The Beagle Shepherd is a combination of two of the most popular dog breeds. It combines the intelligence, drive, and protectiveness of a German Shepherd with the friendly and goofy personality of a Beagle. However, this mix can pull traits from one of its parents more than the other.
View this post on Instagram
Appearance
The Beagle Shepherd has the size and lean body of a German Shepherd and the friendly and trustworthy face of a Beagle. It has brown eyes, a long tail, and can vary a lot in size and color. Each Beagle Shepherd looks distinct and unique, with no breed standard.
Weight & Height
It’s a medium mix that can range from 20 to 70 pounds (9kg to 31kg). Its height can vary from 16 to 24 inches (41cm to 61cm). The wide size range comes from the dominant genes. If the mix is more like its Shepherd parent, it will be considerably larger.
Gait
The Beagle Shep is designed to run. It generally has the long, athletic legs of its German Shepherd parent, allowing it to cover distances in no time. This mix is always active and on the go, with alert attentiveness in all environments.
Coat Color
Both German Shepherds and Beagles have dual-colored coats. Your Beagle Shepherd will likely have a dual-colored coat, but with different color variations. Its coat can be black, blue, red, liver, brown, tan, and/or white. You should look at the parents to see what possibilities there are for coat colors.
View this post on Instagram
Coat Length & Thickness
The coat of the Beagle Shepherd can range from short to medium. In both cases, the fur is thick and mostly straight. Like its parents, this mix is double coated. This allows it to regulate its temperature in more extreme climates while keeping the dog clean and dry.
Temperament
The Beagle Shep is a highly active mix who loves to go on adventures. It is loyal and protective of the family, with a fun-loving personality that can bring many laughs to your household. This mix is a great companion and watchdog and can generally get along with other dogs.
Is Very Sensitive
The Beagle Shepherd is a sensitive mix and can take reprimands personally. It thrives best in a stable environment with an experienced owner. You may need to enlist a trainer to help with positive-reinforcement training. Heavy-handed training is not easily forgiven by this mix, and it may become resentful.
View this post on Instagram
Is Prone to Separation Anxiety
This mix is prone to separation anxiety. This can look like continual barking, digging, and destroying furniture. If you need to leave the dog alone, it’s advisable to crate them. If you are going out for more than two hours, it would be better to use a dog daycare facility.
Barks and Chews A Lot
Your neighbors might not be happy because the Beagle Shepherd is a vocal mix. It is likely to bark or howl in response to people, dogs, and external noises. This mix is also mouthy and likes to chew. Start early with bite inhibition training to avoid problems later.
Has a High Prey-Drive
Owing to its hunting dog lineage, the Beagle Shep has a high prey-drive. This means that this mix could chase smaller dogs, especially in a park. While it may not be aggressive, the herding and attention could worry other owners. Keep the mix on a leash around smaller dogs.
Can Be a Bully to Other Dogs
The Beagle Shepherd is not inherently aggressive. However, this mix is often headstrong and stubborn. It may push smaller or less dominant dogs around. Early socialization is essential. Try to arrange playdates with known dogs to develop your Beagle Shepherd’s social skills.
Prefers a Warm and Temperate Climate
This mix is best suited to a temperate climate. It has an undercoat that can keep it warm in cool weather, but a shorter top layer that is better suited to warm conditions. If you live in a very hot or very cold climate, this mix is likely to struggle.
Companion or Suitability Factor
Active singles, couples, and families are best suited to this lively mix. It doesn’t cope well if left alone and needs regular exercise to thrive. Aggression is not common in this mix, but you should always start early with socialization. This can lead to a well-rounded and stable family dog.
View this post on Instagram
Is Better Suited to Older Kids
The Beagle Shep is generally friendly with kids and protective towards its family. However, because of its size and energy levels, it’s better suited to older children. You must teach your kids how to interact with the dog. In particular, they must learn not to bother it when it’s eating.
Can Live in an Apartment
The Beagle Shepherd can live in an apartment under certain conditions. You must give it regular exercise every day to avoid destructive behavior. It’s better suited to larger apartments where the dog can have more space. You will also need to be strict with toilet training to avoid a mess.
Is an Excellent Watchdog
This mix is very attuned to sound and will alert you to intruders with its barking, making it an excellent guard dog. It is unlikely to physically defend your home because of the friendly influence of the Beagle’s genetics. However, its barking will let you know about any unwanted visitors.
Is Not Suitable for Senior Citizens
This mix is generally not recommended for the average senior citizen. It is a medium-sized dog with high exercise needs. More sedentary people might struggle to give this mix the physical and mental stimulation that it needs and end up with a destructive dog that ruins the furniture.
Has Therapy Dog Potential
Both Beagles and German Shepherds are commonly used as therapy and emotional support dogs. This means the Beagle Shep has the potential for this role. Start early and enlist a professional trainer. You will also need to get the proper certification if you want it to be a therapy dog.
