How to identify a Pure-bred Beagle?

Seeing the bond between my dog and me, my neighbor decided to get one beagle, too and started searching for a healthy beagle puppy. A few days back, she came to my door looking all confused and asked me, ‘How the heck should I identify a pure-bred beagle puppy?’

By its tail, you can quickly identify whether the beagle is purebred. A purebred beagle will always have white color on the tip of their tail. It could be the entire tail or a few white hairs at the tip. So if you see a beagle without any white in its tail, it is most probably a mixed breed. Another way to identify a purebred is by its paws. All four legs of a purebred beagle are white. 

Physical Indicators to identify a Purebred Beagle Puppy

To recognize a pure puppy, the following identifications should be noted carefully:

Tail: As I mentioned above, the easiest way to identify a purebred beagle is by their white tail. Purebred beagles will always have a little while on their tail.

Paws: All the four paws of a pure beagle are white.

Ears: Beagle breed has large fluffy ears that usually end below their face as compared to the other breeds.

Legs: Legs of beagles are usually small compared to their bodies.

White Streak: Mostly, all beagles have a white streak on their heads. Although few mixed-bred beagles also have a white streak on their heads.

Color: Beagles come in different colors, with the two most common being tricolor, which is a combination of black, white, and brown. Again, a few beagle mix breeds also have tricolors. You can read this to learn more about Beagle Colors. By the way, here are some of the rarest beagle colors.

You can watch this video for better understanding:

Behavioral Indicators to identify a Purebred Beagle Puppy

Howling/barking: Beagles are known to be very vocal about their feelings. A pure-bred beagle would make a variety of different sounds to express himself. They howl when they are bored. They bark when they are scared or in pain. They wine when they want your attention. You will start noticing these sounds slowly and gradually after they are two months old.

Sniff: Beagles have excellent noses and love to sniff things. They would smell every new thing they see. Fun fact: Beagles have more scent receptors than most dog breeds.

Training: Beagles are challenging to train, not because they are stupid, but because they are too intelligent to get trained.

Few other ways to identify a purebred beagle puppy

You can always consult a veterinarian. If you need to be 100% sure that your beagle is of pure breed, then you can test his DNA. Results will accurately tell you what bloodline your dog comes from and whether he is a pure or a mixed beagle.

NOTE: While getting your puppy, make sure the breeder hands you over the Kennel Club Registration Certificate and a diet sheet.

How to identify if the Beagle puppy is healthy?

While getting a puppy, it is necessary to check some of the general health considerations. In this way, you can welcome a healthy puppy to your family.

Find out the puppy’s age.

Every beagle puppy should be kept with their mother and siblings for at least eight weeks. The puppy must learn social behaviors from his parents. It is recommended that the puppy is allowed to be in contact with his littermates and parents for the first 13 weeks.

So try not to separate a puppy from his littermates and get one which is at least eight weeks old.

Puppy’s hygiene

Check how clean the breeder has kept the puppy. Puppies have low immunity and are more likely to catch an infection. It is essential to keep the puppy clean. There are a few indicators you can look for when you meet a new puppy:

Bright Eyes: The beagle puppy’s eyes should be clear and bright. A little redness is fine.

Clean Ears: A Beagle’s ear should be clean from the inside without any redness or scratches. Dirty ears may cause ear infections or even ear mites. If the puppy is constantly scratching his ears, then it’s a no-go. Another way to identify a puppy’s ear infection is by smelling his ears.

If you notice a foul odor coming from the puppy’s ears, then he definitely has an ear infection. Ask the breeder to show the pup to a vet immediately.

Clear Nose: A running nose is a sign of illness. The puppy should not sneeze extensively. Coughing is not a good sign, either.

Examine the puppy’s coat.

The beagle puppy should have a clean and shiny coating on his body. Bald spots or irritated, red areas on his coat/body are indicators of skin problems or allergies.

Little mud on his body is okay, but if the puppy’s coat is dirty, stinky, and rough, then he could have worms. So be aware. As soon as you recognize something similar to the pup, let the breeder know about this asap.

You can smoothly part out the puppy’s fur and take a look at his skin. The skin of the beagle puppy should be clean and smooth as well. Take your time and look for fleas under his coat.

Check his muscles

Examine the pup’s body and check the muscle definition of his legs. Make sure the puppy has a healthy body and is not thin. Look for his stomach and make sure his belly is not shrunken inside.

Examine the puppy’s potty.

If possible, have a look at the puppy’s potty. The puppy’s stool should be firm. Watery or loose stool is a sign of severe health problems.

If the puppy licks his genital region a lot, then it is an indicator of urinary tract infection.

Notice the puppy’s energy level.

Mostly, healthy beagle puppies are comparatively more active. You can observe the energy level of the puppy and see how he interacts with you.

Watch his energy level. In addition to the physical symptoms, you should evaluate the overall energy level of the puppy. Watch his interaction with other puppies and see how he interacts with you.

This doesn’t mean that calm puppies are not healthy. When I went to the breeder to get a beagle, I had two options; one was quiet and not that interactive, and the other one was very playful and active. I, of course, made the active one a part of my family. A week later, a friend of mine went to the same breeder and got the other calm litter. It’s been four years, mine and his both the litters are perfectly healthy.

Get the Vet records of the puppy

Make sure you ask for the past vet records and vaccination certificate of that puppy. If the breeder refuses or cannot give you the records, think twice before getting a puppy from that breeder.

Why is it necessary to learn about the puppy’s health before getting one?

Raising an unhealthy puppy is very difficult. Sickness during the initial period can leave long-lasting health problems for your beagle puppy. Long-term and continual health problems need constant care. This may also affect the entire family.

Raising an unhealthy pup can get really expensive for you. The overall cost, including the vet and other supply of the first year of a healthy beagle puppy, could go anywhere from $500 to $2000. And for an unhealthy puppy, it may double or even triple the amount. So it is necessary to do proper research about the puppy’s health before getting one.