What Age Beagle is Right for Me?
Now that you have decided to adopt a beagle, what is the best age to fit your lifestyle? Although we believe there is nothing cuter than a beagle puppy, they are not right for everyone. The most successful adoptions are those where the adopters have realistic expectations as to the behavior of the beagle they are adding to their family.
Beagle Personalities by Age
Beagle Puppies (3-12 months)
Puppies are generally very energetic. Beagle puppies are no exception. In fact, some might call them hyper. They are typically alternating between running around, sniffing and sleeping. Beagles are driven by their noses and as beagle puppies start to investigate their environment, their nose can get them into trouble. Combined with the fact that they will pretty much eat anything, beagle puppies need to be closely monitored at all times.
Puppies are getting their adult teeth from about 3-6 months and chew on everything, including you. This can be mistaken for aggression, but rarely is. Use positive reinforcement to redirect your beagle’s attention and substitute an appropriate item. Puppies investigate their surroundings with their mouths, so they are merely trying to learn.
“It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more puppies.” – Unknown
Young (1-3 years)
Although young beagles look like adults, they are still puppies at heart. They need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to remain healthy and out of trouble. Beagles who don’t get enough physical and mental stimulation often pick up undesirable behaviors. At this stage, young beagles may begin demanding attention if they feel it is lacking. They are still quite playful, often wanting to play constantly and have difficulty chilling out. As they approach adulthood, they are starting to listen better and can self-entertain better. They are settling into the family’s routine and are showing their loving and affectionate personalities. They are getting better at “reading the room” and are able to chill when the family is. This is a great stage and given enough exercise, attention and mental stimulation, young beagles are a lot of fun!
“Adding a puppy (or young beagle) to your home is like having a toddler in the house. It takes about 3 years for puppies to gradually grow out of various puppy behaviors.” - Jeanne L.
Adult (4-8 years)
The adult beagle is loaded with personality! They are active, energetic, playful, affectionate and stubborn. They still need exercise but are calmer and more settled. They have more of a balance between activity and chilling out. Adult beagles are a mix of fun and companionship.
Senior (9+ years)
The senior beagle is still active although is slowing down. They spend more time chilling out than running around. They still love to follow their nose and can get more stubborn about it. Senior beagles are all about companionship.