Should Not Live with Smaller Pets
Because of this mix’s high prey-drive, it is generally not suitable for homes that have other small pets. If you get the Beagle Shepherd as a puppy, you can potentially train it to coexist with larger cats and small dogs. However, you should never leave them unsupervised together.
Can Swim if Trained to Enjoy It
This is not a mix that will naturally gravitate towards water. However, with a gentle introduction and lots of treats, this dog has the potential to swim because of its athletic build. Especially if your mix is on the smaller side, consider using a life jacket for extra safety.
View this post on Instagram
Intelligence & Training
The Beagle Shepherd can be intelligent, but challenging. You should do as much research as possible to decide on its training plan. You should never use physical punishment on this mix and instead, focus on giving it a job with tangible rewards. Build a positive and reciprocal relationship.
View this post on Instagram
Is Usually Very Intelligent
If your Beagle Shepherd has more similarities with its German Shepherd parent, it will be highly intelligent. The German Shepherd is the third smartest breed according to Stanley Coren, and is used for herding, police work, search and rescue, and more. These versatile dogs are capable of learning almost anything.
The Beagle parent is generally stubborn, and Stanley Coren ranks it #131 out of 138 for dog intelligence. The Beagle parent excels at scent work like drug detection and is a focused dog. You should introduce your Beagle Shep to as many training exercises as possible to determine its potential.
Is Trainable but Can Be Stubborn
This mix falls into one of two categories: people-pleasing and easily trainable, or more stubborn. If the latter is true, you will likely need to use food and reward-based training with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. It’s usually best to enlist a certified trainer early on to start strong.
Physical Needs
The Beagle Shepherd is physically demanding. It will not be content sleeping in your apartment all day or going for a leisurely stroll in the morning. You need to be consistent with challenging and varied forms of exercise to keep it happy. It has a lifespan of 10-14 years.
Eats 3 Cups of Food Per Day
Depending on the size of your Beagle Shep, it should eat between 2.5 and 3 cups of dry kibble per day. Puppies of this mix should have a diet of 22% protein, while adults need 18%. You should stick with premium brands that use minimal preservatives and fillers.
Needs 60 Minutes of Exercise Per Day
This mix needs a minimum of one hour of exercise every day. You should break this into smaller sessions and go for walks, play in the park, and socialize. You should keep this mix in an enclosed space or use a long leash because it is prone to poor recall.
View this post on Instagram
Shedding
The Beagle Shepherd can have a short or medium length coat, and has a medium to high shedding level. Those with a shorter coat will need brushing at least twice a week, while longer coated dogs need daily brushing. Use a pin brush to pull out fur and minimize shedding.
Bathing & Grooming
You can bathe this mix once every four weeks. Because of the shape of its ears, you must dry it thoroughly after a bath. You should also get your dog accustomed to teeth brushing. More frequent brushing is better, but you should aim for at least once a week.
Background & Pricing for a Puppy
The Beagle is originally a hunting dog from England. It was used in the UK, Europe, and North America to hunt deer, rabbits, and hares. This breed is prized for its extremely strong nose and instinct for tracking. Beagles are the 6th most popular breed in the United States.
The German Shepherd was bred in the 1800s to herd sheep in Germany. After the Second World War, when the need reduced for herding dogs, this dog became the go-to dog for the police and military. The German Shepherd is the 2nd most popular breed in the United States.
Background
The Beagle Shepherd is sometimes referred to as the Beagle Shep or the Beagleman. The exact history of the mix is unknown. Likely, the mix was first developed in the 1990s to create a dog with a superior sense of smell.
Price for a Puppy
A Beagle Shepherd puppy can cost from US$500-1000. If you choose to use a breeder, choose one that genetically tests the parents, allows you to meet them and the puppy, and is registered. Animal shelters can be an excellent option if you want an adult with an already established personality.
View this post on Instagram
Health Issues
Mixed breed dogs are believed to be less susceptible to genetic diseases because of the mixing of genes. The Beagle Shep is vulnerable to bloat and hip dysplasia, as well as other ailments such as diabetes and Intervertebral Disc Disease. Make sure you find a reliable vet for regular checkups.
View this post on Instagram
Bloat
Bloat is the common name for gastric dilatation-volvulus. It is a swelling of the abdomen that can flip the stomach and send the dog into shock. Symptoms are a swollen abdomen, retching, discomfort, and drooling. Dogs with narrow chests are more vulnerable to bloat. It can happen at any age.
You can reduce the likelihood of bloat by feeding your dog smaller meals and scattering food, so they eat slower. You should also avoid exercising your dog half an hour before or after eating. Bloat can also be genetic, so you should ask your breeder about the dog’s parents.
Hip Dysplasia
Beagle Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia. This condition happens when the ball and socket of the hip joint are misaligned. It causes difficulty in movement. Hip dysplasia is believed to be genetic and is more common in large breed dogs. The age of onset is from four months.
You can give your puppy glucosamine supplements. You can also reduce the likelihood by buying your dog from a breeder who genetically tests the parent dogs. Ask the breeder for a copy of these tests. You can also ask for hip scores to know if hip dysplasia is likely.
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.