the front door is left open to bring in groceries, or when someone just isn't paying attention while answering the door.  You learn to body block.

Beagles are highly food motivated, consequently, treats work best when training.  That said, if you want a dog that will obey every time and at all costs just because you said so, a beagle probably shouldn't be your first choice.  We’re not saying they can't be trained, but it does require patience, persistence, and reinforcement from time to time.  They are clever little dogs and have their own agenda sometimes.

Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation says:

Beagles are a great medium-sized dog and generally get along with children, dogs and people.

Beagles are scent hounds and follow their noses. Unless they are heavily trained, they should not be let off leash, as they will follow their nose and be gone.  Because Beagles are scent hounds, they are super clever at getting ahold of food, and many of them can open cabinets, drawers, doors and even refrigerators. If you can’t lock your kitchen down, this may not be the dog for you.

Beagles love to eat and will always make you think they are hungry. Watch the snacks and food, as it is easy for beagles to get overweight, which is extremely unhealthy for them. Yet because of their love of food, even though they have a stubborn nature, they can easily be trained with treats.

Medical issues more common in beagles are: hypothyroid, intervertebral disc disease, epilepsy/seizures, allergies, and obesity (this can be controlled with diet).

Beagles do bay, but it is a myth that they constantly bark and howl. They are pack animals so most do better with more than one dog in the house. Ear infections are common if regular care is not given to clean their long ears.

Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education and Welfare, Inc. says:

Here is what we think people need to know about beagles:

1.       Beagles are wonderful, friendly, dogs that can be good for a family or for a single person. Each Beagle is different and each good and bad quality depends on the individual Beagle. Some Beagles like to bark a lot, some have the traditional “AROOOO” bay, and some Beagles will be pretty quiet. Some will be very stubborn and single-minded, especially when they catch the scent of something interesting, be it food cooking in the kitchen or on the grill, or the scent of an animal that has recently been in the Beagle’s area.

2.       Beagle are generally very affectionate, but some will want lots of attention and some will want to be paid attention to on their own terms. They can be hard to housetrain due to their very sensitive noses, and if they do have accidents in the house, the accident will need to be thoroughly cleaned up with an enzyme cleaner so that the smell is totally eliminated.

3.       Beagles are sometimes referred to as “a nose on four legs”.  We would revise that description: A Beagle is a nose and stomach on four legs.  Beagles can be extremely food-motivated and will eat until they practically explode. They will raid the garbage can as often as possible and consume anything that is in there. Any food that the Beagle can reach, whether it’s on the edge of the kitchen counter, dining room table where all the chairs are not pushed in or the coffee table in the living room is fair game. As a result of their desire for food, Beagles can often become over weight. It is important to not over feed a Beagle even though it is difficult when they look at you with those big brown eyes.

4.       One of the most important aspects of Beagle ownership, especially rescued Beagles, is that the Beagle should not be allowed to be off leash and be expected not to run off. Beagles will follow their noses where ever they take them. Once gone, the Beagle may not come back. It’s important to always keep your Beagle on a leash unless you have a fully secure fenced-in yard. Beagles can be diggers, and a fence that has holes or gaps, or does not quite touch the ground can be a means of escape.

5.       Many Beagles end up in shelters because of three things: they don’t hunt well (and as a result are not wanted by hunters), they wandered away from their home and got lost, or they are turned into the shelter because of difficulty in housetraining or excessive barking.  Beagles in rescue need time and patience and their new owners need to recognize that it may take time for the Beagle to acclimate to his new home. It may take a while but, in the end, the Beagle will reward the owner’s patience tenfold with love, gratitude and companionship.

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More about the Beagle

Best friends

Thinking about adopting a Beagle puppy? Here are three reasons to adopt an adult instead:

1. You have kids.
Like most people, you’ve probably heard time and again that if you have kids, you should adopt a Beagle puppy (or, gasp! find a Beagle puppy for sale). The rationale is that an adult shelter dog is an unknown quantity, so buying or adopting a Beagle puppy is safer. Actually, the opposite is closer to the truth. Puppies are not usually a great choice with kids; they have very limited control over their biting/mouthing impulses, and when you mix that with lots of energy and unbelievably sharp little teeth, it’s a recipe for your small fry to be in tears.  Puppies are tiny chewing machines and can destroy a favorite stuffed animal or security blanket in short order.  Adult dogs, on the other hand, are generally calmer, and their personalities are already fully developed and on display.  When you meet an adult dog, you can see how they are with kids and with other animals.  This takes the guesswork out of wondering how a puppy will turn out as a full-grown dog.

2.  You value your possessions.
Puppies teethe.  They have a biological need to chew, they want to play constantly, and they can’t discriminate between appropriate chew toys and, say, your favorite pair of Manolos.  Puppies eventually can be trained out of this behavior, of course, and there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking, an adult Beagle (or any adult dog) is much less likely to shred your drapes like coleslaw or function as a “helpful” canine document shredder.

3.  You work, or otherwise leave the house.
Pop quiz: how often does a two-month-old puppy need to be taken out to do his business during the day?  A) every six hours; B) every eight hours; or C) every two hours?

