Beagles are easy maintenance in the grooming department all thanks to their short, neat coats. When they do get dirty or muddy, it's easy to give them a quick wipe over with warm water and a sponge. A daily brush is all that a Beagle needs to keep their coats and skin in good condition and to keep any shed hair under the control. As with other breeds, the Beagle shed more in the Spring and then again in the Autumn when a dog might need more frequent brushing than at other times of the year.
If you decide to get a Beagle puppy, it's important to start grooming them as early as possible so they get used to all the tools needed to keep their coats in good condition. It's also essential to teach puppies that having their nails touched is not scary and that a grooming session is a nice experience so they look forward to the one-to-one attention they are given.
As previously mentioned, it's important to keep a close eye on a Beagle's ears to make sure they are dry and no infection is flaring up which can be notoriously difficult to clear up.
Beagles need a lot in the way of exercise and they also need to be given a lot of mental stimulation to the truly happy, well balanced dogs. This means a good hour a day and ideally this needs to be twice a day. They also benefit from being allowed to roam around a secure garden as much as possible, but the fencing needs to be "Beagle proof" because they are known to be skilled escape artists when the mood takes them.
Beagle puppies only need to be given a little exercise to begin with because their joints and bones are still developing. As such a little playtime in a garden is ideal until they have had all their vaccinations. Then it's important for them to be introduced to as many other animals, pets and situations as possible so they grow up to be confident adult dogs.
If you get a Beagle puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule for your new pet and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same type of food to a puppy to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change their food again.
A mature Beagle needs to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives. It's also important to keep a close eye on their weight, because as previously mentioned, Beagles are prone to put on weight which means limiting the amount of rewards they are given even during their training.
