Beagle Dog
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Breeding Your Beagle
Important Elements
All Beagle owners should think very carefully before breeding their dog. Many owners of beautiful Beagles want to know how to breed a Beagle. One must keep some very important elements in mind and also be diligent to strengthen the Beagle bloodline. A great breeders does so for the "Betterment of the Breed" and keeps away from "Designer Dogs". This is most likely a trend and trends can disappear quickly. If you wish to breed your Beagle, it is highly suggested to breed a purebred to purebred.There is a lot more involved than just having a male and female dog. Let’s look at some of the important elements Beagle breeding information.
- Finances. It requires an investments to acquire quality purebred Beagles. Even if you have a female you may need to pay for a stud service, etc. Aside from that cost, be ready to be able to cover veterinarian bills, very high quality dog & puppy food, baby gates, crates, blankets, bottles, droppers, dishes & bowls, grooming supplies, dog toys, medications and always have a reserve for an emergency C-section.
- Time. Those newborn puppies need to have a careful eye on them around the clock. Hypoglycemia is just one of the many health issues that can suddenly strike a newborn puppy. All puppies and dogs need to have a good amount of time with their owner for proper socialization. If you do not have the time to devote to your Beagles, breeding is not for you. To allow the dogs & puppies to live the majority of the time in crates or cages is very unethical.
- Emotional strength. Even the best breeders in the world experience loss. Even with years of experience, there may be puppies who do not make it. Aside from that heart-wrenching aspect, when all goes well, how will you feel when the puppies go to their new homes?
When it is the Correct Time to Breed
Weight: It is okay if the female weighs more than the male; however the male Beagle should never weigh more than 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) over the weight of the female Beagle. It is best if the female weighs more than the male. Please note: Taking two very small "runt" Beagles and breeding them together to produce unnaturally small Beagles is extremely unethical and will only produce very unhealthy puppies. Any puppies born from that type of breeding will have huge risks of major health problems.Age: How old should your Beagle be when you breed him or her? A female should be at least 2 years old and have gone through a heat cycle. Beagle females should be retired from breeding by age 7 old and your veterinarian may recommend a much earlier retirement based on individual health.
She can continue to enter heat until she is 12 years old (and sometimes for her entire life). As soon as you know that you will not breed your Beagle anymore, you should have her spayed. This is very important to her health.
Male Beagle dogs should be at least 2 years old.
Health: Both dogs should have full medical checkups. You will want to make sure that both dogs are healthy and that both dogs do not carry any hereditary diseases that can be passed down to puppies.
How Often to Breed
How often can you allow your female Beagle to breed? Each Beagle must be evaluated on an individual basis to determine if their body has recovered and are able to have another litter. The recommended guidelines are as follows:
- It is recommended to wait until your female Beagle is at least 2 years old to have a litter
- You may breed 2 heat cycles in a row and then allow a rest or breed every other heat cycle. Remember, these are guidelines only...your female Beagle should be evaluated by your experienced veterinarian to make sure that she is able to handle this schedule. For example, if your Beagle had to have a cesarean, extra rest in between liters is vital. Alternatively, if her body is slow in recovering and her coat has not come back, she may need more rest. Mother Nature has the final say when all is said and done. However it is important that the female Beagle be given plenty of rest.
- The female dog should be retired from breeding between the ages of 5 and 7. Your vet may decide that your Beagle should retire earlier, perhaps at age 4. Again, medical testing and evaluation must be done for your dog on a regular basis to make sure that she is receiving plenty of rest in between litters and that her body is fully recovering between litters.
Tip: Even is a "tie" does not occur, a female Beagle can still become pregnant. A female, of course will only breed when in heat. A female dog will go into heat about twice a year. However, there is a big misconception regarding this: Once showing the signs of heat, the dog will most likely not immediately breed the first day. For some dogs it is over 2 weeks after the signs! The average time to allow for breeding is anywhere between 1 and 17 days. Every dog is different. The good news is that every dog has a pattern.
Once you figure out what your Beagle's pattern is, you will know exactly which days she is ready. In addition, a female dog does not always want to mate.
Once you know you do not wish to breed your Beagle any more, you should have her spayed. A Beagle that is not spayed in her later years of life may have severe complications of the uterus. It is best for your dog to not breed her...and to have her spayed as early as possible! Spaying even before the first heat eliminated the risk of ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risks of infection.
Other Breeding Issues
For those who are serious in wanting to know all of the details of breeding, such as:- The Health Issues that Only Affect Pregnant Beagles
- What to do Before, During & After Delivery
- How to Encourage Mating
- Where, Why and How to Register Beagle Puppies
- Colors, Markings, Patterns, Appearance Issues
- Detailed Answers to any Beagle Questions….And so Much More...
