Do Beagles Shed?

Written by Katelynn Sobus
Published: September 30, 2022
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Beagles are known for their distinct howls, hunting abilities, and, of course, their adorable tricolor coats! If you’re looking for a new addition, you might wonder how much beagles shed and what it’s like grooming their fur.

Beagles shed moderately, around the same as other dogs of their size. However, their coat grows thicker during the winter months, and they blow out this thick undercoat in the spring. This means additional shed for part of the year.

When it comes to grooming, beagles require low maintenance, requiring weekly brushing and bathing only as needed.

Continue reading to learn more about these vocal hounds, how much they shed, and what to do to keep your beagle’s coat from getting out of control!

Beagle Coat Characteristics

Coat LengthShort
Shedding LevelModerate
Grooming NeedsBrush coat once weekly
Fur or Hair?Fur
Hypoallergenic?No

Why Do Beagles Shed So Much Hair?

Why are dogs are better than cats?

Beagles shed so much because their coat is dense.

©kobkik/Shutterstock.com

Beagles shed so much because their coat is dense. It’s also a double coat, which means the coat has two layers.

In the winter, the coat becomes thicker to protect your beagle from cold weather. This means that in the spring, Beagles have a shedding season where they blow out their undercoat.

Extra grooming during this time of year will keep you from picking up the fur from other places. It will also keep your beagle cooler and help its coat do what it does naturally, such as regulating body temperature and resisting dirt and water.

Do Beagles Smell?

Beagles are hunting dogs. They love being outside and don’t mind getting dirty, so they might smell sometimes. However, Beagles don’t naturally have more odor than other dogs.

Dogs do have a natural odor to them, though, which you’ll likely notice more when they’re wet or have just been outside.

To keep your beagle smelling fresh, bathe it regularly with dog shampoo. Between baths, dry shampoo can be used to get rid of bad smells.

Also, clean your dog’s teeth and ears regularly. This will keep it from getting ear infections, which can smell, or having bad breath!

A good diet will also help your beagle’s dental health and prevent both bad breath and gas.

Some causes of excess odor can include skin infections, ear infections, dental issues, and problems with the anal glands.

How Can I Stop My Beagle From Shedding?

Oldest Dog: Butch, the Oldest Beagle

Beagle shedding can only be controlled, not stopped.

©iStock.com/androsov58

Unfortunately, your beagle is going to shed year-round. While you can control the shedding, you can’t prevent it from happening.

Here are some ways to make your beagle shed less:

  • Brush it at least once a week or every few days during the shedding season in the spring.
  • Use a deshedding brush to rake out the undercoat—but don’t overdo it, as this can cause damage.
  • Bathe your beagle with deshedding shampoo.
  • Feed your beagle a high-quality diet to support its coat health.

In addition, here are some tips and hacks for cleaning up beagle fur from around the house:

  • Make sure your vacuum has a pet attachment: These attachments have bristles on the end and are great for picking up hair from furniture, stairs, and stubborn spots on the carpet.
  • Purchase a carpet rake: This product is amazing for getting stuck hair out of the carpet. You might be surprised how much it picks up!
  • Buy a reusable lint roller to save money and the environment!
  • Groom your dog outside when possible, so its fur isn’t flying around the house.
  • Use blankets or covers on your furniture: Brush the fur off outdoors and wash in the washing machine as needed.
  • Dog hammocks for your car will block fur from your back seat and the floors, saving you time when cleaning.

How to Groom a Beagle

When we think of grooming, we sometimes think of just brushing our dogs or giving them a quick bath. However, there’s more to it than that!

Below, we’ll go over each step one by one. I’ll also discuss how you can use grooming time to give your dog a quick “health check,” which can help you to learn what’s normal and what’s not. This can help you to detect parasites and illnesses early.

Here’s the quick run-down on how to groom your beagles:

  • Brush their fur at least once weekly with a bristle brush or hound glove.
  • Bathe them as needed with a dog shampoo.
  • Trim their nails once a month or as needed.
  • Brush their teeth at least once weekly.
  • Clean their ears once a month.

Brushing Your Beagle

Dog, Summer, Happiness, Springtime, Grass

Going over your beagle’s coat with a bristle brush or hound glove will help remove loose fur.

©iStock.com/Solovyova

Throughout most of the year, going over your beagle’s coat quickly with a bristle brush or hound glove will be enough to remove loose fur and keep its coat healthy.

Spring is when beagles shed the most, so you might choose to brush them more frequently until they lose their winter coat.

When brushing your beagle, it’s a good time to look at its skin and feel its body for any lumps. Gently run your hand down its back, legs, and around its tummy.

Part the fur down to the skin and look for any redness, debris, or pests. If your beagle has dandruff, it might be a sign of dry skin or a poor diet.

Bathing Your Beagle

Beagles don’t need baths very often, but you can bathe them as needed. These energetic pups might get into mischief by rolling on smelly things outside or splashing through the mud!

Other times to bathe your beagle is if you notice an odor or its fur feels greasy.

Human shampoo won’t hurt your beagle in a pinch, but it’s better to use dog shampoo. It’ll remove odors better and won’t dry out your dog’s skin over time like human soaps tend to.

If your beagle has dry skin, consider using a dandruff shampoo or following up its bath with a dog conditioner. Coconut oil also works great as a moisturizer.

Trimming Your Beagle’s Nails

Here’s how to trim your beagle’s nails:

  • Locate the quick: This is the pink spot at the base of your dog’s paws. The quick is full of blood, so it’s important not to cut into it.
    If your beagle has dark nails, the quick might be impossible to see. Research lighter-colored nails to get an idea of where the quick is located, and be careful to only trim the tip of each claw.
  • Get your beagle used to the idea by handling its feet: Practice touching your beagle’s paws briefly while petting or teaching it to hand you its paw on command. Once it’s used to this, begin spreading the toes and looking at the nails like you would before trimming them.
  • Show your beagle the nail clippers: Let it get used to them touching their paws without trimming first, offering treats for cooperation. Also, allow your pup to hear the sound of the clippers, as some find this scary at first.
  • Trim the tips of the nails, being sure to avoid the quick: Make straight, clean cuts with a sharp pair of nail clippers. Dull clippers can fracture the nail, which will hurt your dog if it splinters down to the quick.
  • Stop bleeding with cornstarch or flour: Accidents happen, especially when you’re still learning! Usually, cutting the quick isn’t a huge deal. If it continues to bleed for more than a few minutes, see a veterinarian, as the cut might be serious.

Remember that it’s okay to trim your beagle’s claws little by little if this is all it’ll allow. It’s better to walk away and come back later than it is to push forward when you and your dog are frustrated.

If your beagle has dark nails, you might prefer a nail dremel or scratch pad made to file dogs’ nails. These are less likely to damage the quick.

Or, if you don’t feel comfortable trimming your beagle’s nails, bring it to a veterinarian or groomer to have it done. Never allow them to grow out indefinitely, as they’ll begin to curl into your beagle’s paw pads.

Long nails can also get caught on things or break unevenly, causing your beagle pain.

Brushing Your Beagle’s Teeth

Search and rescue dogs - Beagle

Brushing your beagle’s teeth can help prevent dental problems.

©eAlisa/Shutterstock.com

Brushing your beagle’s teeth can help prevent dental problems, especially as it ages. It’s best to train your pup to accept teeth brushing as young as possible.

Daily teeth brushing is best, but weekly is also good. Be sure to use dog toothpaste; never one made for humans. Our toothpaste is meant to be spat out, but it’d be hard to train a dog not to eat something after putting it in its mouth!

There are two popular types of toothbrushes for dogs: one goes on your finger, allowing you to reach into their mouth with some more flexibility. The other is longer and like a human toothbrush, but usually with two sides that wrap around the tooth.

When brushing your beagle’s teeth, use gentle back-and-forth movements. Pay special attention to the teeth on the sides, as these are the teeth that do most of the chewing.

You can also offer dental chews either instead of or in addition to brushing their teeth on your own. Though these aren’t as effective, they’re still better than nothing!

If you notice any swelling or redness of the gums, cavities, or tooth decay, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

If your dog’s teeth are very dirty, your vet can also clean them professionally. This is typically recommended once a year, whether you brush your beagle’s teeth.

Cleaning Your Beagle’s Ears

Lastly, cleaning your beagle’s ears is an important part of your grooming routine. This should be done monthly or as advised by your veterinarian. Dogs with frequent ear infections or allergies might need their ears cleaned weekly.

You can use either a solution provided by your veterinarian or a small amount of baby oil. Add your ear cleaner to a paper towel, cotton pad, or q-tip.

Flip your beagle’s ear over so that it rests atop its head, then gently clean the underside of its ears. You can use q-tips or cotton balls to get into the grooves of the ear, but never stick anything into your dog’s ear canal.

This can cause damage to the ear, including hearing loss. It is also likely to wedge the wax further into the ear, potentially causing a blockage your veterinarian will need to clear out.

If your beagle has a lot of excess wax inside the ear canal, or you notice any redness, swelling, or abnormal discharge, contact your veterinarians. They can clean your dog’s ear safely and diagnose any issues your dog may be having.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © jlsphotos/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Katelynn Sobus is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on pets including dogs, cats, and exotics. She has been writing about pet care for over five years. Katelynn currently lives in Michigan with her seven senior rescue cats.

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Sources
  1. American Kennel Club, Available here: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/beagle/
  2. American Kennel Club, Available here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-ear-infections/
  3. NexGard, Available here: https://nexgard.com.au/parasite/mites/does-my-dog-have-ear-mites#:~:text=Ear%20mites%20live%20in%20the,unpleasant%20odour%20from%20the%20ears.
  4. WebMD, Available here: https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-skin-problems-in-dogs
  5. VCA Animal Hospitals, Available here: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/allergy-general-in-dogs
  6. VCA Animal Hospitals, Available here: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/anal-sac-disease-in-dogs
  7. VCA Animal Hospitals, Available here: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs