Beagle Breeder?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a beagle breeder? We've been trying to foster, but the process to find a good fit is emotionally-draining with elementary aged kids. We would like one sooner rather than later...any reason not to just get one from someone trying to rehome on Craigslist? Will add that I don't want to support any breeders who raise beagles for hunting, so one for house pet preferred.

[Anonymous]

you know it is an outdoor dog

[Anonymous]

If you are willing to head down to Madison County, VA, the animal shelter (in Orange, I think?) is wonderful. I went with my coworker to adopt a hound from them, and they had close to 100 dogs, but they had wonderful policies in place to keep it from being a depressing place. It's a no kill shelter with play yards and foster homes and adoption days, and they were able to help us find a good fit for her. Tons, and tons of hounds down there.

If you're set on a beagle puppy from a breeder, start doing your research. A good breeder has the following:

1) Parents are health tested (and breeder is transparent with these records) for whatever is common in the breed. Hips/elbows/eyes at a minimum. A "1 year health guarantee" is a joke and means nothing. Look for x-rays, records, proof that your dog will not be lame by age 5.
2) Breeder should be able to answer why s/he bred dog A to dog B. "Dad's drive balances out mom's people loving" or something.
3) Parents should be titled in something. You say you want a pet. Find a breeder who has therapy dogs. I would expect a good beagle breeder to have hunting titles or nosework titles, even if you don't intend to do that with the dog.
4) There should be a return guarantee clause in the contract, stating that if at any time you can no longer (or no longer want to) care for the dog, the breeder will take it back. A good breeder does not want their dogs in shelters.
5) Everyone has different thresholds, but a decent breeder IMO only has a few dogs, and maybe one or two litters tops per year. The breeders with 7 dogs and multiple litters on the ground at a time scare me. How do you properly socialize 10 puppies at a time? Along the same lines, what are their breeding plans? Are they breeding back to back heats? Breeding dogs before a certain age? All red flags.
6) I'd look up the AKC breed club and go to a event locally and start talking to people whose dogs you like to get an idea where they came from. Most any good breeder will have a wait list--they won't breed until they know there is demand for their dogs, so it won't be a situation where you can walk home with one next week.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a dog from craigslist. Many people with children find it easier (and cheaper) than going through the 20 questions a breeder or rescue will ask you. That being said, realize that the people on craigslist are oftentimes desperately trying to get their dog out of their house (due to eviction, travel, whatever), so they oftentimes...leave out...certain details. Amazing how all the dogs on CL are housetrained, great with kids, know all these commands, and don't bark! But yes, CL is a great option if you can be flexible with training in case unexpected surprises pop up (much like with any dog!)

[Anonymous]

Rural kills shelters are FULL of homeless beagles. There is no reason to go to a breeder, esp if you don't want to use it to hunt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rural kills shelters are FULL of homeless beagles. There is no reason to go to a breeder, esp if you don't want to use it to hunt!

+1 It is not like you are looking for some exotic breed. Lost Dog & Cat Rescue and all of the other rescue groups have more beagles than any other type of dog, from what I have seen. And I am on the websites a lot. Please at least check some out. On Petfinder.com you can search by breed, gender, age, etc., and it lists available pets from lots of area shelters.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 23:05, I'm feeling really lost about all of this. We just saw an adoptable, adorable pup, but it turns out it's half daschund, which we wasn't stated on Petfinder. So, I come home after we all fall in love with her, do the research on the breed and see that she will only be able to walk 1/2 mile and we want a dog who can do long walks. I would have never known had they not casually mentioned it.

Then, we were going to take home a rural high kill shelter beagle, but fortunately she went home with a foster for a week and we heard that she was intensely scared when she was inside, cowering when someone put a plate on the table, and never coming out of hiding because she likely had never been inside.

Soooo, a breeder baby wasn't first choice, but I can't help but crying, along with my kids, at every lost opportunity dog. I know there's no perfect fit dog, but I'd like one that's close. This is a first pet, and while we're ready to train, we're not equipped to deal with extra special cases.

[Anonymous]

We've been on Petfinder daily for months and it does take a lot to match with a dog. We're approved with several organizations. We lost one dog at the last minute due to the foster changing her mind.

[Anonymous]

23:05 again.

I honestly would not recommend a puppy for a first pet. Puppies are challenging. Raising a puppy properly is a lot of work. (Google Ian Dunbar's "before you get your puppy" and "after you get your puppy" free pdf downloads for an idea of what you're in for).

If it were me, I would recommend finding a 2-3 year old dog. Email the rescue or call the shelter and describe what you want. "I'm looking for 20-30 lbs, able to go on hour long hikes, willing to chill in the house during the day while we work, good with kids, no fear issues" and see what they say. A good group will work with you and find what you want.

A dachshund isn't limited to half mile walks, by the way. I do agility with a dachshund who also competes in earth dog trials and hikes with his mom all over the place at 8 years old. My best friend has a doxie mix who was a farm dog with her for years, chasing the rats around the barn and walking miles with her each day.

If physical prowess is really important to you and you go the breeder route, please please please make sure you check the x-rays for the dog's hips, knees, and elbows.

Have you talked to the folks at BREW? All beagles! Tell them what you want, they'll help you out

http://www.brewbeagles.org/

[Anonymous]

23:05 AGAIN.

Take rescue groups' breed guesses with a grain of salt. You say you wouldn't have known she was half doxie unless they told you. Unless the rescuers saw mom and/or dad, there is no way to know what the mix is. They are guessing just like you are. You can guess--short legged/long backed often means corgi or dachshund, but it's not a guarantee. Genetics do funny things.

