If you’re thinking of getting a dog, you’ll probably have a rough idea of the kind of pet that would best fit your household. There are so many different breeds to choose from that making the final selection can be challenging.
But have you considered mixed breed dogs? In this comprehensive guide, we take a look at one mixed breed that’s rapidly increasing in popularity: the Australian shepherd beagle mix.
The Australian shepherd and the beagle are both lovely dogs in their own right. So, is a cross between these two breeds a marriage made in heaven? Let’s find out!
Designer Dogs
The mating of two purebred dogs creates a mixed breed. Mixed breeds are also called “designer dogs.”
An important consideration to be aware of if you’re thinking of taking on a mixed breed dog is that every puppy in a litter will be slightly different, both in looks and in character. The puppies of mixed breed parents can also inherit genetic and breed-specific health conditions.
Usually, the puppies will lean more toward the features of one parent than the other. Until the pups mature, you’ll never really know what you’ll finish up with when you’re puppy is full-grown.
So, buying a mixed breed puppy is something of a lottery!
To make the right choice of mixed breed, you’ll need to look closely at each parent.
Australian Shepherds
The Australian shepherd is a member of the herding group. The breed currently ranks at #17 in the American Kennel Club’s breed popularity chart.
Aussies, as they’re fondly known, are incredibly smart and loyal to their human family. However, don’t expect this pup to spend lazy days sleeping by your side while you watch TV!
The Australian shepherd is a lively, action-loving dog that excels in most canine sports, notably agility and flyball. So, you’ll need to enjoy walking or jogging and be prepared to devote a couple of hours every day to exercising your Aussie.
The Aussie is a medium-sized dog that needs plenty of outside space where he can burn off his excess energy. An Australian shepherd would therefore not be a suitable dog for apartment life.
Remember that crossbreed puppy may inherit some of these problems from the Australian shepherd parent. For that reason, it’s vital that you ask the puppy’s breeder to show you documentary evidence of health-screening for both the parent dogs. Aussies are commonly crossbred to create other designer dog breeds like the Aussiedoodle.
Beagles
The beagle is a small, compact dog with an easy-to-care-for coat and a generally cheerful temperament.
Beagles are traditionally hunting dogs. Today, you’ll still see beagles working as scent detection dogs in airports. In fact, the breed is officially classified as a “scent hound.” Because of their sweet nature, they are often cross bred with other purebreeds, like the Corgi-Beagle mix.
Beagles also make great family pets, but their drive to hunt is powerful. So, you’ll need to understand that if your family pet picks up an interesting scent trail while you’re out walking in the park, he will follow the scent, and your requests to “come here” will most likely fall on deaf ears!
A healthy beagle has a life expectancy of between 13 and 16 years. Beagles are working dogs, and as such, they do need a fair amount of exercise every day. So, you’ll need to enjoy walking if you take on one of these pups.
Beagles are trainable, but they can be stubborn and easily distracted. Use positive reinforcement techniques when training your beagle and be sure to keep your dog leashed on walks until you’re confident your pet will come when you call him!
Australian Shepherd Beagle Mix
The Australian shepherd beagle mix is a charming cross between two very different personalities.
However, one thing that these two breeds do have in common is their need to work and be active. The Australian shepherd beagle mix is also a very intelligent breed that typically thrives on learning and new challenges.
Aussie beagles are happy-natured, cheerful dogs that tend to get on well with kids and other pets, making them the perfect addition to any family home.
Training
Your success in training your Australian shepherd beagle mix will depend on which parent your dog takes after the most.
Australian shepherds are highly trainable and very intelligent. These dogs love to learn! However, the beagle is very easily distracted and becomes bored quickly, especially if they pick up a scent.
No matter which parent breed is most dominant in your puppy, early socialization and education are vital if you are to raise a happy, well-balanced adult dog. If you plan to train your beagle to walk on a harness, make sure you pick the right harness for your pup.
Exercise & Living Conditions
An adult Australian shepherd beagle mix needs at least two hours’ exercise every day. That exercise could take the form of jogging with you, accompanying you on hiking trips, agility training, a trip to the dog park, or some obedience training.
Interaction between you and your dog is also essential, so a daily playtime session is important too. The Australian shepherd beagle mix also benefits from the company of a quiet canine companion.
Although, in theory, both the Australian shepherd and beagle mix parent breeds could live outside, the crossbreed is a family dog that prefers to spend time with his human “pack.”
A bored, frustrated Australian shepherd beagle mix can become a serial barker and escape artist, so the best environment for this breed is indoors with his human family.
Size & Health
Australian shepherd beagle mix dogs vary in size, depending on which parent breed is the most dominant. However, on average, you can expect your dog to grow to stand around 13 to 23 inches at the shoulder, weighing between 20 and 65 pounds.
In general, crossbreed dogs are healthier than purebreds, and the Aussie beagle mix is generally a very healthy breed that enjoys a lifespan of up to 16 years.
