Differences Between Beagles and Dachshunds

When it comes to dogs, there are a lot of breeds that people love. Some people prefer beagles because they have cute faces and big ears. Other people like dachshunds because they’re small and playful.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the differences between beagles and dachshunds. We’ll give you enough information to, hopefully, decide which is better for you.

Differences Between Beagles and Dachshunds

For one, they have very different body shapes. Dachshunds are long-bodied dogs with short legs and feet that point outwards, whereas Beagles are comparatively more square in shape. They also have different personalities.

Beagles are typically friendly and outgoing, while dachshunds tend to be more aloof and wary of strangers. Though Dachshunds are affectionate when around their favorite people.

If you want an active dog to take on walks or even hunt with, beagles are your best bet. 

Dachshunds aren’t recommended for active people who plan to vigorously exercise their dog every day. 

Dachshunds are smaller, shorter, and longer. They aren’t built for long walks. They are the perfect apartment pet, so long as you can train him not to bark.

Overview of Beagles

Beagles are known for being one of the cutest and friendliest breeds, but they’re unfortunately not easy to train. 

They also can make unusual noises, such as baying or howling, that some might not enjoy hearing.

Beagles were first bred to be used as hunting dogs. Their medium size made it easy for hunters to keep up with the Beagles on foot. They are a “foot hound.”

Beagle’s noses are excellent at detecting prey, which is why they were used as tracking dogs or trailing hounds. Sometimes search-and-rescue teams use them too! Beagles have an intense sense of smell that makes them popular hunting animals.

Overview of Dachshunds

Dachshunds are everything you love about a wiener dog. They’re long and narrow. They have the perfect disposition of any hot-dog lover’s dream pup, but with their small stature comes some downsides.

Their long backs can make them prone to back pain and certain conditions.

Dachshunds were originally bred in Germany to flush out badgers that were living in the burrows of hunters.

They are hunting dogs and have a strong instinct for digging, which is why they’re so often used as detection animals during hunts or search-and-rescue missions. Their long bodies allow them to reach deep into holes where other breeds cant fit.

Temperament and Behavior

Both breeds have good temperaments. Even though they’re both hounds, the Beagle and the Dachsund differ quite a bit as far as personality goes. 

Beagles are friendly, outgoing, and love to be the center of attention. They’re also highly intelligent dogs with a very high trainability rate, making them fairly easy for first-time dog owners–despite their stubborn nature.

Beagles generally don’t bark much, but some howl when left alone, usually from separation anxiety. Thankfully, my Beagle doesn’t do this, but I lucked out. 🙂

Beagles are highly energetic dogs. They get along well with most other breeds, and they love to be surrounded by many people. Beagles make great family pets because of how social they are.

Dachshunds may be small, but they are known for their bravery and courage. They are very intelligent and pretty easy to train. They are also known for being good guard dogs because of their protective nature regarding their family and other animals.

Dachshunds love attention, but they’re not so outgoing or friendly as Beagles can be; some people might say Dachies seem standoffish. It’s been over 20 years since I’ve had one, but I can say that this is true.

Both breeds are affectionate and develop strong bonds with their owners. This can cause them to be needy and clingy at times.

This also means that both breeds can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Both breeds make noises, but Dachshunds tend to have a higher-pitched bark while Beagles have a medium tone, which I find less annoying. Some Beagles do howl, though, so there’s that. Dachsunds usually don’t howl, but some can.

Dachsunds are more likely to be aggressive, and some might say they’re snappish. I agree with this, but it also depends on their living environment and how well they’ve been trained.

Both breeds can also be on the stubborn side, as far as personality is concerned. They are very intelligent but can be a little difficult to train.

Beagle Health Issues

Beagles are more prone to certain health issues and less to others. Here are some that Beagles are known to have problems with.

