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How to Groom a Beagle
Beagles are happy-go-lucky, fun and friendly dogs that make for incredibly loyal, excellent family dogs. Clever and curious, they are incredibly energetic and require lots of attention and playtime.
Beagles enjoy company and love being part of the action! Originally bred as hunting dogs, their pack mentality means they love company and are generally mild-natured and easy-going.
Known for their adorable faces, big brown or hazel eyes and long drooping ears, although they have relatively moderate grooming needs, they are prone to shedding and do need a structured at-home grooming routine to ensure that their coats, skin, ears and eyes stay healthy.
In this guide, we discuss our top tips on grooming and caring for your Beagle to help them stay happy and healthy!
Beagle Coat Statistics
Coat Length: Short
Coat Characteristics: Thick, dense, double-coat, heavier in winter, Weather-resistant, can be rough or smooth
Coat Colours: Tricolour (black, white, light-brown), sometimes mottled
Coat Grooming Needs: Moderate - low-maintenance grooming
Shedding: Shed moderately year-round
Do Beagles Need Grooming?
When it comes to grooming, Beagles have relatively low maintenance needs. They don’t drool or carry much of a doggy odour and shed minimally.
Brushing
Frequently brushing their short, glossy coats with a medium bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or pad or a rubber brush is generally enough to remove loose hair, keep on top of shedding and stimulate blood flow to the skin to promote new hair growth.
Grooming your Beagle is a good way to keep their health in check, allowing you to check for any lumps, bumps, and parasites. It also allows you to check their eyes and ears, which are prone to infection.
Bathing
Beagles don’t often need to be bathed unless they get themselves in a mess chasing a scent! Their short, glossy coats are waterproof and provide great protection from the elements, and although they won’t need bathing often, your Beagle should be bathed at least once every four to six weeks to release oils and cast hairs that could be trapped in their thick, dense coats.
Bathing your Beagle once a month will;
Give the skin a fresh reset
Prevent dry skin issues
Loosen any dead fur
Clean away dirt and debris
Beagles can be prone to skin infections, usually caused by hormonal imbalances in the thyroid or adrenal glands. Seasonal, environmental and dietary changes can also cause Beagles to have skin infections, so when bathing, it’s important to use a mild shampoo formulated for sensitive skin. Follow up with a gentle conditioner for best results.
How often do Beadles need to be Groomed?
Generally, Beagles only need to be bathed every four to six weeks and brushed weekly to stay on top of their shedding and to prevent their pores from becoming blocked. Beagles also require their nails to be cut regularly every five to six weeks to prevent them from becoming overgrown and uncomfortable. A nail grinder is the quickest and easiest way to keep your Beagle’s nails in check.
If you’re unsure how to cut your Beagle’s nails, consult a professional groomer or vet who will be able to do this for you. Once clipped, rub paw balm into your Beagle’s pads to moisturise them and prevent them from becoming cracked and sore. Alongside these essential parts of your Beagle’s grooming routine, you should also regularly check their eyes and ears for signs of infection, and if you notice anything unusual, consult your vet.
Beagle Grooming Kit
Are Beagles Prone to Ear Infections?
Yes, Beagles are prone to ear infections, and as a Beagle owner, one of the most challenging health and grooming requirements you’ll have to learn is how to care for them properly.
Beagles have dropped, or pendant ears, meaning their ears hang down from the side of their head. A Beagle’s ears are rounded and point inwards towards their cheeks and are long in comparison to the size of their heads.
Due to the size and shape of their ears, which fall over their ear canal, blocking air from getting inside, the inside of a Beagle’s ear is an ideal, dark, moist place where bacteria can thrive.
A Beagle’s ears require regular cleaning every two to three weeks (or once a week if your Beagle often suffers from infections) to prevent further problems from developing, such as a build-up of wax, causing potential blockages, or growth in bacteria, which could lead to infection.
How to Clean a Beagle's Ears
1. Hold the flap of your dog’s ear upright.
2. Add a few drops of ear cleaner into the ear near the opening. Then, gently place the tip of the bottle into the ear’s opening and squeeze some drops into the ear (don’t insert the bottle tip further than you can see).
3. Massage the base of your dog’s ear allowing the cleaner to reach deeper into the ear canal to loosen any debris.
4. Allow your dog to shake - this can get messy as loose debris leaves your dog’s ears, so you may want to hold up a towel to protect yourself.
5. Once your dog has shaken, moisten some cotton wool with ear cleaner and clean the top of the ear canal (do this by gently placing your finger and cotton wool gently into the canal without forcing it).
6. If the ear still looks or feels dirty, repeat the process, stopping if your dog shows any signs of discomfort.
7. Repeat the process with the second ear, then reward your dog for good behaviour!
NEVER attempt to clean your Beagle’s ears if you think they may already have an ear infection, as this could lead to further pain and discomfort and could worsen the problem. If you notice any excessive head shaking, scratching at the ears, a bad odour from the ears, discharge or thick wax, or any signs of discomfort, consult your vet immediately.
Should I Groom my Beagle Puppy?
Although Beagles are double-coated, meaning they have a dense outer coat and a soft undercoat that helps to keep them warm and regulate their temperature, they are born with a single coat of soft, new fur!
Beagles don’t shed until they are around one year old, once their double coat develops, but there’s no harm in starting a regular grooming routine with your puppy as soon as you bring it home.
Start by teaching your puppy to sit still when you stroke it, rewarding it for its good behaviour.
Next, introduce touch, allowing your puppy to get used to you touching its paws, teeth and ears.
Finally, when your puppy is more confident, introduce a soft bristle brush, slowly brushing its coat and rewarding it as you progress.
