Do you have trouble deciding between a Labrador Retriever and a Beagle? Well, the answer might be to get a Beagle Lab Mix. In the past few years, hybrid dog breeds have soared in popularity. And the Beagador is the latest example of a designer breed.
In this case, we have two different dogs, but they come together for a wonderful and sweet companion. Beagles are part of the hound group, while Labs are working dogs.
Both dogs are amazing family pets, yet, with some downsides. And when you combine the two, you get an amazing pet that has the best personality traits of both worlds.
Meet The Breed
As with most designer dog breeds, the origins are unknown. When exactly the Beagador puppy came to this world is unknown. But we do know when the first Labrador mixes came to life. According to most historians of the canine world, the first Labrador mix was the Labradoodle. That happened in the 1990s when breeders wanted to come up with a Labrador puppy that didn’t shed as much.
As of 2023, the Beagador hasn’t been studied enough or bred long enough. And as with most hybrid dogs, there is no official breed standard set by The American Kennel Club.
But we do know a thing or two, courtesy of the parent breeds. So, let’s take a deep dive and see what the temperament, appearance, exercise needs are of your mixed-breed dog.
Meet The Parents
As we said before, if we want to talk about the Labrador Beagle Mix and its features, we have to begin with the parents.
Beagle
Friendly, playful, and curious, Beagles have grown in popularity because of their loving personality. Many years ago, they were used as hunting dogs. They are in the Hound Group by The American Kennel Club. But nowadays, they are more family pets than hunting dogs.
There is a simple reason for that. Its friendly and playful personality makes them a perfect dog for families with children. They are not small dogs that you need to be careful not to step on or large dogs that can overpower children. Beagles fall in the ideal middle ground.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the common personality traits of Beagles:
- Playful and energetic, they love outdoor life, active lifestyle, and families with children that play with them
- Friendly and sociable nature, they get along with other animals and people
- They have a natural curiosity, courtesy of their hunting instinct, and love to explore their surroundings
- Loyal to their owners, they enjoy spending time with their family
- Vocal, but they do not bark. Instead, they have a distinct howl to communicate with animals and people
- Independent thinkers, can have a stubborn streak
- Because of their strong sense of smell, they are food-driven. This can make them prone to obesity if you do not provide enough exercise
Labrador Retriever
For many years, this canine was the most popular breed by The American Kennel Club. Recently, the French Bulldog took its spot. But that doesn’t mean that the Lab is far behind. Its outgoing, loving, and friendly personality makes him an ideal family pet.
We have to mention, there are different Labs, but that is mostly about the continent they were bred on.
With that in mind, let’s talk about the common personality traits of the Labrador parent:
- They love to be around people
- Natural tendency to show affection
- Always eager to please their owners
- They have a patient and calm temperament, making them ideal pets for children
- Highly intelligent, they can be trained to do everything
- Because of their intelligence and versatility, they have found purpose as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, companion dogs, and so on
- Love to play games with their family and owners
Appearance
Now that we talked about some personality traits and general information about the parent breeds, let’s talk about the Beagle Lab mix puppy.
When we talk about mixed-breed dogs, it is always hard to predict appearance. The Labbe (a popular name for this mix), is not an exception. In most cases, you will have to wait for your puppy to grow and get a sense of its appearance.
But with that in mind, there are a couple of things we can expect. For example, in terms of size, it will fall in between a middle-size and a large dog. In most cases, a Labbe retriever grows between 19 and 21 inches and weighs from 30 to 75 pounds.
It is safe to say that this designer breed will have a double coat. That is something it inherits no matter which parent has dominant genes. Both Labs and Beagles have a double coat. There is another thing we have to mention. If they inherit the short yet double coat of the Lab, these pet dogs have a water-repellent coat that might have a strong doggy smell. But once your puppy dries up, the smell is gone.
Coat color is too unpredictable to try and predict. Labs come in three colors, yellow, black, and chocolate. Yet, Beagles have 25 possible color combinations, including black, white, brown, tan, lemon, blue, red, fawn, and more. So, try to guess how many combinations are there when mixing a Beagle parent with 25 options and a Labrador parent with 3 options.
Temperament
Next on the list of features is temperament, another thing that can fall somewhere in the middle. While usually, it is hard to guess and predict the temperament, in this case, it is easier. For one, both parent breeds have similar personality traits.
Both parents are friendly and social, making your mixed dog friendly as well. The Beagador puppy loves to interact with other animals, people, and everyone else in between.
They are loyal, active, playful dogs that enjoy the company of others. They do not have an ounce of aggressiveness in them. You can socialize them with any other dog or animal, and they will be the gentlest and friendliest pups.
They get along nicely with children. And their size is a bit more suitable for children. Smaller than Labs, yet bigger than Beagles, they make excellent play friends for children.
We also have to remember they are quite intelligent and need plenty of stimulation. Invest in toys that stimulate your pooch when you are not at home. Or you can play with these toys and improve the bond between you and your furry friend.
As for activity levels, expect highly energetic working dogs. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since both parents are working breeds.
We suggest using a leash until you have a reliable recall. These puppies enjoy activities like swimming, sniffing, and chasing new scents.
Training
Now let’s talk about training. The good news is that these puppies will be eager to please and are willing to work. After all, they are working dogs. The bad news is they have a bit of an independent streak in them.
If you want to motivate your pooch to work, use food. Both breeds are food-driven, making your mixed puppy driven by food as well.
Positive reinforcement is the best method for working with these puppies. The first challenge you need to overcome is their tendency to chase a scent. Make sniffing a reward for good behavior and following you. That is a trick you can use to make sure your puppy follows you and stays close to you.
Invest in obedience training as early as possible. If your dog inherits more of the Labrador gene, it will be more eager to please.
Socialization is also important. Yes, they are friendly puppies. But you have to allow them to explore and experience new things so that they can use their friendly nature.
Exercise Needs
These high-energy pets are best suited for an active family. They do not do well in a household where they do not get as much exercise. Yes, you can live in an apartment, but you need to provide plenty of exercises.
Generally speaking, they need between 60 and 90 minutes of exercise per day. If you cannot provide that, we suggest finding a different pet. They also need plenty of mental stimulation to work their brain.
Combine physical exercise and mental stimulation to train and work your puppy, all while burning its energy.
Health
When it comes to health, we have to mention that the Labrador parent doesn’t fall on the good side. Labs are popular dogs, but they suffer from plenty of health issues. Among them are gastric torsion or bloating, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, cancer, and epilepsy. Beagles can suffer from ear infections because of their floppy ears.
The good news is that by crossing these two dogs, you can reduce the risk percentage. As for life expectancy, they live between 10 and 12 years.
Grooming
If you want a dog that doesn’t shed much, look elsewhere. Sorry, but we have to warn you. Labs and Beagles shed, and their offspring shed as well. While they have a short coat, it is extremely dense.
You need to brush them at least once, preferably twice per week. As for bathing, they do not need frequent baths. Once per 4 to 6 months is more than enough for bathing.
And make sure to pay attention to their ears. Beagles are prone to ear infections, so check their ears regularly.
Why Shouldn’t You Get One?
- They need a lot of exercise, and if do not provide it, they will resort to bad behavior
- Shed quite a lot for a dog with a short coat
- They might need frequent trips to the vet, compared to other designer dog breeds
Why Should You Get One?
- One of the most loyal hybrids dogs around
- They get along with other animals and children amazingly
- Incredibly intelligent, they will pick up commands and cues easily
