A Beagle Labrador mix, also know as a Beagador, is regarded as a “designer dog” breed. It is created by crossbreeding a Labrador and a Beagle. This mix originated from the United States and has risen in popularity over the last three decades.
If you’re a sports lover yourself, you’d love the Beagador. It’s known to have many talents and is great at dog sports. Beagadors are the perfect dogs to take along for your evening jogs! If you’re considering a Beagador and wondering if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle and family, read on to find out more!
Also Read: About the Corgilab
History of the Breed
Since the Beagador is a mix of the Labrador and Beagle, we must consider the histories of both breeds.
The Labrador Retriever originates from Northwest Newfoundland, Canada and can be dated back to the 1700s. They helped their owners who fished to bring in hooks, lines and fish and were also treated as family companions after a long day’s work.
In the early 1880s, the visiting Englishmen observed all this and were impressed by the Labrador Retrievers’ work ethic and disposition. They then decided to bring some of these dogs back to England where they helped in hunting trips. The USA then imported some Labrador Retrievers from England in the 1920s.
In current days, the Labrador Retriever no longer hunts and is simply bred as a family pet. You may sometimes see these dogs work as narcotics detection dogs or even guide dogs for the blind. Their intelligence and loyalty to their human companions have not declined since the 1700s and they have continued to help us in our lives.
Although the Beagle’s origin is not entirely clear, they can be traced back to 1800s. They were bred for their hunting qualities which was supported by their keen sense of smell. Their unique bark also made it easy for hunters to locate them if they found fallen game.
Nowadays, the Beagle is just a fun, gentle and goofy house pet, making them great with children. The beagle is not always obedient and may ignore their owner’s pleas. But they are ultimately still good at heart. Despite this, it is still one of the most popular dog breeds in the US.
Beagle Retriever Mix Appearance
The Beagle Retriever Mix is a medium-sized dog that measures about 19-24 inches tall and weighs about 25-45 pounds. The breed’s appearance can vary since it can sometimes be more inclined towards a Labrador and sometimes be more inclined towards a Beagle. In other cases, it could even be a combination of both.
The breed has a long and narrow muzzle and usually takes the body height and head of its Beagle parent, while its torso is longer in length. The dog’s ears dangle down and it has a smooth, dense and short coat. The dog can come in various colors, including black, brown, fawn, tricolor, red, orange, tan and white.
In general, these characteristics are determined by chance since it all depends on which purebred parent the mix takes after.
Beagador Temperament
Similar to the appearance, the Beagador temperament heavily relies on the purebred parents’ own behavioral traits. However, in general, the Beagador is an inquisitive, friendly, loyal and energetic dog. It can get over-excited and out of control at times since it loves to play around and have fun. The high-energy of the mix comes from the sporting/hunting background that both pure breeds possess.
The Beagador also loves to take naps and cuddle a lot! Similar to a fun-loving kid, the Beagador may sometimes be stubborn. However, it remains intelligent and attentive. As a house pet, it gets along very well with everyone, including seniors and children since it is patient and relatively laid back.
Additionally, it is a protective dog so it will take care of the family. The Beagador does not like isolation and can get bored or experience separation anxiety. If left alone for too long, they may exhibit destructive behavior or bark or howl.
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Training Needs and Requirements
Since the Beagle Retriever Mix is an incredibly high-energy breed, it requires constant activity and exercise. This means that, you, the owner must give it sufficient physical exercise on a daily basis. This usually means that you must dedicate 30-40 minutes of vigorous exercise for your dog. However, if your dog still remains hyper, it may be a sign that it needs more than that amount of exercise.
To provide your dog with activity, you may consider bringing it to a dog park or playing games with it. This is particularly important since Beagadors have a tendency to get fat. While playing with your dog, you may consider training it and socializing it too. It should be easily trainable since the breed is usually smart and eager to please. However, if you catch your dog while it is feeling stubborn, it can be tough to train it.
Regardless, by encouraging it and rewarding it when appropriate, you will successfully train it. Firmness, patience and consistency are critical and will help you in the early stages of training. To socialize your dog, you should take it on walks on public trails or paths and hang out in parks, to get your dog used to the people around, the sounds and the smells.
The training and socialization process is particularly important in the early stages while the dog is new or young.
Lab Beagle Mix Shedding: Grooming Needs
This mix breed has low to moderate grooming needs since it shed infrequently. This means that you only need to brush your pet once or twice a week to keep its coat shiny and healthy. You should use a brush with medium-sized bristles.
However, your dog will still need regular bathing, teeth brushing, nail trimming and ear checking to prevent other health problems or infections. Baths should be given a few times a month, nails should be trimmed once or twice a month if it does not wear down naturally and ears should be inspected every two weeks for infections.
Feeding Requirements
Beagadors love food and will eat all-day if given the chance. Hence, it is important to measure your dog’s food and prevent it from over-eating.
Dry kibble is important for your dog and you should keep its daily amount of food to between 1.5-2.5 cups. The chosen foods will depend on your dog’s age and lifestyle.
Lifespan and Health Concerns
Typically, a Beagador has a lifespan of 12-15 years. A Beagador is prone to inherit health issues from its parents. These issues include eye problems, Beagle Dwarfism, bloating, OCD, epilepsy, Intervertebral disk, skin problems and Hypothyroidism.
If you want to check if your mix is healthy, you might choose to ask the breeder about the health conditions present in the parents so you may anticipate potential illnesses. If you already have a puppy, you should get an Early Health Screening of your dog so that you can avoid or prepare for future problems.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a friendly and reliable house pet, the Beagador may be a good choice for you. The light-hearted and happy pet is sure to bring happiness to the family. However, be sure that you can dedicate at least 30-45 minutes to give your Beagador time for physical exercise. Or else it will get obese and unhappy.
You should also be wary of the potential health problems your Beagle Retriever Mix can get. Due to cross-breeding, it seems to have more possibilities for health conditions. However, we proper preparation and screening, this can either be avoided or prevented.
If all of the above sound good to you, add a Beagador to your family!
