Beagle Shepherd

Canis lupus

Last updated: May 27, 2024
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
KatherineHouseham/Shutterstock.com

This dog can perform a wide range of exotic and acrobatic tricks that are not expected of a dog this size.


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Beagle Shepherd Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Beagle Shepherd Conservation Status

Beagle Shepherd Locations

Beagle Shepherd Locations

Beagle Shepherd Facts

Fun Fact
This dog can perform a wide range of exotic and acrobatic tricks that are not expected of a dog this size.
Temperament
Vibrant, friendly, protective
Diet
Omnivore

Beagle Shepherd Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
  • Tan
  • Silver
Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
10-14 years
Weight
56 lbs

Beagle Shepherd as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
High
Separation Anxiety
High
Preferred Temperature
Warm climate
Exercise Needs
High
Friendly With Other Dogs
Moderate
Pure bred cost to own
$500-$1100
Dog group
Non-sporting
Male weight
22-56 lbs
Female weight
22-49 lbs

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The Beagle Shepherd is an enthusiastic and clever dog that can be trained to do the most amazing circus-like tricks, which is surprising to find in a larger dog.

The beagle shepherd is another hybrid breed that has emerged from the recent frenzy of designer dog creation. As is typical of such efforts, the originator of the breed is not fully known or acknowledged.

In any event, a beagle shepherd can resemble a sort of paper doll-style creature that has a very definite German shepherd body and a very obvious beagle head and floppy ears placed on top of it. It is not unattractive by any means but it distinctly shows the evidence of the dog’s crossbreeding.

The history of the beagle may go back to 5th century Greece. These dogs hunted in search of foxes, rabbits, and other small prey. In the 1500s, beagles became well-known in England as they hunted in packs with English gentlemen in search of deer, rabbits, and foxes. This dog’s persistence, excellent sense of smell, and loud howling bark made it a helpful companion for hunters. 

Originally bred, starting in 1899, by Max von Stephanitz to assist shepherds by using various herding breeds, the German Shepherd is an exceptionally intelligent working dog breed. They excel as guardians in positions of service and make for loving and loyal additions to the family.

With the beagle as a hunting hound and the German shepherd as a guard and herd dog, the crossbreed tends to take some of the protective edge off the shepherd and replace it with the happy-go-lucky genetics of the beagle, yet the beagle’s keen instinct to hunt via scent remains a very dominant trait.

3 Pros And Cons of Ownership

ProsCons
Nobody is ever going to sneak up on you as long as you have this dog around. The Beagle’s signature baying and the Shepherd’s acute sense of hearing combine to create the perfect intrusion alarm for your property.Due to its shepherd heritage of guarding and its beagle heritage of alerting, this is a dog that will bark at almost anything. It can, of course, be trained to not bark as much as it is bred to, but it will never be a quiet dog.
Anything you want to teach this dog, it has the mental facilities and the innate desire to learn, and it will not forget what it has been taught.This breed is not wired for living a solitary life. It cannot be left alone for long without it baying and becoming somewhat destructive. It must have a companion dog or the presence of a human to keep its character in proper balance.
This dog is a superior family companion, especially with children old enough to play until they drop.Hunting on the scent means that it is prone to getting on the track of something and following it despite commands or other negative stimuli. Out in public, it may well disappear if it is not kept firmly on a leash.
Beagle Shepherd lying in field

The beagle shepherd is a noisy, busy dog that can learn anything you teach it.

Size And Weight

Unlike many designer crossbreeds, the Beagle Shepherd has proven to be something of a wild card when it comes to size and weight. Consider that a male beagle might be 12-15 inches high and 20-30 pounds in weight. An adult German shepherd male can clock in at anywhere from 24-26 inches in height and 65-90 pounds in weight.

Beagle shepherds thus have a very wide range of body sizes to choose from. The normal expectation is that they will come in at anywhere from 16-24 inches tall and 22-56 pounds in weight. Females run slightly smaller with about 15-22 inches in height and 22-49 pounds in weight. Even that “average” covers a very broad range and it is possible to find beagle shepherds at the low end of the beagle range or the high end of the German shepherd range. The overall size is much less dependable with the beagle shepherd than is seen in other designer dogs.

