If you’re thinking about bringing a new Beagle into the family, then congratulations – these dogs are amazing. Both your and your dog’s lives are about to change for the better!
You have a decision now that’s quite an important one. Should you adopt a Beagle or buy a puppy from a breeder?
This is far from a ‘black and white’ decision, as both have their own pros and cons. Let’s look at both options so you can make an informed decision about where you’ll be looking for your newest family member!
Adopting a rescue Beagle – What are the pros and cons?
You might think that your chances of finding a Beagle at a shelter are pretty slim, but that’s not necessarily the case. In July 2022, The U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated complaints about a mass breeding facility that provided Beagles to laboratories for experimentation, which resulted in the rescue of 4000 Beagles!
While this is just one example, there are definitely Beagles being sent to shelters every day, and they would love a new home with someone like yourself. Let’s look at the pros and cons!
The Pros of adopting a rescue Beagle
Your dog might already be housetrained.
Many Beagles come from homes where they were certainly loved, but for some reason, their owners simply could not take care of them and had to bring them to a shelter.
Many of these dogs are already housetrained and have a good and friendly temperament, and this can save you a lot of stress. If you’ve ever housetrained a puppy before, then you know exactly what we are talking about.
It’s definitely a perk and something to consider, and as a bonus, your dog will already be more easygoing as they will have been spayed or neutered before you take them home!
You’re saving a life.
Statistically, 390,000 dogs hosted in shelters are euthanized every year. While some shelters do not euthanize their dogs, dogs don’t have a very good quality of life there. That’s because most shelters are overpopulated and understaffed.
By taking home just one Beagle, you are helping to give them a good life and, in some cases, even saving their life. It’s a noble thing to do, and your dog is going to love you all the more for taking them away from such a tragic situation.
Adopted dogs are often the sweetest.
Dogs are packed animals and simply do not do well on their own. While they may have some playtime in a shelter with other animals, this is not always the case.
Spending time alone in their cage, except for the occasional walk, is depressing and very hard on animals that are instinctually wired to be social.
Rescuing a Beagle from this makes an enormous difference in their lives. And they will love you all the more for it!
The Cons of adopting a rescue Beagle
Dog may have been abused.
A rescue shouldn’t be taken lightly, and there is always a chance that the former owner was unkind. That means you need to go into this with the knowledge that your dog may have been abused and will require a lot of patience and love to feel safe and accepted in their new home.
It’s an ugly truth but one that you need to be aware of – if you take that Beagle home, you need to be willing to put in the work to help repair their broken hearts instead of simply giving up after a week and putting them back in the shelter.
Trust us – it may take a while, but it’s worth every minute you invest to see the new light and love in your Beagle’s eyes!
Dog may already have health issues.
Some older rescue dogs may have health conditions, so you might need to do a little research to make sure that you have enough resources to care for them.
These dogs still have plenty of love to give, and the shelter can advise you of any health issues they might have in advance.
Buying a Beagle- What are the pros and cons?
Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of adoption let’s see how buying a new puppy from a breeder compares so that you’ll have all the facts you need to make your final decision.
The Pros of buying your dog from a breeder
Genetic history gives you a better idea of their health.
When you buy a puppy from a licensed breeder, you will be given information about their lineage, and this can help you to see if there are any health issues that are passed in their family line.
While regular vet visits can help catch any potential problems early, this is certainly useful information.
Preventing bad habits is easier than breaking them.
If you’ve raised puppies before, then you know that it’s easier to stop bad habits early than it is to get a dog to stop doing something that they’ve already been doing for many years.
An informed breeder can teach you a lot.
A good breeder knows all about the puppy that they are giving you, as they have literally raised generations of that line. They also know more about the breed they are selling than your average joe, which is an experience you can benefit from when raising your Beagle.
You can certainly Google the information, but some potential owners like knowing that they can draw on years of experience, and it’s a phone call to their breeder away!
The Cons of going with a breeder
The Cost
Purchasing a new Beagle pup from a breeder can be expensive. It all depends on their pedigree, really, with the average cost of a Beagle pup being around $550, although pedigreed puts may fetch anywhere from $1000 to as much as $2000.
With rescues, typically, you’ll just be paying for the cost of shots and the spaying or neutering, so adopting a Beagle will cost you significantly less.
The ‘Puppy mill’ risk
Not all breeders can be trusted, unfortunately. With a popular breed like Beagles, there is a lot of money to be made from selling pups. Because of this, many ‘puppy mills’ are out there that raise their Beagles in cramped, often unsanitary conditions with little or no regard for their health.
You can avoid this by checking to ensure your breeder is licensed and by visiting and seeing how the animals are kept firsthand.
If it looks unsanitary and cramped, then it’s a puppy mill, and you definitely don’t want to encourage them by giving them your business.
So, adoption or buying from a Breeder… what will you decide?
As you can see, both rescue dogs and purebred pups have their perks and caveats, but the dogs you bring home will be full of love either way.
We hope that you will use these facts to make the best decision for you and before you get that new Beagle home, check out our channel a little.
We have a lot of information on Beagles and other breeds that we think you’ll find useful, which can ensure that you’ll be well-prepared to make your new family addition feel right at home!