How to Prepare for a Beagle Puppy

Preparing your home for the newest member of the family should begin way before your pup's arrival. Once you've decided to bring home a Beagle, it's time to go shopping! Your new best friend will need a high-quality puppy food, food and water bowls, a harness and leash, ID tags, a crate, a nice bed, and toys. Your Beagle puppy will shed moderately year-round, so have grooming supplies on hand as well. Puppy-proof your house by moving all loose and hazardous items, such as medicines and cleaning supplies, out of reach. As a scent hound, your Beagle will constantly be sniffing around, so remove everything that you wouldn't want them to get a hold of. If you have a yard, be sure to install a fence that's at least 5 feet tall and extends underground, as Beagles are known to be escape artists!

Set times for when your Beagle pup will be fed, walked, played with, and taken to the bathroom. If you live in a multi-person household, figure out who will be in charge of what. Dogs thrive on routine, and the more consistent you are with the schedule, the better behaved your Beagle will be. From eight weeks to six months of age, you will want to feed your pup three meals each day. After that, you can cut it down to two meals per day. Make sure your puppy gets at least an hour of exercise every day; otherwise, they will become destructive. It's impawtant to keep your Beagle on a leash during walks to prevent them from running off after an interesting scent. Also, take your pupper to the vet for a complete checkup within 24-72 hours of bringing them home.

Expect your hands to be full with your new furball of energy during the first week! Let your puppy be a puppy, but take on the role of pack leader, too, to prevent behavioral issues. Beagles are happiest when they have company, so include your pooch in your family's activities whenever pawssible. Aside from walkies and fetch, your Beagle pup will enjoy playing tracking games. Beagles are woofderful additions to any family—just be patient and consistent during the adjustment period!