• Beagle Dwarfism. Yes, Beagles can have dwarfism. It’s a genetic disorder that causes a dog to be smaller than normal. It can also cause problems with the breed’s hip and joint systems, which is why it needs so much more care in some cases – or if not bred correctly for any pup of this type.
• Hip Dysplasia. My first Beagle had this. It was difficult for him to walk. He’s bunny hop on the days he walked too much. Hip dysplasia is when the dog’s hip socket is too shallow, so the ball of their femur bone can’t fit properly. It causes pain and restricted movement.
• Eye Problems: Beagles are susceptible to eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, or corneal dystrophia. 
• Cherry Eye. This is a condition that will affect the Beagles’ third eyelid. (Yes, your Beagle has a third eyelid! NOT a third eye!) It’s like a water bag that is filled with fluid, and it can fall from the eye if not taken care of properly
• Beagle Bloat. Beagles are a medium breed. Bloat is more common in larger breeds, but Beagles have big deep chests that can make it easier for gas to build up. They also love food so much they might eat too quickly or excessively.
• Obesity. This is the most common health condition associated with Beagles. They love to eat, and they’re always hungry.

Dachshund Health Issues

Dachshunds are prone to several health problems, too, that owners should be aware of.

• Intervertebral Disk Disease. This involves a herniated disk in the lower back. It’s caused by their long back shape and can be painful. This disease can be treated with surgery in some cases and managed with pain medication in others.
• Hyperthyroidism is more common in Dachsunds. It’s caused by their metabolism and can lead to weight loss, an increased heart rate, or nervousness. It is diagnosed with a blood test that measures the levels of thyroid hormones in your dog’s system.
• Eye Problems – They can have the following eye conditions: Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
• Laryngeal paralysis – a dog’s larynges are paralyzed, and it can be hard to breathe or bark, which is why they’re also known as “barkless dogs.” This condition might require surgery, but there has been some success with medication.
• Obesity. Dachsunds are hounds. They love the smell of food and will follow their noses straight to wherever the food is. They aren’t in love with food as much as Beagles are, but still enough to have a problem with packing on the pounds if allowed to overeat. This can cause concern if they have Intervertebral disc disease, as the extra weight on their spine can cause it to collapse.
• Heat Stroke – Dachshunds are short-haired dogs that love going outside in any kind of weather and running around for hours at a time. They can easily exhaust themselves on hot sunny days, making heat strokes possible during the summer months.

Do Beagles and Dachshunds get along?

Yes. Dachshunds and Beagles make an excellent pair and are fully compatible with each other. They are both friendly breeds and have a lot in common. They can be loyal, loving companions for one another and will likely be inseparable.

Both Breeds love food but Beagles more so. Because of this, you should keep them on the same feeding schedule and not allow your Beagle to steal food from the Dachshund.

He will likely try to take the food from the Dachshund if he’s allowed to get away with it. The little buggers, but I love them!

Beagle Dachshund Mix

The Dachshund Beagle mix combines the spunky personality of the Beagle with the Weiner shape of the Dachshund. Ultimately, the stronger parent breed will determine the appearance, but many have long Weiner bodies like the Dachshund.

They are not considered popular crossbreeds but are somewhat common to see, especially in shelters.

They can weigh between 11-32 pounds and grow up to 15 inches in height.

These mixed breeds are prone to certain hereditary health issues that you should consider before adopting one. They can have problems from the Beagle or the Dachsund in their ancestry.

They are also known as Beaschunds and Beweenies. You can often find them at animal shelters as not many people breed them intentionally.

So please opt to adopt! Especially if you’re looking for an addition to the family with lots of affection in return.

They don’t like being left alone, so they would be best suited for homes where there is someone home most days that have time on their hands too. This is because both parent breeds tend to suffer from separation anxiety when left alone.

Beagle Dachshund Mix Colors

Beaschunds come in a wide range of colors, so it’s not surprising that you’ll find many color combinations. A Beagle Dachshund mix may have tan or black as its base coat with white and golden patches on the chest and feet.

Chocolate brown is another common mix. 

Rare colors include bright reds, tans mixed with black stripes, goldens mixes with silver spots; even some are born completely white!

Beagle Dachsund Mix Activity Level

Beagle Dachshund mises are active dogs and need at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Still, experts recommend not only two daily walks. Experts also suggest plenty of playtime keep them happy and healthy.

So now you know the differences between beagles and dachshunds. They are two very different breeds that pair well together, should you decide to get one of each.

Do you have experience with Beagles vs. Dachshunds?

Let us know what you think in the comments!