Height (male)16-24 inches tall
Height (female)15-22 inches
Weight (male)22-56 pounds
Weight (female)22-49 pounds

Common Health Issues

While one of the main benefits of a designer crossbreed over a long-established purebred is that it has greater genetic diversity to fight off inherited health problems, the beagle shepherd has some definite health concerns. Like most other dogs, these are often geriatric in nature.

Like many of the other short, long dogs, this hybrid can be prone to IVDD, or Intervertebral Disc Disease, which is a premature decay of the spine. This degenerative condition can improve to some degree with surgery but is progressive.

Things such as obesity from overfeeding and under-exercising are not breed-specific, nor are the possibilities of cataracts later in life. The same goes for that most canine of diseases known as hip dysplasia or degeneration of the hip bones. Epilepsy is a factor in both breeds but this can generally respond to medication.

On the German shepherd side of the family, the main risks come from various forms of intestinal tract issues that are more common in these dogs than overall. These can include such things as pancreatic troubles, bloat, and anal functioning problems.

Temperament

This dog combines many admirable traits which can produce a very desirable mix of characteristics. The German shepherd’s loyalty and alertness to danger combine with the beagle’s temperament of playfulness and high energy.

It also carries some downside risks in the wrong environment. Beagles like to talk and were bred to hunt smaller creatures. This can lead to issues with barking and also represents a danger to other neighborhood or household pets that may not have proper socialization with their new family member. They like to chew on things, so it is very important to make sure that they always have something proper to chew on or else they will select something else.

Care

Apart from what one would do for any dog, there are some things that require particular emphasis when caring for this breed. Due to their eagle ears, they need regular examination and care to guard against ear infections.

Their high-energy personality manifests itself in two ways. First off, they require a high degree of exercise. This means plenty of rough-housing as well as regular and strenuous walks that should include at least some amount of actual running.

Secondly, they require near-constant companionship. You cannot leave one of these dogs alone for any appreciable length of time without risking trouble in the form of separation anxiety of one sort or another. They may howl, they may chew, and they may run around and break things. If you cannot be with your dog, you must have other dogs to keep it in line while you are away.

Best Dog Food

This breed burns a lot of calories. As a result, it should be fed high-quality dog food in quantities of about 1 ½ cups per meal twice a day. So long as they exercise, occasional treats or table scraps can work.

At regular appointments, discuss the ideal diet with the vet to address any health concerns. Try to seek out food with specific ingredients and nutrients that cater to this breed’s range of potential conditions.

The A-Z Animals recommendation of the best dog food for Beagle Spaniels is Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dog Food.

This blend with balanced fiber and prebiotics is easier on your dog’s digestion. The high protein from lamb fortifies the muscles and the glucosamine promotes solid joints. With well-rounded nutrition like this, your Beagle Shepherd will stay in good shape for a great shot at long-term wellness from head to toe.

Check Chewy or Amazon for this product.

Best for Large Breed
Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
  • Adult large breed dry dog food for large breed dogs 15 months or older, weighing over 55 lb.
  • Promotes lean muscle development and joint health in active adult dogs with a combination of animal protein, chondroitin sulfate, and glucosamine.
  • Helps keep dogs sharp and supports healthy brain function with DHA and vitamin E.
  • Fuels an active lifestyle with optimal levels of fats and carbohydrates.



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Maintenance And Grooming

Beagle coat genetics seem to predominate. This means that the breed is relatively low maintenance so far as grooming is concerned. The dog will shed, particularly in the spring when it sloughs off its winter coat. A regular program of brushing about 2 or 3 times a week is sufficient to keep things untangled and the blood circulating properly.

Training

One of the best things about a Beagle Shepherd is that it is an easy dog to train in most ordinary things, Yet it is also very intelligent and playful, so it is also possible to instruct it in more elaborate tricks with relative ease.

The one thing to avoid when training one of these dogs is punishment. They have long memories and have held grudges for some time from mistreatment. Patient repetition and a judicious award of treats will bring large rewards in terms of a very entertaining animal.

