Pocket Beagle – Full Breed Profile

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
Pocket Beagle is a small size dog who loves being around people. If neglected they will show you how powerful their bark is. Check this article for more info on the breed.
Dog Breed Group:
Hound Dogs
Height:
7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight:
7 to 15 pounds
Life Span:
10 to 15 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

?

How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

?

Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

?

Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

?

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

?

How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

?

Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

?

Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

?

Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

?

If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

?

Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

?

What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

?

Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

?

Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

?

Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

?

Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

?

How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

?

Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

?

Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

?

Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

Pocket Beagle is often described as one of the fluffiest and cutest dog breeds alive.

They are friendly, playful, and one of the first ‘teacup dogs’.

This tiny dog dates all the way back to Medieval times. This is what makes this breed one of the first teacup dogs.

Did you know that teacup dogs existed for almost 1,000 years before this popular term was coined?

Is there any difference between this teacup dog and others of similar size? Read on and discover what makes this breed so unique.

Quick Facts

Real name: Pocket Beagle
Other names: Teacup Beagle, Miniature Beagle and the Old English Pocket Beagle
Breed type: Hound Dogs
Weight: 7 to 15 pounds
Height: 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 10 – 15 years
Litter Size: 4 – 6 puppies
Color: Any hound color is acceptable
Coat: Short and thick coat

Pocket Beagle History

When it comes to the origin of mixed dog breeds it’s very tricky to get to it. It’s usually much easier to explore the parent’s history and try to see the bigger picture.

Yet, this breed works a bit differently. It’s known that this tiny dog got developed in the 19th century.

The exciting part is that there are ancient Greek documents stating that back in 400 B.C. the world knew of Beagle-like dogs.

It is also known that these pocket dogs were very popular in early England.

Pocket Beagle Physical Appearance

In the terms of appearance, the Pocket Beagle is just a shrunken version of the popular Beagle.

How tiny are they? They are usually half the size and weight of a typical Beagle.

They shouldn’t have more than 15 pounds and they rarely stand more than 7 to 2 inches tall at the shoulder. They will look like tiny Beagle. They have floppy ears, just like Beagles commonly have.

Eyes are big and brown, more of a round shape than the almond shape that is common in this breed.

As for the color, there aren’t a lot of surprises. They will resemble Beagles’ coat color and patterns, just fitted to their size.

Along their back, they can have a large spot known as ‘saddle’ and it comes in a different color, often black, dark brown, or red. They can come in other colors as well, although that is not so common.

Their coat should be smooth and silky, like in regular Beagles.

Their fur is always straight, and there shouldn’t be any waves or curls in the coat. The coat is also weather resistant.

Pocket Beagle Personality

These dogs have huge hearts and great minds. Their readiness to enjoy every day is bigger than their entire body, and they aren’t afraid to show it.

They will enjoy time with their humans just like how much they will enjoy time well-spent in the dog park.

These tiny dogs will usually develop a strong connection with their human family members and will do whatever is in their power to keep them happy and entertained.

As an extremely friendly breed, they will want to be friendly with everyone that they meet, both from the human and animal world. These miniature dogs are always ready for some kind of adventure. Whenever they go they will form a new bond. This means that finding a human or dog friend is no issue for them.

Going to the dog park more than once? They are up for it.
Checking the neighborhood even on rainy days? They are up to the challenge.

Miniature Beagles may be small, but they will surprise you big time with how intelligent they are.

If bored, they will do their best to find the right kind of fun. This means that they are mischievous in their nature. They are also vocal when they are not satisfied with the treatment that you are giving them.

If they feel neglected anyhow they will bark. Howling is also something that they can do like larger Siberian Huskies, so make sure that you have enough time and energy to dedicate to this small size dog.

Otherwise, you will learn what a bored dog looks like. Pocket Beagles are active dogs who love to explore around.

They will be more than happy to join you on road trips, hikes, and regular walks around the park.

One thing is certain, once you welcome this breed into your home you will always have someone to make you laugh.

Pocket Beagle Training

Training this breed should be fun. Not only that they are smart, but an experienced dog owner should have no issue while training them.

They are quick to learn, they enjoy delicious treats and reward-based training in general. No dog should ever experience any rough handling.

If you feel like you need training support, think about hiring a professional dog trainer. In the meantime, prepare toys, and make the training sessions fun, short, consistent, and exciting.

Pocket Beagle Exercise

Pocket Beagles may be small in size, but don’t let that trick you into believing that they need a fair amount of exercise.

These small size dogs are huge energy lovers, and next to regular walks they will demand extra exercise.

All in all, do not focus on their size but look at them as a typical Beagle in a petite version.

These dogs are active and playful, and nothing excites them like spending time outside. Although they are fast to cuddle next to your feet and enjoy your television show with you, they still need regular toilet breaks and additional walks.