If you answered B, or even A, you’re an eternal optimist! The correct answer, though, is C: every two hours. When you’re housetraining a puppy, the general rule of thumb is that they can hold their bladder one hour for each month they’ve been alive (up to a max of about eight to ten hours).  So a three-month-old Beagle puppy needs to go outside every three hours, a four-month-old needs to go every four hours, and so on.  If you’re retired, or you work from home, or you’re taking the puppy to work with you or to a doggy daycare (make sure your puppy is up-to-date on all vaccines before considering that last option), great! But if you’re planning on leaving your dog alone during your workday, you’ll definitely want to adopt a full-grown dog, ideally from a Beagle rescue that can help you find the right dog for your lifestyle.

Let’s bust these myths about adopting a Beagle

Time to get real: when we ask people what reservations they have about Beagle adoption, we hear the same things over and over again.  If you’re operating under any of these mistaken beliefs, you just might be missing out on meeting the best friend you’ll ever have.   So it’s time for us to set the record straight:

  • You CAN find purebred Beagles for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group.
  • Beagles and Beagle puppies for adoption are NOT in any way inferior to or different from those for sale.
  • The dogs in the shelter are NOT there because they’re bad dogs.
  • If you want a puppy, you DON’T have to buy a Beagle puppy.  Beagle puppies ARE available for adoption.
  • If you have children, adopting a dog is likely the SAFEST option.

Here’s the truth: you absolutely can find a Beagle, even a Beagle puppy, for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group.  And they don’t end up there because they’re bad dogs.  In fact, often the only difference between the dog in the shelter and the one on your couch is a bit of bad luck.  Think about it: let’s say you buy a Beagle puppy for sale by a breeder. Your new dog is great; you immediately enroll the two of you in obedience classes, and soon your best pal is housebroken and well trained. But what would happen to your wonderful Beagle if, tragically, something happened to you? What if he escaped from your home and ran away? Your best pal would very likely end up in an animal shelter.  The lucky person who adopts your Beagle would be getting a great dog!  Animal shelters are filled with wonderful, healthy, well-behaved dogs who have been in homes before, but whose owners have fallen on hard times.  Many of them are housebroken and trained.  Beagle rescue organizations often care for their adoptable dogs in foster homes, which means their foster families will be able to tell you if the Beagle you want to adopt is good with other animals or kids, and if he or she is housebroken and knows any basic commands. As you can see, adopting from a rescue organization is likely the very safest way for people with children to add a new Beagle to their family!

Beagle Rescue Organizations

Below you'll find many Beagle focused rescue organizations. This is not a complete list! If you are a Beagle focused rescue and would like to be included, please sign up for an Adopt-a-Pet.com account here, then submit your request using the Contact Us link after you login to your Adopt-a-Pet.com rescue or shelter account. Thank you!

 

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Rescues and shelters near you

Dogingham Palace Rescue/Ashburn
Ashburn, VA

FOHA - Dogs
Aldie, VA

Virginia German Shepherd Rescue
Sterling, VA

Admiral's Advocacy
Herndon, VA

Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue
Herndon, VA

SCMR - VA
Herndon, VA

Humane Society of Loudoun County
Leesburg, VA

Forget-Me-Not NoVA
Leesburg, VA

Open Hearts Rescue
Leesburg, VA

New Love Animal Rescue
Herndon, VA

New Rattitude - Maryland
Poolesville, MD

Friends Of Homeless Animals - Cats
Aldie, VA

Love Shack Dog Rescue
Aldie, VA

NBRAN Virginia
Reston, VA

Akita Rescue Mid-Atlantic Coast, Inc.
Silver Spring, MD

Dogingham Palace Rescue/Great Falls
Great Falls, VA

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation
Chantilly, VA

Collie Rescue, Inc.
Chantilly, VA

Blue Ridge Great Pyrenees Rescue & Education
Fairfax, VA

Kim's Urban Hounds Rescue - Fairfax
Fairfax, VA

Kim's Urban Hounds Rescue -Fredericksburg
Fairfax, VA

NOVA Pets Alive!
Fairfax, VA

Tails of the Unwanted - Fairfax
Fairfax, VA

Healing Hearts Animal Rescue Group
Centreville, VA

Home At Last Sanctuary, Inc
Potomac, MD

Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society
Centreville, VA

Fur-Ever Paws Dog Rescue - Boyds MD
Boyds, MD

Loudoun County Animal Services
Waterford, VA

Bichon Frise Club of America Charitable Trust
Centreville, VA

Annies Orphans
Gaithersburg, MD

No More Sad Eyes Rescue
Oakton, VA

Bourbon County Rescue
Germantown, MD

Chasing Colt Animal Rescue
Catharpin, VA

Independent Animal Rescue
Germantown, MD

Rescue Without Borders- Germantown MD
Germantown, MD

Sweetheart Sanctuary
Vienna, VA

United Maltese Rescue
Germantown, MD

Worthy Dog Rescue
Vienna, VA

Loudoun SPCA
Middleburg, VA

Middleburg Humane Foundation
Middleburg, VA

Wolf Trap Animal Rescue
MCLEAN, VA

Nova Rottweiler Rescue
Germantown, MD

PetConnect Rescue
Potomac, MD

Dewey Animals, Inc.
Centreville, VA

Lab Rescue LRCP - Purcellville VA
Purcellville, VA

DC Dogos, Inc. - VA
Vienna, VA

Mutt Love Rescue
Fairfax, VA

American Lhasa Apso Club Rescue - Northwest Region
Gaithersburg, MD

City of Fairfax Animal Shelter
Fairfax, VA

Fairfax County Animal Shelter
Fairfax, VA

MIRRAGL
Fairfax, VA

The Commonwealth Humane Society
Fairfax, VA

The Humane Society of Fairfax County
Fairfax, VA

The Humane Society of Fairfax County 2
Fairfax, VA

Whitney Foundation
Fairfax, VA

Gentle Creatures
Rockville, MD

Hedgesville Hounds
Rockville, MD

K-9 Lifesavers
Rockville, MD

Montgomery County Humane Society
Rockville, MD

Chesapeake Area Alaskan Malamute Protection, formerly Potomac Valley AMR
Virginia, Maryland, DC, MD

GROWL - MD
Gaithersburg, MD

Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc.
Adamstown, MD

Dachshund Rescue of North America Inc.
Manassas, VA

Westie Rescue MidAtlantic
Dunn Loring, VA

Montgomery County SPCA
Gaithersburg, MD

Pets Bring Joy
Fairfax, VA

United Yorkie Rescue - VA
Fairfax, VA

United Yorkie Rescue - VA- Fairfax
Fairfax, VA

Friends Of Montgomery County Animals
Germantown, MD

BB&G Pomeranian Rescue
Lovettsville, VA

Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue
Mclean, VA

Jasmine's House, Inc. - MD Chapter
Clarksburg, MD

Band for Animal
Fairfax, VA

Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue
Clifton, VA

Lab Rescue LRCP - Frederick MD
Buckeystown, MD

One Planet Rescue - MD chapter
Rockville, MD

Mid-Atlantic Chinese Shar-Pei Rescue Operation
Bethesda, MD

Blue Ridge Doberman Rescue
Bluemont, VA

Key to Lion's Heart Rescue
Derwood, MD

Promises Animal Rescue, Inc
Gainesville, VA

Empty Shelter Project
Manassas, VA

Bull Terrier Rescue of Virginia (BTRVA)
Manassas, VA

Friends for Animals
Manassas, VA

Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue, Virginia Chapter
Manassas, VA

Best DAWG Rescue Inc.
Bethesda, MD

Lab Rescue LRCP - Rockville MD
Rockville, MD

Maryland Bichon Frise Rescue
Rockville, MD

DC Area Weimaraner Rescue
Manassas Park, VA

Doberman Assistance Rescue & Education
Arlington, VA

HART (Homeless Animals Rescue Team)
Fairfax Station, VA

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue
Fairfax Station, VA

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
Arlington, VA

Allbreed Rescue & Referral Inc
Gaithersburg, MD

Mutts Matter Rescue
Rockville, MD

Bring Home the Brindle Dog Rescue
Ijamsville, MD

Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue Inc. District of Columbia, Virginia
Washington, DC

MerryLea Rescue
Frederick, MD

Operation Paws for Homes - MD Chapter
Frederick, MD

Ambassador Pit Bull Rescue
Bristow, VA

American Maltese Assoc. Rescue--Maryland
Bristow, VA

Reggie's Friends - Arlington
Arlington, VA

Lab Rescue LRCP - Fairfax VA
Fairfax, VA

USNMC Rescue
Jefferson, MD

Grand Dogs Rescue 2
Silver Springs, MD

Chow Chow Rescue of Maryland
Silver Spring, MD

Roxie's Fund, Inc*
Silver Spring, MD

Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue
Arlington, VA

Dog World Rescue, Inc.
Alexandria, VA

SPCA of Northern Virginia
Arlington, VA

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
Washington, DC

Capitol Canines Animal Rescue
Washington, DC

City Dogs Rescue & City Kitties
Washington, DC

Tails of the Unwanted - Maryland
Silver Spring, MD

Tara's House Animal Rescue, Inc. - Silver Spring Chapter
Silver Spring, MD

Capital Animal Care
Arlington, VA

Rescue Angels, Inc. - Virginia Chapter
Arlington, VA

Rescuzilla - Northern VA, D.C.
Arlington, VA

Caring Hearts Rescue
Springfield, VA

Hope for Donghae Paws(VIRGINIA)
Springfield, VA

Ozark Mutts and Stuff, Inc VA
Springfield, VA

Pups 2 Luv Rescue
Springfield, VA

Purrs, Paws, and Claws - Springfield Chapter
Springfield, VA

To The Rescue Inc.
Springfield, VA

Blackdogs Rescue - Bluemont Foster Group
Bluemont, VA

New Beginnings German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue
Monrovia, MD

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Alexandria, VA

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