Is It Better to Have 1 or 2 Beagles?
Beagles are great dogs to own.
They are super cute, very energetic, and they are super loving. But is just 1 Beagle enough?
Having more than one pet has its own cons and benefits. Sure, it may be more expensive and more work, but having two animals just brings so much more fun into the home.
Is It Better to Have 1 or 2 Beagles?
With Beagles, it’s not a bad idea to have 2 of them. If financials allow, having 2 Beagles can make sure that neither of your Beagles gets too lonely or sad. Giving your Beagle another companion ensures that they will be more socialized and have better mental health throughout their life.
While their short little legs don’t look like they could go far, these dogs have been around for a very long time.
Beagles go back to 16th century England where they were bred as hunting dogs for small game.
These dogs would hunt small creatures such as rabbits and they would hunt as packs to better track and catch their game.
By the 19th century, Beagles were brought over to the United States where they eventually became the average family dog.
When you own a Beagle, you can’t forget about its origins.
Hundreds of years of being hunting and pack dogs make those traits ingrained into their instincts.
Even as a family pet, your Beagle might still want to hunt or form a pack.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Have More Than One Beagle
The main reason why it’s good to own 2 Beagles instead of just one goes back to the fact that they are pack animals.
Beagles thrive in a pack, so when they are separated and alone, they can get lonely.
When these dogs get lonely, they can become sad and destructive.
When Beagles are able to form a pack, no matter how small it is, they will have a companion where they can look after each other.
Beagle buddies will be able to use up their endless energy and allow them to be social even when the humans of the house are gone for work or school.
If you are someone who has to be away for many hours of the day from work and there isn’t a person to stay with your Beagle, having another Beagle can help them from getting bored and destructive.
Two Beagles can keep each other from getting lonely.
What Your Beagle Might Face Without Another Beagle Friend:
- Boredom
- Loneliness
- Too much energy
- Destructive behavior
- Frustration
- Sadness
Having two Beagles in your house will allow them to practice socialization which helps prevent social anxiety, separation anxiety, and social aggression in dogs.
By having a household partner to practice socialization with, your Beagles will do better when they go out and meet other dogs or people.
Your two Beagles can also lead to faster training.
They can help each other learn training commands by encouraging each other.
When one learns a trick, the other Beagle will want to learn that same trick to be just like their friend.
This is beneficial when trying to keep up with training your Beagles.
Why You Shouldn’t Get Another Beagle
While there are so many benefits to having more than one Beagle in your household, there are also reasons why adopting another Beagle isn’t the best idea for all families.
Just because the two Beagles will be able to help take care of each other and be able to play with each other, that won’t replace all the work that you’ll have to do as the owner.
Your Beagles will still need to go on plenty of walks, plenty of playing time and attention from you and be properly groomed.
Having two Beagles instead of just one means double the work, and Beagles can be a lot of work. They have high exercise demands and still need plenty of love and attention from you.
If you aren’t able to provide your Beagles with the proper amount of love and care, you’ll only end up with two frustrated and unhappy Beagles that can wreak havoc on your home.
Before adding another Beagle to your family, make sure that you have the time, money, and resources to care for another animal.
Each animal deserves the fullest amount of time and attention.
If you wouldn’t be able to provide both Beagles with the best quality of life that you can, then it would be better to not add another Beagle to the family no matter how cute they are.
How Much Does a Beagle Need?
Beagles have a lot of energy and need a lot of exercise every day.
40-60 minutes of exercise a day is perfect for your Beagle.
The best way to get their exercise in is by doing 2 walks a day.
A 20-30 minute walk in the morning and another walk in the evening allows your Beagle to exercise and explore at the same time.
Beagles can also get their exercise in by going to the dog park or playing around in the backyard for an hour.
These tiny dogs also have a lot of energy that they need to work out to not become destructive.
What Are the Grooming Needs of a Beagle?
Beagles have coats of very short and straight hair that shed a lot.
To help keep their fur from ending up all over your clothes and furniture, regularly brush your Beagle.
You won’t need to bathe your Beagle too often, but make sure to bathe them every 4 to 6 weeks or when they get really dirty.
When you do bathe them, it’s not a difficult process since they are small with short fur.
However, you do need to remember to take the time to properly clean and check your Beagle’s ears.
The floppy ears of a Beagle are prone to ear infections and can trap pests.
Cleaning your Beagle’s ears will prevent your Beagle from getting sick.
Whether you do it yourself or take your Beagle to a groomer, making sure that their nails are trimmed is very important
Not only will it protect your dog’s paws from any damage, but trimming their nails will also protect your feet if you have a Beagle that tends to step on you.
What Health Problems Are Beagles Prone to Get?
Other than ear infections, Beagles are prone to getting many different kinds of health problems.
Each breed of dog has its own health problems that they are prone to getting, so don’t be startled to see the list of what Beagles are prone to experiencing.
As a dog owner, it is important to be aware of what can go wrong and what the warning signs are.
If your Beagle ever seems to be having a rough time, you should take them to the vet if you can afford it.
First, Beagles are prone to epilepsy.
This causes seizures in dogs that can be startling to both those who haven’t seen a dog have a seizure and those who have.
Epilepsy is one of the health conditions that your Beagle can face that doesn’t have a cure.
Beagles are also prone to hypothyroidism which causes a whole array of symptoms related to improper hormone production.
This is usually diagnosed through bloodwork and can be treated through medication.
However, there isn’t a cure.
Cruciate ligament disease leads to weak knees and knee pain in Beagles.
This is from the ligaments in their knees wearing down over time, like how the wearing down of cartilage can lead to arthritis.
Cruciate ligament disease can usually be cured through surgery, though there is a chance of arthritis still forming
If you notice your Beagle limping around, you should take them to the vet in case they have developed cruciate ligament disease.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to think about and consider before you adopt any pet.
Then, there are even more things to keep in mind if you are wanting to adopt two pets at a time.
Each pet requires lots of love, time, care, and resources to keep them happy and healthy.
Having two Beagles is ideal for the socialization and mental health of your Beagle
These dogs are pack animals, so they love to have more of them around.
They will always have a playing partner and best friend around so they don’t become lonely and destructive.
However, two Beagles are also twice the work.
You have to be able to care for both of these Beagles to keep them happy and healthy
Neglect on these Beagles will mean you have twice the destructive behavior
Make sure that you have the time and resources to properly care for both of them before adopting another Beagle.
Beagles are loving, energetic, and amazing pets to have.
Having two Beagles is twice the fun and twice the love.
If you are looking for a sign to get a Beagle, let this be it.