However, there are a few hereditary disorders and health issues that can be passed on by both parent breeds to their offspring.
Hip dysplasia is a common issue that can affect Australian shepherd beagle mix dogs. The condition causes pain and lameness, eventually resulting in arthritis in the dog’s hip joint. When viewing Australian shepherd beagle mix puppies, always ask the breeder for confirmation that both your puppy’s parents have been health-screened for hip dysplasia.
Also, both parent breeds are prone to developing epilepsy, so make sure that your puppy’s parents have both been screened for this potentially dangerous health condition.
Nutrition
When you pick up your new Australian shepherd beagle mix puppy, ask the breeder what food your new canine companion is being fed. Stick with that food for the first six months of the pup’s life, and then change him over to a high-quality adult diet.
As the breed is active and will be having plenty of exercise, you shouldn’t have a problem with your dog becoming overweight. However, always feed your pup the manufacturer’s recommended ration that you’ll find detailed on the product packaging.
There’s a huge range of dog food brands to choose from, and if you’re not sure which one to go for, always ask your vet or the pup’s breeder for guidance.
Color Combinations
The Australian shepherd beagle mix comes in a range of stunning colors, largely thanks to the Aussie parent’s influence over the coat color of the puppies.
So, you could find puppies with merle coats of black, grey, caramel, and white that have taken most influence from their Aussie parent. Alternatively, if the beagle parent’s looks are most prevalent, your puppy could be any combination of the following colors:
- White
- Tan
- Black
- Brown
- Fawn
- Lemon
- Red tick
- Blue tick
You may also come across an Australian shepherd beagle mix with mismatched eye colors or bright blue eyes if the Aussie is the dominant parent breed.
Grooming
Both Australian shepherds and beagles shed, so it’s relatively safe to assume that your crossbreed puppy will shed too.
Shedding is continual throughout the year with two heavy shedding periods in the spring and fall. So, you’ll need to groom your Australian shepherd beagle mix every couple of days and more frequently at maximum shedding time!
Generally, Aussie beagle mix dogs have a medium length double coat. With that in mind, you’ll find a slicker brush and a Furminator shedding blade are essential items for your doggy grooming kit.
Unfortunately, their shedding habit means that the Australian shepherd beagle mix breed is not a good fit for families with allergy sufferers.
As Family Pets
Now, let’s review the Australian shepherd beagle mix to see at a glance if this breed would be a good fit for your family.
- If you love exercise, enjoy walking, and spend a lot of your time in the Great Outdoors, an Australian shepherd beagle mix could be the perfect furry sidekick for you.
- Australian shepherd beagle mixes are friendly, outgoing, affectionate dogs that are a great fit for families with kids and other pets.
- The Australian shepherd beagle mix might not be the best choice of dog for first-time dog owners, as the breed is demanding when it comes to grooming and exercise. Also, training can be challenging if the beagle parent is dominant.
- The breed can grow to be quite large. That, coupled with the Australian shepherd beagle mix’s active temperament makes these pups unsuitable for apartment life. Ideally, you’ll need a home with plenty of outside space too.
So, does the Australian shepherd beagle mix sound like the ideal canine companion for your household? Great! Now, let’s get your search underway for the perfect pup!
Finding an Aussie Beagle Mix Breeder
The average cost of an Australian shepherd beagle mix puppy ranges from $400 up to $1,000. Generally, the more unusual the coat and eye color, the more expensive the puppy will be.
The Australian shepherd beagle mix is quite a new breed, so finding one might take you a while. Try asking around at local Australian shepherd and beagle clubs where you may find some helpful contacts. Also, check out social media to get the word out.
Remember to ask the puppy’s breeder for written evidence that the puppy’s parents have both been health-screened for the hereditary health conditions to which the breeds are most susceptible.
Adopting a Rescue
Raising a puppy is a demanding task!
If you would prefer to swerve all that hard work and you’re happy to offer a loving home to an unwanted adult dog, you may want to think about taking an Australian shepherd beagle mix from a rescue center or shelter.
Although the Aussie beagle cross is not the most common mixed breed, you may be lucky and find one waiting for a home. Try searching local rescues in your area or larger rescue website foundation websites.
Some shelters offer you the chance to take a dog on a trial basis for a month or so. That way, you can find out if the pup is a good fit for your household with the safety net option of returning the dog to the shelter if things don’t work out for both of you.
Final Thoughts
If you want a happy-go-lucky pup with an outgoing, lively personality, you may want to consider taking on an Australian shepherd beagle mix.
These pups make wonderful family dogs, but you do need to have plenty of time and motivation to exercise and train an Aussie beagle mix. Also, the breed does shed, making these dogs unsuitable for homes with pet hair allergy sufferers.
So, armed with the knowledge we’ve provided for you, you’re now ready to begin your search for the perfect pet!
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