How to Care for a Beagle Puppy

Help keep the newest member of your family healthy.

Beagles are a fun-loving, loyal breed that enjoy nothing more than being with their owners. Beagles are smaller hounds that have a long, slightly rounded skull. Beagles possess a medium-length coat and come in several varieties, including red and white, tri-color and blue tick. Upon adulthood, an average beagle will weigh anywhere between 20 and 25 pounds and will be around 15 inches tall. Beagle puppies will require special care to ensure that these energetic dogs live a long, happy life.

Things You'll Need

• Puppy food
• Water
• Crate
• Soft blanket
• Dog brush
• Wet cloth
• Puppy toys

Instructions

1. Remove any objects on the floor that may harm the beagle puppy. Treat the puppy like you would a small child by "puppy-proofing" the home before the beagle's arrival.

2. Feed the beagle puppy three times a day--once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening. Give the puppy approximately one-half a cup of kibble at each sitting. Feed the puppy the same food as was given by the breeder or wherever it was being fed. A drastic change in the puppy's food supply could greatly affect its delicate digestive system.

3. Give the puppy water at each meal. This will help you monitor when the puppy will need to be taken outside to void. This will make potty training much simpler.

4. Take the beagle puppy outside to void first thing in the morning, after each meal, after a heavy bout of activity and right before bed. Also watch for signs that the puppy must void, such as sniffing around on the floor or whining.

5. Keep the beagle puppy in a crate during the night or when you are away from the home. The puppy will not void where it sleeps, which makes the crate a valuable potty-training tool. Place a soft blanket into the crate to make it more inviting for the puppy.

6. Bathe the puppy only when needed. The short-haired breed only requires a good brushing and a rub-down with a wet cloth in between these baths. Keep an eye on the beagle's larger ears. They can easily become infected.

7. Take the beagle puppy on a walk at least once a day. Beagles are an energetic breed and require a moderate amount of exercise. Beagles are scent hounds and will benefit from the use of a gentle leader or a harness. If the beagle catches a scent its nose will take over and it can be difficult to wrangle on a traditional leash and collar.

8. Offer the puppy a variety of toys to keep it occupied while at home. This will help focus the puppy's natural tendency to chew on an acceptable outlet rather than the living-room furniture.

9. Bring the beagle to the veterinarian for a check-up within the first week of taking possession of the puppy. The vet can check the puppy's general health. Take this opportunity to schedule the puppy's required inoculations, including shots for rabies.

References

• Dog Breed Info: Beagle
• Beagle Training: Beagle Puppy Guide