Health problems that beagles have and are prone to include patellar luxation, glaucoma, epilepsy, central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA), hypothyroidism, distichiasis, chondrodysplasia, cherry eye, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
However the good news is the beagle is actually a pretty healthy dog breed although they can get health problems just like any other dog.
Beagles are very vocal and in fact the beagle is one of the most vocal dog breeds.
Beagles are vocal in three different ways.
The beagle has their standard bark, where they let you know such things as someone is at the door, they need to go out, or they are excited about a new toy or treat.
Beagles like to bark, and for a smaller dog, it is a pretty deep and loud sound.
Beagles howl so much because it's what they've been trained and bred to do.
When your beagle howls it is to alert others that he has picked up a scent or found a wounded prey.
Even if you are not using your Beagle for hunting, he will still use his howl to alert you when he has found a scent, as his hunting instinct is intrinsically part of his breed.
Beagles were developed as hunting dogs, so they have been trained to howl when they spot prey.
Even in domestic households, Beagles will retain this instinct from their past, and may howl when they spot a squirrel, feel lonely, want attention and more.
Beagles do need a lot of attention and they don't do too well when left alone for long periods of time.
The beagle also needs plenty of exercise and needs to get outside and run around as much as possible.
Adult Beagles (over 18 months) should not be left unsupervised for more than 4-6 hours a day.
Beagles left alone for long periods could develop anxiety, become destructive (through boredom), or bark and bay excessively.
Beagles can be lazy although some beagles are more active and less lazy than others.
Most often a beagle is pretty active as a puppy and as a younger adult dog but then as the beagle gets older they the beagle tends to become more lazy.
When mature, a Beagle can become fairly lazy, content to lie about the house all day, getting up for meals and perhaps an occasional scratching of the ears.
Since the beagle is a dog breed prone to obesity, don't let this happen.
Beagles will sleep for around 10 to 12 hours per day.
Beagles will often sleep between 10-12 hours per day; this will usually be spread out between their overnight sleep and the naps they take during the day.
Beagles do run away.
Beagles most often will run away to follow a scent.
In some cases, a Beagle will run off in search of other dogs - since he or she is a strong pack hunter - and the urge to be with other dogs can sometimes be overwhelming.
In addition to their powerful noses, Beagles can also escape out of fear or anxiety, and also boredom.
High energy dogs require more exercise to stay satisfied.
And if your dog is left outside for long periods of time, anxiety or boredom may drive them to attempt to break out and wander.
To stop your beagle from shedding as much feed them high quality food that can protect their coat and also brush the beagle often.
Brushing your beagle helps to loosen the beagles fur and get old fur out of the way for new fur growth.
Using a high-quality rather than cheap brush can also benefit you because it will remove more of the beagles fur and ultimately cause your beagle to shed less.
Feed your beagle high-quality dog food because poor nutrition can cause excessive shedding.
Beagles should be washed 2 to 3 times per month.
If you bathe your beagle too often then that will harm them and strip their essential body oils, and cause itchiness.
So don't bathe the beagle more than 3 times per month unless the beagle is actually dirty and needs a bath to clean them.
Beagles do stink because of the oily skin they have which releases an unpleasant smell through the beagles oily secretions.
Also beagles were bred to hunt in packs, so they have a distinctive doggy odor that helps the pack keep track of each member when chasing prey.
Beagles boast a close, oily coat like most hounds, and longer ears that may get infected if not maintained.
Can you get rid of Beagle smell?
No, you can't get rid of a dog's natural smell. It emits this odor through natural chemical processes, similar to a human's body odor.
You can minimize the smell of a beagle, however, with body cleaning and oral hygiene.
Beagles have a higher concentration of odor-producing microbes which love damp and wet environments.
Their coat absorbs moisture and releases an unpleasant smell through oily secretions of their sebaceous glands (hair follicles).
Although most dogs will have that typical 'wet dog' smell, beagles tend to have it worse.
Beagles should be bathed between 2 to 3 times per month.
However bathing the beagle more than 3 times per day could do more harm than good.
Dogs are not like humans who love to bathe twice or thrice on a summer day.
If you bathe your beagle too often then that will harm them and strip their essential body oils, and cause itchiness.