Exercise

Beagle Shepherds not only need a lot of exercise but they also need variation in their exercises. If trapped in a continuous rut, they will soon become bored and unresponsive. It is thus necessary to include more than just a casual walk as their daily regime. Running, walking, jumping, playing, should be part of their normal schedule. A short walk or run is not enough. They require a good mile-and-a-half or two miles of exercise daily in order to keep them in peak condition.

Puppies

Beagle Shepherd puppies need three things. Owners must carefully instruct them on what is proper to chew on and what is not proper to chew. It is also best to work with them on when and how much they should bark under various circumstances. The Beagle is meant to hunt and to constantly announce its presence. This instinct can get out of hand in an urban or suburban setting. They must also be very carefully introduced to other house pets so that they recognize them as part of the family from an early age. Otherwise, their hunting instinct may kick in at unwelcome times and focus upon unwanted targets.

Children

This is a very good dog for children due to their indefatigable energy and playfulness. It can, however, grow to a larger size than expected. This can lead to unintentional injuries resulting from a mix of big, happy dogs and small, happy children trying to occupy the same space and time.

Dogs Similar To Beagle Shepherds

  • Shepadoodle – Although it will produce a longer-haired specimen, the poodle shepherd cross sometimes called a Shepadoodle offers many of the same attractive features of the beagle shepherd but without the same level of worries about barking.
  • Shollie – If you are looking for something larger, then a German shepherd and border collie mix might be good. This produces a much larger dog but comes with the caveat that it is not really an indoor dog at all.
  • German shepherd Australian shepherd mix – The Australian shepherd and German shepherd mix produces an excellent dog that is again not really the size for indoor living but has more of the protective and herding instincts of its two shepherd parents. Losing the beagle instinct for hunting and howling is not necessarily a bad trade-off unless you use your animal on the hunt.

For the boys:

  • Dino
  • Snoopy
  • Max
  • Champ
  • Willie

For the girls:

  • Suzy
  • Claire
  • Daisy
  • Ebony
  • Angel
View all 386 animals that start with B

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Beagle Shepherd FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is a Beagle Shepherd?

A Beagle Shepherd is a cross between the two recognized breeds of German Shepherd and Beagle. The dog is generally colored black or brown with red, white, liver, tan, or blue patches. They can be a solid color, two-color, or three-color dogs. So far as size is concerned, the breed can be anywhere from small Beagle size to large German Shepherd size. There are limited guarantees when it comes to the size of the hybrid, even if the parents are known.

How big will a Beagle Shepherd mix get?

A Beagle Shepherd can range anywhere from 20 to 90 pounds with an average size of about 55-60 pounds. They can be a very big, rather small, or medium-sized dog.

Is a Beagle Shepherd a good family dog?

Overall, this is a very fine family dog with the one caveat that they can grow to be very large dogs. Due to their playful nature, there is some risk of incidental injury to smaller children if playtime gets too rough. They are loyal, protective, and alert to any danger confronting their family. There is some evidence that they are not as fanatical in defense as a purebred German Shepherd would be.

Are Beagle Shepherds aggressive?

With regard to attacking people, the answer is generally no. Beagles do get very persistent when on a game trail. German Shepherds can be stout fighters when their pack or family is at risk. This would generally equate to a strong defense rather than an unprovoked offensive attack on people.

What is the lifespan of a Beagle Shepherd?

These dogs are generally expected to have a lifespan of about 12-14 years.

How much does it cost to own a Beagle Shepherd?

Puppies can be obtained from reputable breeders for anywhere from $500-$1100. While many designer breeds are seldom seen at rescue shelters, anyone looking for a Beagle Shepherd might want to check. There are simply some households where these dogs do not make a suitable companion but would do excellently for someone who is more active or has more space to let them roam.

Maintenance for one of these dogs is likely to run in the $50-60 per month range. They do eat 3 cups of food a day and need plenty of chew toys to wrestle around with.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources

  1. Your Dogs World / Accessed April 17, 2021
  2. The Happy Puppy Site / Accessed April 17, 2021
  3. Alpha Paw / Accessed April 17, 2021
  4. Dog Breed Info / Accessed April 17, 2021
  5. Green Garage Blog / Accessed April 17, 2021
  6. All Shepherd / Accessed April 17, 2021