All that to say, just because a petfinder ad says a dog is 100% beagle, it doesn't mean they are, and just because it says half beagle/half dachshund, that may not be accurate either. Far more valuable to take each dog as 100% individual, and ask questions about it specifically. "As foster mom, have you noticed any issues after lots of exercise? What's the longest walk you've done with him? How does he react to cats? How does he handle new/novel situations?"

The internet can tell you that beagles do xyz and are capable of abc, but that doesn't mean ALL beagles do that--just that breeders who are adhering to the functional breed standard should be producing beagles who do that.

[Anonymous]

23:39, you gave me the chuckle I need to stop worrying and go to bed. This whole chapter started with BREW Beagles; by far the worst organization we have worked with. They don't want to adopt beagles, they just want to hang out with beagles and socialize. If we failed their criteria, they didn't bother to let us know they just never contacted us after we showed up at adoption events, and paid their fee.

So, if anyone reading this wants a beagle, don't expect much from BREW.

I can recommend the other rescue agencies around town, though I was upset that one very highly regarded one let the foster within 48 hours of our adoption.

I get what you're saying about not knowing, but I'm really trying to be responsible so we don't end up rehoming. I'm finding adopting to be challenging, even if it's the best thing to do (for the animals).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 23:05, I'm feeling really lost about all of this. We just saw an adoptable, adorable pup, but it turns out it's half daschund, which we wasn't stated on Petfinder. So, I come home after we all fall in love with her, do the research on the breed and see that she will only be able to walk 1/2 mile and we want a dog who can do long walks. I would have never known had they not casually mentioned it.

Then, we were going to take home a rural high kill shelter beagle, but fortunately she went home with a foster for a week and we heard that she was intensely scared when she was inside, cowering when someone put a plate on the table, and never coming out of hiding because she likely had never been inside.

Soooo, a breeder baby wasn't first choice, but I can't help but crying, along with my kids, at every lost opportunity dog. I know there's no perfect fit dog, but I'd like one that's close. This is a first pet, and while we're ready to train, we're not equipped to deal with extra special cases.

Beagles can't do long walks. You know they are also very stupid, right? I mean that kindly. If you are looking for an intelligent dog, you don't want a beagle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 23:05, I'm feeling really lost about all of this. We just saw an adoptable, adorable pup, but it turns out it's half daschund, which we wasn't stated on Petfinder. So, I come home after we all fall in love with her, do the research on the breed and see that she will only be able to walk 1/2 mile and we want a dog who can do long walks. I would have never known had they not casually mentioned it.

Then, we were going to take home a rural high kill shelter beagle, but fortunately she went home with a foster for a week and we heard that she was intensely scared when she was inside, cowering when someone put a plate on the table, and never coming out of hiding because she likely had never been inside.

Soooo, a breeder baby wasn't first choice, but I can't help but crying, along with my kids, at every lost opportunity dog. I know there's no perfect fit dog, but I'd like one that's close. This is a first pet, and while we're ready to train, we're not equipped to deal with extra special cases.

Homeward Trails is a very good group with a lot of beagles. Also, you need to grow a pair. Finding the right dog when fit is the most important criterion can take a while and it likely won't be the first dog you see online. It's a process, just like it would be with a reputable breeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 23:05, I'm feeling really lost about all of this. We just saw an adoptable, adorable pup, but it turns out it's half daschund, which we wasn't stated on Petfinder. So, I come home after we all fall in love with her, do the research on the breed and see that she will only be able to walk 1/2 mile and we want a dog who can do long walks. I would have never known had they not casually mentioned it.

Then, we were going to take home a rural high kill shelter beagle, but fortunately she went home with a foster for a week and we heard that she was intensely scared when she was inside, cowering when someone put a plate on the table, and never coming out of hiding because she likely had never been inside.

Soooo, a breeder baby wasn't first choice, but I can't help but crying, along with my kids, at every lost opportunity dog. I know there's no perfect fit dog, but I'd like one that's close. This is a first pet, and while we're ready to train, we're not equipped to deal with extra special cases.

Beagles can't do long walks. You know they are also very stupid, right? I mean that kindly. If you are looking for an intelligent dog, you don't want a beagle.

Um, wrong. Beagles can "outwalk" people up until their old age. And they are not stupid, far from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rural kills shelters are FULL of homeless beagles. There is no reason to go to a breeder, esp if you don't want to use it to hunt!

+1 It is not like you are looking for some exotic breed. Lost Dog & Cat Rescue and all of the other rescue groups have more beagles than any other type of dog, from what I have seen. And I am on the websites a lot. Please at least check some out. On Petfinder.com you can search by breed, gender, age, etc., and it lists available pets from lots of area shelters.

+2 Homeward trails always has TONS of beagles b/c they bring them up from southern VA or WV. Check out their website! Honestly, there is no reason to go to a breeder when there are lovely beagles just begging for homes!

[Anonymous]

Homeward Trails does have some that appear to be beagles. I 'm looking at their dogs - Marilyn [clearly a collie mix] has sweet expression and had a litter. https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/28877173
Here's the link to the litter which they state is a "Collie/English Bulldog Mix" implying Marilyn was a collie who mated with an English Bulldog. Obviously the puppies have the markings of a rottweiler or doberman. Black coat with brown in distinctive places.

Could that have come out from Marilyn's sire?