All in all, to keep them happy and healthy, allow them 30 minutes of exercise outside.

This is a minimum, as they need at least an hour of exercise daily to keep those joints strong and healthy.

Pro tip: Be extra careful and patient when in the walk with this breed, since they need more time walking than you may expect.

Pocket Beagle Grooming

If you want to keep your Pocket Beagle happy and healthy, you should think about grooming practice.

One doesn’t get to own a dog without implementing the right grooming practice.

Grooming isn’t about your dog looking good, it is about keeping his coat clean, his teeth strong, and his nails in order.

Did you know that longer nails in dogs can lead to pain, and eventually spine-related issues? This is why monthly nail trimming or grinding is so important.

If keeping Fido’s nails in order sounds like too much work for you, or frightened you, you can always think about professional dog grooming services.

Professional dog grooming services may cost you a bit extra, but they will save you money.

Still, do not miss the benefits that come with grooming. For example, for dogs brushing is much more than a clean coat – it’s a bonding experience with you.

Plus, while brushing your dog’s coat weekly you will actually have an opportunity to check his coat for fleas and any sign of skin infection.

To make the entire grooming process fast and stress-free make sure that you invest not only in the right grooming tools, but also tools that are of high quality and high efficiency.

That being said, here is what regular grooming should consist of:

  • Brush dog’s coat weekly
  • Trim or grind dog’s nails monthly
  • Check gums weekly
  • Brush teeth when needed and if your veterinarian recommends it
  • Check eyes daily for any sign of eye discharge
  • Bathe only when its really needed

If you have to brush your dog’s teeth or bathe him, make sure that you do it by using only dog-friendly shampoo.

This way you will prevent any accident and focus only on providing the best care possible.

All in all, Pocket Beagles should be easy to maintain. Their coat is kind of short and a good brushing should make brushing easy and fast.

They may be small, but they do shed. This means that you should expect more intense shedding during the shedding season which occurs in spring and autumn.

During the winter season, their coat naturally becomes thick and strong.

This is how they are kept warm during the chilly days, and they will naturally remove that coat once the days become warmer.

During the summertime, you can also expect heavier shedding because their coat will blow out to allow air to pass through and cool their body temperature.

Are Pocket Beagles Hypoallergenic?

Hypoallergenic dogs are popular as dogs that do not shed. However, although they are often promoted as no-shedding dogs you should know that all dogs shed a certain amount.

They may not cause heavy allergic to people and it may be to people with allergies easier to be around specific breeds, that that are known as hypoallergenic breeds, but if you have allergies make sure that you know for sure if a dog is a pet for you.

If you are not sure, think about spending a few hours per day with a dog (a Pocket Beagle perfectly) and see how you will react.

Ask a friend or a family member to spend some time with their dog and start from there.

Again, know that spending a few hours with a dog in someone’s house or outside, isn’t the same as having a dog 24/7 with you every day of a week.

Long story short, Pocket Beagles are not hypoallergenic. They shed and they will shed tremendously during the summertime.

Pocket Beagles Health

Before you get a dog you should know if you want to adopt or buy it. If you are an adoption you should check your local shelter first.

You will be surprised to discover how many purebred and mixed breeds are there waiting for their perfect human family.

Not only that adopted animals are great companions, but adoption is also a very humane thing to do since you will literally save a dog’s life.

If you decide to buy a dog, you should do your best to find not only a reputable but also a responsible dog breeder.

By dealing with responsible dog breeders you are actually getting a healthy dog.

Responsible breeders will:

  • Present you medical documentation on the puppy
  • Show you the facilities
  • Let you meet the bitch
  • Ask you a lot fo questions
  • Check your background as a dog owner
  • Provide tips of further care

In some cases, a breeder might even tell you that in a case of a hardship you return the dog to them. This isn’t the rule, but it’s not that uncommon.

All in all, if you want a 100% healthy puppy deal with responsible dog breeders only and avoid puppy mills.

Initial lower price on the puppy usually means a lot of emotional baggage and a higher veterinarian costs later on.

No matter how trustworthy your breeder might be, you should take your Pocket Beagler to your vet for a full check-up.

After that provide regular flea and tick protection and enable regular vaccination.

Pocket Belages are tiny dogs. As a general rule, toy breeds are prone to many health issues.

These issues are mostly present due to poor breeding practices, which is why we can stress enough the importance of finding a responsible dog breeder.

Some of the health issues that this breed might face include:

This doesn’t mean that your dog might experience any of these disturbances.

It just means that you should be well aware of these conditions and do your best to keep your Pocket Beagle healthy.

The best way to have a healthy and strong dog is to stick to regular veterinarian check-ups. This way you will keep track of your dog’s weight and overall health. If you want to learn more about the difference between Pocket Beagle and regular Beagle check this compare dog breed tool.

Compare Dog Breeds: