If you are looking for a smart, friendly, and energetic dog that is suitable for first-time dog owners and families, you should consider getting yourself the German Shepherd Beagle Mix. So, what exactly is a German Shepherd Beagle mix?
The German Shepherd Beagle mix is a cross between a German Shepherd and a Beagle. The German Shepherd Beagle mix is also referred to as a Beagle Shepherd or a Beagleman. The Beagle Shepherd combines the best traits of these two popular dog breeds.
Before making the Beagle Shepherd part of your family, you definitely want to know everything about this designer dog breed. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about Beagle Shepherds, including how to care for them, their grooming requirements, their personality, and common health problems. Before that, however, let us take a look at the Beagle Shepherd’s appearance.
What Does A German Shepherd Beagle Mix Look Like?
Appearance
The Beagle Shepherd has the combined looks of the German Shepherd and the Beagle. It has the head of the Beagle, with a medium-sized snout and floppy ears. However, it is not uncommon to find Beagle Shepherds with pointed ears.
Unlike most other dog breeds, which can have multiple eye colors, the Beagleman has only one eye color – brown.
The Beagleman will usually have the lean and strong body of the German Shepherd, though it’s a bit smaller than the German Shepherd.
Height And Weight
You definitely want to know how big the German Shepherd Beagle mix will get before bringing this doggie into your home. Depending on the size of the parents, you can expect the Beagleman to stand between 15 and 24 inches.
Their weight will range anywhere from 22 to 50 lbs. Male Beagle Shepherds will generally be larger and heavier than females.
Coat
Both the Beagle and the German Shepherd have dense coats with medium-length fur, so your Beagle Shepherd will inherit the same coat.
It is good to also note that the German Shepherd has a double coat, and it is possible for your Beagle Shepherd to inherit the same double coat. Beagle Shepherds with a double coat will shed more and will therefore require more regular grooming.
The Beagle and the German Shepherd have a bi-colored coat, and therefore, your German Shepherd Beagle mix will also have a bi-colored coat. Possible coat colors include white, black, red, tan, blue, liver, or sable.
How Long Do Beagle Shepherds Live?
Lifespan
The German Shepherd Beagle Mix is a healthy dog that will generally live for about 10 to 14 years, barring any health problems.
The Beagle gene in the Beagle Shepherd reduces the likelihood of your furry friend being vulnerable to many of the health problems that affect the German Shepherd.
That said, the Beagle Shepherd is not completely immune. Some of the common health problems that affect the Beagle Shepherd include:
Joint Problems
Your Beagle Shepherd may be prone to joint problems common among German Shepherds, including hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, and intervertebral disk disease.
These conditions lead to difficulty in movement and affect the quality of life of your canine buddy.
Eye Problems
Most of the common eye problems that affect the German Shepherd Beagle Mix come from the Beagle side of the family. Some of these include cataracts, glaucoma, cherry eye, and progressive retinal atrophy. Left untreated, some of these can lead to blindness.
Epilepsy
Your Beagle Shepherd may also be prone to epilepsy, which is a condition resulting from abnormal electrical synapses in your dog’s brain. Fortunately, this condition can be managed using prescription drugs.
Teeth Problems
German Shepherd Beagle Mixes are also highly susceptible to having tartar on their teeth, which can be a huge problem. To keep this at bay, you need to brush your fido’s teeth regularly.
Other Common Problems
Other common health problems among the Beagle Shepherd include degenerative myelopathy, allergies, chronic eczema, bloat, and pancreatic insufficiency.
How To Take Care Of Beagle Shepherds?
Feeding
To keep your four-legged buddy healthy, you need to keep them on a nutritional diet with high protein content. I recommend that you feed your furry friend with Pet Plate’s Beef Barkin dog food. This dog food is rich in protein and is made using real beef and vegetables.
To prevent bloat, you should give your dear fido small portions of food over the course of the day, rather than two or three huge meals. You should also ensure that they don’t eat too fast, or else your dog may get bloated.
Exercise
The German Shepherd Beagle Mix is a highly energetic dog, and as a result, they have very high energy requirements. You should make sure that your doggie gets about one hour of exercise every day.
Being a medium-sized dog, the Beagle Shepherd requires enough space for them to play, so they’re best suited for households with a backyard. Suited for small spaces and backyards, the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher is a great toy to keep your pooch occupied.
When taking your Beagle Shepherd for walks and hikes, it is advisable to keep them on a leash at all times. Otherwise, the hunting instincts of the Beagle could kick and result in your four-legged friend taking off to follow different scents.
Beagle Shepherds have a very strong sense of smell, which is inherited from their Beagle parent.
Vet Visits
While the German Shepherd Beagle mix is a generally healthy dog breed, it is still advisable to schedule regular vet visits for checkups. This way, any potential health issues can be identified early and treated before they become life-threatening.
Are Beagle Shepherds Good Dogs? Temperaments Of German Shepherd Beagle Mixes
Intelligent
The German Shepherd Beagle Mix is a very intelligent dog. As a result, they are very easy to train. However, they can sometimes be very stubborn, and will therefore require you to be very patient during training.
Social
Another thing you’ll love about the German Shepherd Beagle Mix is that this dog is highly social, especially if they’ve been socialized at a young age. The Beagle Shepherd loves being around the family.
Unfortunately, this can lead to separation anxiety. If you leave your Beagle Shepherd alone for long periods of time, it will become anxious and will howl excessively, and become destructive.
Good With Kids
Beagle Shepherds are very good with children. They will quickly become friends with your kids and will enjoy playing around with them.
They will also become very protective of your kids, which is something that your kids will love. Due to their protective nature, they also make good guard dogs.
However, you should be careful about bringing the German Shepherd Beagle Mix into a home with other pets. This is because the Beagle Shepherd has a tendency to bully smaller pets.
High Energy
The Beagle Shepherd has a lot of energy, and therefore, this dog requires lots of physical activity. Therefore, they are not suitable for someone who lives a sedentary lifestyle.
They should also not be left alone for long periods. If you will not be around your canine buddy for extended periods of time, you should find a sitter for them.
Does Beagle Shepherd Shed? Grooming Tips For German Shepherd Beagle Mixes
Shedding
The German Shepherd Beagle Mix does not shed very heavily, so brushing them about once or twice per week is enough.
If your pooch has a double coat, it will shed more and will require more frequent brushing.
The best tool for brushing your doggie’s coat is the FURminator Undercoat Tool, which is purposely designed for big dogs like your Beagle Shepherd. This tool makes it easy to remove loose hair without causing damage to your dog’s skin.
Despite the Beagle Shepherd being a moderate shedder, it is still advisable to invest in a good vacuum cleaner.
I recommend the iRobot Roomba i3+, which is ideal for cleaning pet hairs from your carpet. You’ll love the fact that this vacuum cleaner is autonomous, voice-controlled, and even has an automatic dirt disposal feature.
Bathing
You should give your Beagle Shepherd a bath about once every month. Frequent bathing is not recommended because it could lead to skin dryness and irritation. When giving your furry buddy a bath, you should use a high-quality shampoo, such as the Seamus cherry blossom whitening dog shampoo.
The Seamus cherry blossom whitening dog shampoo is made using non-irritating ingredients and is designed to keep your pooch smelling fresh for longer than ordinary shampoos.
Other Grooming Requirements
It is advisable to regularly clean your doggie’s ears, brush their teeth at least weekly, and trim their nails when they become too long. Nail clipping should be done by a vet to avoid damaging blood vessels in the doggie’s nails.
Related Questions
Do Shepherd Mix Dogs Shed? Yes, Shepherd mix dogs do shed. However, they do not shed too much, which makes it a lot easier to keep these dogs well-groomed. Shepherd mix dogs that inherit the double coat of the German Shepherd shed slightly more than Shepherd mix dogs with a single coat.
Are Shepherd Mix Good Dogs? Yes, Shepherd mix dogs are good dogs. They are strong, intelligent, confident, loyal, and very protective. Most Shepherd mix dogs are also very good with children and love playing around with the family. In addition, Shepherd mix dogs are less vulnerable to various health conditions compared to purebred German Shepherds.
Do Beagle Mixes Bark A Lot? Yes, Beagles are a very vigilant dog breed, and therefore, most Beagle mixes tend to bark and howl a lot. They will bark and howl when they sense an intruder, when they are bored, or when they are anxious or stressed. This makes Beagle mixes unsuitable for people living in shared